Weapons Master

Weapons Master is a Barbarian passive skill unlocked at Level 13, which provides a bonus based on weapon type.

Description

"My men ambushed the traveler in the woods, but it was we who were surprised. Such keen senses, swift motions, flawless strikes. We never stood a chance." - Redjack the Bandit

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Synergies

Weapons Master synergizes with different barbarian skills depending on the Barbarian's main hand weapon.

Wielding a Sword or Dagger

The following Barbarian skills deal damage and will deal extra damage when Weapons Master is active and the Barbarian's main hand weapon is a sword or dagger:

• Bash - Hits a targeted enemy for extra damage and may cause knockback.
• Hammer of the Ancients - Uses a mystical hammer to strike nearby enemies and increases critical hit chance.
• Cleave - Cleaves an enemy for extra damage, and causes lesser damage to other nearby enemies.
• Leap Attack - Leaps through the air, damaging all monsters close to the landing spot.
• Weapon Throw - Hurls a mystical throwing weapon at an enemy, damaging and slowing it.
• Ground Stomp - Shakes the ground to damage and stun all nearby enemies.
• Rend - Performs a vicious attack on all nearby enemies, damaging them with multiple strikes.
• Frenzy - Swings for moderate damage, but each swing increases attack speed.
• Revenge - Inflicts damage to all nearby enemies and leeches Life with each hit.
• Furious Charge - Rushes forward, damaging enemies at the destination, and inflicting minor damage to enemies along the way.
• Overpower - If the Barbarian has achieved a critical hit, deals extra weapon damage to all nearby targets.
• Seismic Slam - Emits a wave of destruction that damages and knocks back all targets in front of the Barbarian.
• Earthquake - Shakes the ground to deal massive damage, and additional damage over time, to all nearby monsters.
• Ancient Spear - Throws a spear to snag and haul in an enemy, slowing and damaging the target.
• Whirlwind - Delivers multiple attacks to all enemies in the Barbarian's path.

In addition, the following Barbarian skills have rune effects that deal damage and will also benefit from Weapons Master when the Barbarian's main hand weapon is a sword or dagger:

• Battle Rage

Bloodshed - Critical hits cause an explosion, damaging all nearby enemies.

• Ignore Pain

Contempt for Weakness - Reflects ignored damage back at enemies.

Bravado - Knocks back and damages nearby enemies.

• Sprint

Gangway - Slams through enemies, knocking them back and inflicting extra weapon damage.

Run Like the Wind - Tornadoes rage in the wake of the Sprint, each one inflicting extra weapon damage.

• Wrath of the Berserker

Slaughter - Any enemy killed while Wrath of the Berserker is active explodes, dealing massive damage to nearby targets.

Arreat's Wail - Activating Wrath of the Berserker knocks back and deals massive damage to all nearby enemies.

Wielding a Mace or Axe

The following Barbarian skill depends on critical hits and is improved by Weapons Master when the Barbarian's main hand weapon is a mace or axe:

• Overpower - If the Barbarian has achieved a critical hit, deals extra weapon damage to all nearby targets.

In addition, the following Barbarian skills have rune effects that depend on critical hits and will also benefit from Weapons Master when the Barbarian's main hand weapon is a mace or axe:

• Battle Rage

Bloodshed - Critical hits cause an explosion, damaging all nearby enemies.

Into the Fray - Critical hits generate 7 additional Fury.

Ferocity - Critical hits increase the duration of the Battle Rage effect for a short time.

Swords to Ploughshares - Critical hits have a chance to cause enemies to drop additional treasure or health globes.

• Cleave

Scattering Blast - On critical hits, knocks back enemies and inflicts damage to enemies where they land.

• Furious Charge

Bull Rush - Any monsters critically hit by Furious Charge will be stunned for a short time.

• Whirlwind

Blood Funnel - Critical hits restore a percentage of maximum Life.

Development

Passive skills have had a long and storied history. When Diablo III debuted at the WWI 2008, skill trees included passive skills, much like in Diablo II. In 2010, it was announced that passive skills had been renamed traits and separated out from active skills. At the July 2011 Press Event, Blizzard announced that passive skills were once again in the game, replacing the traits system. Weapons Master was not seen until it showed up in the Diablo III beta as a level 13 passive.

References

• Kastigar's Really Big Barb thread -- IncGamers 8th Sep 2011
• Barbarian Passive Skills -- Diablo III 12th Sep 2011

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