|
Originally Posted by Classic PvP Barbarian Guide: Ladder
Let's introduce the Classic Speeder Barbarian! Designed to kill Elemental characters with ease, take on BvBers, and catch those pesky Necromancers...
First of all, to handle elemental characters, you need max resists. A standard setup with 125 resists will get you max resists in that element in hell. To get 85 resists in hell with Iratha's, you need 135 resists. Under Conviction, you need 285 lightning resists; Cold Mastery, you'll need 290 if they use a full +skill setup. Against Poison Necromancers, their Lower Resist can effect your poison resists for another -66 penalties in a full +skill setup. The good players won't use these setups, but you'll come across bad duelers and need to take care of them.
How can a barbarian that kills casters compete in BvB? You'll need lots of defense and AR, right? Not really. Most ladder barbarians will use Angelics, and effectively get ~11k AR so they can get as many hits as possible. Therefore, your defense is negligible. Also, wouldn't a BvBer need max block to avoid getting hit, and a caster killer would lose life if they got block right? Not in Classic, max block is easily achived by Twtich and Swordback Hold. Also, many BvBers on ladder seem to think Battle Hammers are the way to go, or Executioner Swords. By using Nagas, you'll have less damage than either of those builds, but you'll have two advantages: a higher range with Naga's range 3 over Battle Hammer's range 1, getting more hits and getting hardly hit; more life with Nagas because of lower requirements (125 strength) than the Executioner Sword (170 strength/110 dexterity).
This build is great for avoiding the lethal curse of Decrepify of Necromancers, because you'll be extremely quick to avoid the radius of the curse and zoom in on the kill. Since Shout only needs 1 point, you can dump all the rest into IS and NR. I'd max IS first, since speed from skills is better than speed from items. Resists are the same whether from items of skills, and plus they are wasily gotten from items. Since you're fast you can target in on the bonemancer before he casts Decrepify, and if it does manage to effect you, you'll have extra speed to lose.
Items
Weapon: 2xRare Naga (Imbue at lvl 74), 2x+2 Barbarian Magic Hatchet*
Armor = Blinkbat's Form*, Hawkmail, Twitchthroe, Berserker's Hauberk*
Helm = Iratha's Coil, 3-Ruby Crown, Tarnhelm*
Gloves = Iratha's Cuff, Bloodfists
Belt = Iratha's Cord, Bladebuckle
Amulet = Iratha's Collar, Angelic Wings
Rings = 2xCoral Ring, 2xCobalt Ring, 2x Jade Ring, 2xGarnet Ring, 2x Angelic Raiment, 2xStone of Jordans*
Shield = 3-Topaz Kite Shield, 3-Saphire Kite Shield, Swordback Hold
Boots: Goblin Toes, Hot Spurs*
Extras: Horadric Cube, Tome of Town Portal*, Tome of Identify*
*these items are not really needed, but help a lot
Kite Shields are the best shields to put gems in because they are light weight, so you keep your speed up. And once again, Nagas are the best because of their requirements and range. Many of the * items are items that will help you Warcries, like Berserker's Hauberk (+1 armor) and the SoJs. However, they aren't really needed, your character just functions better with them.
Of course, these items can all be improved on by rares. Rares can lower the overall amount of statistics you have to spend in strength or dexterity. They may give you lots of life and mana; some come with tri-resists, regen, FRW, and FHR. Often times, if you find good rings and amulets, you won't need to use items from the above list like the Angelic set, or the 3-Gem Kite Shields. However, know that while you may be gaining life, +skills, resistances, the need for swapping items, -requirements, and most importantly style, when using rares over items like the Iratha's set, you do lose the max resists and FRW the set gives you. Some may like this tradeoff, I myself do. I'd much rather prefer a setup consisting of 95% rares, but this is a ladder build and it can compete just as well. Think of the satisfaction you'll get killing people "welfare" style.
Now, due to CS runs, its not very hard to get to 85. After that, the leveling becomes a little tedious. Therefore, the skills section will be catered to a lvl 85 character with all quests done. Your character should then have 84 skill points from leveling, and 12 skills from quests; combine that with 420 stats from leveling and 15 stats from quests. You'll also have 168 life from leveling with 60 more life from quests.
Skills and Statistics
1 Point Each: Bash, Leap, Stun, Leap Attack, Concentrate, Increased Stamina, Iron Skin, Howl, Shout, Battle Command
20 Points Each: Whirlwind, Axe Mastery, Increased Speed, Battle Orders
Rest upon leveling: Natural Resists
Strength: 125.
Dexterity: None.
Energy: None.
Vitality: Everything after strength and dexterity are met.
A lot of your equipment gives bonuses to Strength, like Twitchthroe, Bladebuckle, and Swordback Hold. However, if you switched to Blinkbat's or a 3-Gem Shield, you wouldn't be able to wield your Naga. I say go to 125, or add 95 stats into strength. It does end up being a lot of life, 280 before BO, but you're a barbarian, you'll survive. As the ladder season progresses, rares will be found and the standards will raise, but for a durable, cheap character that is fun to play, this is the way to go.
|
Linear Mode
