The '''Witch Doctor''' is a ritualistic voodoo fighter. Hailing from the deep jungles of Sanctuary, the Witch Doctor practices his dark arts. Meditating to access the "Unformed Land" he calls upon the spirits of the past to strike fear and horror in his adversaries. He is even able to reanimate the dead in both human and inhuman bodies to command. Time in the jungle has also allowed this tribalistic warrior to use powders and elixirs in the form of fire and poison to unleash upon the demons. While never doing much of the actual fighting themselves, the Witch Doctor is a formidable foe against the demons that have invaded his home with the spiritual aid of others.
The '''Witch Doctor''' is a ritualistic voodoo fighter. Hailing from the deep jungles of Sanctuary, the Witch Doctor practices his dark arts. Meditating to access the "Unformed Land" he calls upon the spirits of the past to strike fear and horror in his adversaries. He is even able to reanimate the dead in both human and inhuman bodies to command. Time in the jungle has also allowed this tribalistic warrior to use powders and elixirs in the form of fire and poison to unleash upon the demons. While never doing much of the actual fighting themselves, the Witch Doctor is a formidable foe against the demons that have invaded his home with the spiritual aid of others.
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==Skills==
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==Active Skills==
{{Skill Description|1|top
{{Skill Description|1|top
|name = Summon Zombie Dog
|name = Summon Zombie Dog
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{{Clear}}
{{Clear}}
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==Traits==
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==Active Skills==
Because characters in the BlizzCon 2010 demo were already high enough level, exact level requirements for the lowest level traits are unknown at this stage.
Because characters in the BlizzCon 2010 demo were already high enough level, exact level requirements for the lowest level traits are unknown at this stage.
"He dispatched his opponent with terrifying precision, assaulting his victim's mind and body with elixirs and powders that evoked fires, explosions, and poisonous spirits. As if these assaults were not enough, the witch doctor also had at his command the ability to summon undead creatures from the netherworld to rend the flesh from his enemy's body."- Abd al-Hazir
The Witch Doctor is a ritualistic voodoo fighter. Hailing from the deep jungles of Sanctuary, the Witch Doctor practices his dark arts. Meditating to access the "Unformed Land" he calls upon the spirits of the past to strike fear and horror in his adversaries. He is even able to reanimate the dead in both human and inhuman bodies to command. Time in the jungle has also allowed this tribalistic warrior to use powders and elixirs in the form of fire and poison to unleash upon the demons. While never doing much of the actual fighting themselves, the Witch Doctor is a formidable foe against the demons that have invaded his home with the spiritual aid of others.
The Witch Doctor summons a Zombie Dog to aid him. Can have up to X Zombie Dogs active at a time.
Plague of Toads
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Release a handful of toads that deal Poison damage to anything that steps on them.
Passive Skills
Zombie Charger
Requires Level {{{level}}}
A reckless, suicidal zombie charges forth, dealing Poison damage to all enemies in its way.
Corpse Spiders
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Summons spiders to attack nearby enemies.
Haunt
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Haunt an enemy with a spirit, dealing Arcane damage over X seconds. If the target dies while being haunted, the spirit will automatically haunt another nearby target.
Poison Dart
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Fires a deadly poison dart that deals direct Poison damage and additional Poison damage over X seconds.
Grasp of the Dead
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Hands reach out, slowing enemies and dealing damage per second for X seconds.
Hex
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Summon a Fetish Shaman that will hex enemies into chickens. Hexed enemies are unable to perform offensive actions and will take increased damage.
Sacrifice
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Causes a Zombie Dog to explode, dealing damage to all nearby enemies.
Soul Harvest
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Feed on the life force of nearby enemies. Increases spell damage for X seconds for every nearby enemy.
Firebats
Requires Level {{{level}}}
A swarm of fiery bats burn enemies in front of you, dealing Fire damage per second.
Locust Swarm
Requires Level {{{level}}}
A plague of locusts assaults the Witch Doctor's enemies, dealing damage per second and jumping to additional nearby targets.
Acid Cloud
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Acid rains down, dealing initial Poison damage, followed by additional Poison damage per second to enemies who remain in the area.
Firebomb
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Lob an explosive skull that deals Fire damage to all enemies caught in the explosion.
Horrify
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Don a spectral mask that horrifies all nearby enemies, causing them to run in fear for X seconds.
Wall of Zombies
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Zombies erupt from the earth and attack nearby enemies.
Gargantuan
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Summon a large Zombie follower to fight for you.
Mass Confusion
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Incite paranoia in enemies, causing some to fight for the Witch Doctor for X seconds.
Pit of Fire
Requires Level {{{level}}}
A gang of Fetishes go tribal, causing Fire damage to all enemies caught in their ceremony.
Spirit Walk
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Enter the Spirit Realm, allowing unhindered movement for X seconds.
Fetish Army
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Summon an army of Fetishes to fight by your side for X seconds.
Parasite
Requires Level {{{level}}}
Launch a parasite at an enemy, dealing damage over X seconds. If a target dies while under the effects of parasite, a Zombie Dog emerges from the corpse.
Spirit Barrage
Requires Level {{{level}}}
A multitude of spirit bolts bombard enemies in the targeted area, dealing Arcane damage.
Mana: The Witch Doctor is the only class in Diablo III that currently uses Mana. Mana in Diablo III will act very similar to Mana in Diablo II.
Active Skills
Because characters in the BlizzCon 2010 demo were already high enough level, exact level requirements for the lowest level traits are unknown at this stage.
Tier • Requires Level 10 or lower
Toughness Ranks: 5
"These are dangerous times. I have the scars to prove it." - Warmaster Karja
Increases the Witch Doctor's vitality by 20% per point.
Unbreakable Will Ranks: 5
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Increases the Witch Doctor's willpower by 20% per point.
Spirit Vessel Ranks: 5
The spirits take their toll. Best to be ready to pay.
Gain 10/20/30/40/50 mana whenever you pick up a health globe.
Mana Regeneration Ranks: 3
Breathe in. Breathe out. Be restored.
Regenerate X% of maximum mana per second (1% at first point).
Mind and Body Ranks: 3
"My blood knows where it must be. I tell it, it goes". -Zuwadza of the Tribe of Five Hills
Regenerate X% of maximum health per second (1% at first point).
Lucky Ranks: 3
Some people survive on intelligence, others on power, and some are just plain lucky.
Monsters drop more gold
Tier 1 • Requires Level 11
Death Pact Ranks: 3
A soul anchored in this world will not easily drift to the next.
Reduce damage by X% whenever you are below 50% of your maximum health
Tier 2 • Requires Level 15
Ritual of Blood Ranks: 1
"To give of one's self. Is there any greater gift?" - Final words spoken at the Ritual of Blood
50% of mana costs are paid with health
Leader of the Pack Ranks: 1
Establish dominance. They will obey.
Increase spell damage by 5% for every Zombie Dog under your control
Meditation Ranks: 3
The cycle of life returns all things to their origins.
Spirit spells return X% of their mana cost over 10 seconds
Tier 3 • Requires Level 19
Rituals Ranks: 5
Circle of salt. Withermoth's wind.. The spirits hear my call.
Increases your spell power by X% of your vitality (10% at first point).
Blood Rites Ranks: 5
The blood of our foes nurtures and sustains us. It is an essential element of the most powerful voodoo.
Health Globes grant X% spell damage over 10 seconds (5% at first point).
Tier 4 • Requires Level 23
Staff Specialization Ranks: 3
?
Increases damage done by skills while wielding a staff.
Right-Handed Ranks: 3
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Increases damage done by skills while wielding a weapon in the Witch Doctor's right hand.
Tier 5 • Requires Level 27
Assassin Ranks: 1
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Increases Witch Doctor's damage by 100% while wielding a dagger.
Unrelenting Assault Ranks: 3
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A chance that Zombie Dogs will automatically resurrect upon death (10% at first level).
Natural Leader Ranks: 3
?
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Tier 6 • Requires Level 31
Beast Hunter Ranks: 3
?
Increases the Witch Doctor's damage against beasts.
Demonsbane Ranks: 3
?
Increases the Witch Doctor's damage against demons.
Just...Stay...Dead! Ranks: 3
?
Increases the Witch Doctor's damage against undead.
Tier 7 • Requires Level 35
Superior Skill Ranks: 5
?
Increases the Witch Doctor's dexterity.
Spirit Link Ranks: 5
?
A portion of damage taken is absorbed by the Witch Doctor's summons (10% at first level).
Tier • Requires Level 39
Spiritual Attunement Ranks: 5
?
Increases the Witch Doctor's maximum mana.
Cruelty Ranks: 5
?
Increases the Witch Doctor's critical strike chance.
Tier • Requires Level 43
Fetish leader Ranks: 5
?
Increases damage done by Fetish skills.
Plagued Ranks: 3
?
Increases the Witch Doctor's damage done by Animal and Plague skills.
Zombie Master Ranks: 3
?
Increases the Witch Doctor's damage done by Zombie skills.
Tier • Requires Level 47
Ferocity Ranks: 3
?
Increases the damage done by the Witch Doctor's summons.
Quickening Ranks: 3
?
Increases the Witch Doctor's casting speed.
Care of the Master Ranks: 3
?
Increases the health of the Witch Doctor's summons.
Lore
The Witch Doctor belongs to the Tribe of the Five Hills within the Teganze jungles. Many inhabitants of Sanctuary deny their existence, be it form the the tribes reclusiveness or the mere fact that people do not want to believe in these ritualistic inhabitants that will raise the dead from their graves. Through ritualistic and sacrificial ceremonies, the Witch Doctor enters the Mbwiru Eikura where they access their Gods in this unformed land. Believing that this alternate reality is the true nature of Sanctuary, the Witch Doctor draws their strength from this place.
"I came upon this rare display as I ventured deep into the interior of the dense Torajan jungles that cover the southern tip of the great eastern continent, in the vast area known as the Teganze, with the goal of seeking out the tribes that reside there. This area is extremely secluded, and heretofore unseen by foreign eyes. I was fortunate to befriend the witch doctor I saw in battle, and, through him, his tribe: the Tribe of the Five Hills.
The culture of the umbaru of the lower Teganze is fascinating and perplexing to those hailing from more civilized walks of life. For instance, the Tribe of the Five Hills frequently engages in tribal warfare with both the Clan of the Seven Stones and the Tribe of the Clouded Valley, but these are matters of ritual and not of conquest. I had heard tales that these wars are waged in order that the victors may replenish their supply of raw materials for the human sacrifices that their civilization revolves around, and when I timidly asked my hosts more about this topic, I must admit their laughter made me fear for my safety. However, through stumbled attempts at communication of such complex topics as what constitutes heroism and honor in their society, I gathered that only those taken in battle are considered worthy of the ritual sacrifice, much to my relief.
Upon further discussions with my hosts, I discovered that these tribes define themselves by their belief in the Mbwiru Eikura, which roughly translates to "The Unformed Land" (this is an imprecise translation, as this concept is completely foreign to our culture and language). This belief holds that the true, sacred reality is veiled behind the physical one we normally experience. Their vitally important public ceremonies are centered upon sacrifices to the life force that flows from their gods, who inhabit the Unformed Land, into this lesser physical realm.
The witch doctors are finely attuned to this Unformed Land and are able to train their minds to perceive this reality through a combination of rituals and the use of selected roots and herbs found in the jungles. They call the state in which they interact with this other world the Ghost Trance.
Alongside the primacy of the belief in the life force and the Unformed Land, the second most sacred belief of the tribes is their philosophy of self-sacrifice and non-individuality, of suppressing one's self-interest for the good of the tribe. This idea, so foreign to our culture, struck me as something I wished to delve into much more deeply.
Unfortunately, there was intense social upheaval among the tribes due to an incident involving their most current war (inasmuch as I could discern in the ensuing bedlam), and the charged atmosphere warranted my quick departure before I could ask anything further of my hosts." - Abd al-Hazir
Development
The Witch Doctor was one of the two first classes to be unveiled with the announcement of Diablo III at the 2008 WWI. Along with the iconic Barbarian, the Witch Doctor was shown to showcase the diversity of the classes. Despite the Wizard being further in development, the Witch Doctor was shown to have a skills ranging from summoning the undead to casting pure horror in his victims. Soon after, many commented on the many similarities of this class's mechanics to the Necromancer of Diablo II. Blizzard responded by stating that the classes will definitely play differently and possibly leave room for the return of the Necromancer if they wanted to.
Although the Witch Doctor was one of the first classes shown, many of his skills were still going through a lot of change. Not only the looks of the skills but major mechanics were still being worked out. One original concepts for the class was that the Zombie Dog (then named mongrel) skill could have the summons be imbued with a poison or fire skill. However, through testing, they found this mechanic to not have much control and players rarely got the effect they wanted. They changed the system with the involvement of skill runes.
