Best Trav Barb Build?

Heya D2 experts!

I've gotten my barb to level 81 and am looking for a build specifically and ONLY for Trav runs. Right now I'm specced for Berserk.

Just wondering what everyone thinks is the most efficient build/gear setup for clearing Trav quickly with a barb. WW? Zerk? Frenzy? (Side note: I'm not looking for an extreme Gold find gambling build).

Thanks for your input!

best build

Hah! That vid is fantastic

I’m interested too. I use Frenzy but a thread from yesterday has a post about one shotting council with Whirlwind using Grief and Oath. Seems like Berserk might be able to one shot ? Already so powerful with only a single hard point in it.

Berserk is fine for trav-running - it just won't be as efficient as Whirlwind. The main problem is the lack of leech and mana burn annoyances, so you'll be relying on potions at times, and/or falling back on Concentrate/ Frenzy. It's also easy to get surrounded when you're hitting things one at a time, so don't forget to use Howl.

With that being said, it really comes down to picking whichever skill that won't bore you to Death.

my barb is Whirlwind. i even got rid of some leech (swapped my Belt to Goldwrap and switched gloves to Chance Guards.

Noice! What are folks' ideal weapons for a WW trav barb?

I'm using Eth Death CB and Grief Pb

I’m using Eth Breath of the Dying Berserker Axe. It’s base rolled ED which I was pissed about but it still mops the floor on P1. In hindsight I would have rolled it in a sword though if anyone wants to trade!

i have double Grief Berserker Axe

Dual Grief PB. Fort + LoH and its like cutting grass

Khegan wrote: 4 years ago

Berserk is fine for trav-running - it just won't be as efficient as Whirlwind. The main problem is the lack of leech and mana burn annoyances, so you'll be relying on potions at times, and/or falling back on Concentrate/ Frenzy. It's also easy to get surrounded when you're hitting things one at a time, so don't forget to use Howl.

With that being said, it really comes down to picking whichever skill that won't bore you to Death.

I use merc with Insight and mana burn is not a problem anymore. Also if you use frienzy there is a Double Swing skill which costs 0 mana, it deals less damage but has a good attack speed. Council members die fast and usually have no time to kill a merc.

WW when you have gg weapons with fort/LoH. Frenzy is easier to build for and has a smoother progression from crap gear to good gear.

Audin Barb wrote: 4 years ago

Khegan wrote: 4 years ago

Berserk is fine for trav-running - it just won't be as efficient as Whirlwind. The main problem is the lack of leech and mana burn annoyances, so you'll be relying on potions at times, and/or falling back on Concentrate/ Frenzy. It's also easy to get surrounded when you're hitting things one at a time, so don't forget to use Howl.

With that being said, it really comes down to picking whichever skill that won't bore you to Death.

I use merc with Insight and mana burn is not a problem anymore. Also if you use frienzy there is a Double Swing skill which costs 0 mana, it deals less damage but has a good attack speed. Council members die fast and usually have no time to kill a merc.

it's not a bad idea, generally, but doing trav you will still lose a well geared merc every 5-10 runs to a random curse/hydras. running to rez your merc while only adding on 10-15 seconds to a run adds up over time when ideally you want to be doing sub-60 second runs from load screen to load screen. I think it's more efficient to go without merc so you can maximize aggressive farming playstyle.

I've run a pure Gold find barb with about 2250 Gold find with dual babas with lems. Merc does all the work, I just warcry and Battle Cry and tank the damage. Merc with fort or Treachery, Crown of Thieves, and Breath of the Dying in an Eth Thresher or Ghost Glaive or something (I've also used Eth reapers for a time). The killing isn't crazy fast, but it's not terrible either. Merc rarely dies unless he decided to attack through a wall or something really dumb. If I pay attention and toss him an odd potion every half dozen runs, he doesn't usually die at all. Though I tend to play that character when I'm half asleep or distracted anyway. It's a cheaper option for those who don't have everything yet.

I copied a setup from a guy on reddit who made 3500+ runs with it and so far iam pretty impressed by the outcome after about 500 runs.

Arreats, 2x hoto, Bk Ring, Fcr ring, Arach Belt, Enigma, LoH, Highlords, Gores, 2x Grief pb, 7 War Cry sk, Torch, Anni

That gives me 58% Find Item, which is a game changer. I dont even use a merc.

worstd2playerever wrote: 4 years ago

Audin Barb wrote: 4 years ago

Khegan wrote: 4 years ago

Berserk is fine for trav-running - it just won't be as efficient as Whirlwind. The main problem is the lack of leech and mana burn annoyances, so you'll be relying on potions at times, and/or falling back on Concentrate/ Frenzy. It's also easy to get surrounded when you're hitting things one at a time, so don't forget to use Howl.

With that being said, it really comes down to picking whichever skill that won't bore you to Death.

I use merc with Insight and mana burn is not a problem anymore. Also if you use frienzy there is a Double Swing skill which costs 0 mana, it deals less damage but has a good attack speed. Council members die fast and usually have no time to kill a merc.

it's not a bad idea, generally, but doing trav you will still lose a well geared merc every 5-10 runs to a random curse/hydras. running to rez your merc while only adding on 10-15 seconds to a run adds up over time when ideally you want to be doing sub-60 second runs from load screen to load screen. I think it's more efficient to go without merc so you can maximize aggressive farming playstyle.

I bet most players don't realize there's a bug with Hydras hitting 6x more damage to mercs. This bug been around since LOD days and Blizz never bothered to fix it.

Even I sensed that something was very wrong 20 years later, and true enough got confirmed by Reddit post on this bug ><

I hope one day they'll fix it so poor Emilio will stop dying to Ismail Vilehand and Bartuc the Bloody.

Darth-Stevieous wrote: 4 years ago

I've gotten my barb to level 81 and am looking for a build specifically and ONLY for Trav runs. Right now I'm specced for Berserk.

Just wondering what everyone thinks is the most efficient build/gear setup for clearing Trav quickly with a barb. WW? Zerk? Frenzy? (Side note: I'm not looking for an extreme Gold find gambling build).

"most efficient"... It depends on your skills and tastes as player... I tryed Whirlwind and Frenzy in the past, but I work better using Concentrate as primary (maxed) skill... Why Concentrate ? Your attacks cannot be interrupted, your defense is doubled, mana-burns cannot stop you.
I have spent 1 point in Berserk and use it when I find phisical immunes.

Gear:
Immortal King full set (really cheap)
+2 Amulet (looking for anything with some leech), 1 Raven Frost ring (recommended), 1 rare ring +AR +8%LL +anything
Hellfire Torch with low-mid stats and res
2 Lem in the Maul
few charms mixed with +life, +dmg, +ar

3000+ life buffed, really don't need more... I'm putting more points in +str to raise dmg and +dex for more +ar and +def
I'm not that fast on clearing and sometimes I kill also some champions packs if they are on the way... average time for each run is 3-5 minutes
Raven Frost protects you from any cold damage that can slow you down but not from Holy Freeze auras... so kill 1st mobs with Holy Freeze and Conviction... but you should already know that...

PS: I have spent 1 point in Find Item and I always use it if they don't shatter due to the cold dmg that IK set do...