Bash

Bash is a Barbarian Tier 1 skill unlocked at character level 2, which hits targeted enemies for double damage and causes knockback.

Background

Diablo III Skill [e]
Bash Active, 5 ranks
Used by:	Barbarian
Skill Description:
Bash the enemy for X% of weapon damage. Causes Knockback.
Skill Details:
Type:	Direct Damage
Quantity:	% of weapon dmg.
Effect:	Target
School:	Physical
Fury cost:	None
Cast time:	None
Duration:	None
Cooldown:	None
Synergies:	None
Requires:	N/A
Prereq of:	N/A

The Barbarian smites his foes with such force that it sends them toppling backwards.

Skill Design

This notorious Combat skill makes a return in Diablo 3, having the same basic functions as it did in Diablo II. However, this new version is not identical, hitting for 200% weapon damage at rank 1, making the skill a powerful single-target ability that will presumably scale well at higher levels.

Even though Bash scales with weapon damage, the Barbarian chooses a more simple weapon when executing the skill... his bare fist. The Barbarian rears back, winding up for the punch, and delivers a devastating blow to the target. Spamming bash has become difficult, due to the Fury cost and the relatively long "cast time" (~1s).

Since spamming Bash has become hindersome, it can be safely assumed that this skill will no longer cause "Bash-locks", where a player repeatedly spams Bash, causing the enemy to be unable to retaliate. However, the knockback effect of this skill might help you in other ways, for example, to stop the Cultist from becoming a big-ass demon, forcing him to restart the ritual/incantation (assumed).

Skill Rank Table

• Rank 1: Bash the enemy for 200% of weapon damage. Causes Knockback.
• Rank 2: Bash the enemy for 215% of weapon damage. Causes Knockback.
• Rank 3: Bash the enemy for 230% of weapon damage. Causes Knockback. (A)
• Rank 4: Bash the enemy for 245% of weapon damage. Causes Knockback. (A)
• Rank 5: Bash the enemy for 260% of weapon damage. Causes Knockback. (A)

(A) = Assumed

Synergies

• None known.

Skill Rune Effects

• None known.

Development

While Bash was first seen in Diablo 3 at WWI 2008, the skill has a big heritage from Diablo II's Bash. The skill used to be used to "bash-lock" enemies in PvP, and has changed since then.

The first versions, at WWI 2008 and BlizzCon 2008 didn't use knockback at all, it only made the barbarian dash forward, and hit with full weapon damage. The knockback was added for BlizzCon 2009.

Media

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

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

References

• Full Barbarian Skill Trees and Stats
• Bash on the Diablo 2 wiki.