Hey everyone
I will do my first barb playthrough.

I have not decided on a build path, never really played a bard (every other class though)

Skills?
For the playthrough, I would of course like it to be fun and not too slow, from what I grasped double swing/frenzy would be the best way?

Equipment?
Options regarding equipment are that I will be playing online and have already some stuff found (all basic sets and runewords are available, nothing expensive/high cost).

Merc?
Which merc should I use, what would come in handy?


Finally
It would be amazing if someone could give some suggestions or link posts of people who already broke this stuff down. Since I am not experienced with barb at all, it would be amazing to know what combination of skills and equipment would be great. (Like which base item to make a runeword in, which sets are particularly good and what stats to look out for e.g. AR/Max dmg/IAS...)

I encourage playing single player as it’s a lot more rewarding and easier to mf since maps don’t reroll unless you change difficulties. Can also change player difficulty which helps out a lot.

With that being said a walkthrough with Barb will be unavoidably slow. Melee in general is slow. Still fun though.

I would suggest double swing/frenzy or a singer. Singers require a TON of mana pots though, to the point where it removes any fun.

Norm will be straight forward. Steel and or malice will get you through. Use scepters very early for best DMG. Farm NM Andy like crazy until you get butchers pupil or head strikers. Both can carry you through NM. Bonesnap or Hone Sundan can as well if you swap to WW but that’s not my preference. Hell is where the real struggle hits. Options are to switch to singer at this point or grind runes until you can make a runework like Oath or Crescent Moon. End game is Grief.

Best Merc is Might A2 merc with insight or A5 with lawbringer

Nothing more fun than playing a whirlwind baba…. Especially in classic




This post was edited by Pharaohmon on Dec 9 2025 05:36pm

Starting off at level 1, act 1 and before hitting Den? (Note; not going to explain this out each time, you will need to change things up).

White Javellins: Throw them... single, so find one asap, find more if you can, they deal shit loads of damage at level 1+... only thing is... they run out fast, so equip them on switch as well. So single throw to DOUBLE throw.

Find and small charm that adds elemental damage... +1-2 Fire (hopefully low level req) ... sweet, so throw white javs, look at other javs for replenish (cheap to repair) etc

That is the gist of it... throw javs single or double... but you need to be like level 6 to double throw (if I remember correctly) ... oh, don't go into the Den unless you are level 5 or 6 ... that is for more experience, so you can clear out all monster outside of the first town, you can also get the waypoint for the next area is you are lower level... Exit game and remake... repeat and kill and then go into Den at level 6... you will find more gear etc.

Slow progress.

Pick up white javs (unless you repair your items found)... basically sell off the crap after identified... also, you haven't saved Cain, so you will use ID scrolls etc Save up gold to purchase BOTH Tomes (ID/TP) and Hot key it.

Damn, not really in Cold Plains now... maybe only level 7 with White Javs... if lucky, some elemental damage charm... small, large or even grand... if it adds damage, use it... you are throwing or using Double Swing if you are at that level.
............


Well that is a preview, I did not add in the fact of how many points into Stats... it is simple... your goal is to get to 50 base Vitality BEFORE & Level 15 before taking on Andarial act one.

Well that is what I would do, but people do Trist Runs to get to level 15 and then go kill Andy... talk about a rush if people follow the script.

Oh, by the way... Rogue Merc... just ensure you get the gear right for it to kill of everything in Catacombs without your aid.

You’re going to have to clarify what sort of restrictions there are if any. If you’re allowing yourself to trade then buying any random grief or hell even a random elite unique weapon like the grandfather or azure wrath will make clearing the game trivial.

I beat the game recently online with only trading items I found on the char which mostly consisted of trading and perfect gems and random low runes for items like min roll gore riders, arreats, etc it was too easy honestly. I cleared it with a random min roll non eth warshrike Lacerator and demon limb nords tenderizer on swap.

If you’re trying to mimic some sort of solo self found run I would recommend either double throw or whirlwind after starting as double swing. WW with a random insight will carry you through NM easily if slowly and an obedience in an exceptional or elite base is strong enough to clear hell.