Combos

Combo skills are a class of Monk skill that are used to power up his Spirit in order to use his other, more powerful attack and defense skills.

Combo Skills

Combo skills are Monk skills that have three stages. The second can only be performed immediately after the first, and the third can only be performed immediately after the second.

The first two are fairly weak, only about as powerful as a normal attack, but they are required to perform the third attack, which deals substantial damage and includes some sort of special magical effect.

Combos can be mixed and matched, for players with quick fingers. Any first stage of a combo allows the second stage of any other combo to be performed next, and so forth with the third stage. This is useful since some combos have special effects on the first and second stages, and a skillful player might want to use stages one and two of one skill, then unleash the stronger, third level, of a different skill.

Known Combo Skills

Exploding Palm's third stage makes a mess.

Only a few Monk skills have yet been revealed, so expect more in the final game. Click the skill names to see full articles on each, with screenshots and much more info.

Way of the Hundred Fists -- A fast series of attacks strikes enemies in front of you.

• First hit: A short range dashing attack that deals X% weapon damage.
• Second hit: Attack rapidly Y times for 8% of weapon damage.
• Third hit: Attack all enemies near the monk for Z% of weapon damage.

Crippling Wave -- Light attacks that apply a series of increasingly debilitating debuffs.

• First hit: Deals X% of weapon damage. Enemy movement speed reduced Y% for 2 seconds.
• Second hit: Deals Z% weapon damage. Enemy damage reduced A% and they take A% more damage from attacks.
• Third hit: Deals B% weapon damage. Debuffs refreshed on all targets.

Exploding Palm -- A quick succession of attacks ending with the deadly Exploding Palm.

• First hit: X% of weapon damage.
• Second hit: Y% of weapon damage.
• Third hit: Target bleeds for Z 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.

Combos Charge Up Spirit

Monk skill trees, from Blizzcon 2009.

Spirit was revealed in August 2010, by Game Director Jay Wilson. His comment from them remains our only information about the resource: [1]

Jay Wilson: The Monk has Spirit. That’s the resource we’re happiest with. He came together very quickly. His combo moves generate spirit, and that’s used for signature moves he does. He can’t do them very often. But they’re great attacks, escapes, and some are recovery moves. That one worked out really well.