Barbarians

[Sathias]

Anyone playing a Barbarian at the moment? Mine has become my main, although I'm not as advanced as some here, being about half-way through Act 1 on nightmare. Absolutely loving the play style though, it is a heap of fun. This is the build I am using at the moment.

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/b ... dZY!aZZaaa

I build up Rage using Cleave, then when Revenge procs I use Ground Stomp to draw in and stun a good group of mobs and hit Revenge for a hefty self-heal and AOE. I keep up Battle Rage whenever I can and if there is a big group of mobs, some ranged mobs or something I don't want to get close to, pummel them with Seismic Slam. Bloodthirst keeps me going with a bit of self-heal and Revenge provides some good burst self-heal if I need it. For a boss I just swap out Cleave for Frenzy. Seems to work well

[Mythor]

Meeeeee. About the same progress as you. Using Frenzy as my main attack with Whirlwind as my Rage-spender.
Also using Ground Stomp with the "draw things in" rune, though I also use it for the stun, not just to bring everything in close for Revenge. Usually I just Whirlwind into a group and hit Revenge for the big Rage boost and heal from the rune on that.

Third skill is currently one of the War Cry things, I forget which one because I don't really use it much...
Fourth is the "THE FLOOR IS LAVA" skill. Whirlwind into a Boss/other annoying thing, hit that skill, watch most everything die while I Whirlwind away.

Using 2 handed weapons, an AH-bought Polearm at present. Has anyone tried a good set of 1 handers versus a good 2 handed weapon as a Barbarian? Whirlwind may not be the best option for them but... it's fun.

[Sathias]

I managed to get a pretty nice 2-handed hammer from the AH the other day, sitting on about 750 DPS at level 32 atm

I do like the combo of skills you are using, might have to give it a try

[SomeXspeC]

I'm on nightmare act III atm with my barb (level 45). Currently I'm using 2x 1h and my stats are something like this: 1895.34 Damage 2035 Armor 986 STR and 876 VIT.

I would really recommend using 2x 1h.

Forgot to add my skill set:

Primary: Cleave - Reaping Swing
Secondary: Whirlwind - Blood Funnel
Defensive: Ground Stomp - Wrenching Smash
Might: Revenge - Vengeance is Mine
Tactics: War Cry - Invigorate
Rage: Earthquake - Mountain's Call
Passives: Animosity - Bloodthirst - Relentless

[lucassot]

Hello fellow Barbarians!

I'm half way through nightmare act 1 about level 34ish from memory. Using a big aoe / self heal build mainly. Not sure on stats at the moment, gonna play some more later. I am using 1h & shield as well. **** just explodes as I suck them in, its hot!

Bit paranoid to go back to dual wield as I kept getting killed but haven't tried it since changing to this build, I should investigate tonight. Also got Bash as I use it to finish off mobs after aoe'ing

Build here: http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculator/b ... ZcY!aaZZaZ

Will change passive to Bloodthirst when I need more hp regeneration but its ok for now. Also looking at putting in whirlwind at some stage too.

[Mugsy]

I have a lvl 12 barbarian and will take note of the experienced that have walked before me.

[krapma]

I managed to get a pretty nice 2-handed hammer from the AH the other day, sitting on about 750 DPS at level 32 atm

How on earth are you sitting on 750 DPS?! I'm lvl 31 decked out in all yellows with str and vit around lvl 28-30 and only sitting on 420 DPS. Unless you use Berserker Rage and checked at max rage?

Well I'm running:
LMB: Cleave + Reaping Swing Rune (more fury)
RMG: Hammer of the Ancients + Smash Rune (smaller aoe but much more power)
1: Leap + Iron Impact Rune (bonus armour when landing)
2: Ground Stomp + Wrenching Smash Rune (pulls in enemies)
3: Whirlwind + Hurricane Rune (normal movement speed)
4: Revenge + Vengance is Mine Rune (bonus rage and health)

Passives:
Animosity (+20 max fury and +10% fury generation)
Weapon Master (+15% dmg using a 2h sword. Love the 1.22 attack speed)
Ruthless (+5% crit chance and +50% crit dmg)

I start by rounding a few mobs up and cleaving till im max fury then ww like a mad man. If Revenge procs then hit it asap. If not, position myself in the middle of as many as possible just as fury runs out, then Ground Stomp and Leap on the spot to get a big fury boost, cleave the few remaining mobs and begin ww'ing into the next approaching pack while hitting Revenge on every proc. Awfully messy and awfully fun

Boss fights I swap out Cleave for Frenzy.

[Sathias]

Heres my stats and some of the better items I have equipped atm, resting in town so no in-combat buffs... I'm level 34 now but my gear hasn't changed a heap






btw just changed my number 1 skill to Furious Charge with Merciless Assault... it reduces your 10s cooldown by 2 for every mob you hit with it, so if you hit a group of 5 or more, you can use it again instantly... and each one generates 15 rage

[krapma]

Ah, I've been neglecting my gems completely, I think that might be where my missing DPS is. All that extra dmg * 589% would do it

Yeah, I'm looking forward to getting the Merciless Assault rune for Furious charge.

[Sathias]

Put as big a red gem as you can comfortably afford into your weapons especially, makes a massive difference And up to the Square gems, there isn't a huge difference in cost on the AH.

[Marius]

Gems are great.

Unlike D2, you can remove them from sockets and reuse them again, so there's really no excuse to not using them.

[Mythor]

Being able to remove gems makes them so much more usable. I used to just hoard them till I could make them Perfect... and then not want to use them anyway.

Forgot to check my Damage stat while I was playing but that's a very nice mace you've got, Sathias!

[Sathias]

Would you believe I got it for 3500g on the AH

[Mythor]

I have a better one now!
Still only around 550 damage though as I've a lot more Vitality, almost as much as Strength. Working on that, next. Doing more damage helps A LOT for most things.

I do wonder how Barbarian's going to hold up further into Nightmare, much less into Hell. Skates on thin ice so much, in amongst all the fighting.

[Marius]

Yeah you basically want as much vitality needed to avoid getting one shot needlessly, then stack your damage stat as much as possible.

Even in hardcore, because reducing enemy DPS through killing them fast is more important than taking hits. The main damage stat also adds to defense - strength gives +armour.