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

[WilbyZ]

When you can, could you update the Enhancements from Live - The human tree seems different now

Also, is there a reason for 1 Fighter / 1 Ranger vs 2 Ranger? I can see you took a Rapid Shot on the Fighter level... which is auto granted by 2 Ranger -- Hmm... Kensi tree seems different now too.

[Aviya]

Alignment is not important at all. I went true neutral.

When you can, could you update the Enhancements from Live - The human tree seems different now

Also, is there a reason for 1 Fighter / 1 Ranger vs 2 Ranger? I can see you took a Rapid Shot on the Fighter level... which is auto granted by 2 Ranger -- Hmm... Kensi tree seems different now too.

It seems to me that the enhancements are ok.
I don't see any changes and I currently have that configuration on live.
Can you explain what differences you are experiencing?

Fighter is better because gives you +2 to hit and +1 damage and haste boost 30% for less action points

[skorpeon]

Alignment is not important at all. I went true neutral.



It seems to me that the enhancements are ok.
I don't see any changes and I currently have that configuration on live.
Can you explain what differences you are experiencing?

Fighter is better because gives you +2 to hit and +1 damage and haste boost 30% for less action points

I am interested in trying this build out, I don't have monk or druid, so just premium 32 pt build. I love playing rangers but the idea of switching to a 2HW after a burst missile and wading in is appealing. Also hoping for less worry about so many weapons and equipment.

any thoughts, how would the level progression and feats go?

[unbongwah]

I am interested in trying this build out, I don't have monk or druid, so just premium 32 pt build.

It's pretty easy to downgrade this build to a 32-pt first-lifer. Here's what I was messing with pre-U19:

Character Plan by DDO Character Planner Version 03.16.01
DDO Character Planner Home Page

Level 25 True Neutral Human Female
(1 Fighter \ 18 Barbarian \ 1 Ranger \ 5 Epic) 
Hit Points: 379
Spell Points: 0 
BAB: 20\20\25\30\30
Fortitude: 18
Reflex: 11
Will: 5

                  Starting          Feat/Enhancement
Abilities        Base Stats          Modified Stats
(32 Point)       (Level 1)             (Level 25)
Strength             18                    25
Dexterity            15                    17
Constitution         14                    16
Intelligence         10                    12
Wisdom                8                     8
Charisma              8                     8

Tomes Used
+2 Tome of Strength used at level 7
+2 Tome of Dexterity used at level 7
+2 Tome of Constitution used at level 7
+2 Tome of Intelligence used at level 7

Level 1 (Ranger)
Feat: (Human Bonus) Cleave
Feat: (Favored Enemy) Favored Enemy: Undead
Feat: (Selected) Power Attack


Level 2 (Barbarian)


Level 3 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Point Blank Shot


Level 4 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 5 (Barbarian)


Level 6 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Rapid Shot


Level 7 (Barbarian)


Level 8 (Fighter)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Fighter Bonus) Manyshot


Level 9 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Critical: Slashing Weapons


Level 10 (Barbarian)


Level 11 (Barbarian)


Level 12 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR
Feat: (Selected) Great Cleave


Level 13 (Barbarian)


Level 14 (Barbarian)


Level 15 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Two Handed Fighting


Level 16 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 17 (Barbarian)


Level 18 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Improved Two Handed Fighting


Level 19 (Barbarian)


Level 20 (Barbarian)
Ability Raise: STR


Level 21 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Greater Two Handed Fighting


Level 22 (Barbarian)


Level 23 (Barbarian)


Level 24 (Barbarian)
Feat: (Selected) Overwhelming Critical


Level 25 (Barbarian)

I front-loaded Manyshot because I like playing with my bow, but it meant backloading Great Cleave; most people would probably suggest taking GC @ lvl 6 and delaying MS (and ftr splash w/Rapid Shot) to lvl 12 instead.

If I wanted to do TWF instead of THF, I would probably take rgr 2 instead of ftr 1.

[skorpeon]

Great I will go with this, did not realsie when I change server I have to reset with good ol 28 build.

well I guess a few favour runs will get me back to the build I am after.

Cheers
Skorp