Nuked Barbarian

[Smol_Imp]

Hello,
I have a big problem with my barbarian build. Indeed, when i play maps that are level 5+ elite (with the note that my char is 2 levels ahead the level of the elite quest), i get nuked by spells ridiculously easily. Like, "300+ health to dead in a second" level of ridiculous. I don't know how to counter spells at all as they are unaffected by my AC, how do I deal with this ? Should i get special help for the quests despite being over-leveled for them or is there an possible flaw in building a barbarian that i could have commited ?

[unbongwah]

The Occult Slayer tree has various bonuses to magical defenses and anti-caster effects: Ear Smash, Parrying / Guarding Bond, Elemental Defense, Antimagic Boost, Arcane Encumbrance. So at level 7-ish, you might want to split your APs 50/50 between OS and Berserker (Blood Tribute, Supreme Cleave).

Otherwise, it's usually a matter of pre-combat buffs and better gear, including elemental resistances, better saves (Resistance items), higher MRR (https://ddowiki.com/page/Magical_Resistance_Rating), Death Ward (Flesh Render Guards (https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Visor_of_the_Flesh_Render_Guards) is a must-have for anyone who can't cast DW), and so forth. There's some ML:6 gear from WPM (https://ddowiki.com/page/Update_39_named_items) you might want, depending on what your current setup is like. I'm sure you've noticed that lightning spells hit hard, so look at e.g. Steelweave Shinguards (https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Steelweave_Shinguards) - is the electrical protection better than what you've got?

[cru121]

Saving Throws - try to get them increased
Resist Energy - if your guild airship still has old ship buffs, use them. if not, CL7 potions that reduce elemental damage by 20 can be purchased from various vendors
Magical Resistance Rating: this statistics straight decreases elemental damage by a percentage. try to increase it.
Shield clicky - magic missiles are hard to dodge and painful, particularly from some monster champions. Use Shield spell to negate it.

[FuzzyDuck81]

In addition to resist energy spells you can also get protection from energy - instead of blocking the first 10/20/30 points of damage of each hit while it lasts, it absorbs a fixed amount of damage, whether it arrives in multiple smaller hits or a single large punch, which can be handy if you know what you're coming up against.

[Valerianus]

any defence layer, as said, is useful

just want to add, use blood tribute, don't underestimate it, spam it to stay alive if needed.

[Smol_Imp]

The Occult Slayer tree has various bonuses to magical defenses and anti-caster effects: Ear Smash, Parrying / Guarding Bond, Elemental Defense, Antimagic Boost, Arcane Encumbrance. So at level 7-ish, you might want to split your APs 50/50 between OS and Berserker (Blood Tribute, Supreme Cleave).

Otherwise, it's usually a matter of pre-combat buffs and better gear, including elemental resistances [...]

I see, so what i should do is to focus on Occult slayer rather than Ravager ?
As for DW, i already have an medium armor that have a passive DW effect, pretty neat if you ask me.

[count_spicoli]

When you get to a mob go for the casteror casters first. Afterall a dead caster cant kill.

I would still focus your main tree as ravager and frenzied bezerker way more dps there but maybe get ear smash out of occult slayer. Are you using stunning blow and trip. Those are really good right now with high strikethru

[Enkidu]

Hello,
I have a big problem with my barbarian build. Indeed, when i play maps that are level 5+ elite (with the note that my char is 2 levels ahead the level of the elite quest), i get nuked by spells ridiculously easily. Like, "300+ health to dead in a second" level of ridiculous. I don't know how to counter spells at all as they are unaffected by my AC, how do I deal with this ? Should i get special help for the quests despite being over-leveled for them or is there an possible flaw in building a barbarian that i could have commited ?

Some good advice here, but the long and short of it is if you're dying too fast as a barb you should play a lower difficulty until you can get better gear. You already have the best defenses of any class in terms of HP, DR, and dodge so you need to try an easier diff until you get your gear level ready or more Past Lives under the belt.

[unbongwah]

As for DW, i already have an medium armor that have a passive DW effect, pretty neat if you ask me.
Armor with Deathblock only protects against instakill and reduces negative damage. Death Ward protects against a lot more, including energy drain.

[Weemadarthur]

When you get to a mob go for the casteror casters first. Afterall a dead caster cant kill.

This is the best advice given so far. With a little experience you will be able to tell when approaching a group who the caster are. Make these your priority targets as they will always be the most dangerous opponents in early game quests.

The approach I tend to use is to approach a group and identify the targets then strafe to the left or right while advancing (this can cause quite a few spells cast at you to miss). Jump over the melees that will charge at you and then make a beeline for the casters that will lurk behind. trip and cleave will then be your best friends to quickly dispatch the offending casters leaving you ready to turn and take out the melees as they catch back up.

[parttimewarrior]

I see, so what i should do is to focus on Occult slayer rather than Ravager ?
Don't. Ravager has insane survivability really. Just get the enhancements that give you temp HP (I Like Pain etc), and obviously, use a hireling.
My second char is a halfling ravager/fb, she died only once on her first heroic life (and even that was by mistake). Didn't feel the damage at all.