Berserk IK/weapon choice

[Bonkie]

Hey,

I'm sorry if this has been covered in other sections of the guides, but I read all the berserk guides and there is no satisfactory indication (for me) to what is a good weapon choice for a berserker. Now to be clear, I dont want to create an uber-barb, I just want to make a barb that can at least play Hell solo (in 1player game) and Ill just see what more he can do ;)

Can a berserker survive using the IK weapon? Is it only the AR thats problematic (but not unsolveable then) ?

Can he also survive using the complete IK set? (just in case im lucky enough to find the armor)

Do I really need weapon mastery if using IK weapon, or not ? Do I need weapon mastery in the other cases?

Why are axes so popular for berserkers ? :)

thanks!

[lumpor]

All non-singer barbs need at least 1 point in their mastery, but never 2 masteries (except if wielding two types of weapons, or if using both throwing and melee). Question is, do you intend to carry the maul at end-game or not? If you do, put at least 1 point in mace mastery. If not, I think you know what to do

[slam]

I really think you'll do better using a shield (stormshield) on a berserker. 0 defense means you'll get hit all the time without one.

As for a weapon, the best cheap weapon that comes to mind is a stormlash. Runeword wise, I like Beast, but if you use an Act 1 merc using Faith, I'd go with Death. Basically something with Crushing blow.

[Vesar]

Instead of stormlash I'd go with a death cleaver and SS. Add a high lords and you will hit 100% deadly strike which means all damage you do is doubled. Now add in war travs for the +dmg and you will hit around 3000 10000 dmg with a might merc.

[Bonkie]

I want to make a 2h zerker, and I was more wondering if the IK maul / set is viable for a zerker end-game. Im still deciding what mastery/weapon class to go for, and wether I will need lots of dex or not.

I still haven't made up my mind though

[lumpor]

Dex is a poor short-sighted solution to ar. You're better off doing something else.

Sure, zerkers make good use of shields since they have so little protection, but they also make use of high weapon damage since they have so much off-weapon ed

[slam]

Vesar, don't forget that stormlash has crushing blow and chance to cast static field. i would value those mods over deadly strike. You can still get deadly strike elsewhere like highlords, gore rider's, and guilluame's helm.

Bonkie - you could certainly do a 2 hander. Howl is all the crowd control you really need. I prefer a shield, but a zerker has no real weaknesses in my opinion, so 2 handed would work. I'd think the IK maul would get you by in hell.

[Bonkie]

Thanks slam,

I've played countless barbarians before, but never ever a Zerker so I'm a bit uncertain on how to make him survive Hell. I know how to make use of Howl, Taunt & War Cry so I don't think that will be a problem. I just wanted to know if IK maul and/or IK gear would make him survive but I'll go for Mace mastery and then I can still choose based on what I find ;) I see lots of people going for axes when berzerking but I guess thats because they have highest 1H damage ?

[slam]

yeah, axes have the highest 1 handed damage. i'm building my latest berserker to use Beast because of the Fanaticism aura and 20% crushing blow. The fanaticism aura means my other gear can not be IAS based, as I easily reach the fastest breakpoint.

Make sure you do your mastery last. The synergy bonuses provide more damage

[Vesar]

Crushing blow doesn't do much when everything dies in 1 or 2 hits, same with static field. Also, remember you be hitting at 9 fps the most, most likely 10 fps normally, so your not getting to many blows in.