★EuroPolita's BvA Guide★

i may have overlooked some stuff, plz let me know if there's an Error somewhere that's need to be corrected/fix

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What This Guide Covers
1. Introduction
2. Breakpoints
3. Gear
4.Stash
5. Skills
6. Stats
7. Goals
8. Setup
9. Conclusion
10. Special Thanks
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1. Introduction

Hello, iam XecuterPolitan, (EU realm)
i decided to make a Guide for BvA since some people ask me how i build my barb,
obviously this game is to old, and doesn't really need more Guide's or Attention,
some might dislike this Guide/Build, some other will like it.
However Barb is one of the most Expensive character to build in D2, there's no cheap option here for This Guide.
BvA = Barb vs All, is a balanced build between BvB and BvC

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2. Breakpoints


FHR---Frames (Faster Hit Recovery)
0%---9
7%---8
15%---7
27%---6 (Our Goal)
48%---5
86%---4
200%---3

Most People agree that FHR% is useless anyway for barb, which in most case is true, but can also be necessary, 27% is enough for our BvA Build vs most Character. only real problem will be Assasin

Note: if Having a hard time getting out of stunlock by assasin use the WSG glitch, Keep pressing W and move around to get out of it,



FCR---Frames (Faster Cast Rate)

0%---13
9%---12
20%---11
37%---10 (Our Goal)
63%---9
105%---8
200%---7

Since We building a BvA 37% is Enough for our barbs, there's no need to reach 63%, we are not making a BvC here

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3. Gear

You going to need ALL of these items (most of them will be in STASH. Will be used for certain Duel's )

Barb vs Melee
Barb vs Caster
Barb vs Barb
Team vs Team
etc, etc,

Helm
-Coa 30/15 2xsocket [Ber Ber or Ber Jewel]
-Visio Diadem 2 Barb skills, High Str & Dex (atleast 30-40 Dex) 2x socket. Jewel [7/30/60/9 or 30/60/9/9]
-Kira 70 @

Armor
-Enigma MP (Low str requirements 15 ed% 775 Def )

Note: you wont have room in stash for any other armor for 'This' BvA Build, And u wont be Str bugged Either


Belt
-Verdungo's Hearty Cord 40/15
-ThunderGod Belt
-Arach belt
-Bugbelt (EU only)


Boots
-Gore Rider
-Hotspur

Gloves
-Dracula (High def + 15 Str)
-Trang
-Cleglaw's (This will be used for BM, 25%slowdown & KB)

Amulet
-Angelic Amulet
-Highlord [Mostly used for Widowmaker 20% ias]
-Rising sun

Ring
2x Angelic ring
2x Raven's 20 Dex 250 AR [ or 24x AR]
2x Wisp 20%

Weapon Slot 1
-Grief BA 40/400 /15 | GoD (Hybrid Runeword)
No Other weapons !


Weapon Slot 2
-Beast BA 285 ed% 40 str | BoD (Hybrid Runeword )
-Doom BA (This will be used for BM duels, Holy Freez)

Shield
-Stormshield 1xsocket Eld Rune, For BvB Duels


Switch
-CTA Flail 3/3/3
-Warcry Club Bo +3 +40 Str [1-2x socket]
-Widowmaker (200 ed % 5 Guided Arrow 1x socket, Shael Rune 20% ias or UM for OW)

Note: To wear Widowmaker it require that u put ur away Boo items in Stash !


Charms
22x - 3/20/20 [Max AR Life]
15x - 20/11 [Light]
1x Torch Barb 20-18 (atleast)
1x Anni 20-18-x (atleast)

If you prefer using 15x 20/5@ go for it, i personally use 20/11 Light resist to protect my self against V/T char help's alot

Note: You may thinking that ur Dmg is going to be to low, but dont worry,
You still do alot of Dmg even with just 22x 3/20/20 even in BvB !!

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4.Stash

Since you have Setup and Gear for duelling all kind's of different characters.
Your Stash inventory is Going to be Full with This guide, including your Cube.
The list Above is every item that's going to be on your Stash,
u going to have 3 free space left, you can swap Club with Demon limb to ench, or put away both and replace flail with Widow,
(The 3 free space is to Put away Club bo, swap ur Widowmaker with ur Flail after that )
Note: u Will be requierd to put away your Bo Flail + Club items To switch to Widowmaker

(SWITCH Slot / Bo)

Widowmaker: This bow is precious when facing defensive Hammerdins or ES Sorcs.
You can do a bit of ranged damage thanks to Guided Arrow and apply OW, on top of it to force them to play offensively/closer to you.
Open Wounds Bypass ES% and DR% very effectiv against soso
There are many choices of what to socket this with.

Nef if you want knockback for a chance to tele/WW,
Um for more OW,
Shael For 20 ias%.

Keep in mind while using Widowmaker that your IAS is LOW...you are no bowazon. but will be enough speed with Shael Rune + Highlord.
Other than that...when switching to Widow be prepared to switch back the moment they come near you



-Prebuffing.

Demonlimb: Use this for Enchant to take your AR even higher. This is considered BM, so be sure to ask before using.
Note: This is the Only Pre buff item u will have as BvA, No Room For Pre Bo

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5.Skills


20 Axe Mastery
20 Shout
20 Battle Orders
20 Whirlwind
1 in all pre-reqs not listed here
1 Berserk (Optional)
1 Battle Command
1 Increased Stamina
1 Increased Speed
3 Natural resist
12+ Iron Skin (Everything else here)

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6.Stats

Strength Base: 30
Add: 0 (Zero , Nothing !! no need to waste point here, We making BvA)

Dexterity Base: 20
Add: Until u reach Max block (READ BELOW)

***Make sure you Wear this items when Using Point's in DEX
*-Visio Diadem helm with 30-40 Dex atleast
*-Stormshield (Eld rune)
*-Angelic Set (this is to get High AR with Shield setup. Dont use Raven!! when skilling/Stats for MB)
*-Bug Belt (EU only)

Vitality Base: 25
Add: Rest of your points
Our Goal is to Reach atleast 7k HP with Shield setup

Energy Base: 10
Add: 0 (Zero , Nothing.....)

NEVER put any points into energy, the bonus from your BO should be enough to survive.
If not, use mana potions.
(u will have around 300 Mana Melee setup, 550 Mana Widow setup, 480 Mana FCR setup)

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7.Goals

These are some random stats to aim for when using this barbarian. Keep in mind they may vary from person to person based on gear, stat preference and skills.
All of these I'm giving are non-prebuff.
I wouldn't consider this barbarian done until about level 95-99

Level: 95-99 (Higher level means higher chance to hit your enemy with less of a chance of them hitting you, improves your OW damage and gives you more stat and skill points.)

Life: 6.400 - 7.200 HP depends on setup
-Shield setup 7.000 HP
-Widowmaker 6.400 HP
-FCR Setup 6.800 HP
-Melee Setup 7.200 HP


Defense: 12.000 - 16.000
-Non Shield 12.000 - 13.000 Defense
-With Shield u will reach about 15.000-16.000 Defense

Block: 75% (Max when needed)
-u will have Zero % block when u dont need shield, like Barb vs Smite or even V/T or other's
-and u will have max block when using shield, vs Bowa ,Barbs, Zeal

Attack Rating - Dual Wep Angelic's
AR With Angelic's: 19-20k (Depending on how you spent on dexterity. and ur LVL)
AR with Ench: 26-28k (Depending on how you spent on dexterity. and ur LVL)


Attack Rating - Dual Wep Raven's
AR With Highlord's/Raven's: 7-10k (Again, depending on your dexterity.and ur LVL)


Attack Rating - Shield Setup Angelic's BvB Setup (Visio + Shield)

AR With Shield : 22-24k (Depending on how you spent on dexterity. and ur LVL)
AR with Ench: 32-34k (Depending on how you spent on dexterity. and ur LVL)




Weapon/Shield Damage:
-Grief Damage: 653- 1.571 (No ench, No Venom Via Grief ctc)

Dual Weapon Damage:
-Grief Damage: 730 -1.924 (No ench, No Venom Via Grief ctc)
-Beast's Damage: 880 - 3.200 (No ench, No Venom Via Grief ctc)

Note:Ctc = Chance to cast
(otherwise you dmg on screen would look like 1.1k-2.3k something with grief)


OW: 35% chance (With Dracs and Gores) 55% if u use Hyb weapons
DS: 35% chance
CS: 31% chance
Note: OW = Open Wounds , DS= Deadly Strike CS = Critical Strike

FCR: 37% Breakpoint is Enough for BvA
Note: if u want 63% build BvC instead

FHR: 27% Breakpoint Is Enough For BvA
Note: if Having a hard time getting out of stunlock by assasin use the WSG glitch
Keep rising W and move around to get out of it,

Stacked Resistances: High Light resist, V/T Character dont have an big effect on u
(V/T with 5 k dmg with CONV only do about 150 dmg on u if u use 15x 20/11)

Resist: with Coa around (if u used the 15x 20/11 instead of 15x 20/5@)
55% Fire
55% Cold
75% Light THX too 20/11 scs and High Stack resist
55% Psn

-Max if using Bugbelt 20@resist (EU Only)
-Maxed resist with Kira,


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8.SETUP

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General Gear Pub Setup
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This setup gives you the most balance, protecting you from physical and elemental damages and keeps your damage ok.
Of course there may be times you'd change it, but this is the general setup.
This grants you 37% FCR, decent FHR, DR in the 30's, Cannot Be Frozen, decent mana, good damage and the ability to teleport.

Helm
-Coa

Armor
-Enigma

Belt
-Arach's

Gloves
-Trang's

Weapons
-Grief
-Beast

Amulet
-Highlord's

Ring
-2xRaven's

Boots
-GoreRider

Switch
- CTA Flail & Club Warcry

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General Caster Setup
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If there are no physical damage characters in here then you should use this setup as it gives you the most to take on regular casters.
This is the same as the build above only it takes away the unneeded DR and adds skills and other mods in the form of an Arreat's.
Keep in mind that even though a wind druid is a caster, their attacks are physical, so you will have to refer to the build above in place of this one. Dracula will give Higher chans to get OW + Lifetap

Helm
-Visio

Armor
-Enigma

Belt
-Arach [FCR]
-TG [Absorb]

Gloves
-Trang [FCR]
-Dracula [OW for Widowmaker]

Weapons
-Grief
-Beast

Shield (OPTIMAL vs Bow Amazon & Hybrid Assasin)
-Stormshield [ Will be used vs Bowa, 35 DR% and 75% Block just put away your Beast / BoD]

Note: Yeah i know, they do not count as Caster, but Decided to put it in here anyway cuz this is the setup you will use vs them FCR% Setup^^

Amulet
-Highlord [1+ skill20% ias for widowmaker]

Ring
-2x Raven's [Mana + Dex + Absorb]

Boots
-GoreRider
-Hotspur [if u need fire resist]

Switch
-Widowmaker

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General Melee Setup
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This is the setup to maximize on DR% and AR, if you need more AR to take on the characters with huge chunks of defense
You could use Demon limb to Enchant. (either prebuff or use on ur WC switch)
Be sure to ask before doing this, anyway, in a GM duel.
This setup is mainly VS Pure Smite, Tele Smite, V/T

Helm
-Coa

Armor
-Enigma

Belt
-Verdungo's'
-Bugbelt (EU Only)

Gloves
-Dracula [Open Wounds]
-Trang [For FCR% if they Run away to much and FoH]
-Cleglaw's [For BM, 25%Slowdown + KB]

Weapons
-Grief (or Hyb)
-Beast (or Hyb)
-Doom [For BM duels if he uses Exile + Flashes HolyFreez on u,]

Note: some smite will say they use HF cuz you desync to much, this is only true if u are FULL str bugged, and This Guide DOES not make u Str bugged at ALL

Amulet
-Angelic

Ring
-2x Angelic

Boots
-GoreRider

Switch
- CTA Flail & Club Warcry

Note: If the Smite or V/T use Exile + Holy freez (Both of them at same time) and u having hard time beating the guy,
Just put on Clegs + Doom + Bugbelt (EU Only) + Ench (This is BM setup)

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Stacking Setup
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This setup is for the times when you need to get more resistances to counter other characters -resist and ensure you take minimum damage.
This setup is mainly VS Soso,

Helm
-Kira's

Armor
-Enigma

Belt
-Arach' [FCR]

Gloves
-Trang's [FCR]

Weapons
-Grief
-Beast

Amulet
-Highlord [ 1+ skill 20ias% 35@ Light]
-Rising sun [Absorb]

Ring
-2x Raven's [Mana + Dex + Absorb]

Boots
-GoreRider
-Hotspur

Switch
- Either CTA + Club or WidowMaker!! depents on situation

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Barb Vs Barb Setup
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This setup is mainly VS Barb obviously Shield 75% Block

Helm
-Visio

Armor
-Enigma

Belt
-Verdungo's'
-Bugbelt (EU only)

Gloves
-Dracula

Weapons
-Grief

Shield
-Stormshield

Amulet
-Angelic

Ring
-2x Angelic

Boots
-GoreRider

Switch
-CTA Flail & Club Warcry


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9.Conclusion

I only played BvA for 1 year but i love it ^^ pretty decent vs all character.
even have possibility to play as Defensive or Aggressive,
Great for TvT also,
Only down side if u never played barb before, is that u need experience on how to battle different character, which you eventually figure out.
and sometimes can by annoying to go to stash to switch out gear, And ......REPAIR!
Overall, BvA is a Crazy beast,

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10. Special Thanks

Most of this stuff is from 'Omnicide' BvA Guide
i just made some Update to it since it's outdated 2008
(Wanna see his Original Guide?) use WebArchive.


Screenshots:

Ench + CtC Venom Via Grief
With Bugbelt



Ench + CtC Venom Via Grief
With Verdungo


My Visio and BvB setup
No Ench
No Venom CtC

wsg is a thing, but 27fhr :S ?

+ no need so many 20/11lr scs.oak is your friend

This post was edited by kroko89 on Jan 27 2016 01:00am

No leap? Why? No offense but how is this even a good BvA?

Why pump so much points into Iron Skin? You are not going to win in any decent Melee duels besides, 1 in Iron Skin in adequate for dueling against Wolf Druids or Javazons. Even with so much Iron Skin, you won't win against a real BvB or a Zealdin.

Why so much into Shout and none into Leap? With on 37% fcr and 27% fhr you are not going to survive a duel against caster. Necro or Trappers will obliterate you. Bowazons will tear you apart with desynch no max block will save you.

Usually 8x 20life/11 Lightning Resist SCs is more than adequate, you don't need to much of these. The only chance you will use those scs are versus those 75fcr Teleporting V/Ts with Cube Bug Sacred Targe Exiles. When you faces those, why use 32020s instead of 36/20s? Everyone knows GriefZ works best with Ar/Vits. Grief itself do not have Weapon ED, by using 32020s you are wasting those charms on an irrelevant build. Fines SCS are only for Bowazons or Zealdins besides, Zealdins won't use SCS also. 32020s is not a good choice for a BvA or BvC.

Next how much Mana you have? Are you sure you have more than enough mana to chase after Necros? Do you even have 800mana after BO? You don't need any 20/17s?

Next how much Resist All do you have? You don't need a lot of 20/5s also, 6 SCs is adequate to compensate for the lack of a gfg 08 rare perm dupe boots like Wraith Brands
You need such boot for Strength-bugging

Windowmaker is useless. No decent dueler will be intimidated by it.

Why use Rising Sun? Not a good choice. Use a 2barb/20fcr/60life ammy for 63%fcr is better. Besides, using sorb on a sorc is a sore loser player. You don't need sorb to win against fire sorc.

Why use Enigma MP? It is such a low defense armour and you ended up pumping so much Iron Skin? Please use Archon Plate Enigma instead and learn to use Strength bug. I don't believe your barb can handle a tele-smiter with such low AR and without Strength Bug. So you intended to have a poor performance versus Tele-smiters who flashes Holy-Freeze in exchange for higher life? Are you sure you can kill Tele-smiters with Holy-freeze without proper strength bugging?

And again what a loser, why use Hotspurs? Why use Wisps? You don't need sorb to win ball sorc. You don't need sorb to win Farcast zons or trappers. Besides I really doubt you can even handle trappers with such pathetic fcr and fhr.

This post was edited by Jaxz on Jan 27 2016 07:54am

incredible job mate, grats

this ^

I like this guide

it looks good on the outside, but there are so much enigmatic choices in it i must ask myself if the op does even play barb lol

This post was edited by Sreial_ganja on Jan 27 2016 11:54am

gores>>>>>>>>>>>> or dancers to sace dex/fhr

I use gores for my BvC or BvA as well in non-max block situations.

Nope this is even better than dancers

Strength Bug >>> Dancers

I will not even follow most of what is written in this guide. It won't work against any half-ass duelers, this barb will have problems if when a decent dueler who knows what he/she is doing comes along. Good luck with such low fcr/fhr against a 102fcr mindblast, or a 125fcr nec.