Welcome to the definitive guide to creating the ultimate Barbarian build for Season 3 of Diablo 4. We've put together a detailed walkthrough that will show you how to conquer Tier 100 Nightmare Dungeons and bosses Duriel Runs with ease. Prepare yourself, because we're about to dive into the tempest of destruction that is the Hammer of the Ancients (HOTA) build.

 

• Core Skills Overview
• Weapon Expertise and Sentinel Construct
• Gear Dependencies
• Skill Tree Focus
• Paragon Board Optimization
• Gems and Jewelry & Build Planner
• Conclusion

 

 

↖ Core Skills Overview

• Whirlwind: The skill you'll be using most often. Use it to move through enemies and keep Overpower charges up. Make sure your Arsenal is set to dual wield for maximum efficiency.
• Hammer of the Ancients (HOTA): This is where your damage comes from. Decimate large groups of enemies and deliver devastating blows to bosses.
• War Cry: Bolster your Berserking state and increase your damage output significantly with this skill.
• Challenging Shout: Boost your defense and maximize life so you can take more hits from enemies.
• Wrath of the Berserker: Use this ultimate skill to gain Berserking, Unstoppable status, and a massive damage buff.
• Charge: Not only is this a great movement skill, but it's also an excellent way to wreak havoc on enemy formations.

 

 

↖ Weapon Expertise and Sentinel Construct

You'll want two-handed axe expertise for better damage and critical strike chance against vulnerable foes.

When configuring your Sentinel Construct, focus on utility and buff acquisition. Tempest should be the governing Stone so you can attack quickly.

 

 

↖ Gear Dependencies

While this build does depend on gear quite a bit, there are alternatives available in case you can't find certain items. Look for gear that enhances your damage during Berserking states and maximizes Fury. Additionally, legendary aspects that work well with Hammer of the Ancients and provide an overall performance boost are ideal.

 

↖ Skill Tree Focus

Strike a balance between offense and defense in your skill tree. Invest points into core skills like Whirlwind, Hammer of the Ancients, defensive skills like Challenging Shout, brawling skills like War Cry, as well as Weapon Mastery skills which provide significant damage boosts.

 

↖ Paragon Board Optimization

By the time you reach level 100, you should optimize your Paragon board for legendary nodes that increase damage output, Fury regeneration, and resistance capping. Filling out these key nodes will ensure you have high damage, defense, and good resource management.

 

↖ Gems and Jewelry & Build Planner

For armor pieces, select gems that increase maximum life. For weapons, choose gems that increase Overpower damage. Your jewelry should help cap out all resistances. The Banished Lord's Talisman unique amulet and Ring of Red Fury are particularly recommended for their synergy with this build.

 

Build Planner: http://tinyurl.com/4824zrwy

 

↖ Conclusion

With this guide in hand, you'll be able to create a Barbarian capable of going toe-to-toe with Diablo 4's strongest enemies in Season 3. The HOTA build we've laid out here doesn't require Uber Uniques to function at its best, so it's relatively accessible despite being so powerful. With this knowledge at your disposal, you'll be standing at the peak of barbaric might before you know it — ready to return to hell once again without fear!