Barbarian Combat Skills

Barbarian Skills
All Skills Combat Masteries Combat Skills Warcries

The Barbarian's Combat Skills are his main techniques in battle. Most players specialize in Whirlwind or Frenzy since these skills can strike multiple targets per use, and supplement those with other support skills. However, it is possible to play successfully just using single target attacks like Bash, Concentrate, and Stun, or to try your hand as a throwing barbarian.

Bash

Required Level: 1

Prerequisites: None
Synergies: Bash receives bonuses from:

• Stun: +5% Damage Per Level
• Concentrate: +5% Attack Rating Per Level

Details: Bash adds damage and to/hit, plus a knockback effect that works on most monsters, as well as other players in PVP.

• Monsters can be "Bash-locked" with a quick weapon; effectively stunning them so they never get to fight back.
• Bash will not knock back monsters without clear space behind them; another monster, a wall, or even objects like treasure chests and rocks will stop knockback from taking place.
• None of the Act Bosses may be knocked back.

Early on Bash is a great skill, for the bonus damage and to/hit. The knockback can be a pain at times, as you'll have to hit, take a step, hit, take a step, etc. If you are killing in just two or three hits, it's often better to use normal attack. The very low mana cost makes it useful for low level characters, since just about any sort of mana leech will more than refill the Bash cost each hit.

Bash is useful late game for monsters that hit hard or with enchantments, like Mana Burn, Stun, Cold Enchanted, etc. You can get a "Bash-lock" on such targets if you have a fast attack, knocking them into a wall and hitting them faster than they can get off a single swing at you. This can work on other players as well.

The bonus for more than one point in Bash is small, so unless you are doing some sort of single-attack melee Barbarian and want to max it out, just one point is plenty.

Lore: The immense physical strength of the Barbarian people is widely known, so it should come as no surprise that this is one of the first skills that they develop as a warrior. Summoning up their renowned brute strength a Barbarian can deliver a powerful and painful blow that staggers an enemy from its feet, knocking them back.

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Mana Cost: 2
Damage	+1	+2	+3	+4	+5	+6	+7	+8	+9	+10	+11	+12	+13	+14	+15	+16	+17	+18	+19	+20
Damage +%	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145
Attack +%	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115

Leap

Required Level: 6

Prerequisites: None
Details: Leap allows Barbarians to jump over some obstacles, and creates a knockback effect on landing.

• Leap is very handy to get over rivers, up or down ledges, and move past obstacles in narrow corridors, such as the Maggot Lair.
• Leap does no damage, but can clear out a fair swath of the screen at higher levels.
• Leap can be used everywhere, even in levels with a low roof.
• Like Leap, and unlike Teleport, Leap Attack will not take the Barbarian over walls or other obstacles that block his line of sight.

Lore: Because of his great strength, a trained barbarian warrior is able to perform great leaps. These jumps are noteworthy, enabling the Barbarian to spring free of dangerous swarms of enemies, and landing with an impact that sends them reeling.

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Mana Cost: 2
Radius (yards)	4.6	7.3	8.6	10	11.3	12	12.6	13.3	14	14	14.6	14.6	15.3	16	16	16	16.6	16.6	16.6	16.6

Double Swing

Required Level: 6

Prerequisites: Bash
Synergies: Bash grants +10% Damage Per Level
Details: Double Swing only works when two weapons are equipped. This skill quickly swings each weapon once. Both will hit the same target if only one monster is in range; otherwise the second weapon will semi-randomly target an adjacent foe.

You must dual wield to use this skill, it can't be done with a weapon/shield, or a two-handed weapon. This is a nice skill to use early on if you are going to dual wield, it hits very fast and has an Attack Rating bonus. But it's not of much use later on, Frenzy is far better, and this only adds to/hit, not damage, so one point is plenty.

Lore: A Barbarian warrior learns to fight with a weapon in each hand, for after all, are not two weapons better than one? A young Barbarian learns to use both hands independently of each other, striking simultaneous blows at separate targets. As his talent grows in this skill, he attacks with increasing control and accuracy.

• Figures listed in game for mana cost are inaccurate; these are the true values.

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Mana Cost	1.0	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.3	0.2	0.1	0	-0.1	-0.2	-0.3	-0.5	-0.6	-0.7	-0.8	-1.0	-1.1	-1.2	-1.3
Attack +%	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110

Stun

Required Level: 12

Prerequisites: Bash
Synergies: Stun receives bonuses from:

• Bash: +8% Damage Per Level
• Concentrate: +5% Attack Rating Per Level
• War Cry: +5% Duration Per Level

Details: Stun leaves a monster standing motionless, a spinning circle over their head, for some time.

• This can be used on multiple targets in rapid succession, or to keep one target stunned for risk-free killing.
• Stun does not add bonus damage, so this is best used when needed for defensive purposes, while other attack skills are utilized to more quickly kill the target.
• Act Bosses can not be stunned.
• Most boss monsters, including SuperUniques, have a high resistance to stun, but will succumb to repeated stunning blows.

Lore: An experienced Barbarian can learn to strike an opponent in areas that promote the maximum effect. By putting enough strength behind a well-placed blow, he can leave an opponent dazed and unable to strike back or flee.

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Mana Cost: 2
Attack +%	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110
Duration (seconds)	1.2	1.4	1.6	1.8	2.0	2.2	2.4	2.6	2.8	3.0	3.2	3.4	3.6	3.8	4.0	4.2	4.2	4.3	4.4	4.5

Double Throw

Required Level: 12

Prerequisites: Bash, Double Swing
Synergies: Double Swing grants +8% Damage Per Level
Details: This skill allows the Barbarian to dual wield throwing weapons, and hurl them with either hand, launching about 50% more projectiles per second than he could throwing from just one stack. The barbarian alternates which hand throws, and damage is calculated depending on which weapon is used. Lore: To a Barbarian, fighting with two weapons is considered a fairly simple feat. Not so simple is mastering the art of throwing two weapons simultaneously and accurately. Many young Barbarians are eager to learn this skill, for they will tell you it is concrete proof that they have risen to greatness as a warrior. In truth, they use this skill in tavern games almost as often as they do in battle, winning wagers from unsuspecting drunkards.

If you are doing a dual-wielding Barb you'll need one point here as a pre-req for Frenzy. Even specializing in this skill you'll not need that many points, since they only add to your to/hit, not your damage. Max Throwing Mastery out first, since it adds damage and AR, then this if you need more accuracy.

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Mana Cost: 2
Attack +%	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150	160	170	180	190	200	210

Leap Attack

Required Level: 18

Prerequisites:: Leap
Synergies: Leap grants +10% Damage Per Level.
Details: Leap Attack targets a single monster and jumps at it, striking just that monster for substantial damage.

• Leap Attack is a useful homing skill, and will help the Barbarian finish off fast moving monsters such as Sand Leapers or teleporting bosses.
• Leap can be used everywhere, even in levels with a low roof.
• Leap Attack has very long range with just a single point, and is quite helpful to hop over obstacles.
• Like Leap, and unlike Teleport, Leap Attack will not take the Barbarian over walls or other obstacles that block his line of sight.
• Leap Attack knocks back monsters near the landing zone, much as Leap does.

Lore: A young treasure hunter once sought his fortune in a raid for Barbarian gold on Mount Arreat. Hearing tales of the Barbarian people's expertise in close combat, he hired a phalanx of mercenary spearmen to accompany him, thinking their long spears would force the Barbarian warriors to fight from a distance. He soon learned his mistake as a single Barbarian warrior was enough to slaughter his entire party. Ambushing the raiding party from a patch of scrub grass, the Barbarian leapt over them, slaying one whilst airborne, and skewering two more as he landed. Before the would-be thief could draw a single breath, all of his hired lancers had been dispatched. It was a long walk home.

One little-known use is to leap over the charging explosive Minions in Act Five. Any of them you pass over in mid air will explode beneath you, but do you zero damage. This can be quite helpful attacking Lasher bosses, or when moving through Worldstone lvl 2.

Most characters are fine with a single point in Leap Attack. Just one is full screen range, you can leap to anywhere you can see. The damage and Attack Rating increase steadily with Leap Attack, and reach very high levels. Slvl 20 is 335% AR and 670% damage, a huge bonus. Leap Attack doesn't work well on targets that move, you tend to land where they were and swing and miss. If you target something that's too close to you to leap at, you just do a normal attack, not the bonus damage/AR Leap Attack.

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Mana Cost: 9
Attack +%	50	65	80	95	110	125	140	155	170	185	200	215	230	245	260	275	290	305	320	335
Damage +%	100	130	160	190	220	250	280	310	340	370	400	430	460	490	520	550	580	610	640	670

Concentrate

Required Level: 18

Prerequisites: Bash, Stun
Synergies: Concentrate receives bonuses from points placed in the following skills:

• Bash: +5% Damage Per Level
• Battle Orders: +10% Damage Per Level
• Berserk: +1% Magic Damage Per Level

Details: Concentrate is most useful for its interruptible nature. Use this to be sure your hits land, even if you are chilled, swarmed by a pack, fighting a monster with a very fast attack, etc. Lore: Sometimes a series of blows is not nearly as effective as a single, concentrated strike. A Barbarian trained in this skill learns how to focus his strength into a single blow that cuts through the guard of an enemy and slices through their armor. This technique also puts the warrior in a superior defensive position.

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Mana Cost: 2
Defense +%	100	110	120	130	140	150	160	170	180	190	200	210	220	230	240	250	260	270	280	290
Attack +%	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150	160	170	180	190	200	210	220	230	240	250
Damage +%	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155	160	165

Frenzy

Required Level: 24

Prerequisites: Bash, Double Swing, Double Throw
Synergies: Frenzy receives bonuses from points placed in the following skills:

• Double Swing: +8% Damage Per Level
• Taunt: +8% Damage Per Level
• Berserk: +1% Magic Damage Per Level

Details: Frenzy allows the Barbarian to strike and move much faster, with any skill. Use Frenzy to speed up, then switch to other skills for a hyperfast attack.

• Frenzy requires dual weapons to instigate.
• Frenzy powers up, getting faster and faster for several hits.
• There is no visual indicator of Frenzy; no swirling lights or color changes, though swings create a sort of slashing graphic through the air.
• The Barbarian moves at a frenzied pace for 6 seconds after the last successful Frenzy hit. Land another hit with Frenzy before the 6 seconds run out, and refresh the Frenzy for another 6 seconds.
• The bonus damage from Frenzy only applies to hits using the Frenzy skill itself. The speed transfers to other skills, but not the damage bonus.
• Try Leap Attack while Frenzied for laughs.

Lore: Although a Barbarian is capable of calculated blows and tactical fighting techniques, it is his fierce passion for battle that distinguishes him in battle. While using this skill, a Barbarian drives more and more force into each successive blow as his anger and bloodlust mounts.

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Mana Cost: 3
Damage +%	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155	160	165	170	175	180	185
Attack +%	100	107	114	121	128	135	142	149	156	163	170	177	184	191	198	205	212	219	226	233
Attack Speed +%	7	7-13	7-18	7-22	7-25	7-27	7-29	7-31	7-33	7-34	7-35	7-36	7-37	7-38	7-39	7-40	7-40	7-41	7-41	7-42
Walk/Run Speed +%	47	47-68	47-84	47-99	47-110	47-119	47-126	47-131	47-138	47-142	47-147	47-151	47-155	47-158	47-160	47-164	47-165	47-167	47-169	47-171

Whirlwind

Required Level: 30

Prerequisites: Bash, Leap, Stun, Concentrate, Leap Attack
Details: Whirlwind is the Tasmanian Devil of Barbarian skills, turning the character into a spinning death-dealer, capable of passing through huge mobs and hitting dozens of targets with a single use of the skill. There are dangers as well, and a great many details to grasp in order to use this skill expertly. So complicated is Whirlwind that we've put all the details on a separate page.
Lore: Of the Barbarian people, the Tribe of Thunder was the first to draw upon the primal forces of the weather. Tornadoes would ravage their plains as summer turned to the harvest season. The shaman of the tribe would interpret the tornadoes as an omen of evil during times of peace, and as a harbinger of great victory during wartime. Observing the strength of the whirlwind, these Barbarians learned to emulate the swirling mיlange of the cyclone in their attacks. As time went on and the tribes intermingled, the ability to attack in the manner of the whirlwind was passed down to all of the Barbarian people.

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Mana Cost	25	25	26	26	27	27	28	28	29	29	30	30	31	31	32	32	33	33	34	34
Damage %	-50	-42	-34	-26	-18	-10	-2	+6	+14	+22	+30	+38	+46	+54	+62	+70	+78	+86	+94	+102
Attack +%		+5	+10	+15	+20	+25	+30	+35	+40	+45	+50	+55	+60	+65	+70	+75	+80	+85	+90	+95

Berserk

Required Level: 30

Prerequisites: Bash, Stun, Concentrate
Synergies: Berserk receives bonuses from:

• Howl: +10% Magic Damage Per Level
• Shout: +10% Magic Damage Per Level

Details: Berserk gives the Barbarian a way to deal a huge amount of magical (non-physical) damage with a melee attack, saving him from needing to use elemental damage weapons to kill Stone Skin and Physical Immune monsters.

• Berserk deals no physical damage, so it can not steal life or mana.
• Berserk can be safely used against the Thorns Aura, or while cursed by Iron Maiden.
• The Barbarian's defense drops to zero immediately after using this powerful skill. Since every hit will land with zero defense, using a shield can be a hindrance, inducing block lock.

Lore: There is a fine line between passion and rage, something the Barbarian warrior knows well. A Barbarian must learn to tread this line while separating one from the other and drawing strength from both. One of the most powerful combat skills a Barbarian can learn is to cross that line into rage, expending the sum of his energy and slaying everything without regard for consequences. When you have slain all of your enemies, what is left to fear?

Level	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Mana Cost: 4
Attack Rating +%	100	115	130	145	160	175	190	205	220	235	250	265	280	295	310	325	340	355	370	385
Magic Damage +%	150	165	180	195	210	225	240	255	270	285	300	315	330	345	360	375	390	405	420	435
Duration (seconds)	2.7	2.4	2.2	2.1	2.0	1.9	1.8	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.5	1.5	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.3