Not the Immortal King, but the King of One Shots, the Executioner build is a murderous freight train. This brutal barbarian build cripples his enemies and crushes them with synergized attacks.
The Executioner uses weapons that have identifiers like Crushing Blow, Deadly Strike, and Open Wounds. These combine with his skills into blows that devastate large groups of monsters fast.
This build is highly customizable, since it offers One-Handed/Shield, Two Weapon, or Two-Handed weapon options.
Executioner Build Skills
One-Handed/Shield
Concentrate is a skill that cannot be missed. It buffs your defense and synergizes nicely with your shield. Leap Attack can be used for mobility, either into combat or repositioning away. Additionally, Berserk is a great hip pocket skill for those pesky PI monsters! Don’t forget you lose your Defense Rating when you use Berserk.
Two Weapons
Frenzy is maxed first, as this is your main attack skill. Some players report issues in controlling a max stack, max level Frenzy attack speed. If you find this is the case, invest half the amount of points (10) in Frenzy. The rest can be placed where they fit in your play style. Weapon Mastery should be prioritized overall. This skill increases DPS passively and opens up the chance for big crits!
Two-Handed Weapon
Some players choose Concentrate because it increases your Defense Rating while damaging your enemies. Other players choose to max Leap Attack over Concentrate since this gives them a quick way to close distance to your target and one shot them easily. This leaves the Executioner woefully lacking the proper tools to deal with large mobs of monsters effectively.
Builds that included WW instead of Leap Attack had higher survivability and overall DPS.
Secondary Skills
Since most Executioners are built tanky, skills like Iron Skin and Natural Resistance are some of the best value in any class point for point at low levels. These tanky variant Executioners never spend more than 5 points in Resistance.
If you’ve chosen to run a Leap Attack variant Executioner be sure to put some points in Leap to fully synergize your mobility!
Passive skills like Increased Stamina and Speed keep an Executioner competitively quick on his feet if he plays solo. However, if he groups up in parties regularly then skills that buff are key. Shout is a perfect start point for any Executioner’s skill rotation. Then putting points in Battle Cry, Command, and Orders will keep your teammates happy with large bonuses for low point investments. Skills like War Cry will CC groups of monsters for your teammates to sweep up.
Shout and Howl are excellent secondary skills if you use Berserk as it sets up groups of baddies for killing.
If you are using Frenzy, a great secondary skill would be double swing as they synergize well. Additionally, Berserk for any of the dreaded monsters with PI can’t hurt. Top it off with Taunt to keep them controlled for perfect set ups!
Executioner Build Stats
Any Barbarian build will tell you, spend points in Strength until you can equip your desired gear. Also like other Barbarian builds, if you use a shield, put points in Dexterity until you have Max Block. If not, enough points to use your favorite weapon are just fine.
Vitality should be the attribute getting the most points invested in it throughout the game. If a Barb needs to be healthy, an Executioner even more so. Don’t invest points in Energy, bridge your Mana gap with items.
Executioner Build Items
Weapon
“Any weapon with Crushing Blow, Deadly Strike, Open Wounds, or Ignore Target Defense synergize with the Executioner.”
Humongous
2H Damage: (47-56) to (96-124)
Melee Range: 4
Attack Speed: [10]
Minimum Strength: 84
Minimum Dexterity: –
Durability: 50
Level Requirement: 29
+80-120% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 8 to (15-25) Damage (varies)
33% Chance of Crushing Blow
+20-30 to Strength (varies)
Requirements +20%
Executioner’s Justice
2H Damage: (204-234) to (421-483)
Melee Range: 4
Attack Speed: [10]
Minimum Strength: 164
Minimum Dexterity: 55
Durability: 50
Level Requirement: 75
+240-290% Enhanced Damage (varies)
25% Chance of Crushing Blow
30% Increased Attack Speed
-33% Target Defense
50% Chance to Cast Level 6 Decrepify When You Kill an Enemy
The Minotaur
2H Damage: (123-149) to (234-285)
Melee Range: 4
Attack Speed: [10]
Minimum Strength: 125
Minimum Dexterity: –
Durability: 50
Level Requirement: 45
+140-200% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 20-30 Damage
Slows Target by 50%
30% Chance of Crushing Blow
Hit Blinds Target +2
Half Freeze Duration
+15-20 to Strength (varies)
Tomb Reaver “Socket 3 Ber Runes in me”
2H Damage: (99-125) to (450-570)
Melee Range: 4
Attack Speed: [10]
Minimum Strength: 165
Minimum Dexterity: 103
Durability: 65
Level Requirement: 84
+200-280% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+150-230% Damage to Undead (varies)
60% Increased Attack Speed
+250-350 to Attack Rating Against Undead (varies)
All Resistances +30-50 (varies)
10% Reanimate as: Returned
+10-14 Life After Each Kill (varies)
50-80% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (varies)
+4 to Light Radius
Socketed (1-3) (varies)
Runeword Infinity
4 Socket Polearms
Ber + Mal + Ber + Ist
50% Chance To Cast Level 20 Chain Lightning When You Kill An Enemy
Level 12 Conviction Aura When Equipped
+35% Faster Run/Walk
+255-325% Enhanced Damage (varies)
-(45-55)% To Enemy Lightning Resistance (varies)
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
Prevent Monster Heal
0.5-49.5 To Vitality (Based on Character Level)
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Level 21 Cyclone Armor (30 Charges)
Runeword Obedience
5 Socket Polearms
Hel + Ko + Thul + Eth + Fal
30% Chance To Cast Level 21 Enchant When You Kill An Enemy
40% Faster Hit Recovery
+370% Enhanced Damage
-25% Target Defense
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 3 Second Duration (Normal)
-25% To Enemy Fire Resistance
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
+200-300 Defense (varies)
+10 To Strength
+10 To Dexterity
All Resistances +20-30 (varies)
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)
Shields
“Berserk Build Shields”
Moser’s Blessed Circle
Defense: 156 – 179
Armor Type: Light
Block: P: 67% Am/As/B: 62% D/N/S: 57%
Smite Damage: 7 – 14
Minimum Strength: 53
Durability: 64
Level Requirement: 31
+180-220% Enhanced Defense (varies)
25% Increased Chance of Blocking
30% Faster Block Rate
All Resistances +25
Socketed (2)
Runeword Sanctuary
3 Socket Shields
Ko + Ko + Mal
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+20% Faster Block Rate
20% Increased Chance of Blocking
+130-160% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+250 Defense vs. Missile
+20 To Dexterity
All Resistances +50-70 (varies)
Magic Damage Reduced By 7
Level 12 Slow Missiles (60 Charges)
“Dragoon or Conc Shields”
Lance Guard
Defense: 134 – 173
Armor Type: Light
Block: P: 47% Am/As/B: 42% D/N/S: 37%
Smite Damage: 18 – 35
Minimum Strength: 65
Durability: 55
Level Requirement: 35
+70-120% Enhanced Defense (varies)
15% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
30% Faster Hit Recovery
20% Deadly Strike
+50 To Life
Attacker Takes Damage of 47
Swordback Hold
Defense: 43 – 51
Armor Type: Light
Block: P: 60% Am/As/B: 55% D/N/S: 50%
Smite Damage: 5 – 9
Minimum Strength: 30
Durability: 40
Level Requirement: 15
+30-60% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+10 Defense
20% Increased Chance of Blocking
50% Chance of Open Wounds
Attacker Takes Damage of 10
Armor
Leviathan “Big Green Monster”
Defense: 1514 – 1722
Armor Type: Medium
Minimum Strength: 174
Durability: Indestructible
Level Requirement: 65
+170-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+100-150 Defense (varies)
+40-50 To Strength (varies)
Damage Reduced By 15-25% (varies)
Indestructible
Corpsemourn
Defense: 1127 – 1262
Armor Type: Medium
Minimum Strength: 170
Durability: 60
Level Requirement: 55
+150-180% Enhanced Defense (varies)
Level 5 Corpse Explosion (40 Charges)
Adds 12-36 Fire Damage
6% Chance To Cast Level 2 Iron Maiden When Struck
Cold Resist +35%
+10 To Vitality
+8 To Strength
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%
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)
Helms
Giant Skull
Defense: 350 – 477
Minimum Strength: 106
Durability: 40
Level Requirement: 65
+250-320 Defense (varies)
10% Chance Of Crushing Blow
Knockback
+25-35 to Strength (varies)
Socketed (1-2) (varies)
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)
Gloves
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)
Venom Grip
Defense: 97 – 118
Minimum Strength: 20
Durability: 12
Level Requirement: 29
+130-160% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+15-25 Defense (varies)
5% Chance of Crushing Blow
+60 Poison Damage Over 4 Seconds
5% Life Stolen per Hit
+5% to Maximum Poison Resist
Poison Resist +30%
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
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