Sweeping Wind

Sweeping Wind is a Monk skill unlocked at level 18. The Monk sweeps his weapon with great force, hitting multiple enemies.

This is one of the Monk's combo skills. Combo skills generate spirit.

Background

Diablo III Active Skill [e]
Sweeping Wind
Used by:	Monk
Enabled at:	Clvl 18
Skill Description
The Monk breaks wind to damage multiple enemies.
Type:	AoE Damage/Combo
Resource Use:	Generates Spirit
Skill Rune Effects
Alabaster rune:	A powerful sandstorm billows with the monk's attacks, damaging enemies and knocking them back.
Crimson rune:	A flurry of blades increases Sweeping Wind's damage.
Golden rune:	Increases Spirit regeneration.
Indigo rune:	Expands the area of effect and strikes enemies with additional fire-based attacks.
Obsidian rune:	A persistent whirlwind surrounds the monk, dealing damage to any foes that come into contact.

Falling back on years of vigorous training, the Monk sweeps his weapon quickly around himself, damaging multiple enemies at a time.

Skill Design

This skill first appeared at BlizzCon 2010. There are currently no visuals available for the skill, and no reports on it from demo players. It was revealed in the skill tree.

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: The Monk sweeps his weapon in a circle, forming a barrier of force that deals X% weapon damage to every enemy hit. Can hit enemies multiple times.

Synergies

• No synergies with any of the passive skills are yet known.

Skill Rune Effects

Sweeping Wind fully runed.

• Alabaster Rune - A powerful sandstorm billows with the monk's attacks, damaging enemies and knocking them back.
• Crimson Rune - A flurry of blades increases Sweeping Wind's damage.
• Golden Rune - Increases Spirit regeneration.
• Indigo Rune - Expands the area of effect and strikes enemies with additional fire-based attacks.
• Obsidian Rune - A persistent whirlwind surrounds the monk, dealing damage to any foes that come into contact.

The video below demonstrates these runes' effects.

Development

Sweeping Wind was first shown at BlizzCon 2010. Skill tiers were removed for the July 2011 Press Event, and Sweeping Wind became a level 18 skill.

Media

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

• Diablo III screenshots and pictures
• Sweeping Wind specific gallery contents
• Runestone effects on Sweeping Wind

• 

  All five rune effects for SW.

References

• JudgeHype.com July 2011 Press Event Coverage - The Monk (Translated by Zediono)