Is Taunt that usefull? Frenzy Barb

[Whendoram]

I am building a Frenzy barb based on Ash's Guide, I am about level 58 or 59 and have the following stats

2 Sword
20 Frenzy
9 DS
16 BO (maxing now)
5 NR
1 WC
1 BC
Also 1 to all prerequisites and speed and STA

I am looking at doing the singing barb build he has listed, and am questing the usefulness of Taunt. It seems like a nearly useless skill, and I have never used it before, so I really don't know. But it seems to be that the 9 points I would be poring into it would be better used in Double Swing, as it still gives the synergy to Frenzy, and the skill would be strong if you needed to go back to it. Since Taunt only gives dmg synergy to War cry, which I am also using, and loving, but the dmg isn't what I am using it for, it just seems like I would be better maxing DS to use as a secondary skill.

Maybe its just to each his own on this, and doesn't really matter, but I want to know if Taunt is really that great of a skill to use. It doesn't work on uniques or bosses or is the DMG you get with War Cry worth it? I guess what I hate about Taunt is it is a one monster cry, not a radius cry.

Also another question, I could have sworn I read somewhere that one of the Barb war cries can break Physical immunity, and let some dmg through. I thought this was War Cry, but now I can't find this info anywhere. I'm sure this is not the case, but if it was, I would sure like to know before I start trying to find the best +magic dmg weapon and invest in Berserk and the prerequisites. (I'd like to save those 3 points) This last question was probably from a dream I have had since I have been living and breathing Diablo these last 2 weeks.

Doram

[stfrn]

Atleast 1pt in taunt is pretty usefull for pulling monsters to you... after playing a singer I start wishing all my characters could have that.

[windwingwind]

Taunt: when you playing get more skillful you will know how useful taunt is. Especially when modded by wsk2 temptess. Combine it with howl and see. I ususally goes 10 DS 10 Taunt

PI breakage skill: No, barb doesn't has such an inherent skill. One can only get amp dmg/decrep from items.

[sirwhere]

Taunt is one great tactical skill. All pvm babos should have 1 pt in it.

[asdfgah]

It's great for preventing burning souls to use their lightning attacks and shamans resurrecting and casting inferno at you too IIRC :smiley:

[Aldeth the Foppish Idiot]

OMG, Taunt is one of the most useful pvm skills out there. I use it regularly. Off the top of my head, it works great on rouge archers, skeletal archers, skeletal mages, gloams, imps, and anything that likes to run away from you when you try to get close to them. It is worth using just for those annoying teleporting imps as a matter of fact. It is an extremely underappreciated/underused barb skill. However, it is also a skill that is useful with just one point, so you shouldn't feel the absolute need to max it if you do not wish to. However, if I remember correctly (been a while since I've done a frenzy barb) taunt and double swing each give the same 8% enhanced damage to frenzy, and therefore points in either of them should effectively give you the same bonus. More points in Taunt increases the penalty that the creature gets to hit you and the damage that it does should it hit you, so points beyond the first are not wasted.

Having said all that, battle cry is the spell of choice for when you're frenzying. Standard tactics are warcry to stun a boss pack, and immediately cast battle cry after that so that the boss gets a penalty on him too. Taunt is more useful for ranged attackers, while battle cry is better for melee attacks.

before I start trying to find the best +magic dmg weapon and invest in Berserk and the prerequisites.

As others have said, there is no such skill. However, if you do invest a point in berserk and it's prerequisites, there's no need to find a +magic damage weapon, as berserk already converts all physical damage into magic damage. You just want to use the biggest beat stick you can get your hands on usually. Something with a high base damage is usually better than something with lower base damage and additional damage on top of it.

[Whendoram]

there's no need to find a +magic damage weapon, as berserk already converts all physical damage into magic damage. You just want to use the biggest beat stick you can get your hands on usually. Something with a high base damage is usually better than something with lower base damage and additional damage on top of it.

Very good point and not something I was thinking about.

I will have to try to learn Taunt more, it would seem I am not utilizing it as well I should. I have probably been a bit babied in my growth as a barb with an Bowazon spread firing everything from behind me. Make those ranged guys not such a big deal.

I am still debating the 9 points to taunt, or just jack up DS higher. I like that skill because of the 0 mana usage, so if I get stuck with a mana sucker, I can still be effective switching to DS from frenzy. DS is always on my left click.

Thanks for you comments guys.

Doram

[Aldeth the Foppish Idiot]

Oh, getting DS up to a level where it costs no mana is definitely a good idea, but I think you hit that before 20 points are spent. I would recommend getting DS to zero mana cost, and then start pumping taunt.

[prion]

the thing about Taunt--ranged monsters, when taunted, will immediately stop what they're doing and try to come after you. These are monsters that were previously adding damage to your party and are now just moseying across the battlefield.

[kidsmokin]

DS costs 0 mana at slvl9.