The Barbarian class makes a comeback in Diablo 4, but how powerful is this close-quarters combat class when utilizing the top Barbarian build during Season 3 of the game?
The Barbarian has long been considered the most physically powerful class in the Diablo series, relying on sheer strength and expert handling of melee weapons to vanquish swarms of foes. For those seeking a playstyle resembling a one-man army, the Barbarian is an excellent choice. The question remains: what is the optimal Barbarian build for Season 3 in Diablo 4?
Since their initial appearance in the Hellfire Expansion of the original Diablo, Barbarians have remained a staple in every subsequent Diablo game. With various options for customization, building a Barbarian is crucial for surviving the hordes of Hell. In Diablo 4, there are several top-performing Barbarian builds for PvE leveling, endgame content, and PvP in Season 3.
The paragraph below discusses the content.
The Barbarian is the most powerful pure melee class in Diablo 4.
Best Barbarian Build for Leveling in Diablo 4
The Rend Barbarian build continues to be the top choice for leveling in Season 3 of Diablo 4. It should be noted that this build is specifically designed for progressing through the game’s story, and may not be the optimal choice for PvP or endgame content.
Those familiar with Diablo 3 will easily recognize the Rend build, which was a widely-used playstyle in that version of the hack-and-slash series. In the latest installment, Diablo 4, there is a new version of Rend, and it is dominating Season 3 gameplay.
To condense the information on the optimal Barbarian leveling build in Diablo 4, the table below presents a summary:
| Level | Skill |
| 2 | Lunging Strike |
| 3 | Enhanced Lunging Strike |
| 4 | Returns |
| 5 | Enhanced Rend |
| 6 | Furious Rend |
| 7 | Battle Lunging Strike |
| 8 | Rallying Cry |
| 9 | Enhanced Rallying Cry |
| 10 | Tactical Rallying Cry |
| 11 | Returns |
| 12 | Returns |
| 13 | War Cry |
| 14 | Enhanced War Cry |
| 15 | Power War Cry (Place two-handed swords in your Technique Slot) |
| 16 | Returns |
| 17 | Returns |
| 18 | Hamstring |
| 19 | Death Blow |
| 20 | Enhanced Death Blow |
| 21 | Fighters Death Blow |
| 22 | Death Blow |
| 23 | Death Blow |
| 24 | Death Blow |
| 25 | Call of the Ancients |
| 26 | Prime Call of the Ancients |
| 27 | Supreme Call of the Ancients |
| 28 | Death Blow |
| 29 | Booming Voice |
| 30 | Booming Voice |
| 31 | Booming Voice |
| 32 | Pit Fighter |
| 33 | Pit Fighter |
| 34 | Pit Fighter |
| 35 | Unbridled Rage |
| 36 | Rallying Cry |
| 37 | Rallying Cry |
| 38 | Rallying Cry |
| 39 | Rallying Cry |
| 40 | Raid Leader |
| 41 | Raid Leader |
| 42 | Raid Leader |
| 43 | Guttural Yell |
| 44 | Guttural Yell |
| 45 | Guttural Yell |
| 46 | Tempered Fury |
| 47 | Invigorating Fury |
| 48 | Invigorating Fury |
| 49 | Invigorating Fury |
| Renown 1 | Cut to the Bone |
| Renown 2 | Cut to the Bone |
| Renown 3 | Cut to the Bone |
| Renown 4 | Aggressive Resistance |
| Renown 5 | Prolific Fury |
| Renown 6 | Prolific Fury |
| Renown 7 | Prolific Fury |
| Renown 8 | Pressure Point |
| Renown 9 | Pressure Point |
| Renown 10 | Pressure Point |
The Rend build, which utilizes the Barbarian’s distinct abilities, prioritizes two-handed swords as the preferred weapons and techniques. As such, we suggest equipping a two-handed sword in your main hand and two smaller swords in your off-hand for optimal results.
Legendary Aspects
Although the Codex of Power contains numerous beneficial Legendary Aspects for this build, there are three that should be given priority. Below are the names and locations of these essential Aspects:
- Offensive Aspect of the Expectant – (Underroot, Scosglen)
- Edgemaster’s Offensive Aspect – (Oldstones, Scosglen)
- Utility Aspect of Anemia – (Kor Dragan Barracks, Fractured Peaks)
Each of these will effectively enhance your damage in different ways, further increasing the strength of your Barbarian build.
We suggest refraining from imprinting these Aspects onto your weapons, as they will likely be replaced numerous times during your Leveling journey. Instead, consider adding offensive Aspects to your jewelry, as this will allow them to remain useful even in endgame situations.
Seneschal Companion Stones
To optimize the Seneschal Companion for this build, it is recommended to acquire and equip the following Governing and Turning Stones:
- Lightning Bolt (Governing)
- Fortify Support (Turning)
- Resource Support (Turning)
- Swift Support (Turning)
- Reconstruct (Governing)
- Safeguard Support (Turning)
- Tactical Support (Turning)
- Duration Support (Turning)
Optimal Barbarian endgame build
The Barbarian is a solid choice for the end game of Diablo 4.
After reaching level 50 and witnessing the ending of Diablo 4, the endgame phase begins. This implies that the build that served you well so far may not be effective anymore. Although the above build is suitable for leveling, there are other builds available that can aid in surviving the increased level of difficulty.
Just a reminder, in order to transition from the leveling build mentioned above to the endgame build listed below, you will have to reallocate your skill points. Our suggestions for the endgame build are included with corresponding levels to assist you in deciding which skills to prioritize, but you will still have all your points available to allocate in any order you prefer.
The most effective endgame Barbarian build in Diablo 4 is the Double Swing Barbarian, as it stands currently.
| Active Skills | Passive Skills |
| Double Swing | Imposing Presence |
| Lunging Strike | Martial Vigor |
| War Cry | Booming Voice |
| Ground Stomp | Raid Leader |
| Rallying Cry | Guttural Yell |
| Challenging Shout | Pit Fighter |
| – | No Mercy |
| – | Aggressive Resistance |
| – | Counteroffensive |
| – | Dualist |
| – | Wallop |
| – | Invigorating Fury |
| – | Unbridled Rage |
The Double Swing Barbarian build utilizes two weapons simultaneously. Additionally, the Barbarian class is capable of wielding two-handed weapons in just one hand due to their exceptional character abilities.
Paragon Board
Upon reaching level 50, the Paragon Board will become available, allowing you to further develop your character up to level 100. It is crucial to prioritize the following boards in order to fully optimize the potential of the ultimate endgame Barbarian build:
- Starting board
- Blood Rage board
- Decimator board
- Warbringer board
- Flawless Technique board
Glyphs
As you progress through the Paragon board, we suggest activating the following Glyphs:
Fifteenth level
- Ire
- Territorial
- Ambidextrous
- Undaunted
- Marshall
- Wrath
Level 21 remains unchanged.
- Ire
- Wrath
- Territorial
- Ambidextrous
- Marshall
- Undaunted
Legends and Aspects
Since this is a final stage build, it is beneficial to obtain as many Legendary Aspects for the class as you can. Make an effort to unlock the following Aspects as early as possible in order to utilize their enhancements, as each one will serve a purpose in a final stage build:
- Berserk Ripping (Mournfield)
- Disobedience (Halls of the Damned)
- Edgemaster’s (Oldstones)
- Echoing Fury (Siroccos Caverns)
- Ghostwalker (Broken Bulwark)
- Might (Dark Ravine)
- Numbing Wrath (Heathen’s Keep)
- Rapid (Buried Halls)
- Relentless (Berserker’s Hakan’s Refuge)
- Retribution (Abandoned Mineworks)
- Shared Misery (Oblivion)
- Unrelenting Fury (Hallowed Ossuary)
In addition, Aspects can be obtained by gambling with Obols or by farming through Helltides and Nightmare Dungeons.
Seneschal Companion stones
To fully utilize the benefits of the Seneschal Companion for this build, make sure to obtain and equip the recommended Governing and Turning Stones listed below.
- Lightning Bolt (Governing)
- Arching Support (Turning)
- Breaking Support (Turning)
- Efficiency Support (Turning)
- Flash of Adrenaline (Governing)
- Duration Support (Turning)
- Tactical Support (Turning)
- Safeguard Support (Turning)
Endgame Item Build
These are the essential items you should acquire for your endgame Barbarian build in Diablo 4:
| Item name | Item type |
| Godslayer Crown | Helm |
| Steadfast Tunic of Audacity | Chest Armor |
| Smithing Runic Gloves | Gloves |
| Tibault’s Will | Pants |
| Ghost Walker Runic Cleats | Boots |
| Bonebreaker of Limitless | Main Hand |
| Accelerating Kingslayer | Offhand |
| Amulet of Disobedience | Amulet |
| Bold Chieftan’s Band | Ring 1 |
| Band of Echoing Fury | Ring 2 |
The Ultimate Barbarian PvP Build
Surprisingly, the top-performing Barbarian build for PvP in Diablo 4 is the Double Swing Barbarian. To create the ultimate PvP Barbarian in Diablo 4, follow the Endgame build outlined above, including items and Paragon details.
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