Need Input on a ww mf barb

[Spanky176]

For about 2 weeks I have laboured on 2 different WW MFer Barbs only to have them ridiculed in Act 1 of hell. My main problem is lack of damage as I can only seem to max it out at about 1500. Any tips on changing my stat/skill point allocations, or equipment changes would be greatly appreciated.

Equipment:

Helm: I was using a Tarnhelm with a Ptopaz for a while, but the defense on it sucks so I changed to a Tal Mask to help me out with dual leech and some resistance. I also have access to an IK helm.

Armor: Skullders with a Ptopaz. I also have a Gris Armor in my stash.

Weapon: Lightsaber - I'm currently looking for a better sword, any suggestions? Dual Ali Babas on the switch.

Belt: I was using goldwrap for a while but switched to tals belt so the -req could help me use my lightsaber.

Gloves and Boots: Both IK for the mf boost on the boots along with the pretty nice stat +'s on the gloves.

Rings: 2 Nagels.

Ammy: I use a Mahim-Oak for resists because I come up short on them.

Skill points:

20 BO
20 Sword Mastery
13 WW - Only because I read a guide that said this is all that was required.
10 Berserk
5 Iron Skin
5 Nat Resist
1 Stamina
1 Speed
1 in all Pre Reqs

Should I continue with an mfer barb, or should I just scrap it and go with an orb sorc? Thanks in advance for any advice.

-Spanky

[Spanky176]

I forgot to post that the shield I use is Tiamats Rebuke in a futile effort to boost my dmg.

[Sopper]

My opinion:
Helm: Stealskull: MF, dual leach, fhr, ias
Amulet: Mara's: stats, huge resist, +2 skills OR +2 barb with resist and leach
Ring: Ravenfrost: Huge atr-boost, cbf-mod :)
Ring: Dual leach ring with resists
Weapon: Dual sword: Lightsabre left, GF right, or good rare, OR big dmg 2-handed weapon
Boots: Wartraveler: MF, Adds dmg
Belt: Goldwrap
Gloves: Chanceguards for mf or Souldrainer for more leach

U could go for IK helm, gloves, belt and boots too..... less MF, but HUGE attackrating boost, high defense and nice stats-boost.

Always Max WW...... = more dmg and more atr
10 Berserk is a waste imo.... 1 point will do just fine to coop with PI.

[Death Merchant]

You could use Laying of Hands for gloves, sacrifice a little mf for +20 ias and +350% damage to demons. It'll help kill things faster.

[rickster]

The only reason you'd want to make a magic find barb is to take advantage of its find item skill. Overwise battle hammer pally, skelliemancer or sorc is the best character to do magic find runs.

@Death Merchant whirlwinds hits per whirl is determined by the increased attack speed on the weapon only. IAS from other items don't help whirlwind. But lightsaber already hits the last WW breakpoint.

As for more damage I suggest getting a bul kathos collossous blade socketd with shael or a doombringer(those are fairly cheap). Or use some rune words, passion, kingslayer or cresent moon.

[Death Merchant]

@rickster I just meant your standard attack.

[Wargasm]

Ok, before you start laughing it up at me, I'll mention I pit & pindle solo with this guy, and I'm giving the approximate skill and stats levels after item buffs and Battle Command. And if I left anything out, I apoligize in advance, but I'm not looking at the char, so I may have forgotten a couple mf charms.

Lvl 86

22 WW
14 Find item
22 Nat Res
10 Iron Skin
22 Polearm Mastery
5 Shout
7 BO
5 BC

232 str
108 dex
250+ vit
10 Energy

Dam 700-1500 (approximately)
Life (after BO) 2.3k (approximately)
Mana (after BO) 200 (approximately)

-Main Weapon: 1 socket Tomb Reaver, Amn'd, 78% mf
-Weapon Switch: Sound Throwing Spear, Echoing Blade
-IK Armour, Socketed, Ptopaz
-IK Helm, 2 Ptopaz
-IK Gloves, Boots, Belt
-26% Nagel, Perfect Ravenfrost, +35% mf ammy
-25% Gheeds, 3%mfsc x2, 4%mfsc x2, 5%mfsc, 6%mfsc, 10%mf/+39life GC, +1 Warcries GC, +1 masteries GC, 3% FRW sc x2, +6% mf/+21 life LC

A2 Defiance Mercenary
-Up'd eth tarnhelm, Ptopaz, 72% mf
-Up'd Shaftstop, -15% req jewel
-Arioc's Needle

All I'm waiting on is a better Tomb Reaver (hoping for a 3 socket, personally), or an eth for the merc, a better Gheeds GC, and a +skills/mf ammy. And actually, this char is at about 300 - 320 mf, last I figured it all out, and around 400%mf on a merc kill. Mind you, an Up'd Skullders with a Ptopaz wouldn't offend me, either, and since I switched the merc to the Up'd Shaft from the 3 Ptopaz grizzy plate, he's been living a lot longer.

[Sopper]

700-1500 dmg? damn thats low....... are sure about that?

[Superhal]

my guy does avg under 1k, and does hell fine because of resists and crushing blow.

[Spanky176]

What I'm curious about is whether the % for critical strike that Sword Mastery Gives me shows up in the character screen, or if that really means i have a chance at 3000 dmg.

Also, is everyone saying that i should dual swords instead of sword/shield?

P.S. Thanks for the tips.

[Wargasm]

Tell ya what, I'll double check and write the relevant stuff down, so you can check it over... I did check the mf total last night, and the barb is @ 322, is killing gear, and adds 72% on merc kills.


I'll brb with the actual numbers.

Edit: Here we are -->

Fruit_Stick
Lvl 86 MF Polebarb
Str 236
Dex 120
Vit 253 Life 2.3k
Energy 10 Mana 242
All resists 75%

16 Find Item - 49% chance to find item
6 Berserk - 800 to 3.7k
6 Bash - 600 to 2.7k (for mag. imm. in Ancient Tunnels)
25 WW - 700 to 3.2k
22 Polearm Mastery
22 Nat Res
13 Iron Skin
5 Shout
10 BO
7 BC

2x 3% mfsc, 2x 4% mfsc, 5% mfsc, 6%/+10LR sc, 6%/+21 life lc, +1%/+34 life lc, 6%/+4str lc, 6% lc, 25% Gheeds

All the above numbers are after using warcries, and all stats are including buffs, except energy, because I don't need no steenkin' energy.