Redsonja - a Melee/Ranged DPS Barbarian

[Aviya]

I'VE UPDATED THIS BUILD FOR U24
If you are looking for a pure melee barbarian --> Redsonja 2.0

This build was created when level cap in ddo was 25. All the screenshots and videos in this post are from my old level 25 character.

If u like to see big numbers, huge crits, good survivability and the best DPS you have even seen, then this is the build you were searching for.

Redsonjah of Cannith


-Melee capability of the barbarian class is well known.
The strength of barbarians come from the very high crit multipliers they can achieve (up to x10 with dreadnought destiny) and their uber strength score.

-Ranged ability (manyshot) gives alot of versatility to any end game build, expecially a barbarian one because it allows you to deal damage while you don't get hit, a ton of extra damage.
Put this 2 togheter and you will have a toon that can easily win the title for best overall dps.

So you want to see big numbers? Pre update 19 screenshots: now you can do even better.
-My highest melee crit damage with master blitz: 22,198

- An Adrenaline Bow Crit NO slaying arrow in fury of the wild: 10,029


5,7 seconds manyshot against EE Sobrien video

I also might be one of the few, if not the only, barbarian who managed to solo EE Gianthold TOR

The build:
Human 18Barbarian/1Ranger/1Fighter

Why human?
First of all racial healing amplification which is a huge boost to our survivability. I can self heal for almost 600 hp with a single silver flame potion and that is what can keep u alive while running hardest content of the game. Second reason is the extra feat on a feat starved build.

Quick explanation of the split.
-18 levels of barbarian give us x3 critical multiplier, damage boost and a huge amount of Strength.
-1 level of ranger give us Bow Strenght feat for free, a favored enemy selection and, with the new enhancements, infinite ammo of the arcane archer tree and +1 sneak attack dice from deepwood tree.
-1 level of fighter give haste boost (15% with current enhancements but 30% with the next expansion and +2 to hit and +1 to damage) and an extra feat.

36 pt
18 Str + LVL up points here
12 Dex +5 Dex Tome
18 Con
8 Int
8 Wis
8 Cha

If you miss the +5 dex tome you can drop Constitution a bit and start with 17 or even 16. This build still hits 1000 hp with the best gear set up.

Level Progression:
1-18 barbarian 19 ranger 20 fighter

Feats:
1 Power attack
1 Cleave
3 Two handed fighting
6 Great cleave
9 Improved Critical Slashing
12 Improved Two handed fighting
15 Greater Two handed fighting
18 Point blank shot
19R Favored Enemy Evil Outsider
20F Rapid Shot
21 Manyshot
24 Overwhelming critical
-------------------------------
26 Perfect Two Handed Fighting
27 Improved Critical Ranged
28 Elusive Target

Gear:
Head Black helm +3 insightful Strength, +7 saves +7 constitution
Black Dragonhide armor +14 Prr
Dream Visor: +20 vitality
Nether Grasp
Greater Convalescent bracers of Superior Parring
Ring of Shadows +2 insight con
Encrusted Ring +20% healing amp
Knost Belt
Treads of falling shadow
Adamantine Cloak of the Wolf
Planar focur Prowess +8 Strength
GreenSteel Necklace MinII Heavy fortification

Weapons:
Cleaver, Antique Greataxe, ESOS, +6 Holyburst Maul of Disruption, Pinion, Epic Bow of silver Flame

I have tested the build on lammania with the new enhancements and I'm very excited by the bonuses It will get mainly from Haste Boost 30%, Infinite Ammo and a nice pool of spell points for energy sheat and conjure arrows.
It will also gain roughly 100 more hp, which is always nice.

Stay tuned for updates!

Enhancements Version 0.99

[Teen]

Very interesting build!

I'm impressed.

[Aviya]

Very interesting build!

I'm impressed.

Thanks!

[Xyfiel]

I think crit rage and death frenzy will be higher dps. Unless they changed the FB tier V to all crits not just on 19-20. I am leveling a very similar build right now but twf.

Compare just enhancements for an ESOS, the rest is static(OC, Dread, etc).

Crit rage II + DF
13-20 x4 = 45 total hit power(11*1 + 6*4 + 2*5)

Tier V FB
15-18 x4, 19-20 x 6 = 41 total hit power(13*1 + 4*4 + 2*6)

And the crit rage gets more seeker damage and crit effects.

Anyway, nice to know the build I am making is close to one who has already achieved. I got a long way to go for gear and fate points.

[Aviya]

I think crit rage and death frenzy will be higher dps. Unless they changed the FB tier V to all crits not just on 19-20. I am leveling a very similar build right now but twf.

Compare just enhancements for an ESOS, the rest is static(OC, Dread, etc).

When you do this kind of comparisons it's important to factor Epic Destiny mechanics as well.
I like to play alot in fury of the wild destiny to enhance my strength with the Manyshot+adrenaline combo.

In fury there is no point raising the crit range cause you will always score a crit hit under the effect of adrenaline. Meanwhile, to boost your dps during a "Furyshot", is very important to have the highest crit multipier as possible.
Of course dreadnought is the best ED for melee characters. A Melee-Only barbarian (say a pure barbarian) should always play in dreadnought and be a ravager with t5 crit rage and bully.

But with my build, and with ranged dps in general, things are different.
Manyshot in fury is the best burst dps we have in the game and this is particularly true for a frenzied berserker barbarian.
In Raids or full 6 people parties It's very important to have the huge burst dps from Fury to unleash in difficult situations or on red named bosses.
Trash mobs are very easily handled in a full party. It's the burst dps on Boss fights or when bad situations occur that is most important.
A well timed manyshot can save you many Raid runs.

To summarize my thoughts:
Go Frenzy berserk + Fury when you play in a group
Go Ravager + Dreadnought when you solo EE stuff

[C-Shell]

so babarians with enhancements and high strenght do good damage. who would have thought

[Aviya]

I've been asked to post my lammania enhancement selection.
It's still subject to change, since I could use some more testing myself, but should be something like this:

[Sonos]

Just curious, I thought that with the new enhancements, the ToD set would be borked and therefore, you would not get the additional FB III set bonus. Is this not true? Thanks

[Aviya]

When testing on Lammania I wasn't getting the full benefits of the Barbarian set. Just +1 rage and +2 damage but not the +2strength and +2 con.
Hope they can fix it soon

[SilkofDrasnia]

I've been asked to post my lammania enhancement selection.
It's still subject to change, since I could use some more testing myself, but should be something like this:

I will try out this build it looks nice!

I have a barb sitting at lvl 12, was going to go pure and then a few quick epics and TR again but decided to give this a go. Currently my race is half orc rather than human so I have 17 points to play with.

I was thinking maybe orcish weapons, stubborn and extra action boosts that brings me to 15 spent in the tree.

Any ideas? Do you think there is something better in the other trees?

I have 2 more barb lives to go after this one, next life will go human. I also have 3 paladin past lives on this character and +4 tomes to all stats.

[Tenebris-Niatellim]

Will a variant of this work for a first life 28 point build? IF so what changes in stat distribuitions need to be made?

I'm not looking to do as much damage (if he ever gets to 20 i'll reincarnate him for the 36 point build and follow this exactly) but I really like your idea for barb, and I'm kind of lost in the new ench pass so this was the first build that appealed to me. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

[Aviya]

Any ideas? Do you think there is something better in the other trees?

You can buy +1 Con from the Ravager tree if you find yourself not even.
Also nice is Ritual scarring (+3 PRR) also from Ravager tree.
Uncanny Dodger (+3% dodge) from Occult slayer tree.

Will a variant of this work for a first life 28 point build? IF so what changes in stat distribuitions need to be made?

The important thing is to get to 17 base dexterity (initial stat + Tomes) to get the Manyshot feat.

I'd recommend to start with 17 strength 14 dex 15 con and 9 int if you already have a +3 Dexterity tome.
If you don't, just go with 16 strength 15 dex 16 con with a +2 Dexterity Tome

[Tenebris-Niatellim]

You can buy +1 Con from the Ravager tree if you find yourself not even.
Also nice is Ritual scarring (+3 PRR) also from Ravager tree.
Uncanny Dodger (+3% dodge) from Occult slayer tree.


The important thing is to get to 17 base dexterity (initial stat + Tomes) to get the Manyshot feat.

I'd recommend to start with 17 strength 14 dex 15 con and 9 int if you already have a +3 Dexterity tome.
If you don't, just go with 16 strength 15 dex 16 con with a +2 Dexterity Tome

So considering you get the ranger level at 18, I'm guessing I probably can afford a dex +3 tome by then to get many shots right? Or do you get many shots earlier then 18?

[Tenebris-Niatellim]

Edit: NVM your build said you take it at 21, nevertheless I porbably will be able to afford a +3 tome by then...right?

Im kind of out of the loop on how tomes work and how to get them. I mean I hear people say you can buy then in the AH then I hear people say tomes are bought for DDO points so im always confused.

[Tenebris-Niatellim]

Edit: NVM your build said you take it at 21, nevertheless I porbably will be able to afford a +3 tome by then...right?

Im kind of out of the loop on how tomes work and how to get them. I mean I hear people say you can buy then in the AH then I hear people say tomes are bought for DDO points so im always confused.

(btw srry dosent let me edit my prev posts for some reason.)

[Tenebris-Niatellim]

and are enhancements not important?

Would they just be Intimidate and Balance?

[Aviya]

and are enhancements not important?

Would they just be Intimidate and Balance?

Skills should be UMD and balance

[Tenebris-Niatellim]

Skills should be UMD and balance

Well that's problematic Q_Q

Ive been maxing intimidate, balance and spot.

put 1 point in tumble

put 3 points in jump (22 base strength without equipment gives +6 mod? So I would have 9 jump with equips a little over 10 jump which is optimal)

Then I dumped the rest into swim...FML (only level 5 tho, so I guess itll be fine if I put the 1 point ive been dumping into swim, into UMD? or is it slightly to late?)

[Aviya]

Well that's problematic Q_Q

Ive been maxing intimidate, balance and spot.

put 1 point in tumble

put 3 points in jump (22 base strength without equipment gives +6 mod? So I would have 9 jump with equips a little over 10 jump which is optimal)

Then I dumped the rest into swim...FML (only level 5 tho, so I guess itll be fine if I put the 1 point ive been dumping into swim, into UMD? or is it slightly to late?)

Make sure to have 11 trained ranks (22 points spent) at lvl 20.
The other skills are not really important

[troublegurl]

what aligment did you use