Barbarian Builds

List of popular D2R Barbarian Builds

The Barbarian is a melee fighter character that specializes in mastering almost every kind of weapon and dealing physical damage. Thanks to his sustainability, he’s performing very well at PvE. His “War Cry” skills enchant his allies, making him an ideal member for every party. Also, the Barbarian is among the top classes for PvP fights. Also make sure to read our Barbarian vs. Amazon Face-Off, as well as the Barbarian vs. Sorceress Face-off details.

Diablo 2 Barbarian Builds
Art by Redan23

The Most Popular Diablo 2 Barbarian Builds​

  • Whirlwind Barb: This build has the ability to cut through any kind of monsters’ group, using the Whirlwind skill. It’s probably the most famous build since the early days of the game until today. It’s also known as the “Tornado Barb”, “WW Barb”, or “Whirly-Barb”.
  • Frenzy Barb: Using the Frenzy skill, this type of Barbarian specializes in wielding dual weapons and deal massive amounts of damage to single enemies. It’s popular for its rapid movement and attack speed.
  • Berserker: This is the ultimate damage build. The Berserk skill converts all physical damage to magical, overriding physical immunities. Its drawback is the minimum defense. Thus there are two ways to set up the Berserker. You can play either with a shield and a one-handed weapon or with a two-handed weapon.
  • Concentrator: The “Conc Barb” relies mostly on his defense rather than dealing massive amounts of damage. He focuses on skills such as Battle Orders, Concentrate, and Bash. Also, he can buff his allies, resulting in a great tank for every party.
  • Dragoon or Leaper: This unique type of Barbarian is designed for PvE, as it’s slow for PvP fights. The primary skills are the Leap and the Leap Attack. They allow the character to jump into the air avoiding incoming missiles and ignoring slow effects.
  • Axethrower:  or else known as the “Circus Barb” or “Double Throw Barb” is a ranged build that uses Throwing weapons such as Javelins, Axes, and Knives. Its primary attack is the Double Throw. Howl, Taunt, and Battle Cry are its support skills.
  • Immortal King Barbarian: This built utilizes the Immortal King set for its high elemental resistances and powerful bonuses. It’s more effective in combination with Whirlwind. However, it requires a lot of points in Strength.
  • Executioner: It specializes in one-hit kills using the Deadly Attack, taking advantage of effects like Open Wounds and Crushing Blow. The executioner is powerful versus large groups of enemies with the proper weapons.
  • Horker or Gold Find Barb: A special category of the class that focuses on gambling and finding gold. It makes sense to gamble only if you are above 93 level though.
  • Singer: This Barbarian is based on the War Cry skill, acting as a support member of a party. The high mana costs require the character to have a caster set up. It’s not designed for PvP fights and it’s not recommended for solo PvE.