Barbarians have been the poster boy of melee classes inDiabloever since they replaced the rather unimaginative Warrior from the first game. They also tend to attract newbies toDiablo 2: Resurrectedsince they seem to have a simple playstyle and lookbetter for beginners; all one has to do is hit things until they break, right?
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For the most part, that’s true. However, if players do decide to try out the other classes, then they’ll realize that playing as a Barbarian is a handicap inDiablo 2: Resurrected. They have poor area damage until level 30 and thus clear enemy packs slower. Those who have stuck with the Barbarian despite that fact will need to put more effort into making their gear better. Thankfully,plenty of Runewordsare available for these Dave Bautista lookalikes.
Updated September 17th, 2022, by Sid Natividad:As Diablo 2 Resurrected pushes forward with its ladder seasons, looking back at some of theRunewords worthy of a Barbarianis almost always mandatory for those who main the class. After all, the Barbarian is often considered one of the least powerful classes in melee combat.
That’s quite ironic. While the Barbarian does excel in Goldfind builds and Berserk boss killer builds, they still pale in comparison to the might of Hammerdins and Javazons. So every bit of help for the Barbarian is certainly welcome. Thus, some additional D2R Barbarian Runewords are in order for those who prefer to stick to the class.
Grief (Eth + Tir + Lo + Mal + Ral)
For those looking for that one item that gives most Barbarian builds the massive boost they need to compete with other classes, then this is the one. Grief in a Phase Blade or Berserker Axe is by far the best melee weapon in the game with only a few close competitors. It’s the flat +340-400 damage that gives it its edge against other melee weapons. This is a huge multiplier.
Breath Of The Dying (Vex + Hel + El + Eld + Zod + Eth)
Anyone who prefers going two-handed for the Barbarian, especially Whirlwind Barbarians, will find delight in this weapon. Breath of the Dying is one of the closest competitions to Grief though a good ethereal base for it will be more difficult to find. In any case, it offers a complete offensive suite for the Barbarian, complete with a sustain for Whirlwind through Mana Steal.
Famine (Fal + Ohm + Ort + Jah)
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Famine does pale a bit in comparison to the more established and monstrous stats for Grief, but it’s not bad on its own. Any Barbarian can’t go wrong with it due to the complete elemental damage suite. If players are running Uber Tristram though, they might want to look into other weapons, preferably though with Crushing Blow.
Death (Hel + El + Vex + Ort + Gul)
Speaking of Crushing Blow, Death has it in spades. That’s 50 percent! Making it one of the highest Crushing Blow weapons in the game. Not only that, but it also comes with Deadly Strike, further increasing damage. The runes also aren’t too expensive, making it ideal for the more budget-conscious players out there.
Kingslayer (Mal + Um + Gul + Fal)
As an affordable Runeword or even an optionamong low levelBarbarian Runewords, the Kingslayer is a good choice. It has Crushing Blow as well and lots of other bonuses for offensive opportunities. Only, players will want to find a good, high-damage base for it in order to take advantage of that percentage multiplier.
Fury - Melee Weapon (Jah + Gul + Eth)
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For a Runeword tailor-made for Frenzy Barbarian builds, Fury ought to be an automatic pick for the weapon. Open Wounds and Deadly Strike combined with the increased Attack Speed will makequick work of enemiesor even bosses. That Frenzy bonus is also great as it’s often picked as the main damage skill.
Myth - Body Armor (Hel + Amn + Nef)
Another Runeword that makes Barbarians shine in any combat situation is Myth. It gives a skill bonus to Barbarians only and gives Barbarians a few tricks up their sleeve such as the Howl and Taunt. Apart from the skill bonus, and the free skills, the other main attraction here is the Missile Defense. It’s handy since Barbarians are easy picking for ranged enemies.
Lore - Helm (Ort + Sol)
In the early game phase, players usually don’t have many choices apart from the standard cheap Runewords. Lore is one of those choices, and it still works well for Barbarians. One really can’t ask for more with the skill level bonus and the Lightning Resist that makes it safer to farm Mephisto. +2 Mana After Each Kill is also beneficial for Whirlwind Barbarians.
Stealth - Body Armor (Tal - Eth)
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Due to how easy it is to procure, the Stealth Runeword or armor is universally accepted as one of the best. It gives a boost to early game players and the Barbarian is no exception. The Faster Run/Walk coupled with increased Hit Recovery is an underrated buff that might even serve as clutch moves against boss fights.
Steel - Ax/Mace/Sword (Tir + El)
It might not seem like much but this low-level or early game Runeword works wonders for Whirlwind Barbarians just starting out. More hits mean more chances of triggering the Open Wound status, making the enemies bleed. The +2 Mana per kill is also good for keeping the Whirlwind skill going as it tends to be Mana-hungry at low levels.
