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FAQ/WALKTHROUGH FOR THE BARBARIAN IN DIABLO II: LORD OF DESTRUCTION
Written By Magic Mario (magic_mario@hotmail.com)
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Hello again all, as this is yet another walkthrough by Magic Mario. This time
I have decided to give my knowage on the class of the Barbarian in the game
Diablo: LoD. I have played with this class for a long time, and I know pretty
much what it takes to by a good one. So everyone sit around Mr. Magic, and
listen to what I have to say.
[Version Final]
-Finished up the guide and did The Run Down, Equipment, Last Few Words, and
the Contact & Copyright Info sections. Now that the guide is done, I can go
to sleep! :)
[Version 0.60]
-The Stat Distribution section is up along with the stats for all of the
skills. Enjoy!
[Version 0.50]
-Finished the Combat Masteries, and Combat Skills sections.
[Version 0.30]
-Started this guide, and got done with The Basics, Begining Tips, and
Warcries.
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---------------------------- [ Table of Contents ] ---------------------------
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1. The Basics
2. Begining Tips
3. Warcries
4. Combact Masteries
5. Combat Skills
6. Stat Distribution
7. The Run Down
8. Equipment
9. Last Few Words
10. Contact & Copyright Info
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------------------------------ [ 1. The Basics ] -----------------------------
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Well the basic use of a barbarian is to smash and hit everything in your way.
There are tons of Barbs already on Battlenet, but hey, whats one more? Anyway
the basic thing is learn skills that make your enimes toast, from what I have
seen thats not very hard.
The have three different kinds of skills, you have War Crys, Combat Masteries,
and then you have Combat Skills. Let me go into a little ore detail with these
skills.
Warcries: Deals with skills that raise you stats, and sometimes hurt the
enemies.
Combat Masteries: Lets you master different skills to give you a good
advantage in battle.
Combat Skills: Skills that do anything from Bash, to Leap, or you can just do
a Whirlwind of attacks to beat the mess out of the enemies.
Well I could go more indepth witht he skills, but thats what I will leave the
Skill section for. For now just sit back, and read a couple of tips that I
have for new people.
Out of all my time of playing I have found out things that took me a long time
to figure out. Now I will save you the time and just tell you some helpful
hints.
-Until level 15 DONT Dual Wield. Or at least until you find some equipment
with halfway decent defense.
-Leech Mana will be your friend throughout the entire game. Try as soon as
you can when you start to get a Manald Heal Ring. I only have one and I can
use Whirlwind forever, and it will never run out.
-Polearms just arnt for Barb, so I really don't think its a good idea to use
them.
-Get Whirlwind ASAP (as soon as possable). I just started using it, and I'm
level 65, I could have been using it sooner but I thought it stole to much
mana. Then I found out that you can hold the button and it will go on until
you run out of mana. If I constanly hit something I wont run out of mana.
-Never fall for cheap tricks. I hate to say it but I feel into a trick myself.
I was just looking for a game on Battlenet, and I saw a game called -I Dupe-,
well I dont like to cheat, but I decided to check it out. There was a Amazon
in the game and she told me to put my sword in my Stash, and come outside of
town. Well I did as she said, but in the pit of my belly, I knew something
was up. Well I got outside of town and she killed me, I was like "WTF", but
she just said to get my sword and come out and kill her and she would dupe my
sword. So I did as she said once again, but this time I got outside of town
and again she killed me, but this time my sword fell on the ground. She took
it and ask me what I would give her for it. Now around this time, I knew I
wasn't getting my sword back, but I asked her for it back. She left, and that
was the last time I ever saw my sword again. I only tell my sad story so that
no one else falls for such a dirty trick. This why Battlenet is so messed up,
cheaters, hackers, and all of the above. No amount of time and training will
help you if you get cheated out of your best sword. Never fall for this very
underhanded trick.
As I find myself as a Whirlwind Barbarian, I dont really use Warcries at all,
I dont think they are all that usefull, but its really up to you. Warcries are
skills that have different effects, and they usually affect a large area of
things.
Effects: Makes enemys run from you.
Pros: Helps get enemies away from you. Good if your stuck in the middle of a
crowd of monsters.
Cons: Dont really hurt the enemy, only makes them run from you.
Effects: Looks over a dead body to find a potion on them.
Pros: Good if you need a spare potion.
Cons: Not really usefull due to the fact that potions dont really cost that
much.
Effects: Makes enemies run over and attack you, while lowering there defense
and damage dealt to you.
Pros: Good if you fight a monster one on one.
Cons: But when does that ever happen?
Effects: Lowers enemies defense and damage dealt.
Pros: Works in a longer area than Taunt, area gets bigger as you level it up.
Cons: Just a better Taunt, and not the best thing to use when your stuck in
the middle of a butt load of enemies.
Effects: Looks at a dead body for an extra item.
Pros: Gives you the extra little look for something else.
Cons: Really hard to get anything good, usually only find crappy stuff.
BATTLE ORDERS RECEIVES BONUSES FROM:
------------------------------------
Shout: +5 Seconds Per Level
Battle Command: +5 Seconds Per Level
Effects: Raises you and your partys max Life, Mana, and Stamina.
Pros: This is the only Warcry that I like, its good to use if you are in a
group, or even by yourself. It will raise your Life, Mana and Stamina
to very high levels. Somone used this on me once and it raised my life
to 3000. You should at least put a point or two into this skill.
Cons: Its not an aura so it will go away after 2 mins.
Effects: Creates a Totempole out of a dead enemy that scares off nearby
enemies.
Pros: Good if there are little weak enemies around that you dont want to
fight.
Cons: Doesn't hurt enemies juts makes then run.
WAR CRY RECEIVES BONUSES FROM:
------------------------------
Howl: +6% Damage Per Level
Taunt: +6% Damage Per Level
Battle Cry: +6% Damage Per Level
Effects: Stuns enemies in the area for a few seconds.
Pros: Stuns a big group of enemies, stoping them from hitting you. It hurts
the enemies to.
Cons: Stun doesn't last for long.
BATTLE COMMAND RECEIVES BONUSES FROM:
-------------------------------------
Shout: +5 Second Per Level
Battle Orders: +5 Seconds Per Level
Effects: Raises your and everyone elses skill levels by one for a short amount
of time.
Pros: Gives you that little boost of extra skill that you need.
Cons: Only raises your skills that you already have by one, not skills that
you dont have.
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Suggested Points To Put In Warcries
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This is how I would put points into the Warcries tree of skills. Note this is
how I feel, and you can do whatever you feel is right for you.
This is where all of your Passive Skills are. A Passive Skill is a skill that
is automatic, meaning you dont have to do anything for it to work, it just
does. This tree mostly deals with Mastering weapons, but there are a few other
things in this tree that will be of alot of help.
Effects: Raises the attack rate and power of any sword you use.
Pros: Good if you wish to be a sword barb.
Cons: Bad if you wish to use a different weapon.
Effects: Raises the attack rate and power of any axe you use.
Pros: Good if you wish to be an axe barb.
Cons: Bad if you wish to use a different weapon.
Effects: Raises the attack rate and power of any mace you use.
Pros: Good if you wish to be a mace barb.
Cons: Bad if you wish to use a different weapon.
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Pole Arm Mastery
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Prerequisites: None
Level 6 Skill
Mana Cost: None
Effects: Raises the attack rate and power of any pole arm you use.
Pros: Good if you wish to be a pole arm barb.
Cons: Bad if you wish to use a different weapon.
Effects: Raises the attack rate and power of anything you have to throw you
use.
Pros: Good if you wish to be a throwing barb.
Cons: Bad if you wish to use a different weapon.
Effects: Raises the attack rate and power of any spear you use.
Pros: Good if you wish to be a spear barb.
Cons: Bad if you wish to use a different weapon.
Effects: Raises your defense by a percentage.
Pros: What do you think, it makes you harder to hit, and you take less damage.
Cons: Nothing, this is just a good skill all around.
Effects: Your resistances encrease with every point.
Pros: It raises you resistances to all four elements.
Cons: Putting to many in will turn out bad due to the fact that that raises
diminish quick.
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Suggested Points To Put In Combat Masteries
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Again this is just how I feel about how the points should go into this skill
tree.
Sword, Axe, Mace, Pole Arm, Throwing Mastery, Spear: Pick one and put 20 in it
Increased Stamina: 2
Increased Speed: 1
Iron Skin: 20 (triple defense baby! ^_^)
Natural Resistance: 5
Total: 48 Skill Points Spent
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---------------------------- [ 5. Combat Skills ] ----------------------------
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Here are your skills that you will make your bread and butter of attacking. I
am a Whirlwind Barbarian, but at first I was a Frenzy Barb, so I know my way
around both.
BASH RECIEVES BONUSES FROM:
---------------------------
Stun: +5% Damage Per Level
Concentrate: +5% Attack Rating Per Level
Effects: Hits higher than your regular attack, and you have a chance of Stun,
and Knockback when you use this skill.
Pros: Strong attack, and the Stun/Knockback thing is great.
Cons: There are better attack, and this one fades after the first act.
Effects: Lets you swing two weapons at an enemy faster then your regular
attack.
Pros: Faster attack speed, and your attack rate goes up too.
Cons: Its nothing compared to Frenzy.
Effects: Throws two things instead of one at a faster speed.
Pros: Lets you throw to things you have at a fast speed.
Cons: Whats the use, Throwing barbs suck. ^_^
STUN RECEIVES BONUSES FROM:
---------------------------
Bash: +5% Damage Per Level
Concentrate: +5% Attack Rating Per Level
Effects: Stuns an enemy for a certain amount of time.
Pros: Leaves your enemy stunned for a few seconds.
Cons: You have to put to many points in the skill for it to be of any use.
Effects: You jump at an enemy and land on them, then you take a final slash at
them.
Pros: Big damage.
Cons: Bad if you jump in a huge group of enemies.
CONCENTRATE RECIEVES BONUSES FROM:
----------------------------------
Bash: +5% Damage Per Level
Effects: Your attack become uninterruptible, and you get a defense and attack
rating bonus.
Pros: Good to use as your regular attack.
Cons: The enemy can still hit you.
FRENZY RECIEVES BONUSES FROM:
-----------------------------
Double Swing: +8% Damage Per Level
Taunt: +8% Damage Per Level
Berserk: +1% Magic Damage Per Level
Effects: Rasies your attack speed (GOD LIKE), and your attack rating (ok not
so god like, but hey, you cant win them all).
Pros: Lets you slice at enemies with god like attack speed.
Cons: Only hits one enemy, and you have to have two weapons equiped.
Effects: Hits any enemy within an arms length away from you like 3 times.
Pros: Lets you slice and dice a group or enemys into ground beef.
Cons: Huge mana cost, have to have good mana leech rings to use this right.
Effects: Highens your attack power by a lot.
Pros: Lets you smack you enemy with a lot of attack power.
Cons: When using this skill, your defense goes down to 0.
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Suggested Points To Put In Combat Skills
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For the last time, this is how I tend to raise my Barbarian. You may build
yours any way you choose, but this is how I feel about it.
Bash: 1
Double Swing: 0
Leap: 1
Double Throw: 0
Stun: 1
Leap Attack: 1
Concentrate: 10 (I have this as my Left-Click hotkey button)
Frenzy: 0
Whirlwind: 20 (I have this as my Right-Click hotkey button)
Berserk: 0
Total: 34 Skill Points Spent
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-------------------------- [ 6. Stat Distribution ] --------------------------
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Everytime you level up, you can put 5 points divided between your four stats:
Strength, Dexterity, Vitality, and Energy. This is how I suggest you divide
your points, and remember this is how I feel about it!
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Strength
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Strength is the main thing you should be building up. This is the basic thing
a Barbarbian should have when jumping into a huge group of enemies. Having
high Strength means everything when trying to equip new armor, and weapons,
because your strength determines the armor you use. OK say your barb has 100
strength at lvl 60 (which, to say the least, is bad), now at lvl 60, your barb
could be using really good armor and weapons, but most weapons that require
you to be lvl 60 also require you to have high strength.
Strength also determines how high your melee damage is, as well as your throw
damage. So I say try to keep your strength at the top of your to do list.
Suggested Points Each Level: 2
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Dexterity
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As a Barbarnian, Dexterity is right below Vitality of when to skick points in.
Mostly Dexterity determines Bow and Crossbow damage. This is not a weapon you
should be using on your barb. A bow on a barb is like sticking a squirle with
a flamethrower, it just doesn't work.
Now one thing Dexterity does help you with is your defense, and your chance to
block with a shield. Another big thing is it determines your attack rating,
and how much you do when you throw. You will never have to worry about it, but
this determines what bow or crossbow you can use.
Suggested Points Each Level: 1-2
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Vitality
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Life is one of the things that most of the time, you dont have to worry about.
There are a few reasons for this:
-You have Battle Orders, which raises your max Life, Mana, and Stamina.
-Theres all kinds of equipment that give you life bonuses.
-Every point you put into this stat, you get 4 life.
So its easy to understand that Vitality determines how much life and stamina
you have.
Suggested Points Each Level: 1-2
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Energy
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Mana is something that you need dearly, but you shouldn't put any points into.
Putting points into mana is just pointless, you only get 1 mana every point,
and you can find mana leech rings to get the job done. Doing this is just a
waste!
Suggested Points Each Level: 0
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Overview
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Ok this is a run over of what I just talked about.
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----------------------------- [ 7. The Run Down ] ----------------------------
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Ok, this is the section where I will explain everything that I just typed.
Skills, stat points, everything. I will just give you a big over view of what
I think would be the best way to raise your barbarian from a little weak baby
to a huge mean killing machine.
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Level By Level
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Ok I will give you a good start on how to raise your barbarian for the first
30 levels. I will tell you what points to put into your stats, and how to
build your skill tree, level by level, here we go!
Stat Points
-----------
+2 to Strength
+1 to Dextarity
+2 to Vitality
+0 to Energy
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Outcome
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Ok, now after I just went through 30 levels, you should have a basic
understanding of what to do with your barbarian. Now is is what I think you
should look like after you get done building your barbarian.
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Dream Barbarbian At Level 99
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Skills
------
Howl: 1
Shout: 1
Battle Orders: 20
One of the Weapon Masteries: 20
Increased Stamina: 2
Increased Speed: 1
Iron Skin: 20
Natural Resistance: 5
Bash: 1
Leap: 1
Stun: 1
Leap Attack: 1
Concentrate: 10
Whirlwind: 20
Total Points Spent: 104
Total Points Able To Get: 110
-----------------------------
98 From Levels
3 From the Den of Evil Quest (Normal, Nightmare, Hell)
3 From the Radament Quest (Normal, Nightmare, Hell)
6 From the Izual Quest (Normal, Nightmare, Hell)
Total Points Able To Get: 505
-----------------------------
490 From Levels
15 From Lam Esen Tome Quest
Total Points Left: 15 (go to town and spend them as the like)
**If any of this stuff is wrong plz tell me. It was really hard to add all of
this stuff up, and I really hate math so this could really easly be wrong. I
hope you don't get mad at me if any of this is wrong, I'm just stupid.
OK, I'm level 80 and I still have crappy equipment. It may be because I am
really unlucky and cant find anything, or it may be because I dont wish to buy
crap off of d2items.com. Either way, here is some of the crap I suggest for
you to get. This stuff is not manatory, and if you cant seem to get any of it,
dont worry, like I said, I have crappy stuff so just wear what you can get.
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Weapons
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Weapons are things you have to have, theis let you lay the smackdown on
enemies. These are just some of the weapons I would like to get, but you cant
have everything now can you?
Ith Beserker Axe (Six Clean Sockets)--->Axe
Ith Thunder Maul (Six Clean Sockets)--->Mace
Ith Great Poleaxe (Six Clean Sockets)--->Polearm
Ith War Pike (Six Clean Sockets)--->Spear
The Grandfather Colossus Blade (1.08 patch)--->Sword
Ith Colossus Blade (Six Clean Sockets)--->Sword
--------------------------------------
All of this stuff is Uber (highly good
crap) Equipment, and it will most
likely be really hard to find any of
this stuff.
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Armors
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Here is what keeps you from dieing. Get really good armor, and you want have
to worry about getting hurt.
Thundergod's Vigor War Belt--->Belt
Arkaine's Valor Balrog Skin (1.08 patch)--->Godly Armor
Shaftstop Mech Armor (A Cheaper Armor)--->Armor
War Traveler Battle Boots--->Boots
A Good Pair of Crafted Gloves (Hard to find a Good Pair)--->Gloves
Vampire Gaze Grim Helm (1.08 patch)--->Helmet
Stormshield (1.08 patch)--->Shield
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Charms & Jewelry
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Little things that can make a big difference if you dont have any.
100psn/20life (100 Poison Damage, 20 Life)--->Small Charm
290 Poison (Great for PvP Fights)--->Small Charm
Mara's Kaleidoscope Amulet (+2 To All Skills)--->Amulet
Constriction Ring Ring (+100 To All Resistances)--->Ring
Raven Frost Ring--->Ring
Manald Heal Ring (Mana Steal)--->Ring
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---------------------------- [ 9. Last Few Words ] ---------------------------
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Well I have finally finished this FAQs. I really had fun explaining me beliefs
about the Barbarian, and I hope you got at least something out of all of this.
If not, well you must not have read very closly. Anyway, below is a few people
and places that I would like to thank in the making of this FAQ.
-God for life
-Blizzard for making Diablo II: LoD
-Sans for helping me start playing Diablo II, and bugging me to get LoD
-Arreat Summit for all of the skill stats
-My brother for letting me finish this guide
This guide is Copyright(c) 2003 by Magic Mario. So dont steal this guide and
say its yours. Ask me if you can but this guide on your site, and dont mess
with anything thats in the guide itself. If you follow all of theserules, then
we will be ok, and we want have a problem.
If for any reason you need to contact me, and ask me a question or ask for me
permition to post this guide, e-mail me at magic_magic@hotmail.com.
