Hey all,
what are your thoughts on the best pvm build rn? In LOD I always preferred frenzy to everything else, it was the most fun and could do everything in pvm pretty efficiently. I tried throw barb and leap barb (hilariously, immediately after respecing to throw barb a lacerator dropped for me). Throw was aight, leap still seemed kind of bad. I’ve respec’d to whirlwind and its doing pretty good so far, wondering if I should just go back to my old friend frenzy though.
Also, has anyone tried pumping increased stamina? I tried it in single player and it felt lackluster. I’m guessing the biggest benefit is duration as the frenzy charges have diminishing returns.
Both WW and frenzy are fine for pvm, especially if youre going to be playing on p1. I used to play ww only but rolled a frenzy barb in d2r and really liked it. Once i got used to the insane speed and targeting it was a lot of fun. Only draw back is frenzy does not do well with large trash mob clearing (ie cows) but i like the mobility and just the idea of swinging 2 weapons really fast 
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As with any barb build they are both very item and weapon dependent but overall about the same cost for each build.
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Since PTR and 2.4 I play Throwbarb daily. I really liked Frenzy same as you “good old friend”. But Throwbarb seems to me superior in every way, and he also smacks two weapons at once but with AoE clear that is great for Cows.
Also very easy from start Normal - finish Hell with throwbarb. You can shop high dmg weapons from shopkeepers.
Btw. I still use 1 point Frenzy to speed up then damage cows with doublethrow. And I wonder if Increased stamina synergy isn’t better for Throwbarb than for Frenzybarb. Since you Frenzying most of the time, so you are always sped up. But Throwbarb needs just initial 3-4 Frenzy hits and then start throwing. So maybe if it lasts longer it can prove great synergy to pump in for throwbarb doin Cows. I will probably try this hybrid skill alocation and how it works.
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When i did throw barb i pumped points into find potion and used grim ward which was pretty sweet,
Increased stamina is an interesting idea for throw barb, may try that in single player with hero editor (free respecs)
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All of them work for PVM. I’d like to try a throw+WW hybrid.
Same here. After I got 20 points mastery, 20 points doublethrow I put into Find potion. Grimward as is I think is a 1-point wonder, no need to put any point more. You can have 2x +3 warcry sticks on swap to cast it. Then with Torch,anni, other +skills it has great radius and 50% slow.
I still pray that one day they will remove Fear curse from Grimward and replace it simply with Slow only.
Thats interesting. Maybe 2x Lacerator throw to proc Amplify → then swap to Griefs and WW can work great even in p8.
Same with my throwbarb, most fun with barb since 1.09. Can just play it straight from Normal through Hell with no need for respec which feels great.
Got lucky on mine and managed to get a Grandmaster’s Winged Harpoon of Quickness and upped my Scalper to a Flying Axe and a Razortail dropped. Also using Treachery in mage plate. Now I need a Lacerator and/or Warshrike and some runes.
Only thing I’m not 100% sure on is merc choice. Been using A2 Might merc out of habit but Frost Arrow A1 merc with Mist Bow might be just as good if not better. Though shattered mobs means no horking, decisions, decisions…
The new a5 merc might be another choice to consider.
It has frenzy and runs fast so can keep up with you if youre using frenzy. Hes really tanky and can use taunt for cc and soak dmg while you chuck spears from the back.
Also if youre rich you can throw a last wish on him for added might aura
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Lo, Jah and Zod are the only runes that have yet to drop for me. It’s really aggravating, especially when Lo and Jah are used in so many game changing recipes.
The reason I’ve been eyeing Mist is it would give me something to use my Cham rune on.
I have seen what a geared A5 Frenzy merc can do and its stupid strong and I want it so bad but sadly lack the gear to make it happen.
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Im ultra curious as to how an A1 merc performs - Faith instead of might merc would be a welcome change.
Exactly. I would add in: you dont need to excess farm areas in playthrough (if you solo), just always check shops for better dmg javelins. This was the biggest issue when I was doin Frenzy barbs - the lack of getting good weapons.
Sounds good. I am quite unsure about throwing weapons class. I dont like them to be honest - that double range advantage Javelins has and higher base damage seems better.
I currently use 120-250 dmg ghost glaive, 60-200 dmg harpoon, Shako, Laying of hands, Goldwrap, Goblintoe, Wealth/Treachery, Atma scarab. Farming Mephisto, Travincal, Cows, Stony tombs.
So far I think Act 5 frenzy merc is best for playthrough for one reason - he dies less often he tanks. You can let him charge group of mobs, they encircle him and you can use throwing pierce effect to great effect.
In the endgame I would guess Might+Pride merc is best for throwbarb.
I keep looking at Grim ward. How bad is the fear effect? Chasing down mobs running away is the worst and I like them to stay clumped up for the piercing effect
Pit Zerker is pretty solid given the changes to Berserk(Battle Orders instead of Shout) and Find Item with Find Potion synergy. With that its not unrealistic to get 75% or higher on Find Item, making it a godly MF build that even the Sorceress would yield to. After you’ve gotten your loot though, then yeah Frenzy, WW and Throw Barb builds will likely win the day.