Skeletons, formally classified as "Ossium Animatum,"^[1] and otherwise referred to as revenants^[2] are a type of undead construct.

Lore

Fierce undead warriors,^[3] skeletons are the remains of warriors who either died as soldiers in some dark campaign, or were betrayed by those they most trusted.^[1] Animated through necromantic rites or the spells of demons^[4] skeletons do not seek to consume the flesh of the living, but only to extinguish the life of their victims.^[3] While they may seem mischievous or imbecilic,^[5] skeletons are unrelenting in their goals, move faster than zombies, and have some spark of intelligence,^[3] 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.^[5] 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.^[1] Skeletons will swarm their targets unquestioningly until their commanding force orders them otherwise.^[6]

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^[3] or were buried with. Often these weapons are of poor quality.^[4] Even more terrifying are the animated skeletal remains of expired magic wielders, who prove that even the dead can wield the forces of magic.^[3]

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.^[5] They are usually found in places where they were laid to rest or the site of a great battle.^[1] 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.^[1]

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.^[7] 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.^[8]

Some say that skeleton eyes contain magical properties, despite the fact that skeletons are eyeless by definition.^[9]

In-game

Skeletons are a recurring monster in all four 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.

Stats

Skeleton

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Level found in	1–2
Monster Level	1	16	31
Experience
Health points	1–2	53–56	104–108
Damage	1–4	6–12	10–22
Attack Rating
Defense
Fire Reaction	—	—	—
Lightning Reaction	—	—	—
Magic Reaction	Immune	Immune	Immune
Opens doors	No
Follows around	No

Corpse Axe

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Level found in	2–3
Monster Level	2	17	32
Experience
Health points	2–3	56–59	108–112
Damage	3–5	10–14	18–26
Attack Rating
Defense
Fire Reaction	—	—	—
Lightning Reaction	—	—	—
Magic Reaction	Immune	Immune	Immune
Opens doors	No
Follows around	No

Burning Dead

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Level found in	2–4
Monster Level	4	19	34
Experience
Health points	4–6	62–68	116–124
Damage	3–7	10–18	18–34
Attack Rating
Defense
Fire Reaction	Resists	Resists	Immune
Lightning Reaction	—	—	—
Magic Reaction	Immune	Immune	Immune
Opens doors	No
Follows around	No

Horror

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Level found in	3–5
Monster Level	6	21	36
Experience
Health points	6–10	68–80	124–140
Damage	4–9	12–22	22–42
Attack Rating
Defense
Fire Reaction	—	—	—
Lightning Reaction	Resists	Resists	Resists
Magic Reaction	Immune	Immune	Immune
Opens doors	No
Follows around	No

Stats (Captains)

Skeleton Captain

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Level found in	1–3
Monster Level	2	17	32
Experience
Health points	6–10	68–80	104–112
Damage	3–9	10–22	14–34
Attack Rating
Defense
Fire Reaction	—	—	—
Lightning Reaction	—	—	—
Magic Reaction	Immune	Immune	Immune
Opens doors	No
Follows around	No

Corpse Captain

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Level found in	2–4
Monster Level	4	19	34
Experience
Health points	6–10	68–80	124–140
Damage	3–9	10–22	18–42
Attack Rating
Defense
Fire Reaction	—	—	—
Lightning Reaction	—	—	—
Magic Reaction	Immune	Immune	Immune
Opens doors	No
Follows around	No

Burning Dead Captain

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Level found in	3–5
Monster Level	6	21	36
Experience
Health points	8–15	74–95	132–160
Damage	5–10	12–24	22–36
Attack Rating
Defense
Fire Reaction	Resists	Resists	Immune
Lightning Reaction	—	—	—
Magic Reaction	Immune	Immune	Immune
Opens doors	No
Follows around	No

Horror Captain

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Level found in	4–6
Monster Level	8	23	38
Experience
Health points	17–25	101–125	168–200
Damage	5–14	14–32	26–62
Attack Rating
Defense
Fire Reaction	—	—	—
Lightning Reaction	Resists	Resists	Resists
Magic Reaction	Immune	Immune	Immune
Opens doors	No
Follows around	Yes

Unique Skeletons

Skeletons

• Boneripper (Skeleton) - Dungeon Level 2
• Bonehead Keenaxe (Corpse Axe) - Dungeon Level 2
• Madeye the Dead (Burning Dead) - Dungeon Level 4

Skeleton Captains

• Brokenhead Bangshield (Corpse Captain) - Dungeon Level 3
• Shadowdrinker (Horror Captain) - Dungeon Level 5

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, Flails, Maces, and Shields. Skeletons also have several differences in appearance, some completely naked though others can be seen wearing Helms, 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, Fist of the Heavens, 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 Clubs, Maces and Flails. 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:
  1. Cave 1-2,
  2. Burial Grounds (no uniques),
  3. Mausoleum,
  4. Crypt,
  5. Stony Field.
• Returned can be found in:
  1. Tristram,
  2. Black Marsh,
  3. Halls of The Dead 1-3 (minion-only).
• Bone Warriors can be found in:
  1. Pit 1-2,
  2. Claw Viper Temple 1-2 (minion-only).
• Burning Dead can be found in:
  1. Sewers 1-3,
  2. Tal Rasha's Tombs (minion-only).
• Horrors can be found in:
  1. Sewers 3 (preset),
  2. Stony Tomb 1-2,
  3. Sewers 1-2 (minion-only).

Stats

Skeleton

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Act(s) found in	1	1	1
Monster Level	2	37	68
Treasure Class	?	?	?
Rune Drop	?	?	?
Experience	34	2333	23878
Health	7–11	391–559	2219–4227
Regen Rate	?	?	?
Damage 1	1–3	12–31	31–78
Attack Rating 1	12	907	3314
Damage 2	1–3	12–32	31–81
Attack Rating 2	12	945	3452
Defense	10	540	1352
% to Block	10	10	10
Physical Resist	0	0	33
Magic Resist	0	0	0
Fire Resist	0	0	0
Cold Resist	0	0	0
Lightning Resist	0	0	100
Poison Resist	50	75	75
Drain Effectiveness	0	0	0
Immunities	—	—	Lightning
Chill Effectiveness	50	40	25
Walk/Run Speed	3	—
Group/Minion Size	1-3	—

Returned

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Act(s) found in	1,2	1,2	1,2
Monster Level	6	38	69
Treasure Class	?	?	?
Rune Drop	?	?	?
Experience	68	2498	25033
Health	17–25	415–593	2279–4342
Regen Rate	?	?	?
Damage 1	2–5	12–32	32–80
Attack Rating 1	41	928	3360
Damage 2	2–5	12–33	32–84
Attack Rating 2	41	967	3500
Defense	30	552	1370
% to Block	15	15	15
Physical Resist	0	0	33
Magic Resist	0	0	0
Fire Resist	0	0	0
Cold Resist	0	0	0
Lightning Resist	0	0	0
Poison Resist	50	75	100
Drain Effectiveness	0	0	0
Immunities	—	—	Poison
Chill Effectiveness	50	40	25
Walk/Run Speed	4	—
Group/Minion Size	2-3	—

Bone Warrior

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Act(s) found in	1,2	1,2	1,2
Monster Level	7	39	85
Treasure Class	?	?	?
Rune Drop	?	?	?
Experience	143	10778	41205
Health	45–62	965–1379	3124–5952
Regen Rate	?	?	?
Damage 1	4–10	20–51	37–94
Attack Rating 1	125	1425	3998
Damage 2	3–10	20–53	37–98
Attack Rating 2	125	1485	4165
Defense	70	828	1616
% to Block	30	30	30
Physical Resist	0	0	33
Magic Resist	0	0	0
Fire Resist	0	0	0
Cold Resist	40	60	110
Lightning Resist	0	0	0
Poison Resist	50	75	75
Drain Effectiveness	0	0	0
Immunities	—	—	Cold
Chill Effectiveness	50	40	25
Walk/Run Speed	4	—
Group/Minion Size	2-4	—

Burning Dead

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Act(s) found in	2	2	2
Monster Level	13	43	74
Treasure Class	?	?	?
Rune Drop	?	?	?
Experience	130	3502	30809
Health	40–58	534–764	2681–4917
Regen Rate	?	?	?
Damage 1	4–9	14–36	34–76
Attack Rating 1	113	1036	3289
Damage 2	3–9	14–37	34–89
Attack Rating 2	113	1080	3737
Defense	65	520	612
% to Block	25	25	25
Physical Resist	0	0	33
Magic Resist	0	0	0
Fire Resist	50	75	100
Cold Resist	0	0	0
Lightning Resist	0	0	0
Poison Resist	50	75	75
Drain Effectiveness	0	0	0
Immunities	—	—	Fire
Chill Effectiveness	50	40	25
Walk/Run Speed	5	—
Group/Minion Size	2-4	—

Horror

Property	Normal	Nightmare	Hell
Type	Undead	Undead	Undead
Act(s) found in	2,3	2,3	2,3
Monster Level	14	44	78
Treasure Class	?	?	?
Rune Drop	?	?	?
Experience	143	3747	35429
Health	45–62	557–797	2823–5377
Regen Rate	?	?	?
Damage 1	4–10	14–37	35–89
Attack Rating 1	125	1058	3770
Damage 2	3–10	14–38	35–84
Attack Rating 2	125	1102	3613
Defense	70	624	1528
% to Block	30	30	30
Physical Resist	0	0	33
Magic Resist	20	40	70
Fire Resist	0	0	0
Cold Resist	0	0	0
Lightning Resist	60	80	120
Poison Resist	50	75	75
Drain Effectiveness	0	0	0
Immunities	—	—	Lightning
Chill Effectiveness	50	40	25
Walk/Run Speed	5	—
Group/Minion Size	2-4	—

• 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,^[10] and can be summoned by the Necromancer.^[11] Types include:

• Royal Guard
• Royal Spearman
• Skeletal Ambusher
• Skeletal Archer
• Skeletal Canine
  • Skeletal Mage
• Skeletal Marauder
• Skeletal Shieldbreaker
• Skeletal Warrior
• Skull Cleaver
• Zakarum Oathbreaker

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 Act V.

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.

Necromancers can summon skeletons via Army of the Dead, Skeleton Mage and Command Skeletons spells.

Uniques

• Boneripper (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 (Cathedral)

Diablo IV

Skeletons appear as enemies in Diablo IV.^[12] They are one of the game's monster families.^[13]

Types

• Axe Skeleton
• Crossbow Skeleton
• Shield Skeleton
• Skeleton Archer
• Skeleton Ballista

Uniques

• Tomb Lord (boss)

Development

Diablo I

• 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. Though they didn't make it in, their color palette is still in the Skeleton files. Bone Warriors introduced in Diablo II are cold oriented and so can be seen as spiritual successors of Ice Stalkers.
• There is an unused skeleton color palette "red", it seems to be the old look of Burning Dead as their Unique (Madeye the Dead) has his own palette that creates an unique look only if combined with this "red" color.
  

  Diablo I Cut Ice Stalkers

  

  Diablo I "red" color palette

Diablo II

• Skeletons have a very varied appearance in Diablo II. They have four sets of armor: Light (LIT), Medium (MED), Heavy (HVY), Desert (DES), three types of shields, five types of weapons: Axe, Scimitar, Flail, Scythe, Mace, all randomized. Though it's rare to see them with all pieces of one set as they always spawn with mixed pieces of various sets. They share their armor with Skeleton Archers and Mages.
• A Pre-release Necromancer showcase video from 1999 December 15 shows that Hollow Ones spawned with skeletons named DryBones, it's unknown if it was one of old names of the Returned.
• 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 an 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.
  

  Skeleton visual variations

  

  Unused Red Horror palette

  

  Skeletons in v1.00

  

  Skeletons in Diablo I style

References