Call of the Ancients

Call of the Ancients is a Barbarian Tier 7 skill unlocked at level 26. The Barbarian summons three ancient protectors to fight for him.

Background

Diablo III Active Skill [e]
Call of the Ancients
Used by:	Barbarian
Enabled at:	Clvl 26
Skill Description
Summon three ancients.
Type:	Summon
Resource Use:	Costs Fury
Skill Rune Effects
Alabaster rune:	Unknown
Crimson rune:	Unknown
Golden rune:	Unknown
Indigo rune:	Unknown
Obsidian rune:	Unknown

The Barbarian's ancestors aid him by rejoining the battlefield.

Skill Design

This skill summons the three ancestors that the player was charged with fighting in act five of Lord of Destruction: Talic, Korlic and Madawc. They deal a percentage of the weapon damage that the Barbarian is capable of inflicting, presumably increasing with level. Bashiok had made a quick comment on the skill:

Well, he does have very few spells like this... just the one actually. :) It's a top tier skill, so you can't buy it until somewhere around the end of Normal or maybe beginning of Nightmare. They're fairly short lived, at least at their base skill. I will admit it's pretty nutty, especially when it's planned that each of them (probably through runes) will use various barbarian skills themselves. But, I do think the flavor and vibe works. The barbarian calling upon the spiritual protector's of his homeland and people which now lay, along with the majority of barbarian society, in the afterlife, if not simply ash at the bottom of a fiery chasm. It makes good sense that they would be easily summoned to assist in redemption, honor, what have you, of the barbarian people.

Skill Rank Table

• Rank 1: Summon three ancient Barbarians; Talic, Korlic and Madawc, who inflict X% weapon damage. Lasts X seconds.

Trait Synergies

Call of the Ancients benefits directly from the following traits:

• Intimidation: Increases damage done and reduces vendor costs.
• Cruelty: Increases your chance of dealing critical strikes.
• Weak Spot: Increases critical strike damage.

Call of the Ancients may benefit from the following traits:

• Frenzied Attacks: Increases the chance to deal critical strikes and increases critical strike damage when the Barbarian is wielding two weapons.
• Thunderous Blows: Increases damage done when the Barbarian is wielding a two-handed weapon.
• Beast Hunter: Damage bonus against Beasts.
• Demonsbane: Damage bonus against Demons.
• Just...Stay...Dead!: Damage bonus against Undead.
• Massive Blow: You have a chance to hit all nearby targets with a single hit. Requires a two-handed weapon.
• Pig Sticker: Increases damage done when the Barbarian is wielding a polearm, spears or when he throws weapons.
• Die by the Sword: Increases damage done when the Barbarian is wielding swords.
• Axe Murderer: Increases damage done when the Barbarian is wielding axes.
• Brain Basher: Increases damage done when the Barbarian is wielding maces.

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

Skill Rune Effects

• No rune effects for Call of the Ancients are known.

Development

Call of the Ancients debuted at BlizzCon 2010, although it hasn't been seen in anything other than the skill pool.

Media

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

• Diablo III screenshots and pictures
• Call of the Ancients specific gallery contents

References

• BlizzCon 2009 Full Barbarian Skill Trees and Stats
• Bashiok on Call of the Ancients