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The Witch Doctor is one of the first two characters confirmed to be in the game by Blizzard, and is the second character in the gameplay video. The Witch Doctor appears to have a similar gameplay style to Diablo II's Necromancer, with some key differences. The Witch Doctor summons, casts spells, and can beef up the summoned pets with spells. Witch Doctors use mana.
Builds and Guides
Please use our Witch Doctor forum to hash out the details of any builds. Once a build is theorycrafted and tested, feel free to post it here. Ideally, build posts would include significant commentary about the skills used, choices made, etc.
Theorycraft
Please post any class-specific theory that isn't included in Blizzard's documentation. Similar to the build section, use the forums for the preliminary discussion, and post here once the details are known and agreed-upon.
Skills
Information on this page is based on a level 60 character, and was last updated April 2012.
Primary
| Primary |
Unlock Level |
Cost |
Cooldown |
Description
|
| Poison Dart |
1 |
10 Mana |
|
Shoot a deadly Poison Dart that deals 100% weapon damage as Poison and an additional 40% weapon damage as Poison over 2 seconds.
|
|
6 |
|
Splinters |
Shoot 3 Poison Darts that deal 60% weapon damage as Poison each.
|
|
13 |
|
Numbing Dart |
Toxins in the Poison Dart reduce the target's movement speed by 60% for 2 seconds.
|
|
25 |
|
Spined Dart |
Gain 24 Mana every time a Poison Dart hits an enemy.
|
|
43 |
|
Flaming Dart |
Ignite the dart so that it deals 160% weapon damage as Fire at once.
|
|
52 |
|
Snake to the Face |
Transform your Poison Dart into a snake that has a 25% chance to Stun the enemy for 2 seconds.
|
| Corpse Spiders |
3 |
5 Mana |
|
Throw a jar with 4 spiders that attack nearby enemies for 16% weapon damage as Physical before dying.
|
|
9 |
|
Leaping Spiders |
Summon jumping spiders that leap up to 25 yards to reach their target and attack for 19% weapon damage as Physical.
|
|
18 |
|
Spider Queen |
You may only have one spider queen summoned at a time.
|
|
33 |
|
Widowmakers |
Summon widowmaker spiders that return 3 Mana to you per hit.
|
|
45 |
|
Medusa Spiders |
Summon paralyzing spiders that have a 25% chance to Slow enemies' movement by 60% with every attack.
|
|
55 |
|
Blazing Spiders |
Summon fire spiders that deal 21% weapon damage as Fire.
|
| Plague of Toads |
11 |
34 Mana |
|
Release a handful of toads that deal 130% weapon damage as Poison to enemies they come in contact with.
|
|
17 |
|
Explosive Toads |
Mutate to fire bullfrogs that explode for 169% weapon damage as Fire.
|
|
24 |
|
Toad of Hugeness |
Summon a giant toad that swallows enemies whole for up to 5 seconds, digesting for 20% of your weapon damage per second as Physical. Adds a 5 second cooldown to Plague of Toads.
|
|
35 |
|
Rain of Toads |
Cause toads to rain from the sky that deal 130% weapon damage as Poison to enemies in the area over 2 seconds.
|
|
51 |
|
Addling Toads |
Mutate to yellow frogs that deal 130% weapon damage as Poison and have a 15% chance to Confuse affected enemies for 4 seconds.
|
|
54 |
|
Toad Affinity |
Removes the Mana cost of Plague Toads.
|
| Firebomb |
21 |
10 Mana |
|
Lob an explosive skull that deals 85% weapon damage as Fire to all enemies within 8 yards.
|
|
28 |
|
Flash Fire |
Rather than exploding for area damage, each Firebomb can bounce to up to 6 additional targets. Damage is reduced by 15% per bounce.
|
|
31 |
|
Roll the Bones |
Allows the skull to bounce up to 2 times.
|
|
38 |
|
Fire Pit |
The explosion creates a pool of fire that deals 8% weapon damage per second as Fire for 3 seconds.
|
|
47 |
|
Pyrogeist |
Create a column of flame that spews fire at the closest enemy for 140% weapon damage as Fire over 3 seconds.
|
|
60 |
|
Ghost Bomb |
In addition to the base explosion, the skull creates a larger blast that deals an additional 20% weapon damage as Fire to all enemies within 28 yards.
|
Secondary
| Secondary |
Unlock Level |
Cost |
Cooldown |
Description
|
| Grasp of the Dead |
2 |
122 Mana |
8 seconds |
Ghoulish hands reach out from the ground, slowing enemy movement by 60% and dealing 20% weapon damage as Physical for 8 seconds.
|
|
7 |
|
Groping Eels |
Increases the damage done to 26% weapon damage as Physical.
|
|
15 |
|
Unbreakable Grasp |
Increases the Slow amount to 80%.
|
|
25 |
|
Rain of Corpses |
Corpses fall from the sky, dealing 76% weapon damage as Physical to nearby enemies.
|
|
28 |
|
Desperate Grasp |
Reduces the cooldown of Grasp of the Dead to 6 seconds.
|
|
53 |
|
Death Is Life |
Enemies who die while in the area of Grasp of the Dead have a 5% chance to produce a health globe.
|
| Firebats |
5 |
122 Mana |
|
Call forth a swarm of fiery bats to burn enemies in front of you for 150% weapon damage as Fire.
|
|
11 |
|
Dire Bats |
Summon fewer but larger bats that travel up to 40 yards and hit for 220% weapon damage as Fire.
|
|
19 |
|
Vampire Bats |
Gain 2.5% of damage done by the bats as Life.
|
|
29 |
|
Plague Bats |
Diseased bats fly towards the enemy and infect them. Damage is slow at first, but can increase over time to a maximum of 225% weapon damage as Poison.
|
|
45 |
|
Hungry Bats |
Rapidly summon bats that seek out nearby enemies and engulf them in flames for 280% weapon damage per second as Fire.
|
|
56 |
|
Cloud of Bats |
Call forth a swirl of bats that damage nearby enemies for 195% weapon damage as Fire. The damage of the bats increases by 10% every second, up to a maximum of 50%.
|
| Haunt |
12 |
98 Mana |
|
Haunt an enemy with a spirit, dealing 575% weapon damage as Arcane over 15 seconds. If the target dies, the spirit will haunt another nearby enemy.
|
|
18 |
|
Consuming Spirit |
The spirit returns 155 Life per second.
|
|
23 |
|
Resentful Spirit |
Summon a vengeful spirit that does 0% weapon damage as Arcane over 0 seconds.
|
|
35 |
|
Lingering Spirit |
If there are no targets left, the spirit will linger for up to 10 seconds looking for new enemies.
|
|
48 |
|
Grasping Spirit |
Slow the movement of haunted targets by 30%.
|
|
57 |
|
Draining Spirit |
The spirit returns 8.2 Mana per second.
|
| Locust Swarm |
21 |
392 Mana |
|
Unleash a plague of locusts that swarms enemies, dealing 320% weapon damage as Poison over 8 seconds. The locusts will jump to additional nearby enemies.
|
|
27 |
|
Pestilence |
Locust Swarm has a 100% chance to jump to two additional targets instead of one.
|
|
33 |
|
Devouring Swarm |
Gain 37 Mana for every enemy affected by the swarm.
|
|
37 |
|
Cloud of Insects |
Increases the duration of the swarm to 10 seconds.
|
|
42 |
|
Diseased Swarm |
Enemies killed by Locust Swarm leave behind a cloud of locusts that deal 25% weapon damage as Poison. This cloud of locusts lingers for 3 seconds.
|
|
59 |
|
Searing Locusts |
Engulf the target with burning locusts that deal 416% weapon damage as Fire over 8 seconds.
|
Defensive
| Defensive |
Unlock Level |
Cost |
Cooldown |
Description
|
| Summon Zombie Dogs |
4 |
49 Mana |
60 seconds |
Summon 3 Zombie Dogs from the depths to fight by your side. Each dog deals 9% of your weapon damage as Physical per hit.
|
|
12 |
|
Rabid Dogs |
Your Zombie Dogs gain an infectious bite that deals 9% of your weapon damage as Poison over 3 seconds.
|
|
19 |
|
Final Gift |
Your Zombie Dogs have a 15% chance to leave behind a health globe when they die.
|
|
28 |
|
Life Link |
Your Zombie Dogs absorb 10% of all damage done to you.
|
|
40 |
|
Burning Dogs |
Your Zombie Dogs burst into flames, burning nearby enemies for 2% of your weapon damage as Fire.
|
|
54 |
|
Leeching Beasts |
Your Zombie Dogs gain 50% of damage they deal as Life, half of which heals you.
|
| Horrify |
8 |
37 Mana |
20 seconds |
Don a spectral mask that horrifies all enemies within 12 yards, causing them to run in Frear for 4 seconds.
|
|
14 |
|
Phobia |
Increases the duration horrified enemies run in Fear to 6 seconds.
|
|
21 |
|
Stalker |
Increases movement speed by 20% for 4 seconds after casting Horrify.
|
|
34 |
|
Face of Death |
Increases the radius of Horrify to 24 yards.
|
|
44 |
|
Frightening Aspect |
Gain 100% additional Armor for 8 seconds after casting Horrify.
|
|
56 |
|
Ruthless Terror |
Gain 27 Mana for every horrified enemy.
|
| Spirit Walk |
16 |
49 Mana |
15 seconds |
Leave your physical body and enter the spirit realm for 2 seconds. While in the spirit realm, your movement is unhindered.
Your link to the spirit realm will end if you cast any spell or your physical body sustains 50% of your maximum Life in damage.
|
|
23 |
|
Jaunt |
Increases the duration of Spirit Walk to 3 seconds.
|
|
29 |
|
Honored Guest |
Gain 15% of your maximum Mana every second while Spirit Walk is active.
|
|
38 |
|
Umbral Shock |
When Spirit Walk ends, your physical body erupts for 85% weapon damage as Fire to all enemies within 10 yards.
|
|
47 |
|
Severance |
Damage enemies you walk through in spirit form for 100% weapon damage as Physical.
|
|
53 |
|
Healing Journey |
Gain 7% of your maximum Life every second while Spirit Walk is active.
|
| Hex |
22 |
49 Mana |
10 seconds |
Summon a Fetish Shaman for 8 seconds that will hex enemies into chickens. Hexed enemies are unable to perform offensive actions and take 10% additional damage.
|
|
26 |
|
Hedge Magic |
The Fetish Shaman will periodically heal allies for 1861 Life.
|
|
31 |
|
Jinx |
Hexed targets take 20% additional damage.
|
|
36 |
|
Angry Chicken |
Transform into an angry chicken for up to 5 seconds that can explode for 215% weapon damage as Physical to all enemies within 12 yards.
|
|
43 |
|
Painful Transformation |
Hex causes the target to Bleed for 12% weapon damage as Physical.
|
|
58 |
|
Unstable Form |
Hexed targets explode when killed, dealing 135% weapon damage as Poison to all enemies within 8 yards.
|
Terror
| Terror |
Unlock Level |
Cost |
Cooldown |
Description
|
| Soul Harvest |
9 |
59 Mana |
15 seconds |
Feed on the life force of up to 5 enemies within 16 yards. Gain 130 intelligence for each affected enemy. This effect lasts 30 seconds.
|
|
15 |
|
Swallow Your Soul |
Gain 39 Mana for every enemy harvested.
|
|
21 |
|
Siphon |
Gain 2171 Life for every enemy harvested.
|
|
32 |
|
Languish |
Reduces the movement speed of harvested enemies by 60% for 3 seconds.
|
|
39 |
|
Soul to Waste |
Increase the duration of Soul Harvest's effect to 60 seconds.
|
|
49 |
|
Vengeful Spirit |
Harvested enemies also take 70% weapon damage as Physical.
|
| Sacrifice |
13 |
None |
Banish your Zombie Dogs and cause them to explode, each dealing 200% of your weapon damage as Physical to all enemies within 12 yards. |
|
|
18 |
|
Black Blood |
Ichor erupts from the corpses of the Zombie Dogs and Slows enemies by 60% for 8 seconds.
|
|
24 |
|
Next of Kin |
Each Zombie Dog you sacrifice has a 35% chance to resurrect as a new Zombie Dog.
|
|
36 |
|
Pride |
Regain 294 Mana for each Zombie Dog you sacrifice.
|
|
41 |
|
For the Master |
Gain 6202 Life for each Zombie Dog you sacrifice.
|
|
51 |
|
Provoke the Pack |
Each sacrificed Zombie Dog increases your damage by 5% for 30 seconds.
|
| Mass Confusion |
22 |
74 Mana |
60 seconds |
Incite paranoia in enemies, confusing them and causing some to fight for you for 12 seconds.
|
|
26 |
|
Unstable Realm |
Reduces the cooldown of Mass Confusion to 45 seconds.
|
|
34 |
|
Devolution |
Enemies killed while Confused have a 50% chance of spawning a Zombie Dog.
|
|
43 |
|
Mass Hysteria |
Up to 6 enemies who aren't Confused are Stunned for 3 seconds.
|
|
46 |
|
Paranoia |
All enemies in the area of Mass Confusion take 20% additional damage for 12 seconds.
|
|
54 |
|
Mass Hallucination |
Amid the confusion, a giant spirit rampages through enemies, dealing 22% weapon damage per second as Physical to enemies it passes through.
|
Decay
| Decay |
Unlock Level |
Cost |
Cooldown |
Description
|
| Zombie Charger |
14 |
140 Mana |
|
Call forth a reckless, suicidal zombie that deals 205% weapon damage as Poison to all enemies in its path before decomposing.
|
|
21 |
|
Leperous Zombie |
The Zombie Charger leaves behind a cloud of noxious vapors that deals 25% weapon damage as Poison to enemies caught in it.
|
|
27 |
|
Undeath |
If the Zombie Charger kills any enemies, it will reanimate and charge nearby enemies for 205% weapon damage as Poison. This effect can repeat up to 2 times.
|
|
33 |
|
Wave of Zombies |
Summon 3 Zombie Chargers that each deal 72% weapon damage as Poison.
|
|
42 |
|
Explosive Beast |
Summon an explosive Zombie Dog that streaks toward your target before exploding, dealing 236% weapon damage as Fire to all enemies within 9 yards.
|
|
54 |
|
Zombie Bears |
Summon zombie bears that stampede towards your target. Each bear deals 236% weapon damage as Poison to enemies in the area.
|
| Spirit Barrage |
17 |
108 Mana |
|
Bombard a target with a spirit blast that deals 190% weapon damage as Physical.
|
|
23 |
|
The Spirit Is Willing |
Gain 44 Mana every time Spirit Barrage hits.
|
|
32 |
|
Well of Souls |
An additional 3 spirits seek out other targets and deal 30% weapon damage as Physical.
|
|
37 |
|
Phantasm |
Summon a spectre for 5 seconds that deals 45% weapon damage as Physical to all enemies within 10 yards.
|
|
44 |
|
Phlebotomize |
Regain 3% of damage dealt with Spirit Barrage as Life.
|
|
59 |
|
Manitou |
Summon a spectre for 20 seconds that hovers over you, unleashing spirit bolts at nearby enemies for 28% weapon damage as Physical.
|
| Acid Cloud |
22 |
172 Mana |
|
Cause acid to rain down, dealing an initial 100% weapon damage as Poison, followed by 75% weapon damage as Poison over 3 seconds to enemies who remain in the area.
|
|
26 |
|
Acid Rain |
Increases the initial area of effect of Acid Cloud to 24 yards.
|
|
30 |
|
Lob Blob Bomb |
The acid on the ground forms into a slime that irradiates nearby enemies for 25% weapon damage as Poison. The slime dissipates after 5 seconds.
|
|
39 |
|
Slow Burn |
Increases the duration of the acid pools left behind to 6 seconds.
|
|
46 |
|
Kiss of Death |
Spit a cloud of acid that inflicts 110% weapon damage as Poison, followed by 82% weapon damage as Poison to enemies who remain in the area.
|
|
55 |
|
Corpse Bomb |
Raise a corpse from the ground that explodes for 200% weapon damage as Poison to enemies in the area.
|
| Wall of Zombies |
28 |
103 Mana |
25 seconds |
Raise a line of zombies from the ground that attacks nearby enemies for 80% weapon damage as Physical for 5 seconds.
|
|
32 |
|
Barricade |
Increases the width of the Wall of Zombies. The zombies will attack for 80% weapon damage as Physical.
|
|
35 |
|
Unrelenting Grip |
Your Wall of Zombies will Slow the movement of enemies by 60% for 5 seconds.
|
|
41 |
|
Creepers |
Up to 3 zombies will emerge from the ground and attack nearby enemies for 25% of your weapon damage as Physical per attack.
|
|
49 |
|
Pile On |
Summon a tower of zombies that falls over, dealing 765% weapon damage as Physical to any enemies it hits and knocks them back.
|
|
60 |
|
Dead Rush |
Zombies crawl out of the ground and run in all directions, dealing 445% weapon damage as Physical to nearby enemies.
|
Voodoo
| Voodoo |
Unlock Level |
Cost |
Cooldown |
Description
|
| Gargantuan |
19 |
147 Mana |
60 seconds |
Summon a Gargantuan zombie to fight for you. The Gargantuan attacks for 25% of your weapon damage as Physical.
|
|
22 |
|
Humongoid |
The Gargantuan gains the Cleave ability, allowing its attacks to hit multiple targets for 32% of your weapon damage as Physical.
|
|
29 |
|
Restless Giant |
20% movement speed, 35% attack speed, 200% Physical damage
|
|
39 |
|
Wrathful Protector |
Summon a more powerful Gargantuan that only lasts for 15 seconds. The Gargantuan's fists burn with fire, dealing an additional 55% of your weapon damage as Fire and knocking enemies back.
|
|
48 |
|
Big Stinker |
The Gargantuan is surrounded by a poison cloud that deals 15% weapon damage as Poison per second to nearby enemies.
|
|
56 |
|
Bruiser |
The Gargantuan gains the ability to periodically slam enemies, dealing 100% of your weapon damage as Physical and stunning them for 3 seconds.
|
| Big Bad Voodoo |
25 |
|
120 seconds |
Conjure a Fetish that begins a ritual dance that increases the attack speed and movement speed of all nearby allies by 20% for 20 seconds.
|
|
31 |
|
Jungle Drums |
Increases the duration of the ritual to 30 seconds.
|
|
37 |
|
Rain Dance |
The ritual restores 122 Mana per second while standing in the ritual area.
|
|
44 |
|
Slam Dance |
The Fetish increases the damage of all nearby allies by 30%.
|
|
50 |
|
Ghost Trance |
The ritual heals all nearby allies for 5% of their maximum Life per second.
|
|
58 |
|
Boogie Man |
Enemies who die in the ritual area have a 50% chance to resurrect as a Zombie Dog.
|
| Fetish Army |
30 |
|
120 seconds |
Summon an army of dagger-wielding Fetishes to fight by your side for 20 seconds. The Fetishes attack for 20% of your weapon damage as Physical.
|
|
34 |
|
Fetish Ambush |
Each Fetish deals 250% weapon damage as Physical to any nearby enemy as it is summoned.
|
|
40 |
|
Devoted Following |
Decreases the cooldown of Fetish Army to 90 seconds.
|
|
46 |
|
Legion of Daggers |
Increases number of dagger-wielding Fetishes summoned by 3.
|
|
52 |
|
Tiki Torchers |
Summon an additional 2 Fetish casters who breathe fire in a cone in front of them that deals 15% of your weapon damage as Fire.
|
|
60 |
|
Head Hunters |
Summon an additional 2 Hunter Fetishes that shoot blowdarts at enemies, dealing 20% of your weapon damage as Poison.
|
Passive Skills
| Passive Skills |
Unlock Level |
Description
|
| Circle of Life |
10 |
Whenever an enemy dies within 12 yards, there is a 5% chance that a Zombie Dog will automatically emerge. The range of this effect is increased by items that increase your gold pickup radius.
|
| Jungle Fortitude |
10 |
Reduces all damage taken by you and your pets by 20%.
|
| Spiritual Attunement |
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.
|
| Gruesome Feast |
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.
|
| Bad Medicine |
20 |
Whenever you deal Poison damage to an enemy, their damage is reduced by 20% for 3 seconds.
|
| Blood Ritual |
20 |
15% of Mana costs are paid with Life. In addition, you regenerate 1% of your maximum Life per second.
|
| Zombie Handler |
24 |
You can have 4 Zombie Dogs summoned at one time. The health of your Zombie Dogss and Gargantuan is increased by 20%.
|
| Pierce the Veil |
27 |
All of your damage is increased by 20%, but your Mana costs are increased by 30%.
|
| Fetish Sycophants |
30 |
Whenever you cast a physical realm spell, you have a 3% 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
|
| Spirit Vessel |
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 3 seconds and heal to 10% of your maximum Life. This effect cannot occur more than once every 90 seconds.
|
| Rush of Essence |
36 |
Spirit spells return 30% of their Mana cost over 10 seconds.
Spirit spells are: Haunt, Horrify, Mass Confusion, Soul Harvest, Spirit Barrage, Spirit Walk
|
| Vision Quest |
40 |
Any time you have 4 or more skills on cooldown, your Mana regeneration is increased by 300%.
|
| Fierce Loyalty |
45 |
All your pets get 100% of the benefit of your Thorns and Life regeneration items.
|
| Grave Injustice |
50 |
Whenever an enemy dies within 8 yards, regain 1% 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.
|
| Tribal Rites |
55 |
The cooldowns of your Fetish Army, Big Bad Voodoo, and Hex abilities are reduced by 25%.
|
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