The TLDR 2H Barb

[PizzaGater]

the 3 first summon spirit skills doesnt summon anything (playing solo)

Maybe because you took Melee Devotion?

yes, but nothing indicates I cant use melee skills
still unclear, anyways I switched to bowa after I saw the first charm as melee barb is still horrible
melee still nerfed in this patch lol

[aerial]

the 3 first summon spirit skills doesnt summon anything (playing solo)

Maybe because you took Melee Devotion?

yes, but nothing indicates I cant use melee skills
still unclear, anyways I switched to bowa after I saw the first charm as melee barb is still horrible
melee still nerfed in this patch lol

Melee mastery does say you can only use melee skills, and doesn't mention you can use summons, so everything checks out.

As for progression, really this is one of the smoother char to levelup to hell, if you follow the spec, you shouldn't have any problems. Just use SOR + earthquake vs bosses (with emphasis on SOR). Pure earthquake isn't great single target.

SMall tip if you just start:
Grab elemental weapon, gamble either small throwing axe or mammen axe. This will give you way more damage during first levels than physical weapon, you gonna 1 shot packs through almost entire A1.

[Neborya]

Melee mastery does say you can only use melee skills, and doesn't mention you can use summons, so everything checks out.

You can still use wolves though (if not a bug).

[aerial]

Melee mastery does say you can only use melee skills, and doesn't mention you can use summons, so everything checks out.

You can still use wolves though (if not a bug).

Yea but they are basically a buff, not a real minion.
Same way you can use edyrems later, needed for quests.

[Lightbringerr]

hey great guide, what starting out runewords would you suggest? im hitting level 25 now and im using the throwing axes you mentioned (which are doing great)

[altoiddealer]

hey great guide, what starting out runewords would you suggest? im hitting level 25 now and im using the throwing axes you mentioned (which are doing great)

Just the lowest tier belt/gloves/boots/helm RWs.
You can farm 2AC from Andy or Meph to craft a TU Labrys. Pop Eth runes or Skulls in your weapon as u find them for a boost but don’t think too hard about it b/c soon enough you’ll have a T4 with Jah runes.

[aerial]

You can ofc always farm andariel, but that is time consuming and not very efficient.
Just check basic runewords, basically 1st runeword from each armor piece category is usually good all-round option to start. Eth belt, El gloves, etc. For chest you can keep using tristram reward unique for a bit.
I'd make labrys once I naturally gather 2 crystals from act bosses kills/drops, you don't need it that early. You can make runeword in 2h axe Eld Shark, and thats gonna be fine for some time.
If you will feel fragile towards end of normal, and in nightmare, focus on maxing resistances, via sockets and mystic orb upgrades. Also it is worth to have high defense on body armor.
You will start really destroying stuff once wolf stance gets pumped higher, you speeds will be good, and you obtain higher phys damage weapon, such as t2-t3-t3 labrys. You can kill normal baal with such mashup gear, with literally 1-2 SOR's.

[sm0cker]

I leveled by maxing snake stance and ancient blood for AR, 1 point EQ and Thunder slam. Everything died in one Tslam or EQ. I respecced at 49 when i could afford to make

Bul Kathos' Teaching

Bul Kathos' Teaching
Kriegsmesser (4)
One-Hand Damage: (11 - 12) to (13 - 15)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 13
Required Strength: 96
Item Level: 29
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.14 per Strength)%
2% Chance to cast level 4 Spike Nova on Melee Attack
+1 to Barbarian Skill Levels
+0.4375 to Maximum Damage (Based on Character Level)
+(25 to 48)% Damage to Demons
+(24 to 40)% Enhanced Damage
+(101 to 150) to Life
+(6 to 10) Life on Melee Attack
(3 to 5)% Bonus to Defense
Socketed (2)
One-Hand Damage: (30 - 33) to (36 - 40)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 31
Required Strength: 141
Item Level: 40
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.14 per Strength)%
4% Chance to cast level 8 Spike Nova on Melee Attack
+(1 to 2) to Barbarian Skill Levels
+0.5625 to Maximum Damage (Based on Character Level)
+(73 to 96)% Damage to Demons
+(58 to 75)% Enhanced Damage
+(201 to 250) to Life
+(16 to 20) Life on Melee Attack
(9 to 11)% Bonus to Defense
Socketed (4)
One-Hand Damage: (65 - 71) to (76 - 83)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 50
Required Strength: 276
Item Level: 67
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.14 per Strength)%
6% Chance to cast level 12 Spike Nova on Melee Attack
+(1 to 3) to Barbarian Skill Levels
+0.6875 to Maximum Damage (Based on Character Level)
+(121 to 144)% Damage to Demons
+(92 to 109)% Enhanced Damage
+(301 to 350) to Life
+(26 to 30) Life on Melee Attack
(15 to 17)% Bonus to Defense
Socketed (5)
One-Hand Damage: (83 - 90) to (100 - 108)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 58
Required Strength: 543
Item Level: 85
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.14 per Strength)%
8% Chance to cast level 14 Spike Nova on Melee Attack
+(2 to 3) to Barbarian Skill Levels
+0.75 to Maximum Damage (Based on Character Level)
+(145 to 168)% Damage to Demons
+(109 to 126)% Enhanced Damage
+(351 to 400) to Life
+(31 to 35) Life on Melee Attack
(18 to 20)% Bonus to Defense
Socketed (6)

and

Invictus

Invictus
Gilded Shield (4)
Defense: (293 - 346) to (598 - 705)
Chance to Block: 1%
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 14
Required Strength: 35
Item Level: 10
1% Chance to cast level 3 Gift of the Wild on Kill
Weapon Physical Damage +(15 to 30)%
+(24 to 46)% Enhanced Defense
+15 to all Attributes
Physical Resist 2%
Socketed (1)
Defense: (1029 - 1169) to (1897 - 2156)
Chance to Block: 1%
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 31
Required Strength: 70
Item Level: 31
2% Chance to cast level 7 Gift of the Wild on Kill
Weapon Physical Damage +(60 to 80)%
+(69 to 92)% Enhanced Defense
+20 to all Attributes
Physical Resist 3%
Socketed (3)
Defense: (2644 - 2915) to (4760 - 5247)
Chance to Block: 1%
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 245
Item Level: 51
2% Chance to cast level 11 Gift of the Wild on Kill
Weapon Physical Damage +(90 to 110)%
+(115 to 137)% Enhanced Defense
+25 to all Attributes
Physical Resist 4%
Socketed (4)
Defense: (3984 - 4352) to (7140 - 7800)
Chance to Block: 1%
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 57
Required Strength: 490
Item Level: 77
3% Chance to cast level 15 Gift of the Wild on Kill
Weapon Physical Damage +(120 to 140)%
+(138 to 160)% Enhanced Defense
+30 to all Attributes
Physical Resist 5%
Socketed (4)

along with

Wormtongue

Wormtongue
Light Belt (4)
Defense: (53 - 58) to (71 - 78)
Required Level: 3
Required Strength: 26
Item Level: 1
(31 to 50)% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 5-13 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
(2 to 4)% Life stolen per Hit
+(18 to 29)% Enhanced Defense
+(11 to 15) to Dexterity
Socketed (1)
Defense: (214 - 231) to (259 - 279)
Required Level: 21
Required Strength: 55
Item Level: 31
(71 to 90)% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 19-50 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
(8 to 10)% Life stolen per Hit
+(41 to 52)% Enhanced Defense
+(21 to 25) to Dexterity
Socketed (2)
Defense: (544 - 581) to (649 - 693)
Required Level: 38
Required Strength: 192
Item Level: 51
(111 to 130)% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 75-150 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
(14 to 16)% Life stolen per Hit
+(64 to 75)% Enhanced Defense
+(31 to 35) to Dexterity
Socketed (2)
Defense: (801 - 851) to (946 - 1006)
Required Level: 46
Required Strength: 384
Item Level: 77
(131 to 150)% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 100-250 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
(17 to 19)% Life stolen per Hit
+(75 to 86)% Enhanced Defense
+(36 to 40) to Dexterity
Socketed (2)

. The dps droped quite a bit i was basically immortal with that leech and absurd amount of phys damage. Currently using

Mount Arreat

Mount Arreat
(Barbarian Earthshaker Set)

Avalanche
Eruption
Ravine
Snowstorm

Set Bonus with 2 or more set items:
+1 to Barbarian Skill Levels
Weapon Physical Damage +50%

Set Bonus with 3 or more set items:
10% Chance to cast level 1 Guard Tower on Kill
Weapon Physical Damage +50%

Set Bonus with complete set:
Area Effect Attack
2% Chance to cast level 20 Thunder Slam on Kill
+4 to Barbarian Skill Levels
20% Life stolen per Hit
+100 to all Attributes
250% Bonus to Defense

but thinking about switching to

The Colonel

The Colonel
Military Pick (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: 132 to 156
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 500
Item Level: 120
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Strength)%
+500% Weapon Physical Damage
50% Chance to cast level 1 Snake Bite on Melee Attack
+24% Bonus Damage to Bloodlust
+24% Bonus Damage to Mark of the Wild
30% Attack Speed
+200% Enhanced Damage
10% Deadly Strike
Socketed (6)

and maxing EQ, socketing everyting with stone runes and getting as much EWD sources as possible. The only issues that i have atm are phys resist and AR, not sure how to solve those, i am already maxed Ancient blood and took Heart of Stone and yet i have ~90% to hit some bosses.

[aerial]

Heart of stone gives tons of ar bonus if you have lot of skill ewd, It shouldn't be an issue. I would still ofc get AR on weapon, lucky upgrade if possible, and watch dexterity on items, collecting some dex from armor slots, that multiplied by mountain king bonus results in huge AR. I think I used to have over 30k ar around level 120 without even trying.

[sm0cker]

I have 47k atm and its not enough to achieve 95% on some ubers, and thats while using

Featherclaw

and

Wormtongue

Wormtongue
Light Belt (4)
Defense: (53 - 58) to (71 - 78)
Required Level: 3
Required Strength: 26
Item Level: 1
(31 to 50)% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 5-13 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
(2 to 4)% Life stolen per Hit
+(18 to 29)% Enhanced Defense
+(11 to 15) to Dexterity
Socketed (1)
Defense: (214 - 231) to (259 - 279)
Required Level: 21
Required Strength: 55
Item Level: 31
(71 to 90)% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 19-50 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
(8 to 10)% Life stolen per Hit
+(41 to 52)% Enhanced Defense
+(21 to 25) to Dexterity
Socketed (2)
Defense: (544 - 581) to (649 - 693)
Required Level: 38
Required Strength: 192
Item Level: 51
(111 to 130)% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 75-150 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
(14 to 16)% Life stolen per Hit
+(64 to 75)% Enhanced Defense
+(31 to 35) to Dexterity
Socketed (2)
Defense: (801 - 851) to (946 - 1006)
Required Level: 46
Required Strength: 384
Item Level: 77
(131 to 150)% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 100-250 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
(17 to 19)% Life stolen per Hit
+(75 to 86)% Enhanced Defense
+(36 to 40) to Dexterity
Socketed (2)

along with 150 stat points invested in dex, i did fail AR lucky on my sword though. I think taking Ancient Blood over Endurance is the right choice, at least untill you can come up with solution to AR problem.