Help with Dwarf Pure Barb Build

[Guardian3443]

I was hoping to get some help with a build to follow.

I'm not a consistent player, and will occasionally play with some friends.

I'm do the F2P stuff, so I have a 28pt character and went Dwarf Barbarian originally using the old Axer build by Shade that I had found online.

With all the changes after the last update, I'm not really sure what to do with myself, and I haven't really seen a detailed build for a pure barbarian dwarf.

So I was hoping someone with better skills at this could construct a build for me, or direct me to one. I have also heard that it may be better to just go fighter instead. If that's the case, are there any suggestions for a build to follow for that?

I appreciate any help.

Thanks

[Guardian3443]

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I'm certainly no expert at this so any help would be appreciated.

[GlassJaw]

Hey Guardian,

Luckily, barbs are pretty straight-forward to build. They are more difficult to solo if you are a new player but in a group, they are much better (re: healing).

Anyway, for feats you want Power Attack, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Crit (slashing) and the Two-Handed Fighting chain (THF+Imp+Gr). I would go:

1. Power Attack
2. Cleave
3. THF
4. Imp Crit
5. Great Cleave
6. Imp THF
7. Gr THF

Max out Strength and Con to 18 (16+2). You can then put 2 points into Dex, Int, or Wis. I'd prob go Int for some more skill points.

For skills, you can max out Intimidate if you want to grab aggro for your group. Jump is always nice. Listen will help you notice Invisible or sneaking enemies. Balance is good so you stand up faster if you get knocked down but it will cost you double because it's cross-class. You can put 2 points at level 1 into Tumble if you want that ability.

Enhancements: Really up to you. Frenzied Berserker will give you the most DPS but will hurt you in return so it's not the best for survivability. Definitely take the added rages though. I like a mix of Occult Slayer and Ravager. The dwarf enhancements are good too because they'll give you more hps and axe bonuses.

Good luck!

[unbongwah]

For pure 2H barbs, the must-have feats IMHO are (still) Power Atk, Cleave, GC, Improved Crit (Slash or Blunt), and Overwhelming Crit. That leaves 5 feats on non-human pure barbs (3 heroic + 2 epic). You have a few options as to what to do with them:

DPS: the THF chain, Blinding Speed
Tactics: Stunning Blow, Imp Sunder, perhaps CE+Imp Trip if you can spare the stat pts for INT
Survivability: Toughness+eToughness, Epic Damage Reduction, perhaps Dragonmark or Dodge (again, if DEX is high enough)