Guide to Top Builds & Skills in Patch 1.0.6 A review of the biggest Diablo III skills for each class, and changes from previous patches

Barbarian Skill Choices in Patches 1.0.5 & 1.0.6

Demon Hunter Skill Choices in Patches 1.0.5 & 1.0.6

Monk Skill Choices in Patches 1.0.5 & 1.0.6

Witch Doctor Skill Choices in Patches 1.0.5 & 1.0.6

Wizard Skill Choices in Patches 1.0.5 & 1.0.6

Skill Selection: Wizards are tied with Witch Doctors as the classes with the most diversity in active skills used. While it may often seem that a few big builds dominate the landscape for Wizards, there are a surprising number of variations within the themes. Whether in the softcore high Paragon Level (PL) group, the softcore low PL set, or even in the hardcore group, there are a large number of different active skills that are picked.

Wizards are tied with Witch Doctors as the classes with the in active skills used. While it may often seem that a few big builds dominate the landscape for Wizards, there are a surprising number of variations within the themes. Whether in the softcore high Paragon Level (PL) group, the softcore low PL set, or even in the hardcore group, there are a large number of different active skills that are picked. To Archon or Not to Archon: One of the major choices for Wizards is whether or not to go with an Archon build. With the reduction in damage and health of Inferno monsters, along with Monster Power 0 for the lowest difficulty, it is now easier for fast moving Wizards to keep the form active. The skill was used by 42% of softcore Wizards back in patch 1.0.4, and it's at 38% usage now in the softcore PL0-49 group. It's substantially more popular in the PL50-100 set, with 63% of them utilizing it. There are just under one-quarter of the hardcore Wizards who put Archon to use, where it holds steady at 24% usage.

One of the major choices for Wizards is whether or not to go with an build. With the reduction in damage and health of Inferno monsters, along with Monster Power 0 for the lowest difficulty, it is now easier for fast moving Wizards to keep the form active. The skill was used by 42% of softcore Wizards back in patch 1.0.4, and it's at 38% usage now in the softcore PL0-49 group. It's substantially more popular in the PL50-100 set, with 63% of them utilizing it. There are just under one-quarter of the hardcore Wizards who put to use, where it holds steady at 24% usage. Freeze! The common Critical Mass (CM) builds with Frost Nova have become even more popular than ever. Frost Nova increased on the softcore side from 36% usage in patch 1.0.4, up to 44% across the board, for both the PL0-49 and PL50+ groups. It's also become more popular on the hardcorde side, going up from 14% to 24% usage. Despite the nerfs that make it harder to keep monsters consistently frozen, more Wizards are investing in the gear that lets them maintain that powerful form of crowd control, which is quite useful when dealing with high Monster Power uber bosses.

The common (CM) builds with have become even more popular than ever. increased on the softcore side from 36% usage in patch 1.0.4, up to 44% across the board, for both the PL0-49 and PL50+ groups. It's also become more popular on the hardcorde side, going up from 14% to 24% usage. Despite the nerfs that make it harder to keep monsters consistently frozen, more Wizards are investing in the gear that lets them maintain that powerful form of crowd control, which is quite useful when dealing with high Monster Power uber bosses. Armor Choices: The exclusive Armor skills that Wizards choose between has been dominated by Energy Armor , but that changed somewhat since patch 1.0.5. Back in 1.0.4 both softcore and hardcore Wizards used Energy Armor almost exclusively, with it taking the top spot in the most used active skills list. That is still true for hardcore Wizards, although even there it slipped from 96% usage down to 84%. For softcore Wizards it's down from 90% usage, to 71% for the PL0-49 group. The PL50+ softcore Wizards are least likely to use it, with it down to 56%. Softcore players are instead choosing Storm Armor : that skill was only used 5% of the time in patch 1.0.4, but 15% of PL0-49 and 39% of PL50-100 Wizards now put it to use. On the hardcore side, Storm Armor was practically never used in patch 1.0.4, but has inched up to 7% usage now.

The exclusive Armor skills that Wizards choose between has been dominated by , but that changed somewhat since patch 1.0.5. Back in 1.0.4 both softcore and hardcore Wizards used almost exclusively, with it taking the top spot in the most used active skills list. That is still true for hardcore Wizards, although even there it slipped from 96% usage down to 84%. For softcore Wizards it's down from 90% usage, to 71% for the PL0-49 group. The PL50+ softcore Wizards are least likely to use it, with it down to 56%. Softcore players are instead choosing : that skill was only used 5% of the time in patch 1.0.4, but 15% of PL0-49 and 39% of PL50-100 Wizards now put it to use. On the hardcore side, was practically never used in patch 1.0.4, but has inched up to 7% usage now. How the Hydra Have Fallen: The multi-headed Hydra was initially a very popular Wizard skill, but it's being eclipsed a little more each patch. It was used by ~49% of softcore Wizards way back in patch 1.0.3. It went down to 36% of softcore Wizards in patch 1.0.4, is now used by 29% of PL0-49 softcore Wizards, and only a paltry 5% of PL50+ ones. Hardcore Wizards still use it extensively, although even there it's dropped a bit, from 66% usage in 1.0.4 to 56% currently.

The multi-headed was initially a very popular Wizard skill, but it's being eclipsed a little more each patch. It was used by ~49% of softcore Wizards way back in patch 1.0.3. It went down to 36% of softcore Wizards in patch 1.0.4, is now used by 29% of PL0-49 softcore Wizards, and only a paltry 5% of PL50+ ones. Hardcore Wizards still use it extensively, although even there it's dropped a bit, from 66% usage in 1.0.4 to 56% currently. Popular Passives: Wizard passives have stayed fairly static. Softcore Wizards invariably go for Critical Mass and Glass Cannon the most, while hardcore Wizards choose Blur and Galvanizing Ward as their top picks. Galvanizing Ward is the third place pick for PL50+ Wizards as well; it is popular in the Archon builds to keep the Armor spell running, since Wizards are staying in Archon form longer than ever. One passive that varies based on Wizard group is Astral Presence : while it's used by right around 32% of both hardcore Wizards and softcore PL0-49 Wizards, only 13% of PL50+ Wizards find it worth using.

Wizard passives have stayed fairly static. Softcore Wizards invariably go for and the most, while hardcore Wizards choose and as their top picks. is the third place pick for PL50+ Wizards as well; it is popular in the builds to keep the Armor spell running, since Wizards are staying in Archon form longer than ever. One passive that varies based on Wizard group is : while it's used by right around 32% of both hardcore Wizards and softcore PL0-49 Wizards, only 13% of PL50+ Wizards find it worth using. Want More? See the Most Popular Wizard Builds & Skills for all the latest data. Check out the Most Popular Wizard Legendaries for the best Wizard gear.

Here's an overview of the most popular skills being used right now, by each of the classes in Diablo III. There are interesting statistics about the skills and builds found by looking at the current Most Popular Builds and Skills charts, and comparing them to the older Patch 1.0.4 Archive The major Diablo III patches often bring class changes, and patch 1.0.5 kept up that tradition. Since the release of patch 1.0.5 on October 16, active Diablo III players have updated their builds and skill choices, to accommodate the many skill and rune changes. Patch 1.0.6 was essentially just a client hotfix so we've grouped the character data together from patches 1.0.5 and 1.0.6, and compared that against patch 1.0.4 data.This also reflects a lot of newly available data: the Most Popular Builds and Skills display was revamped! We now chart: the level 60 characters who have Paragon Levels (PL) of 0-49, and the characters who have reached Paragon Level 50-100. (There are so few hardcore characters at Paragon Level 50 and above, that it isn't worthwhile to break the hardcore characters up into two groups.) We've compared the differences between the two groups of softcore players, and found some fascinating skill choices.Jump past the break for a guide to the popular class skills!There's a look at each of the classes, and a bit of a guide to the popular skills being used right now. The Popular Builds and Skills charts are updated daily, so check back regularly to see new info! We'll have all the data as new patches arrive, with more skill and rune changes.