Impale

Active Skill · Secondary · Demon Hunter

5 Runes
From level 2

Effect

Cost: 20 Hatred

Throw a knife that impales an enemy for 750% weapon damage.

Runes

5 Runes

Impact

from level 7 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 1

The impact causes Knockback and has a 100% chance to Stun for 1.5 seconds.
Chemical Burn

from level 15 · Fire damage · Proc coefficient 0.5

The enemy also burns for 500% weapon damage as Fire over 2 seconds.
Overpenetration

from level 28 · Cold damage · Proc coefficient 0.4

The knife pierces through all enemies in a straight line for Cold damage.
Ricochet

from level 53 · Lightning damage · Proc coefficient 0.4

The knife ricochets to 2 additional nearby enemies within 20 yards of each other.

Impale's damage turns into Lightning.
Grievous Wounds

from level 58 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 1

Critical Hits deal 330% additional damage.

The proc coefficient scales the chance of on-hit effects (e.g. legendary powers, gems, Life per Hit) for each hit of the skill. Game files, version 2.8.0.

Impale

Impale is a hard-hitting Hatred spender that hurls a single knife at one enemy with tremendous force. The skill lives on raw per-throw damage, making it the heart of many single-target builds where you focus on cutting down dangerous foes and bosses. Since each throw costs Hatred, you pair it with a reliable generator.

Grievous Wounds is the obvious pick for such setups, since critical hits deliver a hefty bonus on top – perfect for a profile built around high crit chance. If you want to hit whole groups instead, Ricochet makes the dagger bounce to additional foes and switches it to Lightning, keeping the skill useful in packs. So depending on the rune you choose between maximum single-target damage and area coverage.

Overpenetration, Impact and Chemical Burn

In practice, Impale is mostly played with Overpenetration (level 28): the knife pierces through every enemy in a straight line and deals Cold damage. Two early runes:

Impact (level 7): hits knock enemies back and have a 100% chance to Stun them for 1.5 seconds.
Chemical Burn (level 15): the target also burns for 500% weapon damage as Fire over 2 seconds.

Impale itself is available from level 2; the base throw deals 750% weapon damage for 20 Hatred.

The Shadow's Mantle

This set changes Impale fundamentally. With 2 pieces its damage rises by 6000% as long as you wield a melee weapon. With 4 pieces, Shadow Power gains every rune effect and lasts forever. The 6-piece bonus adds 120,000% weapon damage to the first enemy hit and 40,000% to every further one – so with Overpenetration the whole line benefits.

Items

Karlei's Point (dagger): 300–375% more damage and 15 Hatred back when you hit an enemy that is already Impaled.
Holy Point Shot (quiver): two additional knives and 75–100% more damage.
Chain of Shadows (belt): after Impale, Vault costs nothing for 2 seconds.

In the Embodiment of the Marauder set, Sentries cast Impale at the same time as you. Typical partners are Shadow Power, Smoke Screen, Bolas and the passive Ambush.

by eRnstl