Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Guide for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)
Last update: 11/21/2024
General Notes
General Notes for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build in Vessel of Hatred
Note: This leveling guide is optimized for Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred (Season 6).
This Walking Arsenal build is the fastest way to level a Barbarian, as it requires no Legendary Aspects and has no Rage problems right from the start. In addition, you are extremely mobile, as you constantly use both Charge and Leap. Even your basic skill Lunging Strike is used for mobility.
Whether large groups of monsters or bosses, with this build you are armed against everything. That's because your damage doesn't just come from one skill, but from four different sources: Upheaval, Death Blow, Charge and Iron Maelstrom.
In addition, the playstyle with this build is completely unique, as you don't use any of your Shout Skills.
By constantly switching your weapons, you heavily benefit from your Key Passive Ability Walking Arsenal and some Legendary Aspects. But be aware: you have to manually assign weapons to your skills to make this build work.
Sadly, the Walking Arsenal Barbarian falls off in the endgame, because it requires too many different skills at once. Builds that specialize in just one skill will do more damage.
Until when is this leveling build playable? You can play this and all my other leveling guides on Vitablo.com for as long as you like. Some of them still perform well at Torment difficulty 4, others have their limit at Torment difficulty 3. As soon as your build no longer feels strong enough, you can switch to one of my endgame builds.
Playstyle
Playstyle for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build
- Use Leap as soon as you see a group of enemies. Make sure you hit at least one opponent to generate Rage.
- Against small groups, you can use Upheaval or Charge directly to kill them. However, this won't be enough against elite monsters, so you'll have to add a Deathblow and Upheaval again. If all abilities are on cooldown, you can use Lunging Strike and start the rotation again as soon as possible.
- Very, very, VERY important: You should make sure to constantly use different skills so that you create weapon switches. You should therefore assign weapons to your skills manually:
- Upheaval: 2H Bludgeoning Weapon
- Lunging Strike: 1H Weapon
- Charge: 2H Slashing Weapon
- Deathblow: 1H Weapon
- Leap: 2H Bludgeoning Weapon
- You can save your Ultimate Skill Wrath of the Berserker for bosses or particularly large groups of enemies, as it has an enormously large radius.
- Rage problems are mainly solved by Leap and switching weapons. The passive skill Furious Impulse generates Rage every time you switch weapons. In an emergency, you can always fall back on your basic attack Lunging Strike.
Skills
Skills for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build
Note: Level up all your active skills first and work your way down to your Key Passive as quickly as possible. If you are missing skill points to progress on your way through the skill tree, you can invest them in some passive skills. As soon as you have leveled up all active abilities and your Key Passive Ability, continue with the missing passive skills.
Specialization
Specialization for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build
Two-Handed Axe Expertise
X% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies.
The Two-Handed Axe Expertise is a particularly good Weapon Technique for this build because it multiplies your damage against Vulnerable enemies.
Aspects
Aspects for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build
Undying Aspect
When you cast a Skill, you heal for X% Life. Double this bonus while below X% Life.
Aspect of Bul-Kathos
Leap creates an Earthquake that deals X Physical damage over X seconds. While standing in Earthquakes, you gain X% increased Damage Reduction.
Blood Boiling Aspect
When your Core Skills Overpower an enemy, you spawn X Volatile Blood Drops. Collecting a Volatile Blood Drop causes it to explode, dealing X Physical damage around you. Every X seconds, your next Skill is guaranteed to Overpower.
Aspect of Tempering Blows
After swapping weapons X times, gain X Fortify.
Weapon Master's Aspect
Your Weapon Mastery Skills have an additional Charge. Lucky Hit: Damaging an enemy with a Weapon Mastery Skill has up to a X% chance to Stun them for X seconds.
Edgemaster's Aspect
Skills deal up to X% increased damage based on your available Primary Resource when cast, receiving the maximum benefit while you have full Primary Resource.
Aspect of the Relentless Armsmaster
Gain X% increased Fury Generation and X% reduced Fury cost while all damage bonuses from the Walking Arsenal Key Passive are active.
Aspect of Giant Strides
Reduces the Cooldown of Leap by X seconds per enemy hit, up to a maximum of X seconds. Hitting a Boss with Leap provides the maximum reduction.
Earthquake Aspect
Ground Stomp creates an Earthquake damaging enemies for X Physical damage over X seconds. While standing in Earthquakes, you deal X% increased damage.
The important thing here is the bonus damage for Earthquake. It is triggered by jumping with the Aspect of Bul-Kathos.
Aspect of Sundered Ground
Every X seconds, your next Upheaval cast is guaranteed to Overpower and deals X% increased damage. Upheaval Critical Strikes against Elites reduce this timer by X second.
Earthstriker's Aspect
After swapping weapons X times, your next non-Basic Skill will Overpower and deal X% increased Overpower damage.
Aspect of Ancestral Charge
Charge calls forth X Ancients who also Charge, dealing X% of normal damage.
Items & Affixes
Items & Affixes for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build
General tips about your Gear
- Armor: You need a maximum of 1,000 armor. Anything above that is useless and has no effect. If you haven't reached your armor cap yet, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Resistances: You need at least 70% to all resistances. If you have not yet reached these values, adjust your equipment, gems and paragon talents accordingly.
- Affixes: Each item type has different properties (affixes) that are useful for this build. Some of these are mandatory, others are optional. Please pay attention to the following symbols:
Helmet
- Cooldown Reduction
- Strength
- Life
- Rage per second
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Undying Aspect
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.
Brute Innovation
- Hammer of the Ancients Effect Size
- Upheaval Size
- Mighty Throw Size
100% maximum
Chest Armor
- Life
- Strength
- Rage per Second
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Aspect of Bul-Kathos
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.
Brute Innovation
- Hammer of the Ancients Effect Size
- Upheaval Size
- Mighty Throw Size
100% maximum
Gloves
- Ranks to Upheaval
- Ranks to Core Skills
- Critical Hit Chance
- Attack Speed
- Strength
- Life
- Blood Boiling Aspect
Arsenal Finesse
- Damage with Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapons
- Damage with Dual-Wielded Weapons
- Damage with Two-Handed Slashing Weapons
- Damage when Swapping Weapons
Brute Innovation
- Hammer of the Ancients Effect Size
- Upheaval Size
- Mighty Throw Size
100% maximum
Pants
- Life
- Strength
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Aspect of Tempering Blows
Worldly Endurance
- Maximum Life
- Total Armor
- Dodge Chance
Until Torment 1 Life, after that Armor.
Brute Innovation
- Hammer of the Ancients Effect Size
- Upheaval Size
- Mighty Throw Size
100% maximum
Boots
- Ranks to Charge
- Ranks to Brawling Skills
- Movement Speed
- Strength
- Life
- Armor as required
- Resistances as required
- Weapon Master's Aspect
Natural Motion
- Movement Speed
- Movement Speed for X Seconds After Killing an Elite
- Mobility Cooldown Reduction
- Evade Cooldown Reduction
Berserking Innovation
- Double Swing Size
- Whirlwind Size
- Berserking Duration
Amulet
- Strength
- Ranks to Counteroffensive
- Ranks to Pit Fighter
- Ranks to Heavy Handed
- Critical Hit Chance
- Attack Speed
- Movement Speed
- Edgemaster's Aspect
Ultimate Efficiency - Barbarian
- Casting Ultimate Skills Restores X Primary Resource
- Call of the Ancients Cooldown Reduction
- Iron Maelstrom Cooldown Reduction
- Wrath of the Berserker Cooldown Reduction
Arsenal Finesse
- Damage with Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapons
- Damage with Dual-Wielded Weapons
- Damage with Two-Handed Slashing Weapons
- Damage when Swapping Weapons
Rings
- Critical Hit Chance
- Strength
- Life
- Attack Speed
- Aspect of Giant Strides
- Aspect of the Relentless Armsmaster
Ultimate Efficiency - Barbarian
- Casting Ultimate Skills Restores X Primary Resource
- Call of the Ancients Cooldown Reduction
- Iron Maelstrom Cooldown Reduction
- Wrath of the Berserker Cooldown Reduction
Arsenal Finesse
- Damage with Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapons
- Damage with Dual-Wielded Weapons
- Damage with Two-Handed Slashing Weapons
- Damage when Swapping Weapons
1H Weapons
- Strength
- Life
- Critical Hit Damage
- Earthquake Aspect
- Aspect of Sundered Ground
Brawling Augments
- Chance for Charge to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Kick to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Leap to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Ground Stomp to Hit Twice
Arsenal Finesse
- Damage with Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapons
- Damage with Dual-Wielded Weapons
- Damage with Two-Handed Slashing Weapons
- Damage when Swapping Weapons
2H Slashing Weapon
- Strength
- Life
- Critical Hit Damage
- Earthstriker's Aspect
Core Augments: Barbarian
- Chance for Hammer of the Ancients to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Whirlwind to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Upheaval to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Double Swing to Hit Twice
100% maximum
Berserking Finesse
- Damage while Berserking
- Damage while Wrath of the Berserker is Active
- Damage while War Cry is Active
- Dust Devil Damage
2H Bludgeoning Weapon
- Strength
- Life
- Critical Hit Damage
- Aspect of Ancestral Charge
Core Augments: Barbarian
- Chance for Hammer of the Ancients to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Whirlwind to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Upheaval to Deal Double Damage
- Chance for Double Swing to Hit Twice
100% maximum
Berserking Finesse
- Damage while Berserking
- Damage while Wrath of the Berserker is Active
- Damage while War Cry is Active
- Dust Devil Damage
Tibault's Will
All Stats
Maximum Life
Maximum Resource
Damage Reduction while Unstoppable
You deal X% increased damage while Unstoppable and for X seconds after. When you become Unstoppable, gain X of your Primary Resource.
Duriel, Andariel
All Classes
Heir of Perdition
+200% Damage to Angels and Demons
+20% Critical Strike Chance
+20% Lucky Hit Chance
+20% Movement Speed
+2 Ranks to Core Skills
Succumb to hatred and earn Mother’s Favor, increasing your damage dealt by 60%(x). Briefly steal Mother’s Favor from Nearby allies by slaughtering enemies.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Harlequin Crest
+800 Maximum Life
+18 Maximum Resource
+350 Armor
+20% Cooldown Reduction
Gain 20% Damage Reduction. In addition, gain +4 Ranks to all Skills.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
The Grandfather
Damage
+150% Damage
Ignore Durability Loss
+220 All Stats
+1,800 Maximum Life
+20 Maximum Resource
+300% Damage
Increases your Critical Strike Damage by 100%(x). The other properties of this weapon can roll higher than normal.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
Barbarian, Necromancer
Doombringer
+100% Damage
+160 All Stats
+35% Maximum Life
+10% Damage Reduction
Lucky Hit: Up to a 15% Chance to Heal for +530 Life
Lucky Hit: Up to a 25% chance to deal 900 Shadow damage to surrounding enemies and reduce their damage dealt by 20% for 5 seconds.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes expect Spiritborn
Tyrael's Might
Ignore Durability Loss
+16.5% Movement Speed
+7.5% Maximum Resistance to All Elements
+60% Resistance to All Elements
+20% Damage Reduction
While at full Life, your Skills unleash a divine barrage dealing 195 damage.
Duriel, Andariel, Tormented Bosses
All Classes
Runewords
Runewords for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build
Note: If you are missing the required Runes, you can use Gemstones in the meantime.
1st Runeword (2H Weapon)
Yul
Gain: 50 Offering
Cast a Skill with a Cooldown.
Tec
Required: 100 Offering
Cooldown: 1 Second
Evoke the Barbarian's Earthquake, dealing damage to enemies within. (Overflow: Increased Size)
2nd Runeword (2H Weapon)
Bac
Gain: 10 Offering
Travel X meters.
Gar
Required: 25 Offering
Cooldown: 1 Second
Gain X% Critical Strike Chance for X seconds, up to X%. (Overflow: Gain Multiple Stacks)
Note: Your legendary aspects give you damage reduction and cause increased damage when you are standing in an Earthquake.
Gemstones
Gemstones for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build
WeaponEmerald
Weapons: Critical Strike Damage
Armor: Dexterity
Jewelry: Poison Resistance
ArmorRuby
Weapons: Overpower Damage
Armor: Strength
Jewelry: Fire Resistance
JewelryGems and Skulls
You'll need at least 70% to all resistances. If you haven't reached those numbers yet, change your gems accordingly. If you have too many resistances on your items, you can also use skulls, but you shouldn't exceed the armor cap of 1,000.
Paragon Board
Paragon Board for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build
Important notice:
- Glyph Radius: To increase the radius of your Glyphs, you have to level them in the Pit. The starting radius is 3 boxes. At level 15, it increases to 4 boxes. At level 45, the radius is 5 boxes.
- Skill Order: Start with the ESSENTIAL LAYOUT and rebuild it COMPLETELY to quickly access all the important Nodes and Glyphs. Only then switch to the FINAL LAYOUT and add the missing Nodes.
Might
Rare Glyph "Might"
Grants X% bonus to all Magic nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage while wielding Two-Handed weapons.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Healthy enemies.
Legendary Node "Warbringer"
For every X Fury you spend, gain X% of your Maximum Life as Fortify.
Rare Glyph "Mortal Draw"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, Skills that Swap to a different weapon deal X% increased damage.
Additional Bonus: Swapping weapons has a X% chance to cause the Skill's damage to Critically Strike.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Elites by X%.
Legendary Node "Blood Rage"
Killing a Bleeding enemy has X% chance to grant Berserking for X seconds. Your damage is increased by X% of your Damage while Berserking bonus, up to a maximum of X%.
Rare Glyph "Undaunted"
For every 5 Willpower purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage while Fortified.
Additional Bonus: You gain up to X% Damage Reduction the more Fortify you have.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage while Healthy by X%.
Legendary Node "Decimator"
Each time you make an enemy Vulnerable, your damage is increased by X% for X seconds. Overpowering a Vulnerable enemy grants an additional X% bonus for X seconds.
Rare Glyph "Challenger"
Grants X% bonus to all Normal nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage while wielding One-Handed weapons.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Elites by X%.
Legendary Node "Carnage"
While Berserking, Critical Strikes increase your Attack Speed by X%, up to X%, for X seconds.
Rare Glyph "Ire"
For every 5 Strength purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage while Berserking.
Additional Bonus: While Berserking, you take X% reduced damage from Elites.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Close enemies.
Rare Glyph "Might"
Grants X% bonus to all Magic nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage while wielding Two-Handed weapons.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Healthy enemies.
Legendary Node "Warbringer"
For every X Fury you spend, gain X% of your Maximum Life as Fortify.
Rare Glyph "Mortal Draw"
For every 5 Dexterity purchased within range, Skills that Swap to a different weapon deal X% increased damage.
Additional Bonus: Swapping weapons has a X% chance to cause the Skill's damage to Critically Strike.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Elites by X%.
Legendary Node "Blood Rage"
Killing a Bleeding enemy has X% chance to grant Berserking for X seconds. Your damage is increased by X% of your Damage while Berserking bonus, up to a maximum of X%.
Rare Glyph "Undaunted"
For every 5 Willpower purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage while Fortified.
Additional Bonus: You gain up to X% Damage Reduction the more Fortify you have.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage while Healthy by X%.
Legendary Node "Decimator"
Each time you make an enemy Vulnerable, your damage is increased by X% for X seconds. Overpowering a Vulnerable enemy grants an additional X% bonus for X seconds.
Rare Glyph "Challenger"
Grants X% bonus to all Normal nodes within range.
Additional Bonus: You deal X% increased damage while wielding One-Handed weapons.
Legendary Bonus: Increase damage to Elites by X%.
Legendary Node "Carnage"
While Berserking, Critical Strikes increase your Attack Speed by X%, up to X%, for X seconds.
Rare Glyph "Ire"
For every 5 Strength purchased within range, you deal X% increased damage while Berserking.
Additional Bonus: While Berserking, you take X% reduced damage from Elites.
Legendary Bonus: You deal X% increased damage to Close enemies.
Mercenaries
Mercenaries for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build
Varyana
Massacre
You and Varyana stack Massacre together on kills. Certain stack thresholds grant Movement Speed. Massacre resets after X seconds of not killing an enemy.
Cleave
Varyana swings two axes in an arc in front of her, dealing X% Physical damage and X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Dual Axes
Basic Attack: Double Strike
Varyana slashes enemies with dual axes, dealing X% Physical damage. She has a X% chance to also deal X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
Hysteria
You gain X% Attack Speed for X seconds whenever Varyana damages an enemy, up to X%.
Recklessness
Varyana's Cleave inflicts Vulnerable on enemies for X seconds.
Shockwave
Varyana slams the ground for a brutal shockwave in front of her, dealing X% Physical damage and Knocking Down enemies for X seconds.
Selecting a Mercenary Core Skill alters their wielded Weapon and Basic Attack.
Weapon: Two-Handed Mace
Basic Attack: Heavy Strike
Varyana batters enemies with a mace, dealing X% Physical damage with X% increased Critical Strike Chance.
Crushing Force
When Varyana deals damage to an enemy, she has a X% chance to Knock them Down for X seconds.
Reprisal
If you become Crowd Controlled, Varyana leaps towards the enemy that inflicted it, dealing X% Physical damage and Knocking Down surrounding enemies for X seconds on impact. This can only occur once every X seconds.
Bloodthirst
Varyana enters Bloodthirst, gaining X% Attack Speed, X% Movement Speed, and Unstoppable for X seconds. Varyana's Bloodthirst grants X% Attack Speed to you for the same duration.
Intimidated
While Varyana has Bloodthirst, enemies around her deal X% reduced damage.
Bloodlust
Varyana's Bloodthirst further increases your Attack Speed by X%.
Whirlwind
Varyana spins violently in a line, repeatedly dealing X% Physical damage and X% Bleeding damage over X seconds.
No Escape
Varyana's Whirlwind Pulls In enemies every X seconds and gains X% Size.
Taste of Flesh
When you or Varyana deal direct damage to an enemy inflicted with any of her Bleeding effects, you Heal for X% of your Maximum Life.
Earth Breaker
Varyana crushes the ground with her mace, leaving a tremor that deals X% Physical damage over X seconds and Knocks enemies Down repeatedly.
Rampage
You deal X% increased damage to enemies afflicted by any of Varyana's Crowd Control effects.
Dismembering
Enemies damaged by Varyana's Earth Breaker are left exposed, causing your next hit against them within X seconds to be a guaranteed Overpower. This may only occur on the same target once every X seconds.
Ancient Harpoons
Varyana launches three harpoons ahead of her, piercing enemies for X% Physical damage. She then rips them back, Pulling In and Stunning enemies for X seconds.
Annihilator
Varyana's Ancient Harpoons additionally Slow enemies by X% for X seconds. During this time, you gain X% Lucky Hit Chance against those targets.
Iron Grip
Varyana's Ancient Harpoons travel X% farther and reduce enemies' Impairment Resistance by X% for X seconds.
Raheir
Reinforcement
Crater
Trigger
Upheaval
Video Showcase
Video Showcase for the Walking Arsenal Barbarian Leveling Build
Changelog
- 11/21/24 – Final Paragon Boards added
- 10/02/24 – Optimized for Vessel of Hatred (Season 6)