Split

Magic Missile is a Wizard skill unlocked at Level 1. This is one of the Wizard's signature skills and as such never has any Arcane Power cost.

Split is the second skillrune effect, and becomes available at Clvl 13. This effect splits the projectile into three missiles, each of which may hit any target, including all three into the same enemy.

The damage is nearly even; the three missiles deal 50% of weapon damage each, vs. 143% weapon damage from Charged Blast, the first Magic Missile skill rune (basic Magic Missile deals 110% weapon damage). However, each of the "split" missiles has the normal chance to land a critical hit, effectively tripling the odds of that big damage boost, plus the stun effect a crit will inflict on the target.

The missiles fly close together (regardless of where the player aims; there's no way to control the width of their spread), making it quite likely that at least two of them will hit the main target, and it's not difficult to nail larger enemies with all three projectiles.

• 
• 

Fork

[e] Fires 8 missiles that each deal 55% weapon damage as Arcane.

Earlier Version

Prior to the February 2012 skill and runestone system revision, this effect was granted by the Indigo Rune, and the number of projectiles increased with rune level, from 2 up to a maximum of 8.

Prior to that revision, this skillrune effect was known as "Fork." Presumably the developers thought "Split" was more appropriate now that there are now always three bolts, while the previous system started out with two, and then increased from there.