The '''Wizard''' is a pure [[caster|spellcaster]], harnessing arcane and elemental magic to do his/her biddingvia a devastating array of offensive spells. Similar While the Wizard is thought to be quite similar to the [[Sorcerer]] and [[Sorceress]] of previous Diablo gamesin design, the play style is quite different. Diablo 3's [[end game]] Wizard play puts a much greater emphasis on defensive skills and crowd control spells, and has much less movement speed due to the cooldown limitations on [[teleport]].

==Background=={{Classbox|game= Diablo III|portrait= Wizards.jpg|portrait-width= 200px|name= Wizard|classtype= official|role= [[Caster]]|attrib= [[Willpower]]<!-- Class Skills -->|skilltree1= The resource system, [[Arcane Skill TreePower]]|skilltree2= [[Conjuration Skill Tree]]|skilltree3= [[Storm Skill Tree]]<!-- Background -->|origin= [[Xiansai]]|affiliation= Nonediffers greatly as well. [[Vizjerei]] (former)AP refills very quickly, [[Zann Esu]] (former)|friends= None Known|foes= [[Vizjerei]], [[Yshari Sanctum]], [[Valthek]]}}[[Image:Male Wizard2and Wizard skills use both AP cost and cooldown time as limiting factors.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Male Wizard using [[Wave of Force]]Both can be circumvented by other skills and item affixes.]]The word "wizardArcane Power on Crit" ("APoC") affix is used derogatory a build-changer for rogue most [[Sorcerer]]s and magi that are dangerous to the world at large in the world of [[Sanctuaryend game]]wizards.

==Class Design== {|cellpadding="2" width="250px" align="right" style="border-collapse: collapse; float: right; border: none; background: #2D0606; clear:left; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px; line-height: 10px; font-size: 10px;"!colspan="2" style="text-align: center; line-height: 12px; font-size: 14px;"|'''[[Diablo III Class]]''' |-|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Wizards.jpg|200px]]|-!colspan="2" style="text-align: center; line-height: 14px; font-size: 16px;"| The female Wizard character in |-| [[Skills]]:| [[Wizard Skills]]|-| [[Passives]]:| [[Wizard Passives]]|-| [[Resource]]:| [[Arcane Power]]|-! colspan="2" | Common [[builds]]:|-| colspan="2" | [[Diablo IIICaster]] is from the island , [[Battle mage]].|-! colspan="2" |<center>Background</center>|-| Origin:| Xiansai|-| Affiliation:| None current.<br>[[Vizjerei]] (former),<br>[[Zann Esu]] (former)|-| Friends:| None known|-| Foes:| [[Vizjerei]], [[Yshari Sanctum]], an island to the far north with [[Valthek]]|}  The Wizard is a culture similar to Asia in our worldfast-action, fast-casting, primarily-ranged attacker. The class is not really a "glass cannon," despite having a Passive skill actuall called [[Abd al-HazirGlass Cannon]] writes . In fact, that is one of the main complaints about the class; that they are more of a 'wizard' wreaking havoc mage tank than anything else, who must rely on defensive skills or strong [[crowd control]] and enemy [[debuffs]] to survive.  This is in stark contrast to the Sorcerer and Sorceress from previous games in the series, who could be a bit tanky with the right gear, but who mostly relied on speedy attacks and evasion (mostly via unlimited use of the Teleport skill). (The [[CaldeumDemon Hunter]] actually plays much more like the glass cannon fast-movement mage seen in his previous Diablo titles.) See the [[Writings Wizard skills]] page for a full list of Abd alall Wizard skills and rune effects. As with all classes, the skills are sorted into six categories. Enabling [[Elective Mode]] in the Game Options allows players to choose any skills from any category, rather than being stuck with one from each in the default, noob-Hazirfriendly design. * Refer to Diablo3Ladders.com for a listing of [http: Entry no//www.diablo3ladders.com/skills/mostused/wizard#softcore all Wizard passive skills ranked by popularity]. 0007   {|seventh entry|'''Primary'''<br>• [[Magic Missile]] (1)<br>• [[Shock Pulse]] (3)<br>• [[Spectral Blade]] (11)<br>• [[Electrocute]] (15)| '''Secondary'''<br>• [[Ray of the Frost]] (2)<br>• [[Arcane Orb]] (5)<br>• [[Arcane Torrent]] (12)<br>• [[Disintegrate]] (21)| '''Defensive'''<br>• [[Frost Nova]] (4)<br>• [[Diamond Skin]] (8)<br>• [[Slow Time]] (16)<br>• [[Teleport]] (22)|-| '''Force'''<br>• [[Writings Wave of Abd al-HazirForce]] (9)<br>• [[Energy Twister]] (13)<br>• [[Hydra]] (21)<br>• [[Meteor]] (25)<br>• [[Blizzard]] (27)|'''Conjuration'''<br>• [[Ice Armor]] (14)<br>• [[Storm Armor]] (17)<br>• [[Magic Weapon]] (20)<br>• [[Familiar]] (22)<br>• [[Energy Armor]].(28)

* Refer to Diablo3Ladders.com for a listing of [[Imagehttp:Male_Wizard//www.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Male diablo3ladders.com/skills/mostused/wizard#softcore all Wizard Artwork]passive skills ranked by popularity]Abd al-Hazir is concerned about the young, rebellious and inexperienced wizard wandering the world, using magics she does not understand. He mentioned that certain schools of magic were too dangerous and "those wiser than you or I determined long ago [to forbid] their practice." Primal forces including time warps include the secrets he suspects she gathered from the Ancient Repositories.

===Wizard Traits===During early design passive skills were called "It is my honest hope that this self[[traits]]" and were set to allow 1-styled wizard chooses never 5 points to return to Caldeumbe spent in each. This system was scrapped and simplified shortly before the beta test began. See the [[Wizard traits]] page for full info on what the traits system looked like."

===The Male Diablo 3 WizardLore and Story===The above is mostly the background of the female Wizard. Since it's very specifically a woman, we don't know yet where the male version comes from, his background or motivations.

==Class Design==The Diablo III Wizard is an aggressive archetypal magic wielder founding his powers on hails from the aggressive fierceness far northern island of the storm[[Xiansai]], the arcane which lies in a region culturally and conjurationethnically similar to Asia. Both The Wizards are anything but aged Dumbledore types; in the game fiction the Wizards (male and female wizards ) are portrayed as rebellious, impudent, headstrong, impulsiveand cocky young mages who were too impatient to follow the rules and wait to learn slowly from the elders at the mage academy in [[Caldeum]].  [[Abd al-Hazir]], the scholar and historian responsible for most of the in-game lore released pre-game, wrote about the wizard's time in a mage academy in [[Caldeum]] in his [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Entry no. 0007|seventh entry]].  <blue>This wizard was sent here to spend her formative years under the tutelage of the best mages in the world. Well, it seems they neglected to teach our wizard manners on her native island of Xiansai, for she was a rude and brilliantuncooperative student from the very beginning. Too smart Originally under the guidance of the Zann Esu mage clan, she was eventually handed over to the Vizjerei in the hopes that their strict and arrogant unbending discipline would break her anarchic spirit. Yet even the esteemed Vizjerei instructors were unable to rein her in. She was continually being caught seeking out dangerous and forbidden magics, heedless of the consequences to herself or anyone around her.<br>Although there is no truth to fit the tales that she actually ventured into the authority infamous Bitter Depths below the Sanctum, she was caught in the Ancient Repositories, where the most dangerous incantations are housed for the safety of the sorcerer schools public. When confronted by the great Vizjerei mage Valthek and demanded to account for herself, she brazenly attacked him rather than face the punishment merited by her acts. <br>Exaggerated stories of the battle are already being inflated to mythic proportions by the more rebellious of our city's youth, but suffice it to say that she did not actually best Yshari's most powerful mage in single, honorable combat. The details of the encounter remain unclear, as Valthek has yet to regain consciousness, but it has been verified by reliable sources that she relied on trickery and deceit to bring the great man low. I have also been assured that the extensive property damage was chiefly the result of Valthek's magical prowess, not the upstart wizard's. As to where she is now, no one rightly knows, for she fled the city immediately after the encounter.</blue>  This story built fan expectations that the Wizard would be quite unruly and reckless. Unfortunately, those character traits do not really come through in the game, and even when the game action moves to Caldeum in Act Two, the Wizard does not show any concern or heightened attention in returning to that city.  ==Wizard Style and Appearance== [[mage clanFile:Wiz-fem-02.jpg|thumb|250px|Female wizard: concept art to final in-game.]]The female wizard'sappearance was widely-accepted and non-controversial. She looks quite a bit like her original concept art. Always  ===Male Wizard Controversy=== The male wizard, on the top other hand, had a very controversial reveal. No one thought much of his concept art or paid much attention to his appearance when he debuted as a playable character in the [[BlizzCon 2009]] demo. However, some months later when Blizzard added his in-game model to their skills official wizard page, there was a curious eruption of fan rage. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/male-wizard-in-game-animation-and-ss/]  The primary complaints were that he looked too effeminate, and while there was arguably a homophobic edge to the complaints, the class design was more metrosexual and even smarter less masculine than their teacherssome fans were expecting. People especially hated [[Gear_sets#Retractions_and_Changes|his "starfish" hat]]. * [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/male-wizard-gear-set-preview/ Male Wizard gear set], October 13, 2010, set off the biggest debate of all, about his huge "starfish" hat. ** [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/more-on-the-male-wizard-gear-set/ Many fan complaints and revisions] of his starfish hat.** [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/male-wizard-gear-set-remixes-keep-on-coming/ And yet more fan remakes].** [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/vote-the-wizards-starfish-hat.-yes-or-no/ A vote found very mixed opinions] about the helm, cocky in contrast to the overwhelmingly negative fan comments. [[File:Wiz-male-comparison1.jpg|frame|thumb|200px|Male Wizard concept vs. in-game.]]Blizzard made no substantive comments over the fan reaction to the male wizard's appearance and self assuredif the character changes any in appearance during the rest of the development cycle, no one noticed. A poll on Diablo.IncGamers.com found fan opinions widely split on the character's look.[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/male-wizards-look-your-opinion/] <blockquote>What do you think of the look of the Male Wizard?* 2) It's good, but could be improved. 243 votes, 28.79%* 4) Ugh. I'll be playing the female Wiz. 220 votes, 26.07%* 5) Hate it. J-pop boy-band reject. 140 votes, 16.59%* 1) I love the male Wizard look. 137 votes, 16.23%* 3) I'm indifferent. M'eh. 104 votes, 12.32%Total Votes: 844</blockquote>

Some fans have initially criticized the Wizard for just being the [[Sorceress]] with a new look. [[Jay Wilson]] commented on that [http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?pager.offset=1&cId=3172030&p=1 in an interview with 1up.com] in December 2008.

<blue>Jay Wilson::''"I would respond, "Yeah, you're right; the Wizard is basically a reskinned re-skinned Sorceress." What we couldn't do with the Sorceress very well was break into what I'd call the old-school pen-and-paper magic user. You know the old magic user who could do a variety of things, like conjure up animals out of midair or create clouds of fog and acid or control time or [[Disintegrate|disintegrate things]] or use death spells. They had this wide variety of magic that they could use compared to the more traditional elementalist -- which is what the Sorceress is, meaning fire, ice, and lightning -- who was just more limited. <br>What we really wanted to do is break into this area, while if we just did the Sorceress again, we'd be like, "OK, you have to do fire, ice, and lightning, but where does disintegrate Disintegrate fit? Where does slow time Slow Time fit in?" So we decided [that we'd] just take the same class mechanics, and [that we'd] change the basic concept and name and just have a throwback to that old-school magic user to give ourselves a broader range of magic skills. But there was never a huge desire to go away from the basic gameplay of the Sorceress; there's a lot of repeated skills, and that's intentional.''"</blue> 

==Attributes The early effort in Diablo 3 to correct this imbalance used +%spell damage modifiers. As seen in Blizzcon 2008 and Skills=====Attributes=======Starting Attributes====<!2009 demos, caster weapons had bonuses to spell damage which modified the flat damage figures on spells, in much the same way that equipment and skills interacted for non--*'''[[Strength]]:''' x*'''[[Dexterity]]:''' x*'''[[Vitality]]mage classes. A quote from a 2009 Blizzcon demo report details the system:''' x*'''[[Willpower]]:''' x-->*'''[[Life]]:''' 20*'''[[Mana]]:''' 80<!--

====Attribute Increase Per Level====*'''[[Strength]]:''' x*'''[[Dexterity]]:''' x*'''[[Vitality]]:''' x*'''[[Willpower]]:''' x-->When viewing the listed damage on each spell, it’s important to keep in mind that those are not absolute numbers, in D3. They’re much like weapon damage; modified by your wizard’s attributes, your character level, by other skills, and also by your equipment. Lots of types of items in D3 carry modifiers that boost spell damage, usually by a percentage.

===That system did not survive through to launch, and after further experimentation the Wizard Skills===[[Image:D3_skilltree_wizardshot.jpg|thumb|left|150px|An off-screen still image and Witch Doctor were slotted into the same pool of affixes and weapon functions that the Wizard's skill tree.]]The [[wizard skill]]s are arranged into to other three distinctive skill tree categories:* [[Storm_Skill_Tree|Storm]]* [[Arcane_Skill_Tree|Arcane]]* [[Conjuration_Skill_Tree|Conjuration]]classes got.All three trees have a combination of active This made the game more accessible and passive skills. Active skills are used in combatconsistent across the classes, while but it's not a universally-popular design with many fans wishing the passive skills boost or change spell casters had different priorities in equipment and affixes than the behaviour of the active skillscombat characters.

====Arcane Skills==Wizard Development Pace==The Wizard was the third [[Image:Wiz-slow-time1.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Electrocuteclass]] in a to be revealed, making her debut at [[Slow TimeBlizzCon 2008]] bubble.]]The [[Arcane_Skill_Tree|Arcane tree skills]] consists of many classical pen and paper RPGs, including time distortions, several months after the game's initial reveal in June at the [[DisintegrateParis WWI]], . Later in development Blizzard admitted that the Barbarian and other magical forces Wizard were by far the most polished classes at launch. Despite that are not related they chose to elements like Fire, Ice, Lightning. This tree is also good at enhancing or manipulating other spells known by debut with the Wizard.<div style="clear:both;"></div>====Storm Skills====[[Image:Wiz-frost-nova1.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Frost NovaBarbarian]]]]The and [[Storm_Skill_Tree|Storm tree skillsWitch Doctor]] specialize in since the power WD was more of an original character type. This was a mixed blessing since many fans were unhappy that the heavensNecromancer was not coming back, enabling but when the wizard to wield electrical energy and casting forth Wizard debuted just months later, the fierce cold of a blizzard accompanied by class was clearly far more developed than the harsh freezing wind. The storm elements also protect and enhance the armour and the power of a wizardWD, with many more functional skills.<div style="clear:both;"></div>

====Conjuration Skills====[[Image:Wiz-spectral-blade1The Wizard's resource took longer to nail down.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Spectral Blade]]]]The [[Conjuring_Skill_Tree|Conjuring tree skills]] summons class used Mana as a placeholder resource in the Blizzcon 2008 and 2009 demos, even after Blizzard had announced, in protection or offence from other planes late 2009, that Mana was not going to be the final version of existencethe class' resource. This is where The system evolved further over the classic next couple of years, with [[HydraInstability]] spell is locatedthe resource for a time, as well as the powerful until [[meteorArcane Power]]was implemented and perfected. The tree can also be used to increase or modify other spells, similarly to the Arcane tree[http://diablo.incgamers.<div style="clear:both;"><com/blog/comments/blizzcon-2010-hand-on-blascid/div>]

Image:Mana-orb1.jpg|[[Mana Globe]] in a [[Experience#Level_Up_Bonus|lvllevel-up]] explosion.

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