Skeleton

"I am at a loss to explain the average skeleton's somewhat ludicrous mental predisposition, however. Perhaps the implausibility of its own existence makes the skeleton think it hilarious to hide in a barrel, cackling intermittently for some three hundred years until a victim happens by?"

- Abd al-Hazir Skeletons, formally classified as "Ossium Animatum," and otherwise referred to as revenants are a type of undead construct.

Lore
"During the last days of King Leoric's reign, even the skeletons of the ancient dead could not rest. They took up their broken armor and weapons once more -- ready to cut down anything that yet drew breath. Though wasted and fragile, these creatures possess a twisted cleverness that makes them quite formidable."

- Deckard Cain

Fierce undead warriors, skeletons are the remains of warriors who either died as soldiers in some dark campaign, or were betrayed by those they most trusted. Animated through necromantic rites or the spells of demons skeletons do not seek to consume the flesh of the living, but only to extinguish the life of their victims. While they may seem mischievous or imbecilic, skeletons are unrelenting in their goals, move faster than zombies, and have some spark of intelligence, the extent of which varies on the based on the power and scope of the spell involved in the skeleton's creation. Theoretically one could have a single astute skeleton servant or a rather dense army of a hundred for the same expenditure of magical energy. While physically frail, skeletons never lack in number. Those who fall to skeletons in combat are damned to an eternal lust for living blood. Coupled with their unthinking rage, this makes skeletons dangerous opponents. Skeletons will swarm their targets unquestioningly until their commanding force orders them otherwise.

Skeletons have demonstrated the use of a wide variety of weapons, including swords, clubs, bows, and even armor and shields, and are often equipped in the same armament in which they fell or were buried with. Often these weapons are of poor quality. Even more terrifying are the animated skeletal remains of expired magic wielders, who prove that even the dead can wield the forces of magic.

Most skeletons are actually constructed from bits and pieces of any number of different skeletons, not a single one. Their diverse composition gives them the ability to form and reform, and makes them easily summoned, permitted there is adequate raw material at hand. For instance, one would have an easier time summoning skeletons in a graveyard than in a forest. They are usually found in places where they were laid to rest or the site of a great battle. An exception to this was during the Darkening of Tristram, when skeletons rose up due to Diablo's evil. Skeletons were encountered in the depths of the Tristram Cathedral, and it was believed that these were the remains of Horadric monks.

The Priests of Rathma, through necromancy, have the power to animate the remains of the deceased into skeletons. Animated partially through their own will and partially through the summoned spirits of ancient warriors, Necromancers often maintain a small host of these reanimated soldiers to do their bidding. As the Necromancer's knowledge of the undead improves, (s)he is able to harness and divert more powerful spirits to inhabit the corpses of the recently dead. At least some Necromancers are able to communicate through their skeletons, superimposing their image over the bones, talking through the skeleton even from miles away.

Some say that skeleton eyes contain magical properties, despite the fact that skeletons are eyeless by definition.

In-game
Skeletons are a recurring monster in all three of the Diablo games. Often among the most common enemies in the game, skeletons are counted among the lowest forms of undead along with zombies. They are generally fragile, but often appear in large groups.

Diablo I
Skeletons are commonly found throughout the Cathedral section of the labyrinth, and some appear in the upper Catacombs as well.

There are several types of skeletons. Some use swords, another group wields axes, while others still are archers. Later on, players will also encounter Skeleton Captains that wield shields in addition to one-handed swords. Along with zombies, skeletons share a resistance to magic. There are three other variants: Corpse Axes, Burning Dead, and Horrors, along with their corresponding Captains.

Skeletons

 * (Skeleton) - Dungeon
 * Bonehead Keenaxe (Corpse Axe) - Dungeon
 * Madeye the Dead (Burning Dead) - Dungeon

Skeleton Captains

 * Brokenhead Bangshield (Corpse Captain) - Dungeon
 * Shadowdrinker (Horror Captain) - Dungeon

Diablo II
Skeletons return in Diablo II, still one of the most common enemies found throughout the game. They wield numerous types of weapons including Swords, Axes, Military Picks, s, Maces, and Shields. Skeletons also have several differences in appearance, some completely naked though others can be seen wearing, shoulder pads, ripped pants and Kamas.

The Raise Skeleton skill of the Necromancer allows them to be used as minions.

Some of the skeletons encountered in Act I even wear the remnants of feminine chest armor, revealing that they are the skeletal remains of long dead Rogues, and that at least some skeletons may be female.

Paladins excel in dealing with large groups of Skeletons due to their ability to utilize Holy Bolt,, Sanctuary and similar abilities to full effect. While Skeletons are vulnerable to most attacks, Poison elements are not effective against them, while they take extra damage from blunt weapons, such as s, s and s. Ranged weapons have less effect on Skeletons.

There are five variations, the basic Skeletons, Returned, Bone Warriors, Burning Dead and Horrors.

A tougher type of skeleton which is in a separate category are the Reanimated Horde in Act V. They drag massive two-handed swords and move very slowly, but are capable of unleashing a fast, short range charge attack. Unlike regular skeletons, Reanimated Horde can spontaneously reanimate often repeatedly, with the self-resurrected monster is made anew, fully restored in hit points, worth normal experience and capable of dropping items again. The Reanimated Horde serve Baal, unlike regular skeletons that are mostly associated with Mephisto.


 * Skeletons can be found in Cave 1-2, Burial Grounds (no uniques), Mausoleum, Crypt, Stony Field.
 * Returned can be found in Tristram, Black Marsh, Halls of The Dead 1-3 (minion-only).
 * Bone Warriors can be found in Pit 1-2, Claw Viper Temple 1-2 (minion-only).
 * Burning Dead can be found in Sewers 1-3, Tal Rasha's Tombs (minion-only).
 * Horrors can be found in Sewers 3 (no uniques), Stony Tomb 1-2, Sewers 1-2 (minion-only).

Stats
"Skeletons are the weakest of the skeletal variants, but show a relentless tenacity in their attacks."

- Monster summary

"Returned are only distinguishable from others of their ilk by rotting bits of remaining flesh that still cling to their undead bones."

- Monster summary

"Bone Warriors are a more dangerous form of Skeleton. They often serve as guards in eldritch temples and lost tombs."

- Monster summary

"Burning Dead were killed in hellish conflagrations. As reanimate skeletons, the fires of their death continue to burn their undead bones; the Burning Dead cast a flickering red radiance wherever they go."

- Monster summary

"Horrors bear the final rictus of pure terror that killed them. They are grim manifestations of the worst in the world."

- Monster summary


 * Skeletons are undead and are vulnerable to Undead-specific spells and abilities (e.g., the Paladin's Sanctuary).
 * Items with "Life Stolen Per Hit" or "Mana Stolen Per Hit" do not work on Skeletons. A Paladin can use Redemption on their "corpses," though, and the Necromancer skill Life Tap does work.
 * Burning Dead have a 50% chance to deal Fire damage when starting their attack overhead.
 * Horrors have a 60% chance to deal Lightning damage when starting their attack overhead.

Unique Skeletons

 * Bonebreaker - A red skeleton found in The Crypt. Bonebreaker is extra strong and magic resistant.

Diablo Immortal
Skeletons are encountered as enemies in Diablo Immortal, and can be summoned by the Necromancer. Types include:


 * Royal Guard
 * Royal Spearman
 * Skeletal Ambusher
 * Skeletal Archer
 * Skeletal Canine
 * Skeletal Marauder
 * Skeletal Shieldbreaker
 * Skeletal Warrior

Diablo III
In Diablo III, plain Skeleton Warriors (with no special abilities) are joined by:


 * Skeletal Summoners (spawn additional Skeletons and hurl bolts of energy)
 * Skeletal Archers (attack from afar with arrows)
 * Skeletal Shieldmen (bear a protective shield in addition to swords)
 * Skeletal Guardians (replace Skeletal Magi; hurl powerful magic missiles)
 * Skeletal Executioners (slow and very powerful axe-bearers)
 * Risen Bones (the weakest variant summoned by Corpse Raisers)

Royal Henchmen also serve Leoric.

In addition, Revenant Soldiers and Summoned Soldiers are the skeleton variants in the Reapers ranks in.

These skeletons spawn in mixed packs and work together with much better AI than they have shown in the previous games in the series. Often skeletons will hide in barrels, piles of bones and other breakable objects. Summoners may raise skeletons, though the numbers are not unlimited.

Plain skeletons are a regular, fragile, numerous and weak cannon fodder, which will be massively encountered in Acts I, II and III. In later Acts, they will mostly be of red color, dealing small Fire damage on each melee hit. s can summon skeletons via Army of the Dead, and Command Skeletons spells.

Uniques



 * (Forged in Battle event)
 * Boyarsk (Royal Quarters)
 * Brother Larel (Drowned Temple)
 * Brother Moek (Drowned Temple)
 * Caretaker McCree (Cathedral Garden)
 * Funerus (Briarthorn Cemetery, Altar of Sadness)
 * Galush Valdant (Festering Woods)
 * Headcleaver (Leoric's Passage, Legacy of Cain quest)
 * Janderson (Realms of Fate)
 * Jarryd (Realms of Fate)
 * Lord Brone (Festering Woods)
 * Merrium Skullthorn

Diablo IV
Skeletons appear as enemies in Diablo IV. They are one of the game's monster families.

Types

 * Axe Skeleton
 * Crossbow Skeleton
 * Shield Skeleton
 * Skeleton Archer
 * Skeleton Ballista

Uniques

 * Tomb Lord (boss)

Development
Very Early in production of Diablo I, there were no Corpse Skeletons, and in their places were the Ice Stalkers (Blue Skeletons) which can be seen on old pre-release screenshots. Bone Warriors introduced in Diablo II are cold oriented and so can be seen as spiritual successors of Ice Stalkers.

In the production of Diablo II the Returned were named Corpse Skeleton, Corpse Archer, Corpse Mage before Developers decided to change their name.

Developers presumably intended to make a sixth skeleton type in Diablo II. The Awakening and Diablerie has as Hell Horror after Horror and there is an unused color palette for the skeleton that looks like a red Horror.

In v1.00 all Skeleton variations could be found without any armor or shields on them much like Diablo I, however in later versions they can't be found without armor and shield.