Exploding Palm

Exploding Palm is a Monk Tier 5 skill unlocked at level 14. The Monk inflicts internal damage that can cause a target to explode.

This is one of the Monk's combo skills. It's also a signature skill of the Monk.

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
Spirit cost:	None
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 explosive effects.

Skill Design

Pop!

This was probably the coolest spell most people saw at BlizzCon 2009, 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 since this is just insane for such a low level skill.

Combo skills are essential for Monks. Combos do bonus damage, grant special properties (i.e. lightning damage and interrupt attacks on Hands of Lightning), and build up the Spirit needed to cast other skills. All combos have three stages, each progressively more powerful and flashier.

Skill Rank Table

• Rank 1:
  • First hit: 35% of weapon damage. Grants X spirit points.
  • Second hit: 50% of weapon damage. Grants X spirit points.
  • 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. Grants X spirit points.
• Rank 2:
  • First hit: 40% of weapon damage. Grants X spirit points.
  • Second hit: 60% of weapon damage. Grants X spirit points.
  • 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. Grants X spirit points.
• Rank 3:
  • First hit: 45% of weapon damage. Grants X spirit points.
  • Second hit: 70% of weapon damage. Grants X spirit points.
  • 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. Grants X spirit points.

Synergies

Various Monk traits augment 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.

Note: The current trait list is very out-of-date and will no doubt be overhauled before game release.

Skill Rune Effects

• None known.

Development

Exploding Palm was first shown at BlizzCon 2009 as one of the originals when the Monk was unveiled. Flux was able to try it out:[1]

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.

This skill was indeed moved from Tier 2 down to Tier 5 for BlizzCon 2010.

Previous Versions

See the Monk skill archive for more details on previous versions of Exploding Palm and other Monk skills.

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. [2]

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

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

• Diablo III screenshots and pictures
• Exploding Palm specific gallery contents

• 

  Exploding monster from stage 3 Exploding Palm

• 

  Exploding Palm by GAMi

References

BlizzCon 2009 Full Monk Skill Tree stats and discussion