Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player) if

[Animation]

Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

All,

I play single player and I'm wondering what are the different types of barbarians that are viable for doing well through Hell difficulty?

I play LoD 1.13 with no mods. I do own 3 legal copies of LoD and basic Diablo 2, and I have 3 computers, so I can mule my items without a mule application. So I do some hell meph runs and I have some mediocre gear.

I'm just wondering what the different types of barbs are that can get though hell. I'd like to have a sword guy, an axe guy and a mace guy, just to use all the different weapons hell meph has dropped for me.

I do have a level 70 concentration barbarian and I find it boring as all get-out. I tried whirlwind ages ago and I didnt like it much (tho I was a sword and shield whirlwinder, not too effective).

I figure since I never liked Concentration or Whirlwind, that leaves only a Fury build as the main remaining hell-viable build? Or are there more? A leap-attack barbarian or a berserk barbarian perhaps?

Thanks!

 

[Animation]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

Sorry I meant Frenzy, not Fury, but the "Save" on trying to Edit doesn't work.

 

[kestegs]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

Just about any skill is viable: WW, Conc, Frenzy, leaper, Singer(Warcry), Berserker. Any of the builds can use a 1 point berserk to deal with phys immune monsters. WW takes a good deal of practice, and some decent gear to be effective. Singer is my personal favorite, but is more of a caster build than a traditional barb. Conc is probably the most boring build for a barb, besides maybe a bash barb that is. Frenzy is pretty fun and I have used that quite a bit. It really just all depends on how you like to play.

 

[Animation]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

I just hit level 24 on a mace barbarian using Frenzy. Its a fun skill. I've never really had that much fun on a barbarian before. Maybe I should make 1 axe, 1 sword, and 1 mace barb (ALL Frenzy ).

I do like odd builds. How does a Warcry barb look? Well, I guess I can just go google it. Does it require crazy rare gear or does it flat out work with reasonable single player gear?

Thanks for the reply!

 

[kestegs]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

It's reasonable, I actually made one untwinked on a ladder reset a few years back, you just need a bit of fcr (at least 63 eventually) and some good +mana gear like spirits, a merc with an insight polearm is also a must. It is by far(IMO) the safest build in the game, with a high level warcry you are stunning everything for 7+ seconds with a skill that can't miss if in range. It can also stun every monster in the game besides the 5 act bosses( it has a lower chance to stun uniques however)

 

[nurman]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

Remember, you need RWM (runeword mod) to make Ladder RW's like spirit / insight in SP

 

[Animation]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

I dont like to use mods so I guess I won't have access to insight.

Thanks for the responses. What kind of weapons do Warcry barbarians normally use (without access to runeword mods or ladder runewords / magic items)? Dual Wizardspikes with +skills everywhere else?

Thanks much!

 

[kestegs]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

Yea, dual wizzys are great, as you only need 5% more fcr to hit 105% and they give great mana boost. There really isn't another option that's very good. I'm not sure if I would want to do it sans insight, but it certainly can still be done, You will just have permanently stained blue lips. :badteeth:

 

[nurman]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

There is always dual hoto setup

 

[Animation]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

I've been playing Diablo 2 since it came out and I've never even seen a Pul, much less a Vex. So I don't expect Heart of the Oak is going to happen.

Also, according to the arreat summit, Insight is for realms only. As a single player mode D2 player, I think I'm screwed there.

So maybe I will have to skip this one. Which is too bad, because I love weird builds. I played a Bow Barbarian up to the end of Nightmare once. So I'd love something "weird" that actually worked. But I play in the wrong mode.

Oh well.

What about throwing barbarians? Can they make it through hell solo/single player (non-realms) with no mods? I have a ton of sweet (I guess) throwing uniques I've collected from Hell Meph. I know I've got 2 Demon's Arch Balrog Spears, and I have 1 (possibly 2) Glimmershreds.

Thanks!

 

[kestegs]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

Yea, they are very viable, but a pain. They can do some very high damage with all the synergies and masteries maxed. You will however be spending a lot of time going back to town and repairing, even with both switches. But I have never done one personally, but have read a few write ups on them.

Sorry, I play RWM so I always forget which are RWM and Vanilla, as I have always played with them.

 

[Animation]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

Cool deal. I do appreciate the replies.

My only high level barbarian is my old concentration barbarian. He uses swords. I made a lowbie mace frenzy barb. I think I'll make a thrower. I kinda wish I had a character to use my axes on, I've collected a lot of good axes. But I think I would have to make yet another Frenzy barb if I did. I also vaguely want to make a Polearm or Spear barbarian, but I assume those kinda suck, or at least I assume I'd have to use Whirlwind with them to not suck, and I always found WW frustrating. Tho again I was using sword and shield. Maybe a long weapon would make it feel better.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[Animation]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

Yeah, I'm kinda entertaining the idea of trying a Whirlwind (WW) barbarian in 1.13 again. Just as another character in my queue of barbarians to try.

I want to use a long weapon though, so I can hit the most foes.

Should I go with Spears or Polearms? Remember that I am single player, no rune mods, no access to runes above Um really. I have at least 1 or 2 of the elite spears and polearms. But I won't be able to make all the cool weapons other barbarians get.

I am thinking Polearms, just because I have 4 Reaper's Tolls lying around, and while they dont have IAS, with a Shael it could be serviceable. Then I could hold out against hope of one day getting a Tomb Reaver to drop, as unlikely as that seems.

So Polearm or Spear for Whirlwind with no High Runes? And not even many Medium Runes?

Thanks!

 

[Noodle]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

Do you have a Ribcracker? I could see that, eventually upgraded, being a very effective Whirlwind weapon.

 

[kestegs]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

Those would all be fine, maybe just pick one based on your best weapon. You should realize however, that "Chance to cast" won't work while using WW.

 

[lumburgur]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

I'm trying a frenzy barb currently using bnet ladder passworded games, so basically just playing single player w/ muling and RWM. I found that crescent moon works pretty well (especially on trash mobs cause of the itd), and the static is nice when it procs on bosses.
By the way, does the special countess rune drop not extend to single player?

 

[kestegs]

Re: Viable types of Barbs in Hell? (unmodded single player)

Everything is the same in SP, besides the runewords (which you can MOD of course) and the pandemonium events.