Barbarian has always been one of the strongest classes in Diablo 3, offering players a potent combination of crowd control, melee damage, and survivability. For Season 3 of Diablo 3, the Barbarian class has received a number of new abilities and legendary items, making it even more powerful than before. In this guide, we’ll provide a detailed overview of the best Barbarian build for Season 3, so you can maximize your character’s potential and conquer the highest difficulty levels the game has to offer.
With the introduction of new legendary items and the reworked Lut Socks item, the Whirlwind build has once again become one of the most dominant Barbarian builds. The basic premise of this build is to use the Whirlwind skill to deal massive damage to multiple enemies simultaneously. The Lut Socks item grants a significant damage bonus to Whirlwind, making it even more powerful. Additionally, the Whirlwind build benefits from a number of other legendary items, such as the Istvan’s Paired Blades, Ambo’s Pride, and Mantle of Channeling. Combined, these legendary items provide a massive increase to the Barbarian’s damage, toughness, and resource regeneration, making the Whirlwind build a formidable choice for Season 3.
Another option for Season 3 is the Earthquake build, which utilizes the Earthquake skill to deal massive damage to a single target. The Earthquake build is particularly effective against bosses and rift guardians, and can also be used to clear large groups of enemies if necessary. The Earthquake build benefits from a number of legendary items, such as the Wrath of the Wastes set, which grants a significant bonus to Earthquake damage. The build also benefits from a number of other legendary items, such as the Bul-Kathos’s Oath, Ring of Royal Grandeur, and Band of Might. Combined, these legendary items provide the Barbarian with a massive increase to its damage and toughness, making the Earthquake build a great option for Season 3.
Gear
The Fury Unleashed focuses on maximizing damage output through critical hits and utilizing the Rend ability. The optimal gear setup includes:
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Item
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Affixes
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Helm
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Critical Hit Chance, Rend Damage, Critical Hit Damage
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Chest
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Vitality, Rend Damage, Area Damage
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Gloves
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Critical Hit Chance, Critical Hit Damage, Attack Speed
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Pants
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Vitality, Rend Damage, All Resistance
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Boots
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Vitality, Movement Speed, Cooldown Reduction
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Weapon
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Rend Damage, Critical Hit Chance, Attack Speed
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Off-Hand
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Rend Damage, Critical Hit Damage, Area Damage
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Amulet
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Critical Hit Chance, Critical Hit Damage, Rend Damage
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Ring 1
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Critical Hit Chance, Critical Hit Damage, Attack Speed
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Ring 2
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Critical Hit Chance, Critical Hit Damage, Rend Damage
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Skills
Frenzy
The primary attack skill, Frenzy, when used with the Rending Frenzy rune, applies a stack of Rend on each hit, increasing the damage of subsequent Rend casts.
Rend
The core damaging ability, Rend, applies a bleed effect on enemies, dealing damage over time. The Bloodletting and Rampage runes enhance Rend’s damage potential, while the Bloodbath rune provides a temporary damage boost after casting.
War Cry
War Cry grants a buff to all nearby allies, increasing their attack speed and damage. The Impunity rune additionally increases the party’s armor.
Mastering the Dual Wield
The Dual Wield skill is a fundamental aspect of the Barbarian class, allowing them to wield two weapons at once, increasing their damage potential significantly. To master the Dual Wield, there are several key strategies to consider:
1. Weapon Choice:
Optimal weapons for Dual Wielding include axes, swords, and maces. The specific choice depends on the Barbarian’s build and playstyle, as well as the availability of weapon upgrades.
2. Skill Synergies:
Numerous skills synergize well with Dual Wield, including Whirlwind, Frenzy, and Double Swing. These skills enhance the damage and effectiveness of the Dual Wield attack, increasing the Barbarian’s overall combat capabilities.
3. Attribute Allocation:
Dexterity and Strength are crucial attributes for Dual Wield builds. Dexterity increases the character’s attack rating, ensuring more successful hits. Strength directly affects the damage dealt, making it a top priority for maximizing damage output. The ideal balance between these attributes depends on the Barbarian’s equipment and playstyle.
| Attribute |
Effect |
| Dexterity |
Increases attack rating |
| Strength |
Increases damage dealt |
The Bloodthirsty Mauler
The Bloodthirsty Mauler is a potent barbarian build centered around unleashing relentless physical damage. This build combines the raw strength of the Barbarian with strategic skill choices and gear selection to maximize its offensive capabilities.
Attributes and Stats
Strength: Focus on maximizing Strength, as it directly scales with your physical damage.
Vitality: Prioritize Vitality to increase your survivability in combat.
Skills
Whirlwind: The foundation of this build, providing a whirling attack that deals damage to multiple enemies.
Rend: A powerful single-target ability that deals significant damage over time.
Frenzy: Increases your attack speed, enhancing your overall damage output.
War Cry: Reduces enemy damage, making you more durable.
Overpower: A damaging attack that consumes Fury, providing a reliable source of burst damage.
Gear
Weapon: Choose a weapon with high physical damage and attack speed, such as Skorn or The Gavel of Pain.
Armor: Prioritize armor with increased Strength, Vitaly, and resistances to mitigate damage.
Helm: Look for helmets with sockets for emeralds to enhance your damage.
Gloves: Seek gloves with increased attack speed or damage.
Boots: Choose boots with increased movement speed to improve your mobility in combat.
Fighting Style
Charge into the fray, activating Whirlwind and Frenzy to rapidly deal damage to multiple enemies.
Use Rend on priority targets, such as bosses or tough elites, to maximize damage over time.
Utilize War Cry to reduce enemy damage and increase your survivability.
Save Overpower for burst damage when necessary, such as finishing off low-health enemies or dealing with elite packs.
Advantages
High damage output: Unrelentless physical damage through Whirlwind and Rend.
Crowd control: Ability to deal with multiple enemies using Whirlwind.
Durability: Improved survivability with War Cry.
Disadvantages
Fury management: Whirlwind and Overpower consume Fury, which can limit your sustained damage.
Melee combat: Requires close-quarters engagement, which can be risky against ranged enemies.
Low mobility: Limited mobility options compared to other classes.
The Shadow Stride Assassin
The Shadow Stride Assassin is a mobile and elusive build that relies on movement skills and damage over time effects to conquer its foes. With a combination of skills and abilities, this build allows Barbarians to dash around the battlefield, dealing damage and avoiding enemy attacks with ease.
Weaponry
The Shadow Stride Assassin primarily wields dual-wielding axes with high damage and attack speed. They also equip a shield to enhance their defenses.
Armor and Jewelry
The most important piece of armor for the Shadow Stride Assassin is the Immortal King’s four-piece set, which grants significant bonuses to movement speed, attack speed, and damage.
For jewelry, they prioritize pieces with increased movement speed, critical hit chance, and critical hit damage.
Skills
The core skill for the Shadow Stride Assassin is Shadow Strike, which allows them to dash through enemies, dealing damage and applying Vulnerability.
Other key skills include Lacerate, Frenzy, Berserker Rage, and Avalanche. These skills enhance damage, attack speed, and mobility.
Leap Attack serves as a reliable escape mechanism, allowing the Barbarian to quickly reposition themselves or avoid enemy attacks.
Passives
The Shadow Stride Assassin maximizes damage output and mobility through various passive skills.
Ruthless grants increased damage on critical hits, while Animosity increases damage based on the number of nearby enemies.
Legendary Gems
The Shadow Stride Assassin benefits greatly from legendary gems like Pain Enhancer, which increases critical hit damage, and Bane of the Trapped, which enhances damage against immobilized enemies.
Additionally, Molten Wildebeest’s Gizzard provides defensive bonuses and further increases attack speed.
Paragon Points
The majority of Paragon Points should be allocated to Core, with a focus on damage-enhancing stats such as Strength, Vitality, Critical Hit Chance, and Critical Hit Damage.
Movement Speed and Cooldown Reduction are also crucial for maximizing mobility and skill usage.
The Seismic Smasher
The Seismic Smasher is a powerful build that utilizes the Earthquake skill to deal devastating area-of-effect damage. This build focuses on increasing the damage output of Earthquake while also providing defensive capabilities to withstand the heavy blows of enemies.
Skills
Active Skills:
Earthquake
Wrath of the Berserker
Call of the Ancients
Ground Stomp
Leap
Passive Skills:
Unstoppable Force
Earthquake Mastery
Nerves of Steel
Tough as Nails
Ruthless
Gear
Weapon: Any 2-handed weapon with high damage and attack speed
Helm: Helm of Immortal Kings
Chest: Mantle of Channeling
Pants: Earth’s Fury
Boots: Immortal Kings Stride
Gloves: Gladiator’s Gauntlets
Bracers: Band of Might
Belt: Immortal Kings Immortal Crown
Ring 1: Ring of the Royal Grandeur
Ring 2: Bul-Kathos’s Wedding Band
Amulet: Hellfire Amulet with +Earthquake Damage% and +Critical Hit Damage%
Stats
Primary Attributes: Strength, Vitality
Secondary Attributes: Critical Hit Chance, Critical Hit Damage, Attack Speed
Gems
Weapon: Flawless Royal Topaz
Helm: Flawless Eternal Diamond
Chest: Flawless Enchanted Diamond
Pants: Flawless Imperial Diamond
Boots: Flawless Amethyst
Gloves: Flawless Ruby
Bracers: Flawless Emerald
Belt: Flawless Calibrated Emerald
Ring 1: Flawless Diamond
Ring 2: Flawless Diamond
Amulet: Flawless Rare Topaz
Gameplay
Early Game: Prioritize Earthquake and Ground Stomp for clearing large groups of enemies. Use Wrath of the Berserker to boost your damage and Call of the Ancients for additional crowd control.
Mid Game: Acquire the Band of Might bracers for increased Earthquake damage. Upgrade your gear to include Legendary items with +Earthquake Damage% and +Critical Hit Chance/Damage.
Late Game: Focus on optimizing your stats and gems to maximize your damage output. Consider using Leap to quickly reposition yourself or reach distant enemies.
The Definitive Guide to the Best Barbarian Build in Season 3
Barbarians have long been revered for their unparalleled physical prowess and unwavering ferocity in Diablo III. As we embark on a new era with Season 3, it is imperative to equip ourselves with the optimal build that maximizes the barbarian’s potential and unleashes its full fury upon the demonic hordes of Sanctuary.
The key elements of an effective barbarian build lie in the harmonious balance of offensive and defensive capabilities. The following build meticulously blends these attributes, offering a formidable combination that excels in both solo and group encounters.
Primary Skills:
- Frenzy: A fundamental ability that grants increased attack speed and damage. Its low resource cost allows for sustained engagement.
- Cleave: An area-of-effect attack that damages multiple enemies at close range, providing crowd control and significant burst damage.
Secondary Skills:
- Ground Stomp: A powerful ability that stuns enemies within a radius, creating opportunities for devastating follow-up attacks.
- Sprint: A mobility skill that grants increased movement speed and damage reduction, allowing for quick repositioning and dodging enemy attacks.
Passive Skills:
- Ruthless: Increases base damage, enhancing the impact of every blow.
- Thrive on Chaos: Grants increased movement speed and damage when surrounded by multiple enemies, capitalizing on chaotic battles.
Legendary Gems:
- Bane of the Stricken: Weakens powerful elites and bosses, making them more susceptible to damage.
- Gem of Efficacious Toxin: Increases damage against stunned enemies, synergizing with Ground Stomp.
Gear Notable Affixes:
- Critical Hit Chance: Enhances the probability of landing devastating critical strikes.
- Critical Hit Damage: Multiplies the damage of critical strikes, amplifying their impact.
- Barbarian Damage: Significantly increases damage dealt by the barbarian.
People Also Ask About Best Barbarian Build Season 3
What is the most optimal weapon for this build?
The optimal weapon for this build is a two-handed mighty weapon with high base damage and legendary affixes that enhance critical hit chance, critical hit damage, or barbarian damage.
How does the build perform in group play?
This build excels in group play due to its ability to control crowds with Cleave and Ground Stomp. It also provides significant damage output, making it a valuable asset in team compositions.
Are there any alternative skills that can be considered?
While the core skills of this build are essential, alternative options include Rend for additional bleeding damage, War Cry for group support, and Furious Charge for increased mobility.
