Cleave

Cleave is a Tier 1 skill unlocked for the Barbarian at character level 2, which hits all enemies 180 degrees in front of the Barbarian.

Background

Diablo III Skill [e]
Cleave Active, 5 ranks
Used by:	Barbarian
Skill Description:
The Barbarian swings at multiple targets at once, dealing X% of normal damage to all targets in front of him.
Skill Details:
Type:	Direct Damage
Quantity:	% of weapon dmg.
Effect:	Semi-Circular AoE
School:	Physical
Fury cost:	Unknown
Cast time:	None
Duration:	None
Cooldown:	None
Synergies:	None
Requires:	N/A
Prereq of:	N/A

The Barbarian swings his weapon with all his might, cleaving in twain any enemies in his path.

Skill Design

A close up of Cleave, notice the red curve representing cleave. The blue "orbs" are from the hits of the frost enchanted axe

Cleave is a good skill to hit multiple enemies, it works with all combination of weapons, including a weapon and a shield, a duel wield combo or one big 2-handed weapon. It is unclear what factors the % damage on Cleave, is it Weapon Damage? or the resulting damage that a normal hit would've done? Make assumptions at your own risk.

With the latest changes in Fury mechanics, this skill would end up generating more Fury than was initially spent.

Here are cleaved Goatmen. You can see the graphic distortion as well as the red lines from swinging a cleave.

Skill Rank Table

• Rank 1: The Barbarian swings at multiple targets at once, dealing 100% of normal damage to each.
• Rank 2: The Barbarian swings at multiple targets at once, dealing 110% of normal damage to each.
• Rank 3: The Barbarian swings at multiple targets at once, dealing 120% of normal damage to each.
• Rank 4: The Barbarian swings at multiple targets at once, dealing 130% of normal damage to each.
• Rank 5: The Barbarian swings at multiple targets at once, dealing 140% of normal damage to each. (A)

(A) = Assumed

Trait Synergies

• None known.

Skill Rune Effects

• None known.

Development

Cleave was introduced in the WWI 2008 gameplay demo, smashing enemies to bits. The skill was been slightly re-balanced between the BlizzCon 2008 and 2009 demos, old Cleave would hit for 130% weapon damage on 2 enemies at rank 1, with weapon damage and maximum number of targets scaling per rank.

Cleave has also changed appearance slightly between the WWI gameplay video and the latest demo. Strangely enough, the animation has been made less overwhelming, only cleaving in one direction, when the older one swung in both directions.

Cleave was probably inspired by WarCraft 3, since the modifier that changes to "hit all enemies in front" is called Cleave.

Media

You can find pictures in the Diablo 3 screenshot and picture gallery:

• Diablo 3 screenshots and pictures
• Cleave-specific gallery contents

• 

  Cleave smash closeup.

• 

  Ghouls being cleaved on a bridge.

• 

  Goatmen being cleaved.

• 

  Improved lighting effects are visible in Aug, 2010.

References

• Full Barbarian Skill Trees and Stats