[Alternative ladder build] Nat's WolfBarb

[djnat]

This build will be quite easy to understand, but pretty long in the gear section; in fact, I will post 2 different gear solutions for the Barb and his merc. A mid cost and a high cost choice.

Let's come to the build. One important thing before you start it: if you're not going to be rushed, keep in mind that you can only use Concentrate or Berserk to attack till you can wear the Wolfhowl unique helm (i.e. till level 79). So it can be a pain in the ass to make experience in Normal and Nightmare. But after level 79, you can destroy all the zones of the game alone. And I think that it's a funny char to play in hell... and very useful, cuz of his high Battle orders / shout level.


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Stat points allocation

Strength: minimum for gear. The max req will be 156 for your Monarch (stat bonuses included), so this has to be your final goal. Keep in mind that:

- Annihilus gives +10~20 str
- Wolfhowl gives +8~15 str
- Thundergod gives +20 str
- The jewel in your helmet gives +5~9 str

Dexterity: minimum to wear the phase blade, i.e. 136. Keep in mind that:

- Annihilus gives +10~20 dex
- Wolfhowl gives +8~15 dex
- Perfect dexterity Ravenfrost gives +20 dex

Vitality: all the rest. Your main stat: this char will be a super tank.

Energy: base.


Don't waste stat points.


Skill points allocation

MAX Sword mastery
MAX Iron skin
MAX Shout
MAX Battle orders
9 (13 with final gear) Natural resistance
1+ Berserk
1 Increased stamina
1+ Increased speed
1 all pre-reqs

All the remaining skill points @ higher levels should be spent into Berserk or increased speed, imho.


Gear / Hireling

Uber rich solution

Wolfhowl +3 warcries with high stats / skills [ed / str jewel]
"Phoenix" Superior (1x% enhanced defense) Monarch
"Fortitude" Superior (1x% enhanced defense) Archon plate
"Grief" Superior (1x% enhanced damage) Phase blade (+400 damage and 40% ias if perfect)
Thundergod's vigor
Gore rider (upgraded if you want)
Laying of hands
Ravenfrost (perfect if it has +20 dexterity and +250 attack rating)
Bul khatos' wedding band (perfect if it has 5% life leech)
Highlord's wrath

Switch: Call to arms weapon + "echoing" weapon (+3 to warcries). This combo, in switch, gives a total +7 to your warcries.

Charms: 8 Grand Charms +1 to Warcries + life, Annihilus (perfect is 20 / 20 / 10), and some lit / fire resist small charms to have 85 / 95 fire / lit res in hell. The remaining charms should be max / ar / life small charms.

Always leave a 4x2 space in your inventory to grab something while playing.

Hireling: Nightmare Desert mercenary, "Offensive", with Might aura. Equipped with:

"Pride" eth Cryptic axe
"Fortitude" eth Archon plate
Eth Gaze [Shael or, if you love the cannot be frozen on merc and / or you are very rich, Cham]


Mid cost solution

"Grief" Phase blade
"Fortitude" Archon plate
Stormshield [Um]
Wolfhowl +3 Warcries [Um]
Gore rider
Laying of hands
Thundergod's vigor
Ravenfrost
Bul khatos' wedding band
Highlord's wrath

Switch: 2 "echoing" weapons, with +3 to warcries.

Charms: Annihilus (a low one has low cost), Grand Charms +1 to warcries (naked) or a lot of small charms with 15+ life, and some small charms with fire / lit resists to max them (85 / 95) in hell.

Hireling: Nightmare Desert mercenary, "Offensive", with Might aura. Equipped with:

Eth reaper's toll [Shael]
Upgraded Shaftstop [Um]
Eth Gaze [Shael]


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This character has three marvellous qualities:

1) An immense life, even with crappy gear (about 6k @ level 90 with crappy gear, over 8k with very good gear);

2) Marvellous resists in hell: with a very good gear, they should be 85 / 40 / 95 / 40 (with cold absorb from raven, lit absorb from thundergods and fire absorb from phoenix shield)

3) Marvellous defense: with the uber gear, you can go a lot over 20k (I have 25xxx defense with my Wolfbarb)

Plus, it has:

- Redemption aura from Phoenix, if you use it: this means you will have a permanent life / mana regain after each kill, thus becoming nearly invincible.

- Immense Run / walk speed when in werewolf form, especially when feral rage is active.

- Good damage: over 12k average with a good grief (about 16k vs demons thanks to bonuses from Grief / Laying of hands).

- 6k ar vs Bosses, Uniques, Super Uniques; itd (ignore target's defense) vs all other monsters.


I've personally tried to put some fhr in this char, but it's really useless. You have an immense amount of life / defense / resists, and you don't really need the fhr.

You can kill all physical immunes returning to your human form, and using Berserk.

Be careful when you face Oblivion Knights. The only thing which can kill this character in pvm is Iron Maiden. Other enemies will rarely give you troubles.


Enjoy.

 

[Shadow-Hunter]

Nice Guide
To bad I play Non-ladder

 

[Neurotic]

I got one too, from another guide that is, and some own influence, and I got a few comments on your guide, PvP that is.

Just listing them in random order:
- Switch: Why giving in 3Shout for 1BO? (3BOCTA(always for barb)+1 = 4BO + 3Echoing = 7BO, 3Shout. 3xEchoing/hoto = 6BO/Shout = more pwn.
- Phoenix: Switch that for SS or you'll get pownd in PvP (I'm PvP only FYI).
- Berserk: For what, if you're a wolf you can only use the Wolf Skills, which is only Feral Rage on this build.
- PvM: It's a kinda useless build PvM, cause it might do damage yes, but it only kills 1 mob/time and not even too fast, so you'd b better of with another cookie-cutter.
- Spare Skill Points: Nat Res until there's no more improvement, same for speed. Those are your CRUCIAL points, speed+res+life.

I don't want to make you look bad, but just look into a char a bit more before posting it as done.

 

[Shadow-Hunter]

Some ppl like to make a different build than the Cookie-cutters becouse its a little more fun.... Also this guide is over 1 year old it could be outdated..Also you should look alittle more into the rules before bumbing an "over a year old" thread.

~Shadow

 

[Laharl]

Only problem is that new ideas for builds are almost completely extinct now.

Sad, isn't it?

 

[Neurotic]

I was looking for a guide like this, and I replied to it, to make other people that might want to make an alternative build have some other decent guidelines.

Sorry if I broke any of the rules.

 

[Pale_Horse]

Only problem is that new ideas for builds are almost completely extinct now.

Sad, isn't it?

Not all that true, it is just alot easier to follow someone elses hard work, then to do all the work yourself.
If you are looking for something new and powerful, Neurotic try this out.

Sacrafice - 20
Fantaicism - 20
Holy Shield - 20
Redemption - 20
1 into preregs
Rest into Defience, or zeal as a mass attack skill (14 points unused)


Reason being, if you look at this, from a skill planner it says +865% damage

Sacrifice
increased accuracy and damage
at the cost of life

8 percent damage to Self

Current Skill Level: 20
To Attack Rating: +153 percent
Damage: +865 percent

Sacrifice Receives Bonuses From:
Redemption: +15% Damage per Level
Fanaticism: +5% Damage per Level


Does massive damage, uses no mana except to cast holy shield, and zeal (when needed) Insane Life Leech, Life, Dex, & damage. Basically used for Ubers, but can hold his own in PvP. As stated before, you can use zeal for some mobs, but in all honesty, properly geared, you will kill them with 1 or 2 hits as they appoach.
Click my sig below for more details.