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Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred (D4)

What are Thorns?

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Diablo 4 - What are Thorns?

Thorns are an offensive stat which deals damage to enemies that attack you in Diablo 4 (D4). Read on to learn what are Thorns, how to use Thorns, and see a list of Thorn Effects in the game.

List of Contents

What are Thorns?

Deals Damage to Enemies Directly Attacking You

Thorns are an offensive stat that deals damage to enemies that hit you with direct attacks. This effect only happens when you are hit with direct attacks and does not proc when hit with attacks that deal damage over time.

How to Use Thorns

Level Up Skills or Equip Aspects and Gear With Thorns

Diablo 4 - Outburst Skill

Depending on the class you're currently playing, you may level up Skills as well as upgrade gear with Aspects to use Thorns. Examples for these are Sorcerer's Spiked Armor skill that gives you 16 Thorns and Barbarian's Death Wish Aspect which gives you Thorns while Berserking.

In addition to Skills and Aspects, players can also utilize Thorns by equipping any Gear with this stat.

Skeletons and Golems also Inherit Thorns

The Necromancer's summons (Both skeletons and Golems) inherit 30% percent of the Necromancer's Thorns stat. While this may not seem massive, what this means is if an enemy hits 5 skeletons with a single hit, each Skeleton will return 30% of the Necromancer's Thorn stat back at the attacker which can theoretically make a Necromancer Thorns build work.

How to Increase Thorns

Equip Shields

Shields have a natural Thorns stat attached to them which makes them a great starter gear to consider if you wish to build Thorns on your character.

Aim for Thorns Affix Rolls on Gear

Aside from Shields that have a natural Thorn stat attached to them, you can also aim for rolling the Thorns stat on your specific gear. Below are all the item types that can possibly roll Thorns on their affixes:

Shields
Helm
Chest
Pants
Amulet

Equip the Razorplate

Equipment Info
RazorplateRazorplate Class All Classes
Equipment Type Unique Chest Armor
Effect
Thorns has a 10% change to deal 100-200% increased damage.

Crafted by the cannibal Armoda, each piece of this interlocking armor has been sharpened into a knife's edge. Even a century after death, the plate remained on her corpse, unable to be removed safely.

The Razorplate is a Unique Chest piece that doesn't grant a multitude of affixes. However, what it does give is a massive amount of Thorns for your character. Consider aiming for a Razorplate with high Thorns stat roll if you want to build a Thorns-focused build

Razorplate Unique Effect and How to Get

List of Thorn Effects

List of Thorn Skills

Skill & Class Class & Effect
Combat Flay Barbarian
When Flay deals direct damage to an enemy, you gain 3% Damage Reduction and 5 Thorns for 3 seconds. This stacks up to 4 times.
Outburst Barbarian
Gain 2 Thorns. Also gain 2 Thorns for each 2 bonus Maximum Life you have.
Tough as Nails Barbarian
Increase your Thorns by 20% When enemies hit you, they take an additional 1% of your Thorns as Bleeding damage over 5 seconds.
Strategic Challenging Shout Barbarian
While Challenging Shout is active gain Thorns equal to 50% of your Maximum Life.
Spiked Armor Necromancer
Gain 16 Thorns.

List of Thorn Aspects

Skill Effect
Death Wish Aspect Gain (XX) thorns while Berserking.
Needleflare Aspect Thorns damage dealt has a (XX%) chance to deal damage to all enemies around you.

Diablo 4 Related Guides

Diablo 4 - Glossary.png

Glossary: List of Diablo Terms

Glossary Term Guides

All Glossary Term Guides
Item Power and Breakpoints What is Critical Strike?
What is Crowd Control? What is Overpower Damage?
What is Lucky Hit Chance? What is Unstoppable?
How to Go Berserk What Does Vulnerable Do?
What are Thorns? What is Crackling Energy?
What Does Fortify Do? Is There Magic Find?
What is Barrier and Barrier Generation? What is Stun?
What is Chilled? What is Bleed?
What is Control Impaired? What is Darkness?
What is Dazed? What is Fear?
What is Frozen? What is Immobilized?
What is Immune? What is Knocked Back?
What is Knocked Down? What is Poisoned?
What is Stealth? What is Slowed?
What is Taunted? What is Tethered?
What is Non-Physical Damage? What is Attack Speed?
What Are Blood Orbs: How to Spawn and Effects Armor Guide: What is the Armor Cap?
What is Unhindered? Ferocity and Jaguar Spirit Explained
Resolve and Gorilla Spirit Explained Pestilent Swarm and Centipede Spirit Explained
What Is the Codex of Power? Storm Feathers and Eagle Spirit Explained
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