The TLDR 2H Barb

Hello aerial, and thank you for the guide, i really appreciate it!

So far i have made it to level 45 and in act 4 normal, damage is g r e a t! but my survivability is really poor.

My resistances might be the issue, since i only have 25% fire res and 8% lightning res, rest is 0%

I currently have the Wrathchild, Visegrip, Shroud Royal, Bonechewer and Lionpaw, all tier (1)

I would love to know, how i could aqquire some more resistances, it seems like i'm missing something, i just can't tell what, and i would also like to add, that i'm brand new to Median XL, so the learning curve is real.

At that stage, sockets, runes, gems, mystic orbs, just upgrade some random piece, create honorific item apply all resistance mystic orbs (double effect will give you 30 all res items)

Meanwhile tested bunch more in scosglen with about 30k top end SOR, gotter/2x giants knuckle, khazra, 84-85 all res.
Trees die way too slow, and this isn't fixable, without oskills. Even if damage was doubled (which is impossible) 1they still would take too long. Like good 10-15s of attacking.
Etherborns often teleport away, takes a while to kill them then, and they hurt like crazy, if we are out of stuff to leech from, or if density around them is below average, very dangerous.
Overall this isn't looking too good, based on my further test. It can run it but it suffers from many issues that all characters bad at this area have.

aerial wrote:Are you guys using set cap, or not needed with max res? What is your max res levels.

Has anyone thought of using

Shadowtwin

Shadowtwin
Fanged Helm (Sacred)
Defense: (2978 - 3285) to (3149 - 3474)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 500
Item Level: 105
Summon Two Ancient Spirits per Cast
+2 to Barbarian Skill Levels
+(41 to 50)% to Summoned Minion Life
+(31 to 40)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +40%
Socketed (4)

? Seems to add a new dimension to this barb.

Captcha wrote:
aerial wrote:Are you guys using set cap, or not needed with max res? What is your max res levels.

Has anyone thought of using
Shadowtwin
Shadowtwin
Fanged Helm (Sacred)
Defense: (2978 - 3285) to (3149 - 3474)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 500
Item Level: 105
Summon Two Ancient Spirits per Cast
+2 to Barbarian Skill Levels
+(41 to 50)% to Summoned Minion Life
+(31 to 40)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +40%
Socketed (4)
? Seems to add a new dimension to this barb.

but why

Meanwhile tested bunch more in scosglen with about 30k top end SOR, gotter/2x giants knuckle, khazra, 84-85 all res.
Trees die way too slow, and this isn't fixable, without oskills. Even if damage was doubled (which is impossible) 1they still would take too long. Like good 10-15s of attacking.
Etherborns often teleport away, takes a while to kill them then, and they hurt like crazy, if we are out of stuff to leech from, or if density around them is below average, very dangerous.
Overall this isn't looking too good, based on my further test. It can run it but it suffers from many issues that all characters bad at this area have.

same experience, upgrading my gears slowly I'm at 22k eq/33k SoR dmg atm, and my kab charm rolls are shitty will rerun and do 130+ soon too.,
I just spam eq and leap to Etherborn when I see them with crowds and pray for a target lock,
I haven't play with other chars yet probly going back with my zon after a time. Thanks again for the guide.

this is with 27-35k sor (+25% deadly strike), buffed (2x quarak for bloodlust buff)
One thing that makes major difference, max immortal for 30 dodge, and that helps a lot.
Overall survival isn't an issue, unless multiple (3+) etherborns are on screen, or you fight a sapling guard while etherborns are hitting you.
As you can see with this damage, first sapling guard takes 19s to kill.. Etherborns sometimes take as little as 3-4s, and sometimes 10+ if they decide to teleport multiple times.
Dryad spawns seem to have similar resistance to phys damage as necrobots or balls in duncraig, so despite their low hp they die slow. Plus they run away and are immune to crushing blow.
Overall, surviving isn't a problem, aoe clearing seems decent too, single target vs tough enemies, not great.

Gear is rather ok, didn't get around to find proper belt, used endless loop, because thats what I had in stash.
Decided to go for

Mercy

Mercy
Gloves
'LewElq'
Runeword Level: 110
10% Chance to cast level 18 Punishers on Melee Attack
10% Combat Speeds
+(59 to 69) to Maximum Damage
+26 Defense
+(151 to 200) to Strength
(15 to 20)% to Vitality

gloves, more damage. Gotta keep in mind that with 2h axes, 500 str = 80% ewd. Which makes

Savage

Savage
Gloves
'YstFelKa'
Runeword Level: 110
+1% Weapon Physical Damage per 50 Strength or Dexterity
(Whichever is Higher)
75% Attack Speed
+10 Damage
+200% Enhanced Defense
+(10 to 40) to all Attributes
10% to Strength
10% to Dexterity
Maximum Cold Resist +1%
Cold Resist +25%
10% Magic Find

runeword not all brainless choice, because losing strength can cost you close to that damage via orange text. 5000 str = 100 ewd. Then count in flat damage on Mercy, which is close to ripstar bonus.
Anyway, I can only see really incremental upgrades.
Tried whirlpool oskill to boost single target, wasn't great, damage seemed similar to spamming earthquake (and worse aoe, leeching from trash).

What is the best offhand setup for the Motw buff. Is the motw buff on the offhand the go to buff?

best would be

Qarak's Will

Qarak's Will
Giant Sword (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: (150 - 163) to (233 - 246)
Two-Hand Damage: (206 - 225) to (285 - 305)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 480
Item Level: 105
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
15% Chance to cast level 34 Spike Nova on Melee Attack
6% Chance to cast level 40 Pentagram on Melee Attack
10% Chance to cast level 36 Bloodlust on Kill
+(30 to 60)% Bonus Damage to Bloodlust
Adds 50-125 Damage
Adds 84-167 Fire Damage
+(26 to 38)% to Fire Spell Damage
+(140 to 170)% Enhanced Damage
+(100 to 250) Life after each Kill
5% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (4)

+

Berserrker

Berserrker
Backsword (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: (130 - 144) to (138 - 153)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 526
Item Level: 120
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
1% Chance to cast level 2 Gift of Inner Fire on Striking
+(2 to 3) to All Skills
+(18 to 24)% Bonus Damage to Bloodlust
+(18 to 24)% Bonus Damage to Mark of the Wild
60% Attack Speed
+(171 to 200)% Enhanced Damage
+1 to Bloodlust
+1 to Gift of the Wild
Socketed (3)

, or 2x Quarak's.
Or 1 Of them and colosseum oskill so you can teleport on enemies and debuff, I used that too. It really is preference and not that important, all those buffs combined provide at most few % of damage extra.

aerial wrote:best would be
Qarak's Will
Qarak's Will
Giant Sword (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: (150 - 163) to (233 - 246)
Two-Hand Damage: (206 - 225) to (285 - 305)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 480
Item Level: 105
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
15% Chance to cast level 34 Spike Nova on Melee Attack
6% Chance to cast level 40 Pentagram on Melee Attack
10% Chance to cast level 36 Bloodlust on Kill
+(30 to 60)% Bonus Damage to Bloodlust
Adds 50-125 Damage
Adds 84-167 Fire Damage
+(26 to 38)% to Fire Spell Damage
+(140 to 170)% Enhanced Damage
+(100 to 250) Life after each Kill
5% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (4)
+
Berserrker
Berserrker
Backsword (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: (130 - 144) to (138 - 153)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 526
Item Level: 120
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
1% Chance to cast level 2 Gift of Inner Fire on Striking
+(2 to 3) to All Skills
+(18 to 24)% Bonus Damage to Bloodlust
+(18 to 24)% Bonus Damage to Mark of the Wild
60% Attack Speed
+(171 to 200)% Enhanced Damage
+1 to Bloodlust
+1 to Gift of the Wild
Socketed (3)
, or 2x Quarak's.
Or 1 Of them and colosseum oskill so you can teleport on enemies and debuff, I used that too. It really is preference and not that important, all those buffs combined provide at most few % of damage extra.

What is the benefits of 2x quaraks? I'm failing to understand what buff it gives. I'm a noob and trying to figure this shit out.

Bloodlust gives you enhanced damage, and each of those swords have extra bonus, so you get more powerful bloodlust if it procs while 2 of them are equipped. That line 30-60% bloodlust bonus.
This option is just more annoying because you need to proc it. while with berserker sword you can cast it on demand, which is the only way against certain bosses.
But as I said, this is minor thing, in lategame you gonna have 600ewd from skills/items, and then additional ~900% from strength, so adding extra 100~ to it doesn't change that much.

I have been using

Berserrker

Berserrker
Backsword (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: (130 - 144) to (138 - 153)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 526
Item Level: 120
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
1% Chance to cast level 2 Gift of Inner Fire on Striking
+(2 to 3) to All Skills
+(18 to 24)% Bonus Damage to Bloodlust
+(18 to 24)% Bonus Damage to Mark of the Wild
60% Attack Speed
+(171 to 200)% Enhanced Damage
+1 to Bloodlust
+1 to Gift of the Wild
Socketed (3)

for Mark of the Wild and Bloodlust and a

Nimmenjuushin

Nimmenjuushin
War Axe (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: (98 - 110) to (221 - 284)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 464
Item Level: 105
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Strength)%
8% Chance to cast level 10 Claw Tornado on Striking
+(4 to 5) to Druid Skill Levels
+12% Bonus Damage to Mark of the Wild
(151 to 175)% Duration Bonus to Mark of the Wild
30% Attack Speed
50% Hit Recovery
+(101 to 150) to Maximum Damage
(8 to 15)% Life stolen per Hit
+(115 to 140)% Enhanced Damage
(21 to 30)% to Strength
Requirements -20%
Socketed (6)

in my off hand to increase the length and slightly increase the dmg from motw buff in my weapon swap. I wasn't a big fan of the colosseum Oskill - it seemed really clunky to me (I probably just wasn't used to it)

I'm at 28-35k SOR and 16-22k EQ atm and Scos isn't TOO terrible. If I can name lock on tree's I can kill them in a decent amount of time but it seems to be luck tbh. I can try and make a vid for it if you would like to see. Dryads do seem to take a while to die, especially if they run away and spread out (as they tend to usually do)

I still have creepy crafted gloves and boots, going to make

Savage

Savage
Gloves
'YstFelKa'
Runeword Level: 110
+1% Weapon Physical Damage per 50 Strength or Dexterity
(Whichever is Higher)
75% Attack Speed
+10 Damage
+200% Enhanced Defense
+(10 to 40) to all Attributes
10% to Strength
10% to Dexterity
Maximum Cold Resist +1%
Cold Resist +25%
10% Magic Find

soon as I'm at 6,876 strength currently and even though I will lose some str from my current gloves going that route I should gain A LOT of damage over Mercy with that much str, but don't have any to test. I still need to eat a few signets too, around 15 and I am also only level 135. Gonna farm Fauzt for a while today for levels if I have the chance to.

I also wanted to mention that i'm at 46% life leech and 82% CB, 20% DS. I will lose some CB from gloves when I replace them and eventually need to replace these creepy crafted boots too so I will lose some there too but tbh things seem to be going pretty good so far. Think it will be even better when I'm higher level

Edited to include my d2 stats pages: