Monk Skills Preview

Editor's Note: This is a "live report" that will be progressively updated as matters develop at BlizzCon 2009.

Just like each playable class in the game, the Monk has three skill trees, but so far they are unnamed in the BlizzCon demo and labeled "A," "B," and "C." Starting off you have access to all three skill trees, and within those six abilities are immediately available.

The Combo skills that are a clear shout back to the Assassin's Martial Arts skills with three build-up hits, except taken to a new level. We get more variety in the effects each combo skill has for each of its hits. Interestingly, these are spread across two skill trees rather than being kept in one, leaving us to speculate more on the relationship between skills of the same tree.

Skill Tree A
A Force Without Thought (Passive)
Counterattack enemies without interrupting the normal flow of your attacks. When you dodge you automatically counterattack the attacker for 30% normal weapon damage.
Mana Cost: 0 (Passive)

Seven-Sided Strike
Dash at your enemies, striking 6 times in succession for 50% of weapon damage.
Mana Cost: 30

Way of the Hundred Fists (Combo Skill)
Fast series of attacks that strikes enemies in front of you.

• First Hit: A short-ranged dashing attack that deals 100% weapon damage.
• Second Hit: Attacks rapidly 6 times for 8% weapon damage.
• Third Hit: Attack all enemies near the Monk for 80% weapon damage.

Inner Sanctuary
Creates a protected region on the ground for 6 seconds that cannot be passed by enemies.
Mana Cost: 24

Skill Tree B
Crippling Wave (Combo Skill)
Light attacks that apply a series of increasingly debilitating debuffs.

• First Hit: 50% Weapon Damage. Target's movement speed reduced 50% for 2 seconds.
• Second Hit: 50% Weapon Damage. Enemy's damage reduced 25% and take 25% more damage from attacks.
• Third Hit: 60% Weapon Damage. Debuffs refreshed on all targets.

Exploding Palm (Combo Skill)
Quick successive attacks ending in deadly "Exploding Palm."

• First Hit: 40% Weapon Damage.
• Second Hit: 60% Weapon Damage.
• Third Hit: Target bleeds 80 damage over 7 seconds. If it dies, it explodes and deals 60~100% of its maximum health [in splash damage].
  
  

Skill Tree C
Impenetrable Defense
Momentarily turn weapons into an impenetrable wall that rebounds enemy ranged attacks, grants 100% [chance to] dodge versus melee attacks.
Mana Cost: 5

Radiant Visage
A flash of light sears the eyes of all enemies within 20 feet, blinding them so they cannot see for 2~5 seconds. If attacked, they fight back with 42% reduced chance to hit.
Mana Cost: 15
Rank: 2

Skill runes are again disabled in the BlizzCon demo.