TWF D Axes 1-20 Fun Leveler Idea

[BiggerTroll]

I'm surprised by the relative ease of leveling through mid-late heroics on non THF builds. Sans cleave isn't the end of my world. Done a twf war chanter, and some swf stuff, very few or long cool down aoe. The thing for me; my speed didn't collapse.

I'm not looking to jam a THF build up to 20, I love my THF builds. I want to test out cracking attack's +W's. I think D Axes are the perfect fit for a 1-20 barb, probably 12+ levels of barb, build.

Frenzied berserker gives me +2 crit multi and +2W with close to 100% up time. The AP investment is 32+ in FB tree at level 12. I'd love to squeeze in an attack speed boost, divine might, and 7 AP(6 with tome) in Illusionist tree for charisma to hit/damage. To be clear, that's 43 AP spent by 12, all my add ins, except attack speed boost.

Feats are tight, too tight without a fighter feat. Front loading is always best in heroics.

Feat list
TWF line 3
Oversized twf
Exotic d axe
Imp crit
Precission

Yup, thats all 7 base feats spent, and not much in the way of early options. If I go dwarf that's a freebie. A fighter level nets me an extra feat. Two ranger levels grants TWF for free.

What's the point? I want to test out the sweet 5x multi on D axes alongside the bonus weapon damage from cracking attack. I think it will be a punchy heroic smasher, assuming I don't flounder for lack of self healing.

Warforge is awesome, I have 6 racial AP, and the dip to net 15 melee power is cheap.

Anyhow, thanks for your insight and advice.

[Kuunkukka]

Feats are tight, too tight without a fighter feat. Front loading is always best in heroics.

Feat list
TWF line 3
Oversized twf
Exotic d axe
Imp crit
Precission

Yup, thats all 7 base feats spent, and not much in the way of early options. If I go dwarf that's a freebie. A fighter level nets me an extra feat. Two ranger levels grants TWF for free.

What's the point? I want to test out the sweet 5x multi on D axes alongside the bonus weapon damage from cracking attack. I think it will be a punchy heroic smasher, assuming I don't flounder for lack of self healing.

Warforge is awesome, I have 6 racial AP, and the dip to net 15 melee power is cheap.

Anyhow, thanks for your insight and advice.

Unless you are really married to your idea of DAxes, this build would be immensely stronger using longswords with knights training feat. You'd get the same multiplier, but with a wider crit range. Plus you'd get that power earlier on.

Other thing that seems wonky is the precision on a barb. AFAIK rage switches that off, so you'd need to decide which one you actually like more... And power attack seems better anyway on a strictly heroic build.

[JP457]

You don't need oversized twf.

[Marshal_Lannes]

As pointed out you don't need oversized TWF and a longsword might be a better way to go. Also worth your consideration - if you're only going 1-20 for racials and aren't using capstones consider Rogue/Barbarian and going vistani knife fighting. You might end up doing more damage. I had a Rogue/Barbarian using short swords years ago and that concept would be far better now with daggers and Vistani. It does have some drawbacks - healing is an issue as you point out and you have to dismiss rage to trap.

Also to consider - SWF barb with new changes. SWF with longsword? Haven't dived into it but could be some possibilities there.

[BiggerTroll]

Thanks for all the advice!

Does weapon dice d8 vs d10 not matter? Is this a heroics vs epics thing?

Knight's training longsword is pretty amazin. Are D axes strictly inferior?

Great catch on power attack for heroics.

[unbongwah]

Barbarian Rage disables Precision which is why all barbs take Power Attack instead.

Dwarven axes aren't for TWF, they're for S&B or SWF toons because they (and bastard swords) get Strikethrough (https://ddowiki.com/page/Strikethrough) when single-wielded. However you can't take both SWF and THF feats, they're mutually exclusive; so you have to pick a lane and stay in it.

+[W] bonuses are nice; bigger critical threat ranges are better. Heroic dwarven axes are all 20/x3 which cap out at 19-20/x5 with Improved Critical feat + Focused Wrath. By comparison, longswords or battleaxes with Knight's Training + Imp Critical + Focused Wrath will be at least 17-20/x5 (i.e., double the crit range) and even better with certain named weapons: e.g., Axe of Adaxus (https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Axe_of_Adaxus) would be 17-20/x6, NF Avenger (https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Nightforge_Avenger_Blade) would be 15-20/x5.

[GLITRKING]

Barbarian Rage disables Precision which is why all barbs take Power Attack instead.

Dwarven axes aren't for TWF, they're for S&B or SWF toons because they (and bastard swords) get Strikethrough (https://ddowiki.com/page/Strikethrough) when single-wielded. However you can't take both SWF and THF feats, they're mutually exclusive; so you have to pick a lane and stay in it.

+[W] bonuses are nice; bigger critical threat ranges are better. Heroic dwarven axes are all 20/x3 which cap out at 19-20/x5 with Improved Critical feat + Focused Wrath. By comparison, longswords or battleaxes with Knight's Training + Imp Critical + Focused Wrath will be at least 17-20/x5 (i.e., double the crit range) and even better with certain named weapons: e.g., Axe of Adaxus (https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Axe_of_Adaxus) would be 17-20/x6, NF Avenger (https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Nightforge_Avenger_Blade) would be 15-20/x5.

Yep, dwarven waraxes for my Dwarven Barb/Ranger until I get Knights and then it's switch to battle axes.