Hands of Lightning (Skill)

Hands of Lightning is a Tier 1 skill, which requires a clvl of 2. This is one of two combo skills available to the monk in the first tier. Combo skills generate spirit.
The Monk charges his strikes with lightning in a three-stage attack.

Contents

Background

Diablo III Skill [e]
Hands of Lightning (Skill) Active, 5 ranks
Used by:	Monk
Skill Description:
Charge your attacks with lightning to damage your foes.
Skill Details:
Type:	Direct Damage
Quantity:	NA
Effect:	Single Target/AoE
School:	Lightning/Physical
None cost:	None
Cast time:	Instant
Duration:	None
Cooldown:	None
Synergies:	None
Requires:	N/A
Prereq of:	N/A

The Monk charges his strikes with lightning in a three-stage attack that ends with an area of effect blast.

Skill Design

Welcome to electric avenue.

This skill first appeared at BlizzCon 2010. As it is a first tier spell, it was playable in the demo.

The attack has three phases. Each strike deals X% weapon damage as lightning damage, varying by rank and other factors, which may be valuable for later difficulty settings with enemies who are resistant to physical damage. Each strike also has a chance to interrupt the enemy being struck.

Skill Rank Table

• • Rank One: Unknown
  • Rank Two: Unknown
  • Rank Three: Unknown
  • Rank Four: Unknown
  • Rank Five: Deals 300% weapon damage as lightning damage. Higher than normal chance to interrupt enemy attacks.

Synergies

Various Monk traits augument this skill.(Since most Monk skills depend on base weapon damage and probably attack speed, traits which enhance those, and not the skill specifically, are also listed here)
Precision  :Increase melee damage for each point in dexterity.
Intimidation  :Increases damage done and reduces vendor costs.
Cruelty  :Increases chance of critical strikes.
Weak Spot  :Increases critical strike damage.
Rapid Strikes  :Increases attack speed.
Frenzied attacks:Increases chance of critical strikes as well as their damage.

Skill Rune Effects

• None known.

Development

This skill was first shown at BlizzCon 2010. Blascid reports on using the skill at Blizzcon:

In the Monks case, with her actual lightning fist skill (I do not remember the name), the first hit would be a claw sweep with lightning damage, the second one granted more lightning damage with more lightning graphics, and the third hit was a lightning blast that created a nice AOE arc. (The third move’s animation {Monk’s move and spell effect} reminded me of how Ryu and Ken’s Hadouken looked in Street Fighter 2 {Sorry, I have not played any more recent than that) if your opponent was right in front of you.)

Compilation image showing the three hits of Hands of Lightning, with the big blast on the final hit.

Media

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

• Diablo 3 screenshots and pictures
• Hands of Lightning-specific gallery contents

• 

  Monk using Hands of Lightning.

• 

  Arcing lightning damage.

• 

  The three-hit sequence.