Weapon Throw

Weapon Throw is a Barbarian Tier 2 skill, unlocked at level 3. The Barbarian hurls a weapon, damaging the target and slowing its speed.

Background

Diablo III Active Skill [e]
Weapon Throw
Used by:	Barbarian
Enabled at:	Clvl 3
Skill Description
Hurls an ethereal weapon at a monster, causing physical damage to and slowing the target.
Type:	Direct Damage/Debuff
Resource Use:	Costs Fury
Skill Rune Effects
Alabaster rune:	Causes Confusion
Crimson rune:	Increased damage
Golden rune:	Throws a corpse
Indigo rune:	Hits multiple targets
Obsidian rune:	Stuns target

The Barbarian hurls his weapon at an enemy, maiming the target.

Skill Design

This skill, without runes, causes the barbarian to throw ethereal-looking weapons of various types at the targeted enemy, causing damage and slowing them. The weapons seem to be selected randomly from a pool of possibilities.

Skill Rank Table

• Rank 1: The Barbarian hurls a weapon at his foe, causing 14-20 Physical damage to the target. Also slows the target to 75% their normal movement speed for 6 seconds.
• Rank 2: The Barbarian hurls a weapon at his foe, causing 18-24 Physical damage to the target. Also slows the target to 75% their normal movement speed for 7 seconds. (A)
• Rank 3: The Barbarian hurls a weapon at his foe, causing 22-28 Physical damage to the target. Also slows the target to 75% their normal movement speed for 8 seconds. (A)
• Rank 4: The Barbarian hurls a weapon at his foe, causing 26-32 Physical damage to the target. Also slows the target to 75% their normal movement speed for 9 seconds. (A)
• Rank 5: The Barbarian hurls a weapon at his foe, causing 30-36 Physical damage to the target. Also slows the target to 75% their normal movement speed for 10 seconds. (A)

(A) = Assumed

Trait Synergies

Weapon Throw benefits directly from the following Barbarian traits:

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

Weapon Throw 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

The rune effects for Weapon Throw were revealed at BlizzCon 2010 by Wyatt Cheng in the gameplay panel:

• Alabaster rune: Throw a weapon that disorients the target, causing confusion.
• Crimson rune: Increased damage.
• Golden rune: Throw the corpse of a slain enemy for increased damage.
• Indigo rune: Throw a weapon that ricochets, damaging multiple targets.
• Obsidian rune: The Barbarian throws a hammer, stunning foes.

Development

Weapon Throw was first seen at BlizzCon 2009 where it was a Tier IV skill in the Battlemaster Skill Tree. Flux had this to say about it:[1]

I haven’t used it, but one assumes it’s a sort of magical skill, where the melee weapon is not actually discarded, but only projected as a sort of virtual ranged weapon, while remaining in the Barbarian’s hands for additional use. Handy to whip this out once in a while to deal with a pesky ranged attacker, or something with wings?

At BlizzCon 2010, after skill trees were removed, Weapon Throw had been moved up to Tier 2, but seemed otherwise unchanged. Although it was available in the demo, there are no gameplay reports detailing any usage of this skill.

In Other Games

Although Weapon Throw is not a skill in Diablo II, all classes in D2 possess the generic skill Throw, which allows the character to, well, throw weapons. All throwing weapons are physical and finite, and can run out unless replenished.

Media

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

• Diablo III screenshots and pictures
• Weapon Throw specific gallery contents

References

• BlizzCon 2009 Full Barbarian Skill Trees and Stats