Barbarian class in Diablo 4

Introduction to the Diablo 4 Barbarian

A staple in the Diablo series, the Barbarian class returns for Diablo 4 [1]. Its focus is equipping multiple weapons, and close, chaotic brawls with large packs of monsters.

Diablo 4 Barbarian class
The Diablo 4 Barbarian, clad in metal armor
"The Barbarian has unparalleled strength, expertly wielding an entire arsenal in battle and has a Weapon for every occasion. He bellows intimidating war cries and unleashes ground-shaking slams that send approaching hordes reeling."
Diablo IV guide author David Kim · Former Diablo IV Principal Game Designer · LinkedIn icon svg

Barbarian highlights

  • Weapon Arsenal: ability to equip 4 Weapons at once and seamlessly switch between them
  • Berserking mode: a state allowing increased damage and Movement Speed
  • Powerful shouts: increasing the damage and defense of the party
  • Weapons Expertise: the more the Weapon type is used, the better the bonus
TOP
Diablo 4 SteelSeries hardware
D4 Aerox 5 Mouse SteelSeries Aerox 5 Wireless Diablo 4 mouse
D4 Arctis Nova 7 SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Diablo 4 headset
D4 QcK Mousepad SteelSeries QcK Diablo 4 gaming surface
TOP

Barbarian stats

Barbarian starting Primary Stats

Class DEX INT STR WILL
Barbarian 8 7 10 7
Druid 7 8 7 10
Necromancer 7 10 7 8
Rogue 10 7 7 8
Sorcerer 7 10 7 8

Barbarian Primary Stat effects

Attribute Effect
Dexterity +0.01% Dodge Chance per point
0.02%x Critical Strike Chance per point
Intelligence +0.05%(+) All Resistances per point
Strength +1 Armor per point
0.1%x Skill Damage per point
Willpower +0.1% Healing Received per point
+0.25% Overpower Damage per point
0.03x Resource Generation per point
TOP
Trending Diablo books
Book of Tyrael Diablo 3 Book of Tyrael
Book of Adria Diablo Book of Adria
Diablo Cookbook Diablo Cookbook
TOP

Barbarian Skills

Barbarian Skill Tree

See our dedicated page on: Page icon svg Barbarian Skills.

Fury resource

Barbarian Skills use Fury, which is generated by using Basic Skills. During lulls in battle, Fury begins to decline, until it reaches nothing.

Diablo 4 Barbarian Fury resource globe
Barbarian's orange Fury resource globe

Barbarian monster executions

The Barbarian class has a handful of visceral ways to kill enemies. Its monster death animations are:

  • Break Lower Limbs: the joints of the monster's lower body are shattered
  • Crush: the monster is flattened under a heavy object
  • Cut in Half: the monster's body is sliced in half
  • Decapitate: the monster's head is severed from its body
TOP
Trending Diablo books
Horadric Vault Diablo: The Horadric Vault
Diablo Tarot Cards Diablo Tarot Cards
Horadric Library Diablo 3 Book of Tyrael
TOP

Barbarian Weapon Expertise mechanic

Automatically unlocked at Level 5, the Weapon Expertise System gives the Barbarian a bonus for using a specific type of Weapon more.

Each Weapon Expertise has 10 ranks, with each rank's bonus becoming more powerful. Achieving the 10th rank of any Weapon Expertise unlocks an additional, powerful bonus. Note that players get Weapon Expertise experience for merely hitting monsters, not killing them, which is important in unfinished Boss fights.

Weapon Expertise bonuses

One-Handed Axe Expertise

When using an Axe: +x% increased Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies. Double this amount when using two Axes.

Next Rank: Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies increased to +x%.

Rank 10 Additional Bonus: Lucky Hit: Critical Strikes have up to a x% chance to grant x% increased Attack Speed for x Seconds. Double the Attack Speed bonus when using two Axes.

Diablo 4 version Open Beta

One-Handed Mace Expertise

When using a Mace: x% increased damage to Stunned enemies. Double this amount when using two Maces

Next Rank: Damge to Stunned enemies increased to x%.

Rank 10 Additional Bonus: Lucky Hit: Up to a x% chance to gain Berserking for x seconds when you hit a Stunned enemy. Double this chance when using two Maces.

Diablo 4 version Open Beta

One-Handed Sword Expertise

When using a Sword: Lucky Hit: Up to a x% chance to gain x Fury when hitting a Crowd Controlled enemy. Double this chance when using two Swords.

Next Rank: Chance to activate Lucky Hit increased to 3%.

Rank 10 Additional Bonus: Killing a Crowd Controlled enemy grants x%+ increased Attack Speed for x seconds. Double this amount for kills with two Swords.

Diablo 4 version Open Beta

Two-Handed Axe Expertise

When using a Two-Handed Axe: x% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies.

Next Rank: Damage to Vulnerable enemies increased to x%.

Rank 10 Additional Bonus: x%+ increased Critical Strike Chance against Vulnerable enemies.

Diablo 4 version Open Beta

Polearm Expertise

When using a Polearm: x% increased Lucky Hit Chance.

Next Rank: Bonus Lucky Hit Chance increased to x%.

Rank 10 Additional Bonus: You deal x%+ increased damage while Healthy.

Diablo 4 version Open Beta

Two-Handed Sword Expertise

When using a Two-Handed Sword: x%+ of direct damage you deal is inflicted as Bleeding damage over x seconds.

Next Rank: Bleeding damage is increased to x%.

Rank 10 Additional Bonus: You deal x% increased Bleeding damage for x seconds after killing an enemy.

Diablo 4 version Open Beta

Two-Handed Mace Expertise

When using a Two-Handed Mace: Lucky Hit: Up to x% chance to gain x Fury when hitting an enemy. Double the amount of Fury gained while Berserking.

Next Rank: Chance to activate Lucky Hit increased to x%.

Rank 10 Additional Bonus: You deal x% increased Critical Strike Damage to Stunned and Vulnerable enemies while Berserking.

Diablo 4 version Open Beta
D4 Barbarian Weapon Expertise system
Weapon Expertise class feature unlocks at Level 5

Weapon Expertise Technique

The Weapon Expertise's Technique feature allows players to choose any of the Weapon's Rank 10 Additional Bonus (assuming they've unlocked it) and benefit from it even if that Weapon type isn't equipped. For example, a player may reach reach Rank 10 for Two-Handed Maces, set their Technique to that, then equip a Two-Handed Sword, and still get the Two-Handed Mace's Rank 10 Additinoal Bonus.

Weapon Expertise Technique Diablo 4 Barbarian
Technique feature in Weapon Expertise UI
TOP

Barbarian items

Weapon Arsenal System

The Barbarian class has a unique mechanic called the Weapon Arsenal System, which allows it to equip 4 weapons at once:

  • 1 two-handed Bludgeoning weapon
  • 1 two-handed Slashing weapon
  • 2 one-handed weapons

When using Skills, the Barbarian automatically switches to the appropriate weapon type for the Skill.

Diablo IV Barbarian weapon slots
The Barbarian's 4 weapon slots from the Arsenal System

Because the system gives the Barbarian extra armor slots over other classes, this leads to an end-game advantage, when a powerful item (with, say, an important Legendary or Unique attribute) can be utilized in that extra spot.

How to switch a Skill's Weapon type

Players will sometimes use builds that require a certain Weapon type (e.g., Two-handed Slashing), which requires turning off the Weapon Arsenal's auto-switching feature. To do this, players can first press the 'S' keybind to bring up the Skills panel.

Diablo 4 change Arsenal Weapon
Bringing up the Skills panel to turn off Arsenal auto-switching

Once at the Skill screen, they can then click on the desired Skill. At the bottom of the Skill's description will be the Arsenal Selection section. Here, players can mouse wheel click/press (note: click, not scroll) to cycle through their equipped weapon types. This can be done on a per-Skill basis.

D4 Arsenal System switch weapons
Switching Barbarian Arsenal Weapon types
TOP

Barbarian Unique items

Name ▲ Slot Skills
Diablo 4 100,000 Steps Unique Boots 100,000 Steps Boots Ground Stomp, Walking Arsenal
Diablo 4 Ancient's Oath Unique Axe Ancient's Oath Axe - 2H Steel Grasp
Diablo 4 Battle Trance Unique Amulet Battle Trance Amulet Frenzy
Diablo 4 Fields of Crimson Unique Sword Fields of Crimson Sword - 2H Rupture
Diablo 4 Gohr's Devastating Grips Unique Gloves Gohr's Devastating Grips Gloves Whirlwind
Diablo 4 Hellhammer Unique Mace Hellhammer Mace - 2H Upheaval
Diablo 4 Overkill Unique Mace Overkill Mace - 2H Death Blow
Diablo 4 Rage of Harrogath Unique Chest Rage of Harrogath Chest Non-Ultimate Skills
Diablo 4 Ramaladni's Magnum Opus Unique Sword Ramaladni's Magnum Opus Sword - 1H n/a
TOP

Barbarian Legendary Aspects

See our dedicated sections on:

TOP

Barbarian media

Barbarian class screenshots

Diablo 4 Barbarian standing under tent
Female Barbarian swinging a mace
Diablo 4 Barbarian fighting a skeleton in Fractured Peaks
Fighting Skeletons on a land bridge in the Fractured Peaks
Diablo 4 Barbarian standing under tent
Adorned in maroon and gold, a Barbarian stands under a tent
Diablo IV Barbarian class fighting Fallen monsters
Fallen monsters surrounding a Barbarian
Barbarian wearing plate armor
A Barbarian wearing a metal breastplate
TOP

Barbarian class artwork

All artwork is property of the talented artists at Blizzard.

Diablo 4 Barbarian class artwork
A Conan the Barbarian-inspired Diablo 4 Barbarian
D4 Barbarian fighting Fallen enemies
Fallen monsters circling a Barbarian
Diablo IV Barbarian artwork snake enemies
Winged-helmet Barbarian fighting snake monsters
D4 Barbarian artwork with Axes
Barbarian dual-wielding Axes in battle
Diablo IV Barbarian Legendary and Unique items artwork
Barbarian Legendary and Unique items artwork
D4 female Barbarian artwork
Female Barbarian portraits, by Blizzard artist, Cedric Peyravernay
Diablo IV female Barbarian artwork
Female Barbarian profile, by Cedric Peyravernay
Diablo 4 male Barbarian portraits artwork
Male Barbarian portraits, by Cedric Peyravernay
D4 male Barbarian face artwork
Male Barbarian portraits, by Cedric Peyravernay
Diablo 4 Barbarian class artwork
Artwork depicting a dual-wielding Barbarian in plate armor
TOP
Trending hardware for Diablo 4
Alienware AW3423DW Dell Alienware AW3423DW ultrawide monitor
Asus ROG Ally ASUS ROG Ally handheld gaming system
Secretlab Titan Evo Secretlab Titan Evo Gaming Chair
TOP
Xiphoid Barbarian avatar

Xiphoid has been playing Diablo since the original's release in 1997. He made one of the largest Age of Empires sites in the late-'90s and early-'00s. Now, he runs MythicDrop.com, a premier Diablo 4 fansite.

Sources

Article Source Date
1. Diablo IV Feature Overview Blizzard

Changelog

Ver Change Date
Update icon svg 1.0 Refreshed guide with Release Barbarian information
Update icon svg Beta Refreshed guide with Open Beta Barbarian information
Update icon svg Alpha Added higher resolution images to screenshot section
Update icon svg Alpha Added section on Barbarian monster execution animations
Upload icon svg Alpha Published original