Range
Ranged combat includes both physical and magical types of attacks that is used at enough range to hit it's target without entering into melee range with it. A ranged attack or spell can also have an Area of Effect.
Melee Classes
In Diablo 3, the following classes are considered "caster" classes:
- Wizard - Pure spell caster. Has melee spells, but don't physically hit monsters often.
- Other classes - Many players are expecting some sort of physical ranged class to be announced by Blizzard.
Ranged Monsters
While the majority of Diablo 3 monsters use melee combat, there are plenty of ranged ones as well. In many cases they work together with melee and caster type monsters (or they are ranged/caster type themselves), to make the encounter more interesting for the player. A Skeletal Archer is usually situated behind Skeletal Shieldmen, forcing the player to either kill or circumvent the Shieldmen in order to stop the ranged attacks. Here are a few examples of melee monsters, with different mechanics:
- Skeletal Archer - Shoots arrows at player characters. Keeps out of melee range, and will try to move so that obstacles or other monsters stand between them and the player.
- Dark Cultist - Will shoot firebolts at the player, trying to keep Dark Berserkers between the player and themselves, or summon Dark Demons for the same effect.
- Wraith - Has both melee and ranged attacks. The ranged attacks drain life and slows a player character.