The Frenzy Barb is everything the WW Barb isn’t for a PvM build.
This particular build for the Barbarian in Diablo 2 is focused on swinging axes into faces…until there aren’t any faces left to axe anymore. Wielding a weapon for each hand, the Frenzy Barb rapidly attacks and dominates in a 1v1 scenario. Single monsters or Bosses are mincemeat when a Frenzy Barb catches them all alone.
Built for speed and synergy, nothing goes to waste, since every Frenzy animation builds on the last. Try out a Frenzy Barb today for a quick PvM experience!
Frenzy Barbarian Gameplay
Capable of dealing incredible amounts of damage to multiple opponents, a Frenzy Barb is a DPS machine. This skill doesn’t translate well to PvP fights because of the Frenzy skill’s animation. Most other players won’t stand there and let you hit them over and over, the same way they won’t charge fearlessly at you. The massive DPS is better used against monsters rather than trying to chase down other players.
Frenzy will hit fewer monsters than WW and offers little in way of CC reduction or immunity. Most players have a difficult time controlling the quick attack animations once the stacks start rolling in.
The animation itself works similar to the animation for a Paladin’s Zeal skill, in how it targets and attacks monsters.
Barbarians only have the Berserk skill to deal with the dreaded PI, so be sure to have a couple points in it. Remember that a Barbarian’s only effective response to Physical Immunity is using Berserk, even if it only has 1 point.
Frenzy Barbarian Skills
Obviously, a Frenzy Barb will max Frenzy at 20 points first. The more you attack, the faster you move and attack. Don’t let go of the mouse! Weapon Mastery should be focused second, choosing the skill corresponding with your main weapon. It’s tough to find a Barb build that doesn’t have Weapon Mastery as the second max skill.
Double Swing is a great secondary skill to max. The damage output from Double Swing is further synergized later levels because it returns mana to your pool instead of using it!
Players will finish out their Frenzy Barb build with Taunt most of the time.This skill allows your Barb to keep monsters CC’d in place while they get axed to the face!
Possessed and Oblivion Knights will ignore your Taunt, so don’t ruin your party’s day by trying to aggro them.
Other than prerequisites for Frenzy, and other suggested primary alternatives, most other skills should only get 1 point. This includes party buffing Warcries like Shout or Battle Command/Orders.
Second Opinion: Tankiness related skills like Natural Resistances and Iron Skin are great places to dump extra points.
Skills that grant increased mobility like Increased Stamina/Speed are extremely helpful on a Frenzy Barb but not required.
Remember to use Berserk if you run into the dreaded PI monsters!
Frenzy Barbarian Stats
Comparable to other melee builds, a Frenzy Barb invests heavily in Strength and Dexterity. The player will spend enough points on Strength/Dexterity until their Frenzy Barb can equip their endgame armor/weapons.
Also just like other Barbarian builds the rest of your points are dumped into Vitality while Energy is ignored.
Frenzy Barbarian Build Items
Main-hand Weapons
Runeword Breath of the Dying
6 Socket Weapons
Vex + Hel + El + Eld + Zod + Eth
Level Requirement: 69
50% Chance to Cast Level 20 Poison Nova When You Kill An Enemy
Indestructible
+60% Increased Attack Speed
+350-400% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+200% Damage to Undead
-25% Target Defense
+50 to Attack Rating
+50 to Attack Rating Against Undead
7% Mana Stolen Per Hit
12-15% Life Stolen Per hit (varies)
Prevent Monster Heal
+30 to All Attributes
+1 to Light Radius
Requirements -20%
Runeword Beast
5 Socket Axes/Scepters/Hammers
Ber + Tir + Um + Mal + Lum
Level 9 Fanaticism Aura When Equipped
+40% Increased Attack Speed
+240-270% Enhanced Damage (varies)
20% Chance of Crushing Blow
25% Chance of Open Wounds
+3 To Werebear
+3 To Lycanthropy
Prevent Monster Heal
+25-40 To Strength (varies)
+10 To Energy
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
Level 13 Summon Grizzly (5 Charges)
Runeword Doom
5 Socket Axes/Polearms/Hammers
Hel + Ohm + Um + Lo + Cham
5% Chance To Cast Level 18 Volcano On Striking
Level 12 Holy Freeze Aura When Equipped
+2 To All Skills
+45% Increased Attack Speed
+330-370% Enhanced Damage (varies)
-(40-60)% To Enemy Cold Resistance (varies)
20% Deadly Strike
25% Chance of Open Wounds
Prevent Monster Heal
Freezes Target +3
Requirements -20%
Runeword Last Wish
6 Socket Swords/Hammers/Axes
Jah + Mal + Jah + Sur + Jah + Ber
6% Chance To Cast Level 11 Fade When Struck
10% Chance To Cast Level 18 Life Tap On Striking
20% Chance To Cast Level 20 Charged Bolt On Attack
Level 17 Might Aura When Equipped
+330-375% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Ignore Target’s Defense
60-70% Chance of Crushing Blow (varies)
Prevent Monster Heal
Hit Blinds Target
+(0.5 per character level) 0.5-49.5% Chance of Getting Magic Items (Based on Character Level)
Runeword Fury
3 Socket Melee Weapons
Jah + Gul + Eth
+209% Enhanced Damage
40% Increased Attack Speed
Prevent Monster Heal
66% Chance Of Open Wounds
33% Deadly Strike
Ignore Target’s Defense
-25% Target Defense
20% Bonus To Attack Rating
6% Life Stolen Per Hit
+5 To Frenzy (Barbarian Only)
Stormlash
1H Damage: (10-12) to (272-320)
Melee Range: 3
Attack Speed: [-10]
Minimum Strength: 125
Minimum Dexterity: 77
Durability: 65
Level Requirement: 82
+240-300% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+50% Damage to Undead
Adds 1-473 Lightning Damage
30% Increased Attack Speed
33% Chance of Crushing Blow
20% Chance to Cast Level 18 Tornado on Striking
15% Chance to Cast Level 10 Static Field on Striking
+3-9 Lightning Absorb (varies)
Attacker Takes Lightning Damage of 30
Runeword Grief
5 Socket Swords/Axes
Eth + Tir + Lo + Mal + Ral
35% Chance To Cast Level 15 Venom On Striking
+30-40% Increased Attack Speed (varies)
Damage +340-400 (varies)
Ignore Target’s Defense
-25% Target Defense
+(1.875 per character level) 1.875-185.625% Damage To Demons (Based on Character Level)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
-20-25% To Enemy Poison Resistance (varies)
20% Deadly Strike
Prevent Monster Heal
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
+10-15 Life After Each Kill (varies)
Runeword Eternity
5 Socket Melee Weapons
Amn + Ber + Ist + Sol + Sur
Indestructible
+260-310% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+9 To Minimum Damage
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
20% Chance of Crushing Blow
Hit Blinds Target
Slows Target By 33%
Regenerate Mana 16%
Replenish Life +16
Cannot Be Frozen
30% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items
Level 8 Revive (88 Charges)
Runeword Honor
5 Socket Melee Weapons
Amn + El + Ith + Tir + Sol
+160% Enhanced Damage
+9 To Minimum Damage
+9 To Maximum Damage
25% Deadly Strike
+250 To Attack Rating
+1 to All Skills
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
Replenish Life +10
+10 To Strength
+1 To Light Radius
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
“Off-handed Weapons should never match main-handed because some stats don’t stack. Remember using different weapons will maximize your DPS instead of limiting it!”
Armor
Runeword Fortitude
4 Socket Weapons/Body Armor
El + Sol + Dol + Lo
Body Armor
20% Chance To Cast Level 15 Chilling Armor when Struck
+25% Faster Cast Rate
+300% Enhanced Damage
+200% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
+X To Life (Based on Character Level)*
Replenish Life +7
+5% To Maximum Lightning Resist
All Resistances +25-30 (varies)
Damage Reduced By 7
12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+1 To Light Radius
Runeword Chains of Honor
4 Socket Body Armor
Dol + Um + Ber + Ist
+2 To All Skills
+200% Damage To Demons
+100% Damage To Undead
8% Life Stolen Per Hit
+70% Enhanced Defense
+20 To Strength
Replenish Life +7
All Resistances +65
Damage Reduced By 8%
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Runeword Enigma “The PvP Crowd Pleaser”
3 Socket Body Armor
Jah + Ith + Ber
+2 To All Skills
+45% Faster Run/Walk
+1 To Teleport
+750-775 Defense (varies)
+ (0.75 Per Character Level) +0-74 To Strength (Based On Character Level)
Increase Maximum Life 5%
Damage Reduced By 8%
+14 Life After Each Kill
15% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+ (1 Per Character Level) +1-99% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (Based On Character Level)
Runeword Duress
3 Socket Body Armor
Shael + Um + Thul
+40% Faster Hit Recovery
+10-20% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 37-133 Cold Damage 2 sec. Duration (Normal)
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
33% Chance of Open Wounds
+150-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
-20% Slower Stamina Drain
Cold Resist +45%
Lightning Resist +15%
Fire Resist +15%
Poison Resist +15%
Helm
Arreat’s Face “Your first and best choice.”
Slayer Guard
Defense: 302-363
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 118
Durability: 55
(Barbarian Only)
+150-200% Enhanced Defense
30% Faster Hit Recovery
20% Bonus To Attack Rating
+2 To Barbarian Skill Levels
3-6% Life Stolen Per Hit
All Resistances +30
+20 To Strength
+20 To Dexterity
+2 To Combat Skills (Barbarian Only)
Guillaume’s Face “For extra crushing blow.”
Defense: 217
Minimum Strength: 115
Durability: 40
Level Requirement: 34
+120% Enhanced Defense
30% Faster Hit Recovery
15% Deadly Strike
35% Chance of Crushing Blow
+15 to Strength
Gloves
Laying of Hands
Defense: 79 – 87
Minimum Strength: 50
Durability: 12
Level Requirement: 63
+25 Defense
20% Increased Attack Speed
+350% Damage to Demons
Fire Resist +50%
10% Chance to Cast Level 3 Holy Bolt on Striking
Soul Drainer
Defense: 129 – 149
Minimum Strength: 50
Durability: 16
Level Requirement: 74
+90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies)
4-7% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies)
4-7% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
-50 to Monster Defense per Hit
8% Chance to Cast Level 3 Weaken on Striking
Dracul’s Grasp
Defense: 125 – 145
Minimum Strength: 50
Durability: 14
Level Requirement: 76
+90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+10-15 To Strength (varies)
+5-10 Life After Each Kill (varies)
25% Chance of Open Wounds
7-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
5% Chance to Cast Level 10 Life Tap on Striking
Steelrend
Defense: 232 – 281
Minimum Strength: 185
Durability: 24
Level Requirement: 70
+170-210 Defense (varies)
+30-60% Enhanced Damage (varies)
10% Chance of Crushing Blow
+15-20 To Strength (varies)
Boots
Gore Rider “What Goblin Toe wishes it could be”
Defense: 140 – 162
Kick Damage: 39 – 80
Minimum Strength: 94
Durability: 34
Level Requirement: 47
+160-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
30% Faster Run/Walk
10% Chance of Open Wounds
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
Requirements -25%
+20 to Maximum Stamina
War Travelers
Defense: 120 – 139
Kick Damage: 37 – 64
Minimum Strength: 95
Durability: 48
Level Requirement: 42
+150-190% Enhanced Defense (varies)
25% Faster Run/Walk
+10 to Vitality
+10 to Strength
Adds 15-25 Damage
40% Slower Stamina Drain
Attacker Takes Damage of 5-10 (varies)
30-50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (varies)
Marrowwalk
Defense: 183 – 204
Kick Damage: 69 – 118
Minimum Strength: 118
Durability: 16
Level Requirement: 66
+170-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
20% Faster Run/Walk
+1-2 To Skeleton Mastery (varies) (Necromancer Only)
+10-20 To Strength (varies)
+17 To Dexterity
Regenerate Mana 10%
Heal Stamina Plus 10%
Half Freeze Duration
Level 33 Bone Prison (13 Charges)
Level 12 Life Tap (10 Charges)
Belts
Verdungo’s Hearty Cord
“Vitality Bonus, Faster Hit Recovery, Physical Damage Reduction, oh my!”
Defense: 125 – 158
Potion Slots: 16
Minimum Strength: 106
Durability: 16
Level Requirement: 63
+90-140% Enhanced Defense (varies)
10% Faster Hit Recovery
+30-40 to Vitality (varies)
Replenish Life +10-13 (varies)
+100-120 to Maximum Stamina (varies)
Damage Reduced by 10-15% (varies)
String of Ears
Defense: 102 – 113
Potion Slots: 16
Minimum Strength: 20
Durability: 22
Level Requirement: 29
+150-180% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+15 Defense
6-8% Life Stolen per Hit (varies)
Damage Reduced by 10-15% (varies)
Magic Damage Reduced by 10-15 (varies)
Thundergod’s Vigor
Defense: 137 – 159
Potion Slots: 16
Minimum Strength: 110
Durability: 24
Level Requirement: 47
+160-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage
5% Chance to Cast Level 7 Fist of the Heavens When Struck
+20 Lightning Absorb
+10% to Maximum Lightning Resist
+20 to Strength
+20 to Vitality
+3 to Lightning Fury (Amazon Only)
+3 to Lightning Strike (Amazon Only)
Nosferatu’s Coil
Defense: 56 – 63
Potion Slots: 16
Minimum Strength: 50
Durability: 14
Level Requirement: 51
Slows Target By 10%
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
5-7% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
+15 To Strength
10% Increased Attack Speed
-3 To Light Radius
Amulet
Highlord’s Wrath
Level Requirement: 65
+1 to All Skills
20% Increased Attack Speed
+0-37% Deadly Strike (+0.375 per Character Level)
Lightning Resist +35%
Adds 1-30 Lightning Damage
Attacker Takes Lightning Damage of 15
Mara’s Kaleidoscope
Level Requirement: 67
+2 to All Skills
All Resistances +20-30 (varies)
+5 to All Attributes
Rings
Raven Frost “Extra Frozen Crow Power”
Level Requirement: 45
+150-250 to Attack Rating (varies)
Adds 15-45 Cold Damage – 4 Second Duration
Cannot be Frozen
+15-20 to Dexterity (varies)
+40 to Mana
Cold Absorb 20%
Bul-Kathos’ Wedding Band “BK is sleeping in the doghouse until he gets this back”
Level Requirement: 58
+1 to All Skills
+0-49 to Life (+0.5 per Character Level)
3-5% Life Stolen per Hit (varies)
+50 to Maximum Stamina
Charms
Annihilus
Level Requirement: 70
+1 to All Skills
+10-20 to All Attributes (varies)
All Resistances +10-20 (varies)
+5-10% to Experience Gained
Hellfire Torch
Level Requirement: 75
5% Chance to Cast Level 10 Firestorm on Striking
+3 to (Random Character Class) Skills
+10-20 to All Attributes (varies)
All Resistances +10-20 (varies)
+8 to Light Radius
Level 30 Hydra (10 Charges)
“Other charms like Fine Small Charms of Vita and Fantastic Sounding Charms synergize nicely.”