Do barbs really need dex?

[HonMan]

I've never really used pure melee characters before so I'm not sure if I should put any points into dex. In the future, I want to make my barb use swords and axes. I will master sword and axe mastery and iron skin for sure. Any tips on where I should put my other skill points in order to make a successful sword+axe wielder?

[acceleration turkey]

barbs only need dex if you use a shield.

[HonMan]

barbs only need dex if you use a shield.

Do you reccommend a barb using a shield?

[Kelba]

Wait - So you don't need Dex to be able to hit enemies?

[acceleration turkey]

Wait - So you don't need Dex to be able to hit enemies?

no. the returns from dex are awful. the damage returns from strength are awful too. never use attributes to do anything other than wear equipment and reach max block witha shield. points spent in life are a lot more valuable because you cant get the kind of life from equipment that you can get from stat point expenditure. you can get much better damage and chance to hit from equipment than you can from stats.

i dont recommend using a shield.

[Ash Housewares]

shields are for suckers!

however, I really like phase blades, .....REEEEAAAALLY like them...

[GreatStupidPastry]

Do you reccommend a barb using a shield?

Depends what kind of barb.

BvC - of course not
BvB - hell yes

:eek:

BvA.. mmmm.. maybe...

[calibansfury]

I've never really used pure melee characters before so I'm not sure if I should put any points into dex. In the future, I want to make my barb use swords and axes. I will master sword and axe mastery and iron skin for sure. Any tips on where I should put my other skill points in order to make a successful sword+axe wielder?

I commend you on trying to make a different kind of build, but first, spending 40 points on just weapons masteries is unnecessary, and will make your barb unbalanced. BO is always necessary to be maxed for a barb, so assuming you also want to max your form of attack (ww, frenzy, conc or zerk), you'd have little left for iron skin (and natural resists, increased speed, shout, etc).

My advice, pick one weapon to master. If you really want to use a specific sword or axe, make two barbs. That's why people say "my axe barb" or "my maul barb", not my "throwing spear wielding sword barb". He'll be much more solid overall.

Next, dex is necessary for equipment, but very little is actually needed for dueling unless you need a shield to block. Dex helps contribute little to hitting anything, but its the only factor for blocking (needed for bvb or bva builds--if you want to wield 2 weapons, and it sounds like you do, you dont need much of it--my l88 barb has I think 56 base dex).

Last, I advise that, if you want defense, you max shout instead of ironskin due to the synergies it gives to the other warcries in improved duration.

calibansfury
uswest ladder

[HonMan]

I'm at level 27 now. I think I will max battle orders, sword mastery, and either frenzy, whirlwind, or berserk. I've never used ww or berserk before and I don't want to waste 2 skill points trying them out. Which one do you guys reccommend? What are the pros and cons of each?

[Halciet]

Whirlwind is more or less the "best" barb skill we have, since it implements some level of crowd control, fast killing, and is the only skill that you can really pvp with with any great success. Berserk is fine with one point (and you NEED one point of it, for Iron Maiden casters and Physical Immunes).

You should also put 20 points in Shout. That way, your BO/BComm durations will get increased 200 seconds, you, your party, and your merc will get a ton of defense, and you'll net an extra 200% berserk damage to boot.

-Hal