Leap Attack

Leap Attack is a Barbarian Tier 4 skill unlocked at level 10, making the Barbarian leap, causing damage and knockback upon landing.

This is the Barbarian's movement ability.

Background

Diablo III Active Skill [e]
Leap Attack
Used by:	Barbarian
Enabled at:	Clvl 10
Skill Description
The Barbarian makes a mighty leap, causing X amount of damage to enemies when he lands.
Type:	Damage/AoE/Movement
Resource Use:	Costs Fury
Skill Rune Effects
Alabaster rune:	Unknown
Crimson rune:	Unknown
Golden rune:	Unknown
Indigo rune:	Unknown
Obsidian rune:	Unknown

The Barbarian makes a gigantic leap to enemies who think they are safe behind the front lines, crushing anyone caught in the area of his landing.

Skill Design

Leaping at a few Fallen in the Borderlands.

Barb SMASH!

Once the player activates the skill, the Barbarian will leap from his current location, to the location of the mouse cursor, damaging and knocking enemies back upon landing. This skill is best used to reach ranged monsters, who are behind enemy lines and to escape tight situations, if such occur.

Leap Attack has not changed much from D2, and has been demonstrated repeatedly in the gameplay movies. The main difference with the D3 version of this skill is that minor damage is dealt to everything nearby when the Barbarian lands, rather than major damage to one particular monster.

Skill Rank Table

• Rank 1: The barbarian makes a mighty leap causing 38 damage to enemies nearby when he lands.
• Rank 2: The barbarian makes a mighty leap causing 44 damage to enemies nearby when he lands. (A)
• Rank 3: The barbarian makes a mighty leap causing 50 damage to enemies nearby when he lands. (A)
• Rank 4: The barbarian makes a mighty leap causing 56 damage to enemies nearby when he lands. (A)
• Rank 5: The barbarian makes a mighty leap causing 62 damage to enemies nearby when he lands. (A)

(A) = Assumed

Trait Synergies

Leap Attack 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.

Leap Attack 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 Leap Attack are known.

Development

Leap Attack was revealed at WWI 2008 when Diablo III debuted. Originally, it was a Tier III skill in the Berserker Skill Tree. By BlizzCon 2009, Leap Attack was at Tier IV but otherwise unchanged.

At BlizzCon 2010, with just one point in it the Barbarian could leap all the way to the visible edge of the screen, over any number of enemies, and at a very high speed. Flux enjoyed using it in the Battle Arena:[1]

I loved it in the Arena, even though I seldom hit with it, just since the visual is great. The 3D works nicely with it, since your perspective lurches upwards when the Barb jumps, and you feel like you’re flying for a second. There’s a great grunting “RAHHH!” sound too, and you must want to knock something in half with a massive club when you trigger this skill. Ideally that Wizard whose been sniping you with that damn Disintegrate from the far edge of the screen for the entire round. “Hold still and die, maggot!”

At this point, it seems like a one point wonder, which is something the developers have said they do not want.

Previous Versions

See the Barbarian skill archive for more details on previous versions of Leap Attack and other Barbarian skills.

In Other Games

Leap Attack seems to combine Leap and Leap Attack from Diablo II, whilst requiring Fury to use. The main difference with the D3 version of this skill is that minor damage is dealt to everything nearby when the Barbarian lands, rather than major damage to one particular monster.

Media

Leap Attack can be seen in action on video here:

• Gameplay: WWI 2008
• Gameplay: Blizzcon 2010 (in the Arena)

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

• Diablo III screenshots and pictures
• Leap Attack specific gallery contents

• 

  Leaping a chasm in the dungeons below Tristram.

• 

  Leaping at a few Fallen in the Borderlands.

References

• BlizzCon 2009 Full Barbarian Skill Trees and Stats
• BlizzCon 2010 Barb Hands-on Report
• BlizzCon 2010 PvP Hands-on Report