I have just started an interest in ladder slasher, but no idea how to get decent items and build. anyone willing to give me a quick explanation on how to efficiently? looking at playing the hardcore mode maybe.

Need tips on character/item stats to focus on, its a little confusing for me.

this is the guide we mostly point people towards

https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=82660445&f=272

so in short choose barb, stat vitality to about 100 then stat strength.
use ee weapons
either ee or strength armors
strength charms

do not use ee charms as ee on a charm would make casting do moer damage and the barb doesnt cast.

okay thanks! - what is ee? Enhanced Effect? i saw that before and wasn't sure what it actually 'does' .. lol

yes, ee = enhanced effect.
It makes weapons do more damage by a significant margin. 100ee would double the base damage.
It makes armors have more defense. 100ee would be double the base defense.
It makes charms deal more damage or heal more. 100ee would be double the effect.

Heal charms arn't worth the price to be paid for melee classes nor the actions to heal yourself, will often take more damage than you heal whilst using the heal charm so generally are not recommended especially after salvation is considered significantly worse after a change which meant mobs can clear your ability charge

As Bigheaded stated:

EE on Wpn = More damage
EE on Armor = More Defense
EE on Cast Charm (Elemental) = More Damage
EE on Heal Charms = More Heal Capacity.
... Note: The Base item AVG of the same level (Tier) is exactly the same, HOWEVER, the consistency changes.



This is actually a poor statement... how did people play the game when there were no such things as Abilities? The addition of a minor amount of monsters removing them is a poor excuse to mention them, we just have to adapt, and as a solo player, having a Heal charm on a Barbarian works for me at higher levels and does not slow down my speed in playing... I can sell my Shrines for profit instead of Shrining them.

i sell them also, do more damage and if i do decide to shrine something which has value i get more life from the higher vitality.
new players in particular should absolutely avoid heal charms, waste of fg which should be spent improving the rest of their gear and any points spent on intel is also wasted

You are welcome to play your playstyle, however at my levels of gear it's definitely sub optimal and over 10 players i've helped in the past have confirmed that they've wasted fg/time using a heal charm when it didn't really do anything to help.
i can no longer comment on a "mid level of gear" playstyle as other than my PC polearms i have no subpar gear and healing is definitely not the way there either in my opinion


I would argue we both have opinions and whilst we can both believe each other to be wrong i have no wish to initiate another long debate proving that you're wrong.

This post was edited by Bigheaded on Oct 2 2025 04:25pm

I like how you give great advice, myself personally I would have worded it differently because we know that the Barbarian is the best starting character, thus you would not use Heal Charms which is logical. And I agree to this.

Simple character build and also building your items for further use on different or unlocked character classes if you continue to play the game:

Barbarian: Level 1 to 25;
... Min 100 Base Vitality & rest into Strength using either Club, Sword, Axe or Warhammer.
... EE Weapon: +Str Armor (and/or EE): +Str Main Charm (&/or Max Life)
... Note: This is from level 1 to 25, at level 25 you may change your armor to Enhanced Effect. Also, optional level 25 heal charm in ACC slot and only if using Salvation as a 3rd ability. Remember, this is not needed, however collecting Heal type charms @ level 25, 35, 45 and 55 would be advantageous later on with unlocked classes.

From level 25 to Master Quest 71 (Feeder Class only) you will get a feel for the game and recognize how to continue on playing your way, also, Group runs will delegate your position/role in the group, and that is how you will work more efficiently, solo is different of course.