A popular sub-build of the WW Barb is the Immortal King Barbarian. It uses the WW skill for his main attack but relies on the bonuses from the entire IK set.
This build set has a high minimum Strength needed, which also makes this a late-game build.
Resistance wise your IK Barb will be sitting pretty: 90% Cold Resist, 100% Poison Resist, 118% Fire Resist, and 121% Lightning Resist. Yeah, IK Barbs are pretty tanky!
The IK Maul also does all 5 types of damage so you’ll never need to switch weapons either.
Immortal King Gameplay
IK Barbs rely on their namesake item set for survivability but play like a Whirlwind Barbarian. Spinning to win and using Berserk on anything that won’t die is a great strategy. Tactically it’s not very creative, but it’s brutally effective.
Immortal King Build Skills
The first skill to max is WW. Since your IK Barb will be using a Maul, 2nd maxing Mace Mastery is a great idea! These are your only DPS skills other than a few points in Concentrate (7-10) and unlocking Berserk/Bash/Leap Attack.
Survivability skills like Natural Resistances and Iron Skin will only get 1 point instead of the regular Barbarian treatment. The IK Barb is also one of the few builds that benefits from a point in Increased Stamina and Increased Speed.
Defensive, De-Buff or Buff skills should be limited to maxing two. This build maxes Battle Orders and Shout to buff yourself and your party.
Because the IK set has specific requirements, there isn’t much room for customization.
Immortal King Build Stats
The IK Barb is one of the few builds with exact suggest point levels. An IK Barb should have 85 Strength points.
Why?
Because this is enough to equip certain IK set items but also endgame items like Annihilus and Hellfire Torch.
All other points are invested in Vitality for extra tankiness. No points are put into Energy or Dexterity, keeping both attributes at base levels.
Mercenary
As with most other classes and builds, a hireling from Act 2 serves the IK the best. The ideal aura is either Infinity or Pride.
Infinity Option: Keep your Merc close! If you outrun him this aura does nothing for you!
Pride Option: Always better on a defensive mercenary.
Blessed Aim: Just like an Axethrower!
Immortal King Build Items
Immortal King “Royally Resistant”
Partial Set Bonuses
+50 To Attack Rating (2 Items)
Additional +75 To Attack Rating (3 Items)
Additional +125 To Attack Rating (4 Items)
Additional +200 To Attack Rating (5 Items)
Complete Set Bonus
+3 To Barbarian Skill Levels
+450 To Attack Rating
+150 To Life
All Resistances +50
Magic Damage Reduced By 10
Display Aura
Weapon
Immortal King’s Stone Crusher
2H Damage: 231 to 318
Melee Range: 2
Attack Speed: [10]
Minimum Strength: 225
Durability: Indestructible
Level Requirement: 76
+200% Enhanced Damage
+200% Damage to Demons
+250% Damage to Undead
40% Increased Attack Speed
Indestructible
35-40% Chance of Crushing Blow (varies)
Socketed (2)
Adds 211-397 Fire Damage (2 Items)
Adds 7-477 Lightning Damage (3 Items)
Adds 127-364 Cold Damage – 6 Second Duration (4 Items)
+204 Poison Damage Over 6 Seconds (5 Items)
Adds 250-361 Magic Damage (Full Set)
Armor
Immortal King’s Soul Cage
+400 Defense
5% Chance to Cast Level 5 Enchant When Struck
Poison Resist +50%
+2 to Combat Skills (Barbarian Only)
25% Faster Hit Recovery (2 Items)
Cold Resist +40% (3 Items)
Fire Resist +40% (4 Items)
Lightning Resist +40% (5 Items)
+50% Enhanced Defense (Full Set)
Gloves
Immortal King’s Forge
Defense: 228 – 238
Minimum Strength: 110
Durability: 24
+65 Defense
12% Chance to Cast Level 4 Charged Bolt When Struck
+20 to Dexterity
+20 to Strength
25% Increased Attack Speed (2 Items)
+120 Defense (3 Items)
10% Life Stolen per Hit (4 Items)
10% Mana Stolen per Hit (5 Items)
Freezes Target +2 (Full Set)
Helm
Immortal King’s Will
+4 to Light Radius
+125 Defense
37% Extra Gold From Monsters
25-40% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (varies)
+2 to Warcries (Barbarian Only)
Socketed (2)
Belt
Immortal King’s Detail
Defense: 247
Potion Slots: 16
Minimum Strength: 110
Durability: 24
Level Requirement: 29
+36 Defense
Lightning Resist +31%
Fire Resist +28%
+25 to Strength
+105 Defense (2 Items)
25% Faster Hit Recovery (3 Items)
+100% Enhanced Defense (4 Items)
Damage Reduced by 20% (5 Items)
+2 to Masteries (Barbarian Only) (Full Set)
Boots
Immortal King’s Pillar
Defense: 278 – 288
Kick Damage: 39 – 80
Minimum Strength: 125
Durability: 24
Level Requirement: 31
+75 Defense
40% Faster Run/Walk
+110 to Attack Rating
+44 to Life
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (2 items)
+2 to Combat Skills (Barbarian Only) (3 Items)
+160 Defense (4 Items)
Half Freeze Duration (5 Items)
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)
Rings
Carrion Wind
Level Requirement: 60
10% Chance to Cast Level 10 Poison Nova When Struck
8% Chance to Cast Level 13 Twister on Striking
6-9% Life Stolen per Hit (varies)
+100-160 Defense vs. Missile (varies)
Poison Resist +55%
10% Damage Taken Goes to Mana
Level 21 Poison Creeper (15 Charges)
Raven Frost
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
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
Amulet
Metalgrid
Level Requirement: 81
+400-450 to Attack Rating (varies)
Level 22 Iron Golem (11 Charges)
Level 12 Iron Maiden (20 Charges)
All Resistances +25-35 (varies)
+300-350 Defense (varies)
Optional Secondary Weapon
Runeword Call to Arms
5 Socket Weapons
Amn + Ral + Mal + Ist + Ohm
+1 To All Skills
+40% Increased Attack Speed
+250-290% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+2-6 To Battle Command (varies)*
+1-6 To Battle Orders (varies)*
+1-4 To Battle Cry (varies)*
Prevent Monster Heal
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items