Exploding Palm

Exploding Palm is a Tier 2 skill from the Monk's Skill Tree B, creating internal damage that can cause target to explode. It's a signature skill of the Monk.

Contents

Background

Diablo III Skill [e]
Exploding Palm Active, 5 ranks
Used by:	Monk
Skill Description:
A quick succession of attacks ending with the deadly Exploding Palm.
Skill Details:
Type:	Damage/AoE
Quantity:	None
Effect:	Target
School:	Physical
Mana cost:	Unknown
Cast time:	Instant
Duration:	Unknown
Cooldown:	1.5 sec
Synergies:	None
Requires:	N/A
Prereq of:	N/A

Using innate knowledge of internal parts of humanoids, the Monk sets off organ damage that potentially can have very exploding effects.

Skill Design

Pop!

This was probably the coolest spell most people saw at BlizzCon, just for the massive blood explosions it created. It was magnificently overpowered, working like an early D2C version of Corpse Explosion. Triggering the third stage of this one, then beating that monster down with 100 Fists, was almost certain to clear any room, killing every monster anywhere near melee range.

It will have to be nerfed in the final game, and probably moved down the skill tree as well, since this is just insane for such a low level skill.

Skill Rank Table

Rank: 1/5

First hit: 35% of weapon damage.

Second hit: 50% of weapon damage.

Third hit: Target bleeds for 60 damage over 7 seconds. Moving causes 200% more bleeding damage. If target dies it explodes dealing 60-100% of its maximum life in damage to all enemies nearby.

Rank: 2/5

First hit: 40% of weapon damage.

Second hit: 60% of weapon damage.

Third hit: Target bleeds for 70 damage over 7 seconds. Moving causes 200% more bleeding damage. If target dies it explodes dealing 60-100% of its maximum life in damage to all enemies nearby.

Rank: 3/5

First hit: 45% of weapon damage.

Second hit: 70% of weapon damage.

Third hit: Target bleeds for 80 damage over 7 seconds. Moving causes 200% more bleeding damage. If target dies it explodes dealing 60-100% of its maximum life in damage to all enemies nearby.

Synergies

• None known.

Skill Rune Effects

• None known.

Development

This skill was first shown at BlizzCon 2009 as one of the originals when the Monk was unveiled.

Graphics

Exploding Palm is always a red and bloody mess.

Fans have occasionally pointed out the oddity of this skill causing a huge, red-blooded explosion no matter what it's used on; bloodless skeletons, monsters with green or blue blood, etc. This issue was playfully addressed by Bashiok, the Diablo 3 community manager, in a forum post in April 2010. [1]

We have tons of unique death types, the exploding palm effect you’re talking about though is an effect of the skill itself though and not the makeup of the creature it’s used against.

When you apply the bleed-DoT from Exploding Palm a beating heart appears over the creature it’s applied to. After they take enough steps or are otherwise killed the heart explodes and deals AE damage. So it’s not actually the skeleton exploding (although that happens too) that’s causing the blood effect, but the skill itself.

...blood explosion is the AE damaging effect of the skill that occurs when the subject dies. It occurs along with the death effect of whatever it’s applied to, and isn’t an increase of their normal death effect.

Media

Change "Exploding Palm" to the skill name below.

You can find pictures in the Diablo 3 screenshot and picture gallery:

• Diablo 3 screenshots and pictures
• Exploding Palm-specific gallery contents

• 

  Exploding monster from stage 3 Exploding Palm

• 

  Exploding Palm by GAMi

References

Full Monk Skill Tree stats and discussion