The Axethrower is a ranged tank that specializes in a sturdy defensive build to keep your character alive. This lower-end damage build keeps your Barbarian busy because he can only attack on monster/enemy at a time.
Axethrower Build Gameplay
The customization on the build is limited because it uses throwing weapons exclusively. How does this limit DPS and customizations?
There is no way to socket throwing weapons, meaning two less spots for Runewords. Let alone any gems or jewels.
The “Double Throw Barb” uses Howl, Battle Cry, then Taunt before juggling axes into their enemy.
This Barbarian build is functional in a solo environment but is optimized in a party.
Stacking items with effects like Life/Mana Leech, Crushing Blow, Critical Strike, and Open Wounds work great on an Axethrower!
Axethrower Build Skills
Start your Axethrower with his main attack skill, Double Throw, as his first maxed ability. This should keep the Axethrower’s mediocre DPS relevant for longer, early on. Throwing Mastery and Double Swing both have extraordinary synergy with Double Throw so keep them for the number two spot. Lastly, Double Swing boosts Double Throw’s damage and Throwing Mastery increases everything from Critical and Damage to Attack Rating.
Other skills and prerequisites should get 1 point with few exceptions. 1 to 3 levels in Shout, Battle Orders, and Natural Resistance are great for Axethrowers that group up regularly.
A few hip pocket levels in Berserk will help you out when you run into monsters with the dreaded PI. Most Axethrower players choose to get “+1 to Berserk” items rather than investing the points.
The other 19+ points remaining can be used to customize your Axethrower further.
Axethrower Build Stats
On average most Axethrowers have 127 Strength because it’s the exact amount needed to use any throwing weapon. Some Dexterity can be used in Vitality if your Axethrower can acquire a Blessed Aim Merc: 145 points will allow you to equip all throwing weapons as long as you have the BA Merc. Otherwise players can invest anywhere from 200-220 points in Dexterity.
Like all other Barbarian builds the rest of your points should go into Vitality and you shouldn’t touch Energy.
Axethrower Build Items
Weapons
Early Game
2x Blood Axe
Magic Axe + Ort Rune +
Perfect Ruby + Any Jewel
+35-60% Enhanced Damage (varies)
1-4% Life Stolen per Hit (varies)
+10-20 Life (varies)
Later on:
Wraith Flight
1H Damage: (70-81) to (225-261)
Attack Speed: [20]
Minimum Strength: 79
Minimum Dexterity: 127
Level Requirement: 76
+150-190% Enhanced Damage (varies)
9-13% Life Stolen per Hit (varies)
+15 to Mana After Each Kill
Replenishes 1 Quantity Every 2 Seconds
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired)
Lacerator
Throw Damage: (17-21) to (150-186)
1H Damage: (27-34) to (140-173)
Melee Range: 1
Attack Speed: [-10]
Minimum Strength: 96
Minimum Dexterity: 122
Level Requirement: 68
+150-210% Enhanced Damage (varies)
30% Increased Attack Speed
33% Chance of Open Wounds
Prevent Monster Heal
Hit Causes Monster to Flee 50%
33% Chance to Cast Level 3 Amplify Damage on Striking
Replenishes 1 Quantity Every 4 Seconds
Demon’s Arch:
1H Damage: (85-102) to (163-195)
Attack Speed: [10]
Minimum Strength: 127
Minimum Dexterity: 95
Level Requirement: 68
+160-210% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 232-323 Fire Damage
Adds 23-333 Lightning Damage
30% Increased Attack Speed
6-12% Life Stolen per Hit (varies)
Replenishes 1 Quantity Every 3 Seconds
The Scalper
Throw Damage: (45-54) to (82-99)
1H Damage: (27-33) to (55-66)
Melee Range: 1
Attack Speed: [10]
Minimum Strength: 25
Minimum Dexterity: 80
Level Requirement: 57
+150-200% Enhanced Damage (varies)
33% Chance of Open Wounds
+4 Mana After Each Kill
20% Increased Attack Speed
25% Bonus to Attack Rating
4-6% Life Stolen per Hit (varies)
Replenishes 1 Quantity Every 3 Seconds
Gimmershred
Throw Damage: (39-46) to (171-204)
1H Damage: (44-52) to (169-201)
Melee Range: 1
Attack Speed: [10]
Minimum Strength: 88
Minimum Dexterity: 108
Level Requirement: 70
+160-210% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 218-483 Fire Damage
Adds 29-501 Lightning Damage
Adds 176-397 Cold Damage – 4 Second Duration
30% Increased Attack Speed
Increased Stack Size (60)
Warshrike
Throw Damage: (69-80) to (117-136)
1H Damage: (81-94) to (105-122)
Melee Range: 1
Attack Speed: [-20]
Minimum Strength: 45
Minimum Dexterity: 142
Level Requirement: 75
+200-250% Enhanced Damage (varies)
50% Deadly Strike
30% Increased Attack Speed
Piercing Attack (50%)
25% Chance to Cast Level 9 Nova on Striking
Replenishes 1 Quantity Every 3 Seconds
Helm
Arreat’s Face
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)
Andariel’s Visage
Defense: 310 – 387
Minimum Strength: 102
Durability: 20
Level Requirement: 83
+100-150% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+2 To All Skills
20% Increased Attack Speed
8-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
+25-30 To Strength (varies)
+10% To Maximum Poison Resist
Fire Resist -30%
Poison Resist +70%
15% Chance To Cast Level 15 Poison Nova When Struck
Level 3 Venom (20 charges)
Guillaume’s Face
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
Runeword Dream
3 Socket Helms/Shields
Io + Jah + Pul
10% Chance To Cast Level 15 Confuse When Struck
Level 15 Holy Shock Aura When Equipped
+20-30% Faster Hit Recovery (varies)
+30% Enhanced Defense
+150-220 Defense (varies)
+10 To Vitality
Increase Maximum Life 5% (Helms Only)
+50 To Life (Shields Only)
+0.625-61.875 To Mana (Based On Character Level)
All Resistances +5-20 (varies)
12-25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (varies)
Stealskull
Defense: 219 – 248
Minimum Strength: 59
Durability: 24
Level Requirement: 35
+200-400% Enhanced Defense (varies)
10% Increased Attack Speed
10% Faster Hit Recovery
5% Life Stolen per Hit
5% Mana Stolen per Hit
30-50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (varies)
Vampire Gaze
Defense: 252
Minimum Strength: 58
Durability: 40
Level Requirement: 41
+100% Enhanced Defense
Adds 6-22 Cold Damage – 4 Second Duration
15% Slower Stamina Drain
6-8% Life Stolen per Hit (varies)
6-8% Mana Stolen per Hit (varies)
Damage Reduced by 15-20% (varies)
Magic Damage Reduced by 10-15 (varies)
Tal Rasha’s Horadric Crest
Defense: 99 – 131
Minimum Strength: 55
Durability: 20
Level Requirement: 66
10% Life Stolen per Hit
10% Mana Stolen per Hit
All Resistances +15
+45 Defense
+30 to Mana
+60 to Life
Armor
Runeword Fortitude: For 300% enhanced damage.
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 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%
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)
Belts
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
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)
Arachnid Mesh
Defense: 119 – 138
Potion Slots: 16
Minimum Strength: 50
Durability: 12
Level Requirement: 80
+90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies)
Slows Target By 10%
+1 To All Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
Increases Maximum Mana 5%
Level 3 Venom (11 Charges)
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)
Death’s Guard
Defense: 22
Potion Slots: 8
Durability: 12
Level Requirement: 6
Cannot be Frozen
+20 Defense
Razortail
Defense: 96 – 107
Potion Slots: 16
Minimum Strength: 20
Durability: 14
Level Requirement: 32
+120-150% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+15 Defense
+10 to Maximum Damage
Piercing Attack (33%)
+15 to Dexterity
Attacker Takes Damage of 1-99 (+1 Per Character Level)
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
The Hand of Broc
Defense: 14
Minimum Strength: –
Durability: 12
Level Requirement: 5
+10-20% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+10 Defense
3% Life Stolen per Hit
3% Mana Stolen per Hit
Poison Resist +10%
+20 to Mana
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
Goblin Toe
Defense: 33 – 34
Kick Damage: 8 – 16
Minimum Strength: 50
Durability: 18
Level Requirement: 22
+50-60% Enhanced Defense (varies)
25% Chance of Crushing Blow
-1 to Light Radius
Damage Reduced by 1
Magic Damage Reduced by 1
+15 Defense
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)
Amulets
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
Telling of Beads
Level Requirement: 30
+1 to All Skills
Poison Resist +35-50% (varies)
Cold Resist +18%
Attacker Takes Damage of 8-10 (varies)
The Eye of Etlich
Level Requirement: 15
+1 to All Skills
3-7% Life Stolen per Hit (varies)
Adds (1-2) to (3-5) Cold Damage (varies)
Cold Duration: 2-10 Seconds (varies)
+10-40 Defense vs. Missile (varies)
+1-5 to Light Radius (varies)
Atma’s Scarab
Level Requirement: 60
5% Chance to Cast Level 2 Amplify Damage on Striking
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
+40 Poison Damage Over 4 Seconds
Poison Resist +75%
Attacker Takes Damage of 5
+3 to Light Radius
Rings
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 “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
Cathan’s Seal:
Level Requirement: 11
6% Life Stolen per Hit
Damage Reduced by 2
+10 to Strength (2 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)
“Magic Charms to keep an eye out for: Pestilence Small Charm of Anthrax and Small Fine Charms of Vita.”