Claws of Thunder

Claws of Thunder is an Assassin Skill in Diablo II.

Lore
''Using her weapon's metal blades as conductors, an Assassin charges the ions surrounding her and delivers a devastating lightning attack to any who dare challenge her. ''

Synergies

 * Gives synergy to:
 * Phoenix Strike: +13% Lightning damage per level


 * Receives synergy from:
 * Phoenix Strike: +8% Lightning damage per level

This ability is a Charge-up Skill.

Like Fists of Fire, this is an elemental skill that the assassin can use before Phoenix Strike becomes available, and still remains valuable afterwards by providing synergy to that skill. Unlike Fists of Fire, this skill actually causes decent damage on its own. Against a single enemy, using this skill can damage it faster than Phoenix Strike's second charge can, and there's no need to worry about over- or under-charging (Phoenix Strike's first charge provides more damage over time, but it's fire-elemental which the enemy may be immune to.) The Nova and Charged Bolts both have a NextDelay of 4 frames, which prevents enemies struck by them from being affected by any other missiles with NextDelay, which encompass the second and third charge of Phoenix Strike as well, so combining this skill with those two charges from Phoenix Strike, while pretty, is not effective. Due to the above NextDelay, monsters directly adjacent to the Assassin are hit by the Nova, but not the charged bolts. A little further away, monsters are hit by the Nova and the charged bolts, since the Nova hits them more than four frames before the slower charged bolts reach them. Thus, Dragon Tail, which knocks back several opponents around the Assassin, is the best finisher for a three-charge Claws of Thunder.

Skill Progression
Mana Cost: 4