Strafe

Active Skill · Archery · Demon Hunter

5 Runes
From level 19

Effect

Cost: 12 Hatred

Shoot at random nearby enemies for 675% weapon damage while moving at 75% of normal movement speed.

Requires Weapon

Runes

5 Runes

Icy Trail

from level 24 · Cold damage · Proc coefficient 0.25

Leave an icy trail in your wake that deals 300% weapon damage as Cold over 3 seconds and Chills enemies for 3 seconds.
Drifting Shadow

from level 29 · Lightning damage · Proc coefficient 0.25

Movement speed increased to 100% of normal running speed while strafing.

Strafe's damage turns into Lightning.
Stinging Steel

from level 37 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 0.25

Throw out knives rather than arrows that deal an extra 140% damage on Critical Hits.
Rocket Storm

from level 50 · Fire damage · Proc coefficient 0.2

In addition to regular shots, shoot off homing rockets for 130% weapon damage as Fire.
Demolition

from level 56 · Fire damage · Proc coefficient 0.2

Throw out bouncy grenades that explode for 460% weapon damage as Fire to enemies within 9 yards.

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.

Strafe

Strafe combines damage and movement in a single skill: while firing you can move freely, peppering random nearby enemies as you go. That makes it the ideal foundation for mobile speed builds where you don't want to stand still but plow through whole areas while fighting. The low Hatred cost per tick supports this nonstop playstyle.

Drifting Shadow is especially popular, since your movement speed is raised to its normal value, letting you race through the world without the usual speed tradeoff – perfect for efficient farming. If you want more single-hit punch, Stinging Steel throws knives with a hefty crit bonus. So depending on the rune you choose between maximum mobility and deliberately higher damage on critical hits.

Demolition, Icy Trail and Rocket Storm

Beyond the two runes named above there are three more:

Icy Trail (level 24): you leave a trail of frost that deals 300% weapon damage as Cold over 3 seconds and Chills enemies. Chilled enemies meet the condition of passives such as Cull the Weak.
Rocket Storm (level 50): homing rockets fly alongside your regular shots for 130% weapon damage as Fire.
Demolition (level 56): instead of arrows, bouncy grenades explode for 460% Fire damage within 9 yards.

In practice, Drifting Shadow dominates, with Rocket Storm showing up now and then.

K'mar Tenclip and Mantle of Channeling

The hand crossbow K'mar Tenclip gives Strafe the Drifting Shadow effect permanently. You move at full speed and the rune slot is free – for Rocket Storm, for example. Mantle of Channeling grants 20–25% more damage and 25% less damage taken while you channel Strafe.

Gears of Dreadlands: Strafe fires your primary skill

With 4 pieces of Gears of Dreadlands, Strafe shots automatically fire your last used primary skill, and you gain 60% damage reduction while strafing and for 5 seconds after. The 6-piece bonus raises primary skill damage by 27,500%. That explains why Hungering Arrow so often appears next to Strafe: it is the primary skill Strafe carries along.

by eRnstl