Skeleton Mage

Skeleton Mages (a.k.a. Skeletal Mages or Returned Mages) are skeletons that utilize magic.

Lore
Skeleton Mages are the animated remains of slain Sorcerers. They wield the forces of elemental magic as they sow death throughout the land. Able to deliver considerable damage from a distance, these undead Mages can be exceptionally dangerous when congregating in large pacts or under the direction of the remains of a particularly powerful caster. Skeleton Mages sometimes lead groups of other skeletons, but in truth, they're no more intelligent than any normal skeleton&mdash;it is only their ability to wield magic that distinguish them.

The Priests of Rathma are likewise able to summon Skeleton Mages from the corpses of long dead Wizards. The priests feel that this is the proof of the dominance of their particular branch of the mystic arts.

At least some Skeletal Mages are capable of speech.

Diablo II
Skeleton Mages first appear in Diablo II. They attack their enemies by shooting elemental energies from their hands. Skeleton Mages can only wield one type of elemental magic: fire, lightning, cold, or poison. By looking at glow of their hands, one can tell which element they wield.

Skeleton Mages are first found in the latter part of Act I. Like with Skeleton Archers, mages are most deadly when they appear in large groups. Maximizing Resistances will greatly decrease damage taken from their attacks. Skeleton Mages themselves do not appear as enemies. However, four variations exist: Returned Mages, Bone Mages, Burning Dead Mages, and Horror Mages. With the exception of Burning Dead Mages, each Skeleton Mage has four different variations: Fire, Cold , Lightning , and Poison.

Burning Dead Mages have no Cold variation, because they were repurposed as Death Mages of Achmel. Returned and Bone Mages wielding Cold and Poison elements aren't used anywhere.

s can raise their own magical skeletons via the Raise Skeletal Mage ability.


 * Returned Mages ( Fire ) can be found in Tamoe Highland.
 * Returned Mages ( Cold ) are unused.
 * Returned Mages ( Lightning ) can be found in Monastery Gate.
 * Returned Mages ( Poison ) are unused.
 * Bone Mages ( Fire ) can be found in Barracks, Jail 1-2.
 * Bone Mages ( Cold ) are unused.
 * Bone Mages ( Lightning ) can be found in Jail 3, Inner Cloister.
 * Bone Mages ( Poison ) are unused.
 * Burning Dead Mages ( Fire ) can be found in Sewers 3.
 * Burning Dead Mages ( Cold ) can be found under the name Death Mage as minions of Achmel The Cursed.
 * Burning Dead Mages ( Lightning ) can be found in Stony Tomb 1.
 * Burning Dead Mages ( Poison ) can be found in Stony Tomb 2.
 * Horror Mages ( Fire ) can be found in Palace Cellar 1.
 * Horror Mages ( Cold ) can be found in Harem 2.
 * Horror Mages ( Lightning ) can be found in Ancient Tunnels, Palace Cellar 3.
 * Horror Mages ( Poison ) can be found in Palace Cellar 2.

Uniques

 * Bone Ash - A Poison Burning Dead Mage found in the, by the altar, near the stairs leading to the Catacombs. Bone Ash is Extra Strong, Cold Enchanted, and Magic Resistant.

Diablo Immortal
A Skeletal Mage boss appears in Diablo Immortal.

Lesser skeletons also appear as Mage enemies, but are likewise referred to as "Skeletal Mages" or "Returned Mages."

Diablo III
In Diablo III, the Skeletal Guardian takes on a similar role as the Skeletal Mage. s retain the Skeletal Mage skill.

Development
Skeleton Mages in Diablo II have four casting sounds titled firemage, castice, castelectric, castpoison.wav but all of them use only firemage.wav.

In v1.00 a Cold Burning Dead Mage could be seen near Radament, however it was replaced by a Cold Horror Mage in the Expansion as the Cold Burning Dead Mage has been repurposed into Death Mage of Achmel The Cursed.