Any advice is appreciated. Haven't leveled a barb in like 20 years lol.

It’s for sure the hardest class to level on due to lack of aoe damage but the 2 builds ive found work best are double throw and zerk/ww hybrid.

In either build the strategy is similar but throw has better aoe and zerk has better single target and precision.

Strategy:
- join full game (Baal runs work best usually)
- solo farm boss packs in chaos sanctuary until around level 90-92
- after that try to find full games with TZ enabled with the TZ level being as close to your level as you can get (for example you will get more exp as a lvl 92 in a lvl 90 TZ than in a lvl 96 TZ)
- its ok if someone else is in the TZ with you but try to stay far away from them (you get bonus exp for them being in the area but if they’re too close you will split exp with them)

Builds:
Zerker/ww hybrid
Grief pb
Pheonix Mon
Nigma
Cham Gface
Laying of hands
Gores
Arach
X2 fcr rings with flat mana and at least some mana and life leech between the 2
Highlords
Swap: hoto+wizzy for tele speed+ mana

Inv:
Max/ar gcs (aim for 12-14 max dmg)
4 max dmg scs or 3max/ar/life or str scs
X4 5/5all res scs or 5/11s to cap fire and light res and hit fhr bp of 48

Merc: a2 might with pride, fort, cham’d Andy or vgaze (zgave more tanky from better fire res, Andy gives you more dmg through boost to might aura)

Stats:
Enough vita for whatever you feel comfortable to not die at - I aim for about 3-4K
Enough dex for max block with Pheonix (worth it since it gives good amount of ar too)
Rest into str for more dmg

Skills:
Max zerk and synergies
Max sword mastery
1 into 1 pt wonders (can put a few more into nat res if you need to)
Rest into ww

How to pilot:
Target bos packs, tele in, zerk the boss, whirling to heal and zerk/whirl the minions, don’t bother with non minions/non boss packs

If it’s a strong boss pack use howl to scatter minions or war cry to weaken them.

This build is quite safe due to max block and high resistances and redemption while also doing the maximum dps with berserk and respectable ww dmg for some aoe and healing. It is slightly more mechanically difficult than some meta builds since you need to quickly lock between monsters to zerk them instead of relying on massive aoe but it’s not too bad since I use limited amount of skills.

throw/frenzy hybrid barb
Better aoe but not as safe and not as quick at taking out boss packs specifically. Better for high density areas.

There are a few gear setups you can use depending on your preferred play style and the area you are farming. I enjoy min/maxing and a lot of micro so I will share my current preferred build. I can share alternatives that are less mechanically intensive afterwards if you wish.

Gear:
Nigma
Cham Gface
X2 eth ghost glaive with as much Ed as possible (380-450 if possible) 1 needs 40ias, the other doesn’t need ias, also great of one of them has knockback for some cc
Laying of hands
Highlords
Razortail
Gore riders
X2 fcr rings with flat mana and leech (need mana and life between the 2 of them)

Swap:
X2 hustle pb (proc burst of speed and stack frenzy at beginning of run quickly)
Or
X2 lacerators to proc amp dmg vs high life targets or physical immunes

Inventory
Same as zerk barb

Merc
A2 might
Pride
Fort
Cham Andy or vgaze

Skills
Max double throw
Max throw mastery
Max frenzy (this is because you need lvl 27 frenzy for ias breakpoint on double throw, not for frenzy dmg)
1 pt into 1 pt wonders
1 pt spear mastery for when u use frenzy/zerk with your javelins
1 pt zerk (for Phys immune bosses if u don’t use lacerators)
Rest into Bo for health/zerk dmg
Can also put a few points into increased stamina so frenzy stacks last longer for comfort of play.

Stats
Enough vita for 3-4K life or whatever you feel you need to not die
Enough str for gear
Rest into dex for more dmg and ar (throwing weapons scale equally from str and dex so dex is better than str since it also gives ar)

Strat:
Proc burst of speed from hustle pbs and to build max frenzy stacks

Target boss packs and high density mobs.
Occasionally frenzy to maintain stacks (this is the hardest part of this setup)
Try to line up packs of enemies to maximize dps with double throw.
Avoid being too close since you don’t have block or dr, you are quite squishy.

From my testing these builds are much more efficient than a standard ww barb even with BIS gear. The throw barb does much more aoe dmg than ww and the zerker takes out boss packs much faster and with much more safety than a ww barb.

happy leveling!

This post was edited by Void511 on Jun 25 2023 11:31am

Solo leveling guide:

1-15 buy 2 scepters from akara, in countess, getting enough runes for malice, stealth and 3x tal leveling up double swing and mace mastery

Farm Fara in act 2 for 2x 3os flail, build malice in one and 3x tal in the other. 2os armor for stealth. This will last you thru normal

15-20 farm tombs and beat duriel. You shohld probably be fine walking through the rest of the game without farming xping. A point in battle cry is useful to deal with bosses for ar issues.

Walk through the rest of the game, leveling up frenzy, double swing, battle orders and stop mace mastery around 5-10 points.

Hopefully you are level 25 by normal ancients but you should be atleast 40 for nm so farm eldritch for items, xp until about 35. Want to be on the look out for angelics, sanders boots bloodfist, or other staples like sigon gloves/belt/boots. Save any orts thuls or amns you may find along the way for later.

Theres no shame in pumping some dex at this point because your ar is going to suck.

If you have trouble with diablo or baal, slow and cold damage go a long way. Separate ancients for a 1 v 1 battle. After getting through normal, ideally youd want to farm cows for a bill, 5os naga and 3os armor. White bill in cows (I believe) should give 4os at larzuk but any 4os polearm should work. Farm nm countess for enough runes to make insight, peace runeword and potentially an honor.

At this point it will be decision time on whether to stay frenzy or not but insight in a exceptional base polearm or honor in a 5os lance/naga etc will be enough to carry you through nm with ww and solve any mana issues. With insight/peace and whatever mastery you respec into your critical strike will be insanely high. Definitely respec will be based on what weapons you get.

It might be wise to farm NM mephisto for upgrades like shaftstop, whistans for mb, arreats, gores, ik peices, vamp gaze, etc. some solid weapons can drop too like butcher pupil, headstriker etc. if you snag a couple butchers pupil, or headstriker or even ribcracker could carry you through hell. Ideally want to be 50+ before hell.

Youll probably hit walls every act boss in hell. Farm hell andy until you can get to mephisto and nm cows for any bases you need. You will likely be farming hell mephisto hundreds of times because hell chaos sanctuary is going to severely gear check you. Ideally your gear will want to look something like this before diablo:

Insight partizan/honor/oath if extremely lucky with forges or hell countess
Shaftstop/duriels shell
Vamp gaze/g face/arreats
Gores/ik boots/sanders
Bloodfist/dracs/ik gloves/cb craft gloves
Soe/ik belt/dungos/ow craft belt
Angelics/ravenfrost

Thank you for this. VERY helpful.

Unreal guide Void! Thanks for the time and effort i have followed your guide with my very first barb and it's helped me soo much it's a awsome build all the credit to you my man