Sword and Shield

[bombadilb]

Hello,

I haven't played for a long time now and was wondering if there were any efficient Sword and Shield barb builds out there. This would be my first character on the account so I wouldn't be able to stack him too much, but if any build could hold their own or be average PvM it would be great to know.

If this build wouldn't be that great of a starting build could anyone recommend a good druid build?

Thanks

/edit Is there a ladder reset expected any time soon?

[Austere]

There are many builds you can use with a sword and shield.

You can use whirlwind, zeal, berserk, and concentrate.

The average conc build is:
20 Concentrate
20 Battle Orders
20 Weapon Mastery
20 Shout
20 Iron Skin or Bash

And I think that is the popular sword/shield barb build.

[bombadilb]

thanks for the reply!

Is this build still late game viable?

[sirwhere]

For late game, a good sword/shield combo would be grief zweihander and phoenix shield. Combine it with fortitude or chains wirefleece and crown of thieves/ages and you got yourself a pretty efficient barbarian, which also scores lots of style points :)

This setup works fine with all builds: whirlwind, concentrate, berzerk, bash, etc.

[Austere]

I think you also need 222 dex points in order to use the highest blocking shields. Keep in mind though that you can get plenty of dex points from gear so don't go dumping 222 stat points into dex.

[gedda-d-e]

Im going for the same sort of barb, but in SP. I need to put some points in to Natural etc so which skill do you recomend i max out first, shout or iron skin?

I want high def and max block, at the moment my end-game eq will be Doombringer/headhunters glory (not syure about sockets)/IK helm, shoes, belt, gloves/shaft/raven+manald/rare amy with 1 skill+10str+19 all res. Im looking for a Arreat and storm, but they dont exactly grow on trees in SP :smiley: . If I find them im switching the IK boots for Goreraiders but I think ill keep the belt+gloves for STR. What do you think?

Does 222dex go for all shields or what? Seems like a bit of a random number :undecided: ? For what level etc?


gedda

[Austere]

Shout gives more defense and it's not a bother to cast it once you get a few levels into it and it's synergy battle orders.

Chance to block depends on a formula between your character's level and his dexterity. 222 is needed for the stormshield (highest blocking shield)

Total Blocking % = [Blocking Displayed By Shield x (Dexterity – 15)] / (Character Level x 2)

That is the formula. No matter how high your displayed blocking appears, 75% is the cap. And that 75% is reduced to 25% or 1/3 while you're in mid attack (it returns to 75% in between attacks), also 1/3 while running (not while walking though). Input the formula to find out what dex you need for other shields.

Most people would max skills in this order:
20 Concentrate
20 Battle Orders
20 Weapon Mastery
20 Shout
20 Iron Skin

A quick example. You have a Clvl 50 barbarian with 80 in Dex and a tower shield that's 49% blocking.

49 * (80 - 15) / 50 * 2
49 * 65 / 100
3185 / 100 = 31.85%

The same formula with stormshield at level 99 with 222 dex

72 * (222-15) / 99 * 2
72 * 207 / 198
14 904 / 198 = 75.2727273%

Basically, the higher your level, the more dex you need.