Impale
Impale is a Secondary Demon Hunter skill unlocked at Level 2, which impales enemies by throwing knives at them, dealing heavy damage to a single target, for a substantial cost of Hatred.
This skill works with any type of weapon; the weapon's damage calculates the damage of the skill, but it does not require a bow or crossbow, though it can be odd to see the Demon Hunter holster their bow and then start throwing knives as a ranged attack.
Contents
Background
Originally a single target, huge damage bow skill, a sort of bazooka attack, this was changed to a ranged attack that did not require a ranged weapon during the Diablo beta. It was unused in early D3V, received a small buff in Patch 1.0.4, but remained generally unpopular. The devs have noticed and brought it up as a specially underpowered skill when talking about future balance changes, such as in Reaper of Souls.[1]
Skill Rune Effects
Name | Level | Description |
---|
<skill class="DemonHunter">Impale</skill> <skill class="DemonHunter" rune="Impact">Impale</skill> <skill class="DemonHunter" rune="Chemical Burn">Impale</skill> <skill class="DemonHunter" rune="Overpenetration">Impale</skill> <skill class="DemonHunter" rune="Ricochet">Impale</skill> <skill class="DemonHunter" rune="Grievous Wounds">Impale</skill>
Synergies
The following Demon Hunter passives provide a benefit to Impale, runed or not:
Name | Level | Description |
---|
<skill class="DemonHunter">Steady Aim</skill>
Development
Impale was first seen at the July 2011 Press Event, where it was a level 11 skill. Originally, it was a big-damage, high-cost, one-shot bow skill. The skill's sound effect was like a cannon being fired, and an instant later a large explosion would light up the target.
Beta
This skill changed drastically soon after the beta started in September 2011. In Beta Patch 5 it switched from a high-cost bow skill to a level 2 Hatred Generating knife throwing skill. Later in the beta it was changed back to Hatred Spending skill but kept its throwing knife aspect.
The skill system was once again overhauled for the Beta Patch 13, and Impale was classified as a Secondary skill (but remained at level 2).
Post Release
Patch 1.0.4 brought a tiny buff in damage.
- Impale
- Weapon damage increased from 250% to 265%.
The skill went unchanged in Diablo 3 Classics after that, remaining underpowered and generally unused.
Reaper of Souls
Early Reaper of Souls datamining showed big damage buffs being applied to the skill.[2]
- Impale
- Throw a knife that impales an enemy for 620% weapon damage. (Damage up from 360% in earlier RoS development.)
- Cost: 20 Hatred
- Rune: Impact: The impact causes Knockback and has a 40% chance to Stun for 1.5 seconds. (Stun chance down from 65%)
- Rune: Grievous Wounds: Critical Hits deal 130% additional damage. (Damage up from 100%)
These values are tentative with the expansion still under development.
Media
Impale can be seen in action on video here:
- None yet.
You can find pictures in the Diablo III screenshot and picture gallery:
References
- Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report — IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
- HardRock's Demon Hunter Skills and Their Rune Effects — IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
- Demon Hunter Active Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site
Classes of the Diablo games |
Skills - Active skills - Skill runes - Passives - Resource - Movement ability [e] Barbarian Demon Hunter Monk Necromancer Witch Doctor Wizard Followers Other Classes Fan-made |
---|
The Barbarian | Fury - Barbarian Active Skills (Archive) | Barbarian Passive Skills (Archive) [e] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Primary Might |
Secondary Tactics |
Defensive Rage |
Pound of Flesh (10) |
Superstition (30) |
(X) = the level at which the skill becomes unlocked. |
Barbarian skill categories: Primary Secondary Defensive Might Tactics Rage |
---|
Bash |
Cleave |
Frenzy |
[e] |
Hammer of the Ancients |
Rend |
Seismic Slam |
Whirlwind |
[e] |
Ground Stomp |
Leap |
Sprint |
Ignore Pain |
[e] |
Ancient Spear |
Revenge |
Furious Charge |
Overpower |
[e] |
Weapon Throw |
Threatening Shout |
Battle Rage |
War Cry |
[e] |
Earthquake |
Call of the Ancients |
Wrath of the Berserker |
[e] |
The Demon Hunter | Hatred/Discipline - Demon Hunter Active Skills (Archive) | Demon Hunter Passive Skills (Archive) [e] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary attribute:
|
Primary Hunting |
Secondary Devices |
Defensive Archery |
Tactical Advantage (10) |
Archery (30) |
(X) = the level at which the skill becomes unlocked. |
Demon Hunter skill categories: Primary Secondary Defensive Hunting Devices Archery |
---|
Hungering Arrow |
Entangling Shot |
Bola Shot |
Grenades |
[e] |
Impale |
Rapid Fire |
Chakram |
Elemental Arrow |
[e] |
Caltrops |
Smoke Screen |
Shadow Power |
[e] |
Vault |
Preparation |
Companion |
Marked for Death |
[e] |
Evasive Fire |
Fan of Knives |
Spike Trap |
Sentry |
[e] |
Strafe |
Multishot |
Cluster Arrow |
Rain of Vengeance |
[e] |
Monk skill categories: Primary Secondary Defensive Techniques Focus Mantras |
---|
Fists of Thunder |
Deadly Reach |
Crippling Wave |
Way of the Hundred Fists |
[e] |
Lashing Tail Kick |
Tempest Rush |
Wave of Light |
[e] |
Blinding Flash |
Breath of Heaven |
Serenity |
Inner Sanctuary |
[e] |
Dashing Strike |
Exploding Palm |
Sweeping Wind |
[e] |
Cyclone Strike |
Seven-Sided Strike |
Mystic Ally |
[e] |
Mantra of Evasion |
Mantra of Retribution |
Mantra of Healing |
Mantra of Conviction |
[e] |
Necromancer skill categories: Primary Secondary Corpses Blood and Bone Reanimation Curses |
---|
Witch Doctor skill categories: Primary Secondary Defensive Terror Decay Voodoo |
---|
Poison Dart - Rune effects |
Corpse Spiders |
Plague of Toads |
Firebomb |
[e] |
Grasp of the Dead |
Firebats |
Haunt |
Locust Swarm |
[e] |
Summon Zombie Dogs |
Horrify |
Spirit Walk |
Hex |
[e] |
Soul Harvest |
Sacrifice |
Mass Confusion |
[e] |
Zombie Charger |
Spirit Barrage |
Acid Cloud |
Wall of Zombies |
[e] |
Gargantuan |
Big Bad Voodoo |
Fetish Army |
[e] |
The Wizard | Arcane Power - Wizard Active Skills (Archive) | Wizard Passive Skills (Archive) [e] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary attribute:
|
Primary Force |
Secondary Conjuration |
Defensive Mastery |
Blur (10) |
Conflagration (34) |
(X) = the level at which the skill becomes unlocked. |
Wizard skill categories: Primary Secondary Defensive Force Conjuration Mastery |
---|
Magic Missile |
Shock Pulse |
Spectral Blade |
Electrocute |
[e] |
Ray of Frost |
Arcane Orb |
Arcane Torrent |
Disintegrate |
[e] |
Frost Nova |
Diamond Skin |
Slow Time |
Teleport |
[e] |
Wave of Force |
Energy Twister |
Hydra |
Meteor |
Blizzard |
[e] |
Ice Armor |
Storm Armor |
Magic Weapon |
Familiar |
Energy Armor |
[e] |
Explosive Blast |
Mirror Image |
Archon |
[e] |
Followers | Kormac the Templar | Lyndon the Scoundrel | Eirena the Enchantress [e] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Level 10: |
Level 5: Level 10: |
Level 15: |
Level 15: Level 20: |
Level 25: Level 30: |
Diablo III Other Classes | Diablo II Classes | Diablo I Classes [e] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Archetypes: |
Archetype sub-types: |
Other classes: |
Diablo II: |
Fan-made Classes | Fan-made Skills [e] | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
• Alchemist |
• Flagellant |
• Ranger |
Dragon Warrior Skills |
Aurian Mage Skill | |
|