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D4 Barbarian Leveling Build & Guide (UPDATED L50+)

Looking to level up quickly and easily? Welcome to our Diablo 4 Barbarian Leveling Guide! The important most important chunks of info here are:

This is designed to be used TOGETHER WITH:
D4 General ALL CLASSES Leveling Guide.

Updated: Jun-06-24': Added links to Fresh Level 50 Guide (ALL CLASSES). (prev) Updated the build up to 58 (max) Skillpoints. Added clarity for when and what skills to swap around. Some notes stil rough

Planned updates: Better ways to present info, more tips like aspects etc...


Leveling Build by Skillpoint:

While Frenzy is overall best, especially later on, Lunging Strike is a great early game basic attack. You can use either, then settle on Frenzy Later.
If using Lunging Strike temporarily, take Battle Lunging Strike. Feel free to respec and try both.
Same case with Hammer of the Ancients and Upheaval. Upheaval is better early on, and HotA is where we're gonna settle at later.
If using Upheaval temporarily, get Enhanded Upheaval
If using Upheaval temporarily, get Furious Upheaval. Synergizes extremely well with Frenzy...
Battle Frenzy is an option down the line, once you can utilize it. If using Lunging Strike temporarily take Battle Lunging Strike. Feel free to respec and try both.
This is godlike especially early on. AFK and win.
Level up whichever you're using for now.
Level up whichever you're using for now.
Great for moving around! That's its primary use for us, haha.
Makes our shouts longer, and is amazing with the next passive, Raid Leader.
Excellent source of self-healing
Either option is fine, one is offensive, one is defensive. Up to you!
You need to make space for CotA, so say bye-bye to leap and add another level of Pit Fighter.
Reminder again: Remove Leap (sadly), and add one more Pit Fighter
Reminder again: Remove Leap (sadly), and add one more Pit Fighter
Great with Death Blow, then tagging the remaining fat enemies, Level 1 is nice to have, and upgrading it can seem wasteful sometimes...
You can even use Unconstrained. Since this is a leveling build, Walking Arsenal is probably best for most leveling scenarios. Try to get 2 bonuses at least.
Some people might want to take this earlier. Other might want to skip it. I suppose placing it at this point is fair. If you don't like it, take any other passive or upgrade Death Blow / Hammer.
Some people might want to take this earlier. Other might want to skip it. I suppose placing it at this point is fair. If you don't like it, take any other passive or upgrade Death Blow / Hammer.
Some people might want to take this earlier. Other might want to skip it. I suppose placing it at this point is fair. If you don't like it, take any other passive or upgrade Death Blow / Hammer.
Ideally you shouldn't be using Upheaval anymore -get the HotA aspect (Ancestral Force) in Sunken Ruins, Scogsglen
Ideally you shouldn't be using Upheaval anymore -get the HotA aspect (Ancestral Force) in Sunken Ruins, Scogsglen
Ideally you shouldn't be using Upheaval anymore -get the HotA aspect (Ancestral Force) in Sunken Ruins, Scogsglen
Might as well start upgrading Death Blow!
This may seem weird, but the next few nodes will synergize! This is simply to access the next node.
When you get Hit, they Bleed...
When they Bleed, they're slowed...
When they're slowed, you do extra crit! See, told you It would make sense, haha.
Nobody ever complained about more Life, but the next node is why we're here.
Defenses against Elites, never a bad thing.
Might as well maximize this, as the other choices are slim at this point.

I will implement a visual limitation on these soon, maybe the previous and next 3 are only shown.

Reminders by level:

Lunging Strike is great early on, and Frenzy is really much better with a more mature build. However, you can freely use either as they're both quite viable. I'd say Frenzy is overall better if I had to simply choose one.
While Upheaval is what I recommend early on, you should should try to shift into Hammer of the Ancients once you get that circular AoE aspect in Scogsglen. It's just a quality of life improvement. The circular AoE shape eliminates Upheavals blind spots which can be a real tilter.
Each weapon type now gains its own "EXP bar". Using a weapon naturally increases your experience with it. As you progress in these levels you gain passive bonuses while you're wearing and hitting enemies with that specific weapon type. Honestly, this isn't a system you should ACTIVELY engage with this early on. Simply use your strongest / best weapons each time and worry about leveling this up or maximizing this to fit your build later.
Did I get the names reversed? Essentially allows you to use an Expertise bonus without the weapon actually being used.
I simply can't update any more notes, haha. I'll add and refine very soon!

Since there are so few right now, I'll just make them all visible by default...


NEXT UPDATES

Yeah, I'm adding more segments to each leveling guides. Mostly build info, aspects to get per area, etc... It's gonna be worth it I promise!

Summary, Related Links, What Next?

I'll surely add more to this in time. But in its current form I hope our Diablo 4 Barbarian Leveling Builds and Guide helped you out!

Done with the leveling process (Hit level 50?) or campaign?
See our Fresh Level 50 Guide (All Classes) on how to transition into endgame.

Some important related links for D4 barbarian:

Good luck! Now get out there and level up your Barbarian!

Some other related reading:


I'm placing the "summary" up here above these "plain text dumps" as the below info isn't really important or new, simply another way to view the info already presented above.


Barbarian Important Notes by Level (plain text)

Here are the level by level notes presented plainly. Obviously this will expand over time as we can level to max. Note that these are for Barbarian specifically, and the general notes are found in the general guide.

LevelReminderNote
1Frenzy vs Lunging StrikeLunging Strike is great early on, and Frenzy is really much better with a more mature build. However, you can freely use either as they're both quite viable. I'd say Frenzy is overall better if I had to simply choose one.
3Upheaval into HotAWhile Upheaval is what I recommend early on, you should should try to shift into Hammer of the Ancients once you get that circular AoE aspect in Scogsglen. It's just a quality of life improvement. The circular AoE shape eliminates Upheavals blind spots which can be a real tilter.
10Weapon ExpertiseEach weapon type now gains its own "EXP bar". Using a weapon naturally increases your experience with it. As you progress in these levels you gain passive bonuses while you're wearing and hitting enemies with that specific weapon type. Honestly, this isn't a system you should ACTIVELY engage with this early on. Simply use your strongest / best weapons each time and worry about leveling this up or maximizing this to fit your build later.
15Weapon TechniqueDid I get the names reversed? Essentially allows you to use an Expertise bonus without the weapon actually being used.
16Hands tired...I simply can't update any more notes, haha. I'll add and refine very soon!

Barbarian Leveling Build (plain text)

Here's the leveling build presented plainly. As a side note I will probably add at least one variant per build, or maybe more once your reach key passive levels.

SkillpointNodeNote
1Frenzy (Lunging Strike)While Frenzy is overall best, especially later on, Lunging Strike is a great early game basic attack. You can use either, then settle on Frenzy Later.
2Enhanced Frenze / Lunging StrikeIf using Lunging Strike temporarily, take Battle Lunging Strike. Feel free to respec and try both.
3Hammer of the Ancients (Upheaval)Same case with Hammer of the Ancients and Upheaval. Upheaval is better early on, and HotA is where we're gonna settle at later.
4Enhanced Hammer of the Ancients If using Upheaval temporarily, get Enhanded Upheaval
5Furious Hammer of the AncientsIf using Upheaval temporarily, get Furious Upheaval. Synergizes extremely well with Frenzy...
6Combat Frenzy / Lunging StrikeBattle Frenzy is an option down the line, once you can utilize it. If using Lunging Strike temporarily take Battle Lunging Strike. Feel free to respec and try both.
7Challenging Shout
8Enhanced Challenging Shout
9Strategic Challenging ShoutThis is godlike especially early on. AFK and win.
10HotA or UpheavalLevel up whichever you're using for now.
11HotA or UpheavalLevel up whichever you're using for now.
12LeapGreat for moving around! That's its primary use for us, haha.
13Warcry
14Enhanced Warcry
15Booming VoiceMakes our shouts longer, and is amazing with the next passive, Raid Leader.
16Raid LeaderExcellent source of self-healing
17Death Blow
18Enhanced Death Blow
19Warrior's Death Blow
20Mighty Warcry (either)Either option is fine, one is offensive, one is defensive. Up to you!
21Raid Leader
22Raid Leader
23Pit Fighter
24Call of the Ancients (- LEAP)You need to make space for CotA, so say bye-bye to leap and add another level of Pit Fighter.
25Prime Call of the Ancients (-LEAP)Reminder again: Remove Leap (sadly), and add one more Pit Fighter
26Supreme Call of the Ancients (-LEAP)Reminder again: Remove Leap (sadly), and add one more Pit Fighter
27Pit Fighter
28Slaying Strike
29Slaying Strike
30Slaying Strike
31Booming Voice
32Booming Voice
33Expose VulnerabilityGreat with Death Blow, then tagging the remaining fat enemies, Level 1 is nice to have, and upgrading it can seem wasteful sometimes...
34Walking ArsenalYou can even use Unconstrained. Since this is a leveling build, Walking Arsenal is probably best for most leveling scenarios. Try to get 2 bonuses at least.
35Swiftness (Optional)Some people might want to take this earlier. Other might want to skip it. I suppose placing it at this point is fair. If you don't like it, take any other passive or upgrade Death Blow / Hammer.
36Swiftness (Optional)Some people might want to take this earlier. Other might want to skip it. I suppose placing it at this point is fair. If you don't like it, take any other passive or upgrade Death Blow / Hammer.
37Swiftness (Optional)Some people might want to take this earlier. Other might want to skip it. I suppose placing it at this point is fair. If you don't like it, take any other passive or upgrade Death Blow / Hammer.
38Hammer of the AncientsIdeally you shouldn't be using Upheaval anymore -get the HotA aspect (Ancestral Force) in Sunken Ruins, Scogsglen
39Hammer of the AncientsIdeally you shouldn't be using Upheaval anymore -get the HotA aspect (Ancestral Force) in Sunken Ruins, Scogsglen
40Hammer of the AncientsIdeally you shouldn't be using Upheaval anymore -get the HotA aspect (Ancestral Force) in Sunken Ruins, Scogsglen
41Death BlowMight as well start upgrading Death Blow!
42Death Blow
43Death Blow
44Death Blow
45OutburstThis may seem weird, but the next few nodes will synergize! This is simply to access the next node.
46Tough as NailsWhen you get Hit, they Bleed...
47HamstringWhen they Bleed, they're slowed...
48No MercyWhen they're slowed, you do extra crit! See, told you It would make sense, haha.
49No Mercy
50No Mercy
51Imposing PresenceNobody ever complained about more Life, but the next node is why we're here.
52Martial VigorDefenses against Elites, never a bad thing.
53Martial Vigor
54Martial Vigor
55Imposing Presence
56Imposing Presence
57Expose VulnerabilityMight as well maximize this, as the other choices are slim at this point.
58Expose Vulnerability