Passive skill

Passive skills are skills that add bonuses, usually modifying other skills, that work all the time. They boost overall stats, or modify other skills, but are not used directly.

For instance, an active skill would be one that shot a Fireball. A passive skill would add say, +50% damage to all Fire Skills. Passive skills differ slightly from buffs, which can be very similar bonuses, but with a fixed duration.

In 2010 Blizzard announced that due to recent game changes, there were no longer any passive skills in the Diablo III skill trees. Passive skills remained in the game, but as was revealed at BlizzCon 2010, they were accessed via the traits system. [1] [2]

In July 2011 Blizzard announced that the traits system had been revamped and turned back into a passive skills system.

See the various class skills pages for more details.

[edit] Description

Passive skills are not used directly for attacks, and tend to provide bonuses to numerous other skills, or add percentages to damage, to hit, defense, resistances, and other useful stats. Some effects also comes from passive skills, such as activating a bonus under special circumstances, such as a critical hit, or being hit.

Passive skills are often as or more important than some active skills, but usually receive less attention since they are not flashy or obvious in their effects. An example is making the possibility

Passive skills seldom possess synergistic properties. Passive skills are not signature skills.

[edit] Passive Skills Master List

Below find an alphabetical listing of all known passive skills. There were 64 of these seen in July 2011 when the new skill tree system was revealed, and many of them were shared between classes. The number of passive skills increased during further development, and all passive skills are now unique to each class, with none shared between classes.

Name	Level	Description

Animosity
(database)
Passive

27

Increases Fury generation by 20% and maximum Fury is increased by 20.

Fury is used to fuel your most powerful attacks.

Arcane Dynamo
(database)
Passive

55

When you deal damage with a Signature spell you may gain a Flash of Insight. After 5 Flashes of Insight, your next non-Signature spell deals 75% additional damage.

The following skills are Signature spells:
Magic Missile
Shock Pulse
Spectral Blade
Electrocute

Archery
(database)
Passive

30

Gain a bonus based on the weapon type of your main hand weapon:

Bow: 15% increased damage
Crossbow: 50% Critical Hit Damage
Hand Crossbow: 10% Critical Hit Chance

Astral Presence
(database)
Passive

24

Increases your maximum Arcane Power by 20 and Arcane Power regeneration by 2 per second.

Bad Medicine
(database)
Passive

20

Whenever you deal Poison damage to an enemy, their damage is reduced by 20% for 3 seconds.

Ballistics
(database)
Passive

55

Damage from rockets increased by 50%.

Rockets are fired from certain skill rune effects.

Beacon of Ytar
(database)
Passive

35

Reduces all cooldowns by 20%.

Berserker Rage
(database)
Passive

20

You inflict an additional 25% damage while at maximum Fury.

Blood Ritual
(database)
Passive

20

15% of Mana costs are paid with Life. In addition, you regenerate 1% of your maximum Life per second.

Bloodthirst
(database)
Passive

24

Gain 3% of all damage done as Life.

Blur
(database)
Passive

10

Decreases melee damage taken by 20%.

Boon of Bul-Kathos
(database)
Passive

60

The cooldown on your Earthquake, Call of the Ancients, and Wrath of the Berserker skills is reduced by 30 seconds.

This skill is affected by your characters: Skill Level (set to 1 for example above)

Brawler
(database)
Passive

45

As long as there are 3 enemies within 8 yards, all of your damage is increased by 30%.

This skill is affected by your characters: Skill Level (set to 1 for example above)

Brooding
(database)
Passive

25

You gain 1% of your maximum Life per second.

Chant of Resonance
(database)
Passive

20

Duration of all Mantras increased by 7 minutes. While one of your Mantras is active you gain 2 Spirit every second.

Circle of Life
(database)
Passive

10

Whenever an enemy dies within 12 yards, there is a 30% chance that a Zombie Dog will automatically emerge. The range of this effect is increased by items that increase your gold pickup radius.

Cold Blooded
(database)
Passive

30

All damage dealt to chilled and frozen targets is increased by 20%.

Combination Strike
(database)
Passive

50

Each different Spirit Generator ability you use increases your damage by 8% for 3 seconds.

Conflagration
(database)
Passive

34

Fire damage dealt to enemies applies a burning effect, increasing all damage done to them by 10% for 3 seconds.

Critical Mass
(database)
Passive

50

Critical Hits have a chance to reduce the cooldown of your spells by 1 second.

Cull the Weak
(database)
Passive

20

Damage against slowed enemies increased by 15%.

Custom Engineering
(database)
Passive

40

The duration of your Caltrops, Marked for Death, Spike Trap, and Sentry is increased by 100%.

Increases the maximum number of Sentries to 3 and Spike Traps to 6.

This skill is affected by your characters: Skill Level (set to 1 for example above), Sentry, Spike Trap

Evocation
(database)
Passive

13

Reduces all cooldowns by 15%.

Exalted Soul
(database)
Passive

13

Increases maximum Spirit by 100 and increases Spirit Regeneration by 1 per second.

Spirit fuels your defensive and offensive abilities.

This skill is affected by your characters: Skill Level (set to 1 for example above)

Fetish Sycophants
(database)
Passive

30

Whenever you cast a physical realm spell, you have a 5% chance to summon a dagger-wielding Fetish to fight by your side for 60 seconds.

Physical realm spells are:
Poison Dart
Plague of Toads
Zombie Charger
Corpse Spiders
Firebats
Firebomb
Locust Swarm
Acid Cloud
Wall of Zombies

Fierce Loyalty
(database)
Passive

45

All your pets get 100% of the benefit of your Thorns and Life regeneration items.

Fleet Footed
(database)
Passive

10

Increases movement speed by 10%.

This skill is affected by your characters: Skill Level (set to 1 for example above)

Galvanizing Ward
(database)
Passive

40

Increases the duration of your Armor spells by 120 seconds. As long as an Armor spell is active, you gain 310.097 Life per second.

The following skills are improved:
Energy Armor
Ice Armor
Storm Armor

Glass Cannon
(database)
Passive

16

Increases all damage done by 15%, but decreases Armor and resistances by 10%.

Grave Injustice
(database)
Passive

50

Whenever an enemy dies within 8 yards, regain 2% of your maximum Life and Mana and the cooldown on all of your abilities is reduced by 1 second. This range is extended by items that increase your gold pickup radius.

Grenadier
(database)
Passive

45

Increases Hatred generated from Grenades by 2 and reduces the Hatred cost of Cluster Arrow by 10. Upon death, you drop a giant grenade that explodes for 450% weapon damage as Fire.

Gruesome Feast
(database)
Passive

16

Whenever you are healed by a health globe, you gain 10% of your maximum Mana and 10% Intelligence for 10 seconds. The Intelligence bonus can stack up to 5 times.

Guiding Light
(database)
Passive

40

Whenever you use a direct heal skill on another player you and the other player deal 16% more damage for 15 seconds.

This skill is affected by your characters: Skill Level (set to 1 for example above)

Hot Pursuit
(database)
Passive

27

Whenever you are at full Hatred, movement speed is increased by 15%.

Illusionist
(database)
Passive

27

Whenever you suffer more than 15% of your Life in a single hit, the cooldowns on Mirror Image and Teleport are automatically reset.

Inspiring Presence
(database)
Passive

20

The duration of your shouts is doubled. After using a shout you regenerate 2% of your maximum Life per second for 60 seconds.

Your shouts are:
Battle Rage
Threatening Shout
War Cry

Juggernaut
(database)
Passive

50

The duration of control impairing effects on you is reduced by 20%. In addition, whenever a Stun, Fear, Immobilize or Charm is cast on you, you have a chance to recover 15% of your maximum Life.

Jungle Fortitude
(database)
Passive

10

Reduces all damage taken by you and your pets by 15%.

Near Death Experience
(database)
Passive

58

When receiving fatal damage, you are instead restored to 35% of maximum Life and 35% Spirit.

This effect cannot occur more than once every 60 seconds.

Nerves Of Steel
(database)
Passive

13

Your Armor is increased by 100% of your Vitality.

Night Stalker
(database)
Passive

20

Critical Hits have a chance to restore 1 Discipline.

Discipline is used to fuel many of your tactical and defensive skills.

No Escape
(database)
Passive

35

Increases the damage of Ancient Spear and Weapon Throw by 10%. In addition, a Critical Hit with Ancient Spear resets the cooldown while Critical Hits with Weapon Throw have a chance to return 14 Fury.

Numbing Traps
(database)
Passive

30

Enemies hit by Fan of Knives, Spike Trap, Caltrops, Grenades and Sentry fire have their damage reduced by 20% for 3 seconds.

One With Everything
(database)
Passive

45

Your resistance to all elements is equal to your highest elemental resistance.

Pacifism
(database)
Passive

30

While you are under a Stun, Fear, Immobilize or Charm effect, all damage taken is reduced by 75%.

Paralysis
(database)
Passive

37

Lightning damage dealt to enemies has up to a 8% chance to Stun the target for 1.5 seconds.

Perfectionist
(database)
Passive

35

Reduces the Discipline cost of all skills by 10%. Increases your Life, Armor and all of your resistances by 10%.

Discipline is used to fuel many of your tactical and defensive skills.

Pierce the Veil
(database)
Passive

27

All of your damage is increased by 20%, but your Mana costs are increased by 30%.

Pound of Flesh
(database)
Passive

10

Increases the chance of finding a health globe by 25% and you gain 100% additional Life from health globes.

Power Hungry
(database)
Passive

10

Gain 30 Arcane Power whenever you are healed by a health globe.

Prodigy
(database)
Passive

20

When you deal damage with a Signature spell, you gain 4 Arcane Power.

The following skills are Signature spells:
Magic Missile
Shock Pulse
Spectral Blade
Electrocute

Relentless
(database)
Passive

40

While below 20% Life, all skills cost 75% less Fury and all damage taken is reduced by 50%.

Resolve
(database)
Passive

10

Damage you deal reduces enemy damage by 20% for 2.5 seconds.

Rush of Essence
(database)
Passive

36

Spirit spells return 49 Mana over 10 seconds.

Spirit spells are:
Haunt
Horrify
Mass Confusion
Soul Harvest
Spirit Barrage
Spirit Walk

Ruthless
(database)
Passive

10

Critical Hit Chance increased by 5%. Critical Hit Damage increased by 50%.

Many skills and runes rely on Critical Hits to trigger their effects.

Seize the Initiative
(database)
Passive

20

Your Armor is increased by 50% of your Dexterity.

Sharpshooter
(database)
Passive

50

Gain 3% Critical Hit Chance every second. This bonus is reset 1 seconds after you successfully critically hit.

This skill is affected by your characters: Skill Level (set to 1 for example above)

Sixth Sense
(database)
Passive

27

Your dodge chance is increased by an amount equal to 30% of your Critical Hit Chance.

Spirit Vessel
(database)
Passive

30

Reduces the cooldown of your Horrify, Spirit Walk, and Soul Harvest spells by 2 seconds. In addition, the next time you receive fatal damage, you automatically enter the spirit realm for 2 seconds and heal to 15% of your maximum Life. This effect cannot occur more than once every 90 seconds.

Spiritual Attunement
(database)
Passive

13

Maximum Mana is increased by 20%. Regenerate 1% of your maximum Mana per second.

Mana is the fuel you use to cast offensive and defensive skills.

Steady Aim
(database)
Passive

16

As long as there are no enemies within 10 yards, all damage is increased by 20%.

Superstition
(database)
Passive

30

Reduces all non-Physical damage by 20%. Whenever you take damage from a ranged or elemental attack, you have a chance to gain 3 Fury.

Tactical Advantage
(database)
Passive

10

Whenever you use Vault, Smoke Screen, or backflip with Evasive Fire you gain 60% movement speed for 2 seconds.

Temporal Flux
(database)
Passive

45

Whenever you deal Arcane damage, enemies are slowed by 30% for 2 seconds.

The Guardian's Path
(database)
Passive

24

While dual-wielding, you gain a 15% chance to dodge incoming attacks. While using a two-handed weapon, all Spirit generation is increased by 35%.

Thrill of the Hunt
(database)
Passive

10

Every 7 seconds, your next skill that costs Hatred will immobilize your target for 2 seconds.

Tough as Nails
(database)
Passive

30

Increases Armor by 25%.

Thorns damage dealt increased by 50%.

Transcendence
(database)
Passive

16

Every point of Spirit spent heals you for 62.0 Life.

Tribal Rites
(database)
Passive

55

The cooldowns of your Fetish Army, Big Bad Voodoo, Hex, Gargantuan, Summon Zombie Dogs and Mass Confusion abilities are reduced by 25%.

Unforgiving
(database)
Passive

55

You no longer degenerate Fury. Instead, you gain 2 Fury every 1 seconds.

Unstable Anomaly
(database)
Passive

60

When reduced below 30% Life, you heal to 45% of your maximum Life and release a shockwave that knocks enemies back and slows them by 60% for 3 seconds. This effect cannot occur more than once every 60 seconds.

Vengeance
(database)
Passive

13

Your maximum Hatred is increased by 25. In addition, gain 20 Hatred and 2 Discipline whenever you are healed by a health globe.

This skill is affected by your characters: Skill Level (set to 1 for example above)

Vision Quest
(database)
Passive

40

When you deal damage with Corpse Spiders, Firebomb, Plague of Toads or Poison Dart, your Mana regeneration is increased by 30% for 5 seconds.

Weapons Master
(database)
Passive

16

Gain a bonus based on the weapon type of your main hand weapon:

Swords/Daggers: 15% increased damage
Maces/Axes: 10% Critical Hit Chance
Polearms/Spears: 10% attack speed
Mighty Weapons: 3 Fury per hit

Zombie Handler
(database)
Passive

24

You can have 4 Zombie Dogs summoned at one time. The health of your Zombie Dogs and Gargantuan is increased by 20%.

[edit] Development

At BlizzCon 2008, there were far more passive than active skills in the three character trees, bit it changed in May 2009 and was shown with more detail at BlizzCon 2009.

Read more about skill development.

Over time the number of passive skills were reduced, and as of Blizzcon 2009 there were about 35 skills for the Wizard, Witch Doctor, and Barbarian, with around a dozen of those passive.

The first big change came in 2010, when the skill trees were completely overhauled, more active skills were introduced, and all of the passive skills were removed. Removed from the skill trees, not from the game, they were turned into the traits system.

The second big change came in July 2011, when passive skills were re-introduced into the game and the traits were removed.

Over the course of development, many passives that were introduced to the game have been later removed.

See the list of removed passives.

[edit] References

BlizzCon 2008
Skill Tree Overhaul
No more passive skills?
Kastigar's Really Big Barb thread -- IncGamers 8th Sep 2011
HardRock's Monk Passive Skills -- IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
HardRock's Wizard Passive Skills -- IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
HardRock's Demon Hunter Passive Skills -- IncGamers 6th Sep 2011
HardRock's Witch Doctor Passive Skills -- IncGamers 6th Sep 2011

Fan-made Classes			Fan-made Skills [e]
• Alchemist • Arcane Warrior • Artisan • Aurian Mage • Bard • Channeller • Dragon Warrior	• Flagellant • Giant (U) • Hollow Man • Nomad • Onaga Manji • Phase Knight	• Ranger • Slayer (U) • Techpriest (U) • Telepath • Untainted (U) • Zealot	Dragon Warrior Skills • Bow and Throwing Skill Tree • Dragon Disciplines Skill Tree • Martial Arts Skill Tree	Untainted Skills • Divine Skill Tree • Void Skill Tree • Wrath Skill Tree	Aurian Mage Skill • Holy Power Skill Tree • Shadow Spells Skill Tree • Nature Forces Skill Tree
(U) = Unfinished

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Passive skill

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Contents

[edit] Description

[edit] Passive Skills Master List

[edit] Development

[edit] References