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Magical-Barbarian Concept
As we all know, the Paladin's Blessed Hammer deals pure magical damage, which is unblockable (except by the Assassin I hear) and almost impossible to reduce to any survivable amount. In my searching of the Arreat Summit, I found out that Azurewrath deals 250-500 magic damage every time it hits an enemy. While this does not compare to the (roughly) 1.3k damage a Blessed Hammer can do (without +skills gear), it is still a substantial amount when we combine it with some skills. Here is Azurewrath, for reference:
Azurewrath
Phase Blade
One-Hand Damage: (102-114) To (115-129) (108.5-121.5 Avg)
Required Level: 85
Required Strength: 25
Required Dexterity: 136
Base Weapon Speed: [-30]
+230-270% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+30% Increased Attack Speed
Adds 250-500 Magic Damage
Adds 250-500 Cold Damage, 10 sec. Duration (Normal)
+1 To All Skills
+5-10 To All Attributes (varies)
Level 10-13 Sanctuary Aura When Equipped (varies)
Indestructible
+3 To Light Radius
(Ladder Only)
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later)
So it's got a lot of good mods for a simple sword; increased attack speed, the magic and cold damage, +1 skills and +attributes, and to top it all off its indestructible! Now, combine this sword with twenty hard points into Sword Mastery and you'll have quite the sword already, but let's take it a step further and discuss some skills. Please note that I have -never- made a Barbarian, so all of this insight is speculative.
From what I can read, there are three good skills that will work with single (or even dual!) wielded Azurewraths: the obvious Whirlwind, Concentrate, and Berserk. Depending on how good your gear is, I presume that Whirlwind will work out fine, but with Concentrate you must remember that you get +attack rating, +defense, and if you synergy with Berserk you get up to +20% more magic damage, which will only help us bypass people's shields and health pools faster. At the end of the list is Berserk, which I theorize can be used as a finishing move in the sense that it will convert 100% of your physical damage into magic damage, add it with your 500-1000 magic damage from dual Azurewraths, and then send them crushing down onto your foe to obliterate them. I suggest perhaps a skill build with Concentrate as the primary, uninterruptible skill and Berserk and Whirlwind as backup.
An interesting fact I have realized is that with the massive magic damage from using Azurewraths with their respective skills, you really don't have to worry about anything else in your gear except things that will keep you alive. In other words, imagine the most difficult, fortified tank-build you can conceive and then throw Azurewraths onto it. There are two ways you could go in my opinion: sword and shield, or sword and sword. With the SwSh path, you will need lots of dexterity (but behold, Azurewrath already requires you to have an otherwise wasted 136 points!). With the SwSw path, you will need pure speed and an Enigma for mobility in order to quickly reach your foe and pummel them with magic damage, since you won't be blocking anything. The SwSw paths also needs a tremendous amount of FRW, as you will not be running (since it drops your defense to zero). Basically, put survivability and immortality into consideration first, and then fit Azurewraths into it.
On paper, this sounds a bit feasible to me, but then again I have never made a serious melee character, let alone a Barbarian. Comments and criticism greatly appreciated!
edit: My sample skill build (excluding Whirlwind entirely) was this:
Maxed Battle Orders.
Maxed Sword Mastery.
Six points in Increased Speed.
Maxed Bash.
Maxed Concentrate.
Maxed Berserk.
This build (with prerequisites) is done at level 99.
As we all know, the Paladin's Blessed Hammer deals pure magical damage, which is unblockable (except by the Assassin I hear) and almost impossible to reduce to any survivable amount. In my searching of the Arreat Summit, I found out that Azurewrath deals 250-500 magic damage every time it hits an enemy. While this does not compare to the (roughly) 1.3k damage a Blessed Hammer can do (without +skills gear), it is still a substantial amount when we combine it with some skills. Here is Azurewrath, for reference:
Azurewrath
Phase Blade
One-Hand Damage: (102-114) To (115-129) (108.5-121.5 Avg)
Required Level: 85
Required Strength: 25
Required Dexterity: 136
Base Weapon Speed: [-30]
+230-270% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+30% Increased Attack Speed
Adds 250-500 Magic Damage
Adds 250-500 Cold Damage, 10 sec. Duration (Normal)
+1 To All Skills
+5-10 To All Attributes (varies)
Level 10-13 Sanctuary Aura When Equipped (varies)
Indestructible
+3 To Light Radius
(Ladder Only)
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later)
So it's got a lot of good mods for a simple sword; increased attack speed, the magic and cold damage, +1 skills and +attributes, and to top it all off its indestructible! Now, combine this sword with twenty hard points into Sword Mastery and you'll have quite the sword already, but let's take it a step further and discuss some skills. Please note that I have -never- made a Barbarian, so all of this insight is speculative.
From what I can read, there are three good skills that will work with single (or even dual!) wielded Azurewraths: the obvious Whirlwind, Concentrate, and Berserk. Depending on how good your gear is, I presume that Whirlwind will work out fine, but with Concentrate you must remember that you get +attack rating, +defense, and if you synergy with Berserk you get up to +20% more magic damage, which will only help us bypass people's shields and health pools faster. At the end of the list is Berserk, which I theorize can be used as a finishing move in the sense that it will convert 100% of your physical damage into magic damage, add it with your 500-1000 magic damage from dual Azurewraths, and then send them crushing down onto your foe to obliterate them. I suggest perhaps a skill build with Concentrate as the primary, uninterruptible skill and Berserk and Whirlwind as backup.
An interesting fact I have realized is that with the massive magic damage from using Azurewraths with their respective skills, you really don't have to worry about anything else in your gear except things that will keep you alive. In other words, imagine the most difficult, fortified tank-build you can conceive and then throw Azurewraths onto it. There are two ways you could go in my opinion: sword and shield, or sword and sword. With the SwSh path, you will need lots of dexterity (but behold, Azurewrath already requires you to have an otherwise wasted 136 points!). With the SwSw path, you will need pure speed and an Enigma for mobility in order to quickly reach your foe and pummel them with magic damage, since you won't be blocking anything. The SwSw paths also needs a tremendous amount of FRW, as you will not be running (since it drops your defense to zero). Basically, put survivability and immortality into consideration first, and then fit Azurewraths into it.
On paper, this sounds a bit feasible to me, but then again I have never made a serious melee character, let alone a Barbarian. Comments and criticism greatly appreciated!
edit: My sample skill build (excluding Whirlwind entirely) was this:
Maxed Battle Orders.
Maxed Sword Mastery.
Six points in Increased Speed.
Maxed Bash.
Maxed Concentrate.
Maxed Berserk.
This build (with prerequisites) is done at level 99.