Changes

[[Image:Mon-fallen2.jpg|frame]]No ID tagged Fallen have appeared in Act Two videos excepting one "Carver" subtype that appeared in the GameStar 7/99 video at approximately 3:14 of time elapsed. It would have been easy for the viewer to miss spotting it while focusing on the epic Necromancer Vs Guardian battle that was concurrent with the Carver's appearance. Again. as in many of the above listed Act Two monster classes. the Carver was spotted in the "Tomb's" level - an area that has been featured in many Act Two screenshots and videos. In addition to the Carver subtype a silver coloured Fallen subtype was also seen but in only one screenshot. Though very little Fallen AI behaviour was observed in the Act Two portions of the GameStar 7/99 video it is expected that they will exhibit the characteristic Fallen behaviour as noted in Act One videos. Curiously no Fallen Shaman have yet been seen in any Act Two media.

[[Image:Mon-foul-carrion1.jpg|frame]]Spotted in both screenshots and videos, they are very similar in body shape and colour to their Foul Crow cousins of Act One. While Foul Crows are definitely flight capable, Foul Carrion, as evidenced in video to date (June Gameplay Video1 1:07 & 1:42), seem to be flightless. It is speculated that true to the behaviour patterns of their earthbound cousins that they may wait in the periphery of the action until the tough get going and only the weak and dying remain but as is the case with many of the known monster classes to date its behaviour will only remain speculation until more info is known. Seen above, in the company of the Barbarian, in the only screenshot available, truly little has been observed of its AI behaviour to support its descriptive name.

[[Image:Mon-giant-spider1.jpg|frame]]The above monster class name is purely descriptive at this time. Featured in a Blizzard render released early on in D2 development it has been seen above in only one screenshot playing surrogate Harem occupant for a lightning javelin equipped Amazon. It is expected, though predictable, to have a poison based attack but it is currently not known if it will be a ranged attack or whether it will require close contact with the character for effective delivery of the poison.

[[Image:Mon-greater-mummy1.jpg|frame]]Undoubtedly featured in one of the favourite monster renders released so far, it has been seen in several screenshots and until recently had been commonly known as the "Reaper". It perhaps is most notable for the video footage in the gamester 7/99 video (2:42) showing several specimens with the ID tag "Guardian" having a fun time entertaining a busy Necromancer in the "Tomb's" level. In this clip it is clear that they have a fairly short range poison based attack in addition to an even shorter range melee based attack using the conveniently deformed appendage that takes the shape of a huge talon shaped arm. Most intriguing, however, is the range based "magic" attack displayed in the video. I write magic in quotes because it seemed like they were generating bat-like projectiles that flapped out in a straight-line path until they struck the intended victim. Though the projectiles may have looked "bat-like" in the video, in hindsight it would have been more correct to write "snake-like" cause it was recently revealed in a pi of the D2 "Greater Mummy" action figure that the supposed bats are actually snakes. So we're talking magical snake-like projectiles instead. No word from Blizzard yet on whether the magical snake "bolts" are poisonous.

[[Image:Mon-sabre-cat1.jpg|frame]]A monster type originally seen in an early Act Two screenshot and given the descriptive "Kitty Legionnaire" appellation by many of the D2 fansite writers. The "Saber Cats" were the first subtype seen in this notable screenshot. They carry a distinctive helm reminiscent of those worn by the Roman legionaries of antiquity. The other recognised subtype - Huntress - often favours a top knot hairstyle, seen in many Fallen types, and also favoured by the Amazon. It thus seems to be becoming the default hair style for any Diablo 2 character/monster with long hair (At least we can be thankful that they spared the Necromancer ;). Both the Huntress and the Saber Cat seem to favour a whip as their primary attack weapon, as seen in various videos, and they appear to forego any ranged based attacks. Both subtypes are found throughout many of the Act Two levels - in the Desert, in the "Sand Maggot Hive", and in the "Tombs" levels - to name a few.

[[Image:Mon-sand-leaper1.jpg|frame]]Seen above in at least one screenshot and in two videos (June Gameplay Video1 0:53 & GameStar 7/99 2:46) "Tomb Creeper" is the only ID tag noted. Nevertheless since they were first described by the appellation "Sand Leaper" and it is more descriptive of their movement as seen in videos, we've decided to stick with that name for now. The aforementioned Tomb Creeper was found in the "Tomb's" level harassing the Necromancer as it battled the Guardians in the notable scene from the GameStar 7/99 video. It seems to have only an apparently weak melee attack which appears to solely have a nuisance value as the Necro virtually ignored it while dealing with the more challenging Guardians.

[[Image:Mon-sand-maggot1.jpg|frame]]Much has already been written about the Sand Maggot and their ilk. Their basic modus operandi is to lie in wait beneath the desert sands to emerge and attack the unsuspecting victim or the suspecting victim for that matter. This creature does however have a few added twists to its offensive repertoire. Early on it was known that if it was not killed fast enough you would shortly have to deal with many of its offspring. As well it was reported from those attending E3 that in addition to its direct pincer based attack Sand Maggot's had the endearing habit of spitting poison at any characters that would venture within range. All three parts of its life cycle have been shown in screenshots - adults, young, and eggs. While at least two and possibly three palette shift subtypes have been noted, including one shown for the first time in one of the three Necro shots recently added to the Official site's image gallery, it is expected that Blizzard perhaps has a few more surprises hidden in the sands surrounding Lut Gholein for us yet to discover.

[[Image:Mon-skeleton2.jpg|frame]]As noted in the monster descriptions for Act One, the Skeleton class of monster seems to have a predilection for the hot arid climate of Act Two. Perhaps they find the usually cold damp air of the environs of Tristram not to their liking. They are featured all over the Act Two levels and as in Act One they seem to be equipped with the full gamut of armour and weapons that the component system can afford. Besides the component system, palette shifts are in evidence to add to the diversity of skeletons featured in the act with at least four colour variants noted in screenshots including a very interesting SSotW which in addition to a never before seen skeleton colour also featured a skeletal apparition whose origin, whether spell effect or new monster, will likely have to wait until release of the game. Unfortunately no ID tags other than "Burning Dead" have been noted for the variants. To read a little more about the component system used in Diablo 2 you can refer our Character section as noted earlier in our Monster section intro.

[[Image:Mon-zombie2.jpg|frame]]The very slow moving and normally melee attacking Zombie type monster is featured in Act Two at the very least in one subtype which has been seen and ID tagged several times as "Dried Corpse". In addition to the melee attack, at least some subtypes of Dried Corpse zombies feature an additional wrinkle to their offensive arsenal in the form of a poison attack that is unleashed as they are struck down. Consequently this suggests the obvious strategy of knocking them down with whatever range attack you have at your disposal before they get too close. Prospective Paladins with their holy bolt take note. It was noted by Dii.net staffers, after E3, that unlike with the "spitting dogs" of Diablo 1 fame you cannot avoid damage by remaining stationary while adjacent as the poison cloud is emitted forward as the Dried Corpse is knocked down. Hence in order to avoid the poison emanation you have to quickly move back which makes for some fancy footwork for close in fighting. Seen here, along with the Necromancer for company, the Zombie class in Act Two seem to prefer the desert surface above all.

[[Image:Mon-bleeder1.jpg|frame]]Only seen as yet in the one screenshot above which was released by Blizzard as a very nice SSotW. Not much is known except that they are, as reported by our E3 attendees, moderately fast and difficult to hit to begin with and even more so when you have them almost dead. Since at E3 they tended to attack in packs of 4 or 5 this suggests a strategy of attacking them with an area effect spell. Undoubtedly characters specialising solely in powerful melee attacks may have some difficulty with this flying pest unless they add an effective area wide attack to their skill list.

[[Image:Mon-doom-ape1.jpg|frame]]Known as "Razorbacks" in Act One they appear above in only one Act Three screenshot along with the Thorned Hulk. Noted by Diabloii.net staff members on their visit to E3 to be featured labelled as "Doom Ape" they appear gold in colour in the one screenshot noted above. Mirroring the current state of fansite knowledge of most of Act Three not much is known about their AI behaviour and attack methods excepting that they have a basic melee attack. They were reported to move very slowly and to quote some E3 goers "they weren't very interesting" so maybe Blizzard North has a few surprises up its sleeve with this monster class but only time will tell.

[[Image:Mon-imp1.jpg|frame]]Imps or Jungle Urchins... both names fit, though apparently Blizzard has taken to calling at least one Act Three subtype of the Quill Rat "Jungle Urchin" so we presume "Imps" will have to do for now. Reported to be lightning fast in movement they were described by E3 attendees to move like "little beebees, just screaming around, with cute little cleavers and big swollen heads... they were total pests." Hmmm... interesting picture there. I sense they will make the "Goat Archers" of the Diablo 1 seem like child's play for melee attack based characters. Maybe they'll give the word "frustration" a whole different meaning. Fortunately it was reported again by E3 vets that they died quickly so maybe they should be called "Pigmy Gnats" instead. Featured in one of two shots above which was recently added to the official site's Image Gallery they were noted to appear in packs rather than in ones or twos - oh joy...let's see a little chain lightning ought to come in handy ;)

[[Image:Mon-jungle-urchin1.jpg|frame]]Id tag found in the relatively poor quality GameStar E3 99 video (00:49), they appear to exhibit the same general behaviour of the Quill Rat subtype from Act One. Undoubtedly to feature more hit points and more damage per successful quill hit they were reported to exhibit the same attack methods by those attending E3. No info on whether a poison based quill attack will be seen but it seems likely.

[[Image:Mon-zakarum-zealot1.jpg|frame]]Though feminine in appearance, due to their long hair and oft worn flowing robes, it has been confirmed directly by Mike Huang of Blizzard North that they are actually male. They tend to favour nasty looking double bladed axe like weapons with an extended shaft so as to facilitate two handed wielding. Featured in screenshot and render, to date, their was nothing notable reported on this monster class from those who attended E3. Thus they are expected to have solely a short ranged melee attack which implies that they will be fairly straightforward work for the player. The perceived storyline for Act Three is that a great evil has awakened in the Kurast area and the evil spreads to overcome the head of the Zakarum religion. Thus the Zakarum Zealots appear to be just poor misguided souls influenced by their religious leaders to cause havoc and mayhem along with the other local monster fauna.