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==Development==
'''Cleave''' was introduced in the [[WWI 2008]] gameplay demo, smashing enemies to bits. The skill was been slightly re-balanced between where it could be found in the [[BlizzCon 2008Juggernaut Skill Tree]] and [[BlizzCon 2009|2009]] demosat Tier II. At the time, old Cleave it would hit for 130% weapon damage on 2 enemies at rank 1, with weapon damage and maximum number of targets scaling per rank.
For [[BlizzCon 2009]], Cleave has had been slightly re-balanced with slightly less damage, and had also changed appearance slightly between the WWI gameplay video and the later demo. Strangely enough, the animation has been made less overwhelming, only cleaving in one direction, when the older one swung in both directions. [[Flux]] still enjoyed using it:[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/full-barbarian-skill-trees-and-stats1/] <blockquote>''Probably the most useful active attack skill the Barbarian had in the Blizzcon build. I used this one most of the time, especially when I had a group of enemies, and it cut right through them. It dealt enough damage to say about replenish the fury it in his cost any time I hit two or more enemies, so I’d usually ignore single small targets, and try to swing towards several enemies, or would do some very simplified herding to group up Fallen Imps or other small targets so that one Cleave would take them all out, and boost my fury as well.</blockquote> By [[BlizzCon 2010]] , the only change to Cleave was the removal of skill trees. [[Flux]] shared some new insights on using it in his hands-on report:[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/hands-on-from-blizzcon-mega-pvm-report-barbarian]
<blockquote>''Cleave with the spear was extremely effective. It bumped up my damage enough that I began to one-hit kill virtually all of the regular monsters, and that was very fun. I’d usually run up to groups of 4-8 monsters, let them crowd in close, and then cut the whole damn bunch of them down with a single swing. Watching their bodies fly back like eviscerated ragdolls, was, to quote Jay Wilson, “Awesome!” It was all that “make the player feel godly” stuff they’re always talking about during the design panels, come to life. I was putty in their hands, and felt slightly dirty at being so easily manipulated.</blockquote>
See the [[Barbarian skill archive]] for more details on previous versions of Cleave and other Barbarian skills.
===Earlier Cleave in Other Games===
Cleave was probably inspired by WarCraft 3, since the modifier that changes to "hit all enemies in front" is called Cleave.