Diablo IV (Diablo 4) features an extensive range of stats, status effects, buffs, and debuffs – and you will need to consider each one if you want to excel with your class builds. Thorns is one such stat with its own gameplay mechanics and practical applications in this challenging RPG. In this article, we’ll delve into what Thorns is all about, how it works, and the Skills and Aspects that can enhance and maximize its potential in Diablo 4 (D4).
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Diablo 4 Thorns Stat Explained
Thorns in Diablo 4 is, essentially, an Offensive Stat that functions as a passive offensive mechanism. Think of it like actual thorns on your character’s body – whenever an enemy strikes you, they will suffer damage in return without any action required from you. The more Thorns you have, the more percentage of the damage is reflected back to the enemy.
However, it’s important to note that having a high Thorns value doesn’t grant your character invincibility or immunity to enemy attacks. Thorns solely enable damage reflection and don’t provide damage reduction. It is also not possible to reflect damage from Damage-over-Time (DoT) attacks. While Thorns allow for passive (and automatic) retaliation with damage, your character will still endure significant damage from enemy assaults!
How to Use Thorns in Diablo 4
To increase your Thorns stat, you can equip gear with the +XX Thorns attribute, utilize specific class-specific Skills, or meet certain conditions with equipped Legendary Aspects. In the following section, we will delve into the specific Thorn-related Skills and Aspects in Diablo 4.
All Thorns Skills in Diablo 4
Below you will find a list of every Thorn-related Skill in Diablo 4, categorized by Class:
D4 Barbarian Thorns Skills
| Skill | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Combat Flay | Upgrade | When Flay deals direct damage to an enemy, you gain 3% Damage Reduction and 4 Thorns for 3 seconds. This stacks up to 4 times. |
| Strategic Challenging Shout | Upgrade | While Challenging Shout is active, gain Thorns equal to 30% of your Maximum Life. |
| Outburst | Passive | Gain 10 Thorns. Also gain 10 Thorns for each 12 bonus Maximum Life you have. |
| Tough as Nails | Passive | Increase your Thorns by 20%. When enemies hit you, they take an additional 1% of your Thorns as Bleeding damage over 5 seconds. |
D4 Necromancer Thorns Skills
| Name | Type | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Spiked Armor | Passive | Gain 50 Thorns |
Note: The Rogue, Druid, and Sorcerer classes currently do not have any Thorn-related Skills in Diablo 4.
It’s important to mention that while all classes can benefit from this mechanic, Barbarian and Necromancer stand out as the two classes that are particularly well-suited for a “Thorns Build.”
All Thorns Aspects in Diablo 4
Below is a list of all the available Thorn-related Legendary Aspects in Diablo 4 currently:
| Aspect | Class | Category | Effect | Dungeon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspect of the Prickling | Barbarian | Offensive | Damaging an enemy with a Core Skill has up to a XX% chance to grant XX Thorns for 5 seconds. | N/A |
| Death Wish Aspect | Barbarian | Offensive | Gain XX Thorns while Berserking. | Penitent Cairns, Scosglen |
| Needleflare Aspect | All | Offensive | Thorns damage dealt has a [20-40%] chance to deal damage to all enemies around you. | Yshari Sanctum, Kehjistan |
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That covers everything you need to know about the Thorns stat in Diablo 4.
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