Impale

Impale, dagger-throwing form.

Impale is a Secondary Demon Hunter skill unlocked at Level 2, which impales enemies by throwing knives at them, dealing heavy damage to a single target, for a substantial cost of Hatred.

This skill works with any type of weapon; the weapon's damage calculates the damage of the skill, but it does not require a bow or crossbow, though it can be odd to see the Demon Hunter holster their bow and then start throwing knives as a ranged attack.

Background

Originally a single target, huge damage bow skill, a sort of bazooka attack, this was changed to a ranged attack that did not require a ranged weapon during the Diablo beta. It was unused in early D3V, received a small buff in Patch 1.0.4, but remained generally unpopular. The devs have noticed and brought it up as a specially underpowered skill when talking about future balance changes, such as in Reaper of Souls.[1]

Wyatt Cheng: I think that the damage ratios that you get between generating and spending Hatred are off. We’re actively examining that and plan to correct them. No ETA, but we want to make clear that we know about it. For instance, Hungering Arrow does comparable or better damage than Impale. Impale is a heavy single target hatred spender while Hungering Arrow is free, and that’s way off balance. Impale needs a big buff.

Skill Rune Effects

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="DemonHunter">Impale</skill> <skill class="DemonHunter" rune="Impact">Impale</skill> <skill class="DemonHunter" rune="Chemical Burn">Impale</skill> <skill class="DemonHunter" rune="Overpenetration">Impale</skill> <skill class="DemonHunter" rune="Ricochet">Impale</skill> <skill class="DemonHunter" rune="Grievous Wounds">Impale</skill>

Synergies

The following Demon Hunter passives provide a benefit to Impale, runed or not:

Name	Level	Description

<skill class="DemonHunter">Steady Aim</skill>

Development

Impale's original function.

Impale was first seen at the July 2011 Press Event, where it was a level 11 skill. Originally, it was a big-damage, high-cost, one-shot bow skill. The skill's sound effect was like a cannon being fired, and an instant later a large explosion would light up the target.

Beta

This skill changed drastically soon after the beta started in September 2011. In Beta Patch 5 it switched from a high-cost bow skill to a level 2 Hatred Generating knife throwing skill. Later in the beta it was changed back to Hatred Spending skill but kept its throwing knife aspect.

The skill system was once again overhauled for the Beta Patch 13, and Impale was classified as a Secondary skill (but remained at level 2).

Post Release

Patch 1.0.4 brought a tiny buff in damage.

• Impale
  • Weapon damage increased from 250% to 265%.

The skill went unchanged in Diablo 3 Classics after that, remaining underpowered and generally unused.

Reaper of Souls

Early Reaper of Souls datamining showed big damage buffs being applied to the skill.[2]

• Impale
  • Throw a knife that impales an enemy for 620% weapon damage. (Damage up from 360% in earlier RoS development.)
  • Cost: 20 Hatred
• Rune: Impact: The impact causes Knockback and has a 40% chance to Stun for 1.5 seconds. (Stun chance down from 65%)
• Rune: Grievous Wounds: Critical Hits deal 130% additional damage. (Damage up from 100%)

These values are tentative with the expansion still under development.

Media

Impale can be seen in action on video here:

• None yet.

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

• Diablo III screenshots and pictures
• Impale specific gallery contents

• 

  Impale in 2011.

• 

  Current version.

References

• Zediono's translation of JudgeHype's pre-beta report — IncGamers 1st Aug 2011
• HardRock's Demon Hunter Skills and Their Rune Effects — IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
• Demon Hunter Active Skills — Blizzard's Official Diablo III Site

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer primary

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer secondary

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer corpses

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer bloodandbone

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer reanimation

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