Diablo – How to get the most out of Sweeping Wind

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Sweeping Wind seems like a pretty amazing skill. It does a nice amount of AoE and is potentially persistent if you can keep hitting foes. I want to ensure it stays persistent at max stacks as much as possible while maintaining a high damage output.

By default it:

  • Reaches 10 yards
  • Lasts 6 seconds between melee hits
  • Has a small chance to stack on each critical hit (it does not specify a percentage)
  • Stacks up to 3 times
  • "continuous" 15% weapon damage per stack (does not specify exactly how often)

Different runes can alter each of these things and more.

I want to know which other skills synergize well with Sweeping Wind (Way of the Hundred Fists comes to mind), what item bonuses (IAS, +Crit Chance, etc) I should look out for, and what tactics should I use to ensure I keep it at it's full potential.

Any info on the exact meanings of "small chance" and "continuous" would also be appreciated.

Best Answer

I use Fists of Thunder for the gap closer and the 10% movespeed Passive as means to get more uptime for the Vortex - that gap closer and more mobility is the difference between the vortex falling off or not, a lot of the time.

Small chance, I guess, is because your base crit chance is low. I've noticed the skill stacking up on each crit I make - and using Crippling Wave as my 2nd autoattack, for example critting two enemies with a cleave will pump the aura to 3 instantly.

Continuous is based on your attack speed as is with many other "tick" based spells.

I also use the Dodge Mantra to not have to back out of a fight since you wan't to be there, letting the Vortex work it's magic for as long as you can. I also use Serenity (absorb all damage for 3 seconds) and Blinding Light as means to keep me out of harms way while steadily grinding down waves of foes with cleaving and the Vortex.