Barb stats for unknown equipment

[Jahgro]

I would have posted this in the Barb forums, however, they may not know what weapons and armor belong to classic only.

I started a WW barb character, and It's going to play with equipment found by my necro. So basically untwinked. However Being a beginner D2 player, I don't know "safe" stats to use. Obviously as much Vit as possible, and no Energy. However I don't know if I should invest much into Dex and Str. I don't know what equipment I'll be using. I'll be using swords.

Anybody have any idea for stats that would work for unknown equipment?

Should I save my stat points?

[TraderScope]

I think 200-250 to Strength (unbuffed) and rest to vita is pretty safe :) Check out the stickys for complete build guides!

[HegemonKhan]

depends what u wanna do.

pvm or pvp

for pvp, obviously, exact-perfect stat placement is important. can make difference between win or loss.

for pvm...you have more freedom.

u don't need 170 str for the ornate armor unless u wanna make a def build.

if u want more damage, than u DO want more str. either make a titan (all or nearly all into str) or do a vit barb (all or nearly all into vit) or do a hybrid like traderscope suggested (200-250 str and usually 100-150 vit. put rest of points into vit or str. usually 100-150 vit is all u need to stay alive for pvm)

for me, i like doing 100 str. it's a pretty safe amount. let's u use silks (+1 skill and 5% ML) and also let's u use all the other unique armor too (like rattle cage or twitch or rockfleece or bone flesh or tanc armor or darkglow or goldskin). u get damage for the 100 str too. than u can decide if u wanna go more str or stop at 100 str.

100 str is good if u don't know how much u should have, want to have, or need to have.

since you're a sword using ww barb, u'll want to use an exe sword (if u wanna go two handed, that is). an exe sword stat reqs are 170 and 110 dex (if my memory is good). so you'll be needing 170 str and 110 dex (if i'm right).

besides for the exe dex req of 110. u should NOT put pts into dex. it's much better to get the AR from gear (angelic rings + amulet or rare rings with AR) and also a higher clvl helps too with hitting. raising dex for AR is a complete waste. never do it.

[Jahgro]

Thanks. It is a pvm build. I was planning on using a shield, however I'll think about using a two hander.

[HegemonKhan]

for pvm, u can use a 2 handed weapon.

1 handed weapon + shield is more for pvp (bvb, to be specific).

[squiggle]

200 Str

Rest vita.

[Fists of War]

200 Str

Rest vita.
Seems a little high to be called "safe". I'd say if it's a PvM nec, enough str for bonesnap would be very safe, and enough for a martel/ornate would be reasonably safe.

[fledgeling]

Id say 170 str. The 30 move vitality will probably help you a lot, if you dont have good gear

[WarlockCC]

Personally, for a mart using barb I would go for 170str, then fill up vit until 170 and then alternate between the two. That'll land you at some 250 str / 250 vit eventually.

But since you're intending to make a Swordbarb, you'll have to take into account the 110 dex req of the highest damage swords; a full req exec.
Imho, that's the downside of execs, they have the same total stat requirements as a grim scythe(170str+110dex exec vs 140str+140dex grim scythe).

Other then being able to equip your weapon you will not need dex. Sometimes people put points in dex because they think it'll help their AR enough to justify the points. Believe me, it doesn't. A single angelic ring with another part of the set can generate more AR then points in dex could ever get you.

[squiggle]

Seems a little high to be called "safe". I'd say if it's a PvM nec, enough str for bonesnap would be very safe, and enough for a martel/ornate would be reasonably safe.

You'll have enough vita to be able to tank, and enough str to have enough damage to kill/leach.

Don't make a sword barb, unless making a GFer.

Mart >

[Jahgro]

What's wrong with a sword barb? plus what is a mart using barb?

[HegemonKhan]

*almost always it's understood that the skill one is to use with a barb is ww.

*if the skill is not ww, than u need to inform, since non-ww changes things.

*****everything i say below is in accordance to a barb who uses ww*****

unfortunately, game-play spec-wise, mart (martel de fer. the "best-top" 2 handed mace type weapon), is superior to all other weapon types, except maybe the lance ("best-top" spear type).

a mart only needs 169 (thank you fledgling for the correction) stat pts (169 str, thank you fledgling for the correction). the exe (executioner sword. "best-top" 2 handed sword type) takes 280 stat points (170 str 110 dex). also the 169 str (thank you fledgling for the correction) for a mart is NOT wasted pts. the 110 dex of an exe IS wasted pts. a mart (being a mace type) gets 1.1 str bonus to damage. every other weapon get's only 1 or even worse bonus to damage. also, the mart being a mace type again, gets the 50% EDmg to undead.

BOTH a mart and exe is range 3. so no range advantage of an exe over a mart.

the only reason u'd want an exe over a mart is for "coolness" or "roleplay" or aesthetic values.

[Jahgro]

*almost always it's understood that the skill one is to use with a barb is ww.

*if the skill is not ww, than u need to inform, since non-ww changes things.

unfortunately, game-play spec-wise, mart (martel de fer. the "best-top" 2 handed mace type weapon), is superior to all other weapon types, except maybe the lance ("best-top" spear type).

a mart only needs 199 (i think?) stat pts (199 str, i think?). the exe (executioner sword. "best-top" 2 handed sword type) takes 280 stat points (170 str 110 dex). also the 199 str for a mart is NOT wasted pts. the 110 dex of an exe IS wasted pts. a mart (being a mace type) gets 1.1 str bonus to damage. every other weapon get's only 1 or even worse bonus to damage. also, the mart being a mace type again, gets the 50% EDmg to undead.

BOTH a mart and exe is range 3. so no range advantage of an exe over a mart.

the only reason u'd want an exe over a mart is for "coolness" or "roleplay" or aesthetic values.

Wow, that was probably the most helpful post I have ever read. Thank you.

[HegemonKhan]

also, i forgot to add:

in classic, ww always does the same number of hits, so weapon speed does NOT matter for ww. a slow mart will hit as much as a fastest cutlass or knout or exe.
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in LOD though, ww does not always do the same number of hits, and so weapon speed DOES matter for ww, in LOD.... due to a mart's slowness it could be bad for ww in LOD. (i don't know since i have never played LOD).

[TraderScope]

On the other hand I think Ancient Axes is not that bad hmm.. They only require 125 STR compared to 169 of Martels and they are also faster, so better to kill those Phys. Immune monsters. Also the coolness factor is higher with an axe imo.

[fledgeling]

martels require 169 strenght
as for executionier swords - most people try to get ones with 20% (or even 30) lower requirements, if possible; however it doesnt matter that much for PvM

I think you should stick with martels, as they are the best PvM due to the 10% higher damage per strenght point. IN addition, you can use a unique maul - bonesnap - to level up

[HegemonKhan]

axes, also have the unique, humungous, axe to level up with. it's damage is deceptive, too, like bone snap. the CB really helps and the +20 or so str on humungous axe really helps too.
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and, what i think, traderscope is refering to is:

when u switch to berserk to kill the physical immunes, the axe's greater weapon speed is harnessed, aka useful.

for ww though, a weapon's speed doesn't matter. in classic anyways.
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it's hard to say what's best:

mart's (mace type) give u the 2nd most damage, 1.1 str bonus to damage, and only 169 stat reqs (169 str req). but, their range is only 3.

lance's (spear type) give u THEE most damage and range 5. but, they got slightly higher stat reqs (198 stat req=110 str and 88 dex reqs) and the 88 dex req is wasted pts. maybe, the worse thing about a lance is it's durability. it breaks easy. it is also hard to get a godly or good lance with 75 durability compared to 25 durability.

ancient axes (axe type) give u much less damage (compared to lance and mart), but only requires 125 stat req (125 str req) and u get range 4.

executioner swords (sword type) give u much less damage (compared to lance and mart) and requires 280 stat req (170 str and 110 dex reqs). they have the same range as marts at 3. the 110 dex req is wasted pts.

boc de corbin (these do more damage than the grim scythes) (polearm type) give u much less damage (compared to lance and mart) and requires 280 stat pts (140 str and 140 dex reqs). the 140 dex req is wasted pts. they do give u range 5 (i'm 90% sure), but are completely inferior to a lance
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i excluded weapon speed, because most people are wondering about what weapon to use for their ww barb. not very many people are making a melee character or build other than the ww barb.

if u are NOT making-using a ww barb, than the weapon speed that i left out is a major factor in your decision as to what weapon u wanna use.

[TraderScope]

Yes, I already have leveled my Mace-WW-barb to almost 80 by now in one week but I am really tempted to remake for axes :P

[HegemonKhan]

traderscope,

ancient axes (AA) aren't bad, but their damage is MUCH LESS compared to lances or marts. and for me i had-have trouble finding-getting a good damage one, but this may not be a problem for u traderscope :D

AA could be good for dueling too, they have range 4 vs a mart with range 3.

for me this is my observational comparison of mart vs AA:

mart does way more damage. but do to its range 3, it's leeching (mana and life leech) suffer quite a bit. this is only a problem if u make a mace titan for pvm like i did:P

AA does much less damage. but it has a range 4, which much helps leeching compared to range 3 of a mart. it only requires 125 str. this is only 4 more than the 1 handed naga 121 str req. 4 measly stat pts is worth it if u wanna have the option to go AA 2 handed even if u originally only wanted to do naga 1 handed.

it's a touch call. the AA suffers a bit due to its lower damage. but its up to u. and i DO agree, AA is an awesome coolness factor !!!!

[TraderScope]

Hehe, the coolness must wait until I get my hands on a nice Axe :)

[fledgeling]

I have been waiting for few years now for a decent dmg -req scythe and no luck so far. Andy dropped me thousands of scythes, but no useful ones.
(actually I wanted to build a scythe zealot :D)

I had a bec de corbain barb (I think the bec had something like 190% ed) and he was much worse than my lance barb, despite that he had higher minimum damage. Becs (and scythes?) are so useless IMO..

As for swords - some people use ancient swords too, they are like smaller brothers of battle hammers ^^
I also duelled a 240str exec barb and he did very well (but it's 1h).

[HegemonKhan]

hell andy can NOT drop the high end damage mods. u can do her fast and easily (err..shh...dirty minds...) and gets lots of rare weapons especially when glitched, but they just don't have the high end damage to make them good-godly.
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polearms really got left in the dust in classic

the highest stat req (280 stat req=140 str and 140 dex reqs) and far less damage than mart or lance. NO +2 skill mod at all on polearms for any character.

the only saving grace....is the grim scythe for NON-ww melee users due to it's fast speed.

[squiggle]

HedemonKhan

Why can't she drop the high end damage mods?

She can drop massive ED... She can drop good base weapons..

Don't make me figure out my mule acc to post s/s of my last high ED find from her :S

[TraderScope]

I think Hege means (is the common(?) belief) that Andy can't drop say Martels/Ancient Axes with the Kings mod, but she can drop other "lower" tier weapons with this mod though.

[Lorg]

I have been waiting for few years now for a decent dmg -req scythe and no luck so far. Andy dropped me thousands of scythes, but no useful ones.
(actually I wanted to build a scythe zealot :D)

I had a bec de corbain barb (I think the bec had something like 190% ed) and he was much worse than my lance barb, despite that he had higher minimum damage. Becs (and scythes?) are so useless IMO..

Hmmz highly unlikely as Becs have very low min dmg 13-85 IIRC and lances have 27-114 or so... Its more Stylish to wield a bec thought.

For the -req Grim scythe if you want to make your char i can give u 205 dmg -req Grim scythe and therefore end your years long search. Eu ladder ofc :whistling:

[HegemonKhan]

i did mean the EDmg mods,

or can anyone confirm that hell andy has dropped high EDmg ??

the most i have ever seen is like 120% EDmg weapons from hell andy.

what's the highest EDmg people have gotten on weapons from hell andy ??

i was NOT talking about item types like lance, exe, mart, ancient axe, etc....

[Lorg]

i did mean the EDmg mods,

or can anyone confirm that hell andy has dropped high EDmg ??

the most i have ever seen is like 120% EDmg weapons from hell andy.

what's the highest EDmg people have gotten on weapons from hell andy ??

i was NOT talking about item types like lance, exe, mart, ancient axe, etc....

Item type have to be taken into account aswell. Andy can very well drop items with high ed mods on normal items, but it can't drop kings mods for desirable exceptionals such as executioners or martels etc.

[fledgeling]

Item type have to be taken into account aswell. Andy can very well drop items with high ed mods on normal items, but it can't drop kings mods for desirable exceptionals such as executioners or martels etc.

Thanks for the offer, but I think I will finish my necro first (zom).
The idea is to focus only on one character in order to get some decent gear :-)

Currently all I got is level 78 :D
Im aiming for level 87 at least, to show all the kids the power of poison necros!'

Id like to meet you though, to see your characters, as I finally started ladder (CC is playing too actually)
*streetlight for anyone interested in playing together (I kinda cheated and also have a level 19 bow amazon :D)

[Lorg]

Thanks for the offer, but I think I will finish my necro first (zom).
The idea is to focus only on one character in order to get some decent gear :-)

Currently all I got is level 78 :D
Im aiming for level 87 at least, to show all the kids the power of poison necros!'

Id like to meet you though, to see your characters, as I finally started ladder (CC is playing too actually)
*streetlight for anyone interested in playing together (I kinda cheated and also have a level 19 bow amazon :D)

Oh, that would be nice. Don't play much thought and reasently i have invaded west. SO i'm playing there. Anyway, i can ofc log for some eu action too. I'll try to whisp u when i get online...