D4 Barbarian Leveling Guide & Build
Looking to level up quickly and easily? Welcome to our Diablo 4 Barbarian Leveling Guide! The important most important chunks of info here are:
- Barbarian Leveling Notes by Level.
- Barbarian Leveling Build by Skillpoint.
This is designed to be used TOGETHER WITH:
D4 General ALL CLASSES Leveling Guide.
I'll be adding other segments during this next beta, like an intro to subsystems, among other things. For now, enjoy!
+/- Buttons and Searching by text isn't implemented yet.Level
Skillpoint
Reminders by level:
I gathered this data in the first preorder BETA, and lemme tell ya, Barb was noticably weaker than Sorc and Rogue. This info will likely change with the (hopefully) inevitable buffs. TLDR for my issues are - if you aren't respeccing on the fly, your build will suffer in one way or another. DPS, Self-healing, "non-janky feeling"... It's hard to get everything right with ONE SINGLE BUILD, so it's hard for me to make a very general write-up which doesn't have a billion "respeccing notes". I'll add build adjustment notes in the near future for all classes, but Barb needs it badly compared to the others.
Lunging Strike feels so good versus everything but bosses. It's hands down amazing for repositioning and burst damage. Sustained DPS, though, it pales in comparison to Frenzy. You can respec when you're bricked by a boss into Frenzy. Frenzy also works amazingly with the stacking upheaval mechanic. Basically both are valid choices.
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. 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.
I just thought to note this down here as the quest is annoyingly dangled out of our reach. Why bother putting the quest marker in the game!
Welp, you gave Barbarian a spin (pun intended) and got there. This is the end of the line for now, try to level other classes!
Since there are so few right now, I'll just make them all visible by default...
Leveling Build by Skillpoint:
It's a close choice between Lunging Strike and Frenzy. I painfully must recommend this for positioning, power, and quality of life. You can also go for Frenzy as it's better for bosses and such. More in the notes section.
A welcome upgrade to Lunging Strike. A large DPS increase, and a small heal. Why not!?
Upheaval is ultimately a temporary choice. You will transition to HotA when (hopefully) you get the circular AoE Hammer of the Ancients imprint. More in the notes section.
Adds a little bit of bleed to Lunging Strike to help finish enemies off.
Gives Upheaval a stun chance - not amazing, but we need it for the next node.
Upheaval gets stronger for each other skill you use. Try to use it at 5 stacks, and try not to overcap your Fury. Don't tryhard for the 10-stack each time.
A great defensive cooldown.
Increases your Max Life on Challening Shout.
Amazing passive that can one-shot weak creatures with your thorns. You don't understand my temptation to recommend a thorns builds...
Upgrade your Upheaval to Level 2. (Switch to HotA if you have good imprints)
Upgrade your Upheaval to Level 2. (Switch to HotA if you have good imprints)
I hate to add "two skills in one category", but this is too good for travelling. Skip if you don't mind not having it. You'll respec it later once you get your Ultimate.
Great for difficult fights. I take two shouts for a reason (the passives a little later). Increases your damage output!
Adds Berserking to War Cry, which improves its function as a DPS burst.
Increases shout durations. I don't need to explain how good this can be!
This completes your "shout for anti-boss giga survival" package by adding Life regen to all your shouts.
Upgrade Raid Leader to L2. More Life regeneration! If you think you don't need it yet (or don't mind respeccing here and there) take more points into Upheaval, or HotA if you've got the imprint.
Much needed single target damage.
Doubles Death Blow damage on bosses - a pretty welcome boost.
Gives Berserking if you damage and enemy with Death Blow. More damage is welcome.
Increase our DPS against nearby enemies, and gain toughness against far ones. Yes please.
Upgrade Pit Fighter to Level 2.
Upgrade Pit Fighter to Level 3.
Remove Leap, sadly, to make space for your ultimate skill.
WotB is not amazing in the early game, but it's best you learn its ins and outs now due to its potential. Call of the Ancients is another option if you want to think less. It's a pretty nuanced skill!
Increases MS and Fury Generation while WotB is up.
Gives you a ramping damage bonus to Berserking as you spend Fury.
You only get 26 points for Beta! Go level up another class!
I will implement a visual limitation on these soon, maybe the previous and next 3 are only shown.
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.
| Level | Reminder | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BETA Barb problems. | I gathered this data in the first preorder BETA, and lemme tell ya, Barb was noticably weaker than Sorc and Rogue. This info will likely change with the (hopefully) inevitable buffs. TLDR for my issues are - if you aren't respeccing on the fly, your build will suffer in one way or another. DPS, Self-healing, "non-janky feeling"... It's hard to get everything right with ONE SINGLE BUILD, so it's hard for me to make a very general write-up which doesn't have a billion "respeccing notes". I'll add build adjustment notes in the near future for all classes, but Barb needs it badly compared to the others. |
| 2 | Frenzy vs Lunging Strike | Lunging Strike feels so good versus everything but bosses. It's hands down amazing for repositioning and burst damage. Sustained DPS, though, it pales in comparison to Frenzy. You can respec when you're bricked by a boss into Frenzy. Frenzy also works amazingly with the stacking upheaval mechanic. Basically both are valid choices. |
| 3 | Upheaval into HotA | 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. It's just a quality of life improvement. The circular AoE shape eliminates Upheavals blind spots which can be a real tilter. |
| 10 | Weapon Mastery | 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. |
| 15 | Weapon Expertise | I just thought to note this down here as the quest is annoyingly dangled out of our reach. Why bother putting the quest marker in the game! |
| 25 | Max Level (for now) | Welp, you gave Barbarian a spin (pun intended) and got there. This is the end of the line for now, try to level other classes! |
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.
| Skillpoint | Node | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lunging Strike | It's a close choice between Lunging Strike and Frenzy. I painfully must recommend this for positioning, power, and quality of life. You can also go for Frenzy as it's better for bosses and such. More in the notes section. |
| 2 | Enhanced Lunging Strike | A welcome upgrade to Lunging Strike. A large DPS increase, and a small heal. Why not!? |
| 3 | Upheaval | Upheaval is ultimately a temporary choice. You will transition to HotA when (hopefully) you get the circular AoE Hammer of the Ancients imprint. More in the notes section. |
| 4 | Battle Lunging Strike | Adds a little bit of bleed to Lunging Strike to help finish enemies off. |
| 5 | Enhanced Upheaval | Gives Upheaval a stun chance - not amazing, but we need it for the next node. |
| 6 | Furious Upheaval | Upheaval gets stronger for each other skill you use. Try to use it at 5 stacks, and try not to overcap your Fury. Don't tryhard for the 10-stack each time. |
| 7 | Challenging Shout | A great defensive cooldown. |
| 8 | Enhanced Challenging Shout | Increases your Max Life on Challening Shout. |
| 9 | Strategic Challenging Shout | Amazing passive that can one-shot weak creatures with your thorns. You don't understand my temptation to recommend a thorns builds... |
| 10 | Upheaval L2 | Upgrade your Upheaval to Level 2. (Switch to HotA if you have good imprints) |
| 11 | Upheaval L3 | Upgrade your Upheaval to Level 2. (Switch to HotA if you have good imprints) |
| 12 | Leap | I hate to add "two skills in one category", but this is too good for travelling. Skip if you don't mind not having it. You'll respec it later once you get your Ultimate. |
| 13 | War Cry | Great for difficult fights. I take two shouts for a reason (the passives a little later). Increases your damage output! |
| 14 | Enhanced War Cry | Adds Berserking to War Cry, which improves its function as a DPS burst. |
| 15 | Booming Voice | Increases shout durations. I don't need to explain how good this can be! |
| 16 | Raid Leader | This completes your "shout for anti-boss giga survival" package by adding Life regen to all your shouts. |
| 17 | Raid Leader L2 | Upgrade Raid Leader to L2. More Life regeneration! If you think you don't need it yet (or don't mind respeccing here and there) take more points into Upheaval, or HotA if you've got the imprint. |
| 18 | Death Blow | Much needed single target damage. |
| 19 | Enhanced Death Blow | Doubles Death Blow damage on bosses - a pretty welcome boost. |
| 20 | Warrior's Death Blow | Gives Berserking if you damage and enemy with Death Blow. More damage is welcome. |
| 21 | Pit Fighter | Increase our DPS against nearby enemies, and gain toughness against far ones. Yes please. |
| 22 | Pit Fighter L2 | Upgrade Pit Fighter to Level 2. |
| 23 | Pit Fighter L3 | Upgrade Pit Fighter to Level 3. |
| 24 | UNALLOCATE: Leap | Remove Leap, sadly, to make space for your ultimate skill. |
| 24 | Wrath of the Berserker | WotB is not amazing in the early game, but it's best you learn its ins and outs now due to its potential. Call of the Ancients is another option if you want to think less. It's a pretty nuanced skill! |
| 25 | Prime Wrath of the Berserker | Increases MS and Fury Generation while WotB is up. |
| 26 | Supreme Wrath of the Berserker | Gives you a ramping damage bonus to Berserking as you spend Fury. |
| 27 | NONE | You only get 26 points for Beta! Go level up another class! |
Outro & Summary
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!
Some important related links for D4 barbarian:- D4 General Leveling Guide and Process for EVERY CLASS
- Barbarian Class Basics / Overveiw Guide - Should I play Barbarian?
Good luck! Now get out there and level up your Barbarian!
Some other related reading:
- Wanna know more about classes? See: All classes overview - What class to play?
- Find out each and every way you can Customize your Build and Character in D4!
