WhirlWind effectiveness with Barbs? Need Experienced Opinions.

[jmcn R]

Well now that i realm downed again its time for a little discussion here.

I am so far at lvl 45 with the Frenzy Mace barb i started yesterday. Havent spent more than 3 or 4 of my skills so far. normally i research and observe for a good time before starting a new char when i start playing d2 again..

but this time around i cannot find a good source for barb builds, and i have yet to see a single barb do anything but sing when i am playing.

What i need to know is how effective !PVM! is WhirlWind proving these days? do any of you BF elitists use this skill now? i am worried it may be nerfed and weak nowadays especially since i will frenzy already.

what do you dooders think? any help will be appreciated.

 

[Ntrik_]

I personally think WW is better than frenzy barb, I mean WW can draw up crowds, and with decent leeching, you'll live and keep rolling and rolling. Also WW gets you out of tight spots easily...

But without items? You can't expect to kill much.

 

[jmcn R]

hhmmm...thanks for the response _mike. i was thinking about putting points into both frenzy and WW and adapting them to what the situation needs. used to work well, dont know about now.

i have had a wolfhowl helm that i have had put down, i also did some heavy trading last night and got some more items for the barb so equipment will be good.

my new question thouigh is a a puzzling one i just cant seem to geta concrete answer on. if i equip the wolfhowl...which gives lyncanthropy, werewolf and feral rage...will i still be able to use WW or Frenzy at the same time? i am a bit confused and hope that it will not be a case of "either or". being able to WW and still have the shapeshifting skills would be so nice.

 

[Jimbo]

no,you will only be able to use feral rage

 

[jmcn R]

sigh thanks for the quick response Jim. i was looking forward to using this helm but now its back to the drawing board.

 

[jmcn R]

ok last question i think.

i did alot of trading the other night but havent played since. anyway, i picked up a Famine Hammer and Hand Of Justice Hammer, as well as a Cham'd SS.

so my question is, dual wield.....or use one of the hammer and the shield? if hammer and shield i believe i will use Famine.

i am just being extra cautious since i know how drastically altered WW has been in several patches.

ty again for any advice.

 

[Starcrack]

use a shield

why are u making a mace barb mace barbz suxors =o

 

[Guest]

WW barbs own :hxc.

 

[d2_masta_]

WW barbz ruel in only like cows and act 123 cause it sukks when u get iron maidened

also when u ue a sheild make sure u makin a bvb like hav sb or a bh or sumtin like dat

i dont hav exp so get anything better then a hammer if u want

 

[jmcn R]

thanks for the help everybody. reading the responses has helped me sort my mind out now.

i am going to have this barb be what i originally intended. frenzy based....

the combined properties of the Justice and Famine Legendary Hammers should be a pretty devastating combo when fighting in packs and PVP style against bbig bosses. i also picked up a COH Archon so he wont have a shield for Resists or stopping physical, but the armour should certainly make up a bit of that loss.

now i need to find Gore Riders and Draculs, also need to work out my STR requirements now. time to do some math.






for the record i am already planning a WW only barb, maybe using IK set, or an interesting Polearm setup. Polearms were always great for mass havoc WW action :huggles

 

[d2_masta_]

ya iight just be careful cause iron maiden sukks ull rok in duelz and bosses but be very careful cause barbs do hav down sides

 

[SYNISTER]

I have played a WW/Frenzy barb and WW concentration barb, they are very effective pvm/pvp killers if you get the right build and gear, I have a lvl 89 ww/frenzy barb on east ladder max out bo/shout and either frenzy or concetrate then but points in iron skin and wpn mastery of choice, i but one point in increased stamina and faster run walk. i prefer axe or sword mastery for ww/frenzy barb for high runwords, if you make a mace barb, the only way to go IK set and WW/concentrate as there are really no maces that you can make good rune words with, ie BOTD, Last Wish. (Axe mastery is the way to go) IMO. I but alot of stat points into strenght (300+ with gear), about 130 in dex (170+ with gear) and the rest in vitality (900+ life with out gear) NONE in energy. The gear i use (and you really dont need to be rich) I got an um'ed arreants 5%/178, stone rune word armor, IK gloves, gores, IK belt or tgods, i use ravenfrost, and dual leach lr/fr rare rings, and a plus skill/resist ammy. get a nm act 2 defensive merc for freeze aura and give him an obiedence (runeword) cryptic axe, durail case armor and a good helm. Another good thing about stone armor is u get a lvl 16 clay golem to help fight for you, I can do hell, countess, aireal, meph, etch, nik by myself the only thing i really cant solo is hell, baal minions - i can kill hell baal solo though. good luck, almost forgot, i use uniq butchers cleavers for frenzy barb and which wpns are spirit sword and shield for bo/shout prior to pvm. (lvl 28 bo/shout) or u could get 2 plus 3 warcry javlins, but i prefer shield so you can run to bosses during solo runs without dying.

 

[jmcn R]

sounds good syister, except for the part about being an IK barb if u want to go mace.


i havent played much since the other day but i am now lvl 85, and i equipped the Famine and Justice Legendary Hammers. all put together now this barb has proved to be exceptionally good all round. Phys Immunes are no worries, no bother about elemental or magic immunes. blazing fast attacks with lots of leech and reasonable damage.....

one thing i am extra caught out with is the modern hell monsters. in baal runs no matter how much i can dive into pakcs of berserkers or black souls there just comes a time when i have to step back for a break. it seems as if i can never get enough life no matter what, without a shield i take such a beating.

i do have about 18 skill pints to assign. i have yet to decide toi split between some cries/iron skin/resists or max out double swing and add the left overs to cries.

 

[ChrisH36]

Its an effective ability. Just in Act 4 with Oblivion Knights you are going to need to be careful that you are not Iron Maidened in the process.