Advice on skill progression for a 2h hammer conc barb ifra

Conanbarbarian

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Nov 25, 2005
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Advice on skill progression for a 2h hammer conc barb

Hi guys,

Going to start a 2 handed maul wielding conc barb. Named Thorgrim (in honor of one of Thulsa Dooms henchmen in Conan the barbarian). My question is what should my skill progression be?

Should I max concentrate or BO first?

I only plan on taking him up to nightmare for now since the only unique hammers I've got is bonesnap + steeldriver which I feel will only take him into the lower acts of nightmare safely... I'll stop at act 2 NM to get the might merc and leave it there till I find a higher unique maul when MFing.
 
Re: Advice on skill progression for a 2h hammer conc barb

I haven't played a conc barb, but since surviving in Normal and NM is pretty easy I always max offensive skills first so I can kill faster and get to Hell quicker.

Consider using the cube recipes to upgrade whichever of those hammers you like better (just make sure your strength is high enough first):

1 Ral Rune + 1 Sol Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Normal Unique Weapon = Exceptional Version of Weapon

For Hell, if you have a sorc you can run Hell Meph with, he drops Windhammers and IK Stone Crusher's rather reliably.
 
Re: Advice on skill progression for a 2h hammer conc barb

since surviving in Normal and NM is pretty easy I always max offensive skills first so I can kill faster and get to Hell quicker.
This.

Also, a Ribcracker is a pwnworthy Conc barb weapon with its defense boost, so I would consider that if you had one. It counts as a mace class weapon so it would benefit from your Mace Mastery play style before you equipped your end game hammer (though an up'd Ribby is end game material if you wanted to go that way).

Regardless, good luck with your barb.
 
Re: Advice on skill progression for a 2h hammer conc barb

I would have different opinion.

Because the early game was so easy, especially if you play twinked, I'd put a few point in combat skills, and start build up BO first. This way, you make life much easier for later game.

I did that with my concentrate barb, and it goes very well.
 
Re: Advice on skill progression for a 2h hammer conc barb

steeldriver
Steeldriver
Martel de Fer
Two Hand Damage: 187 - 303
Durability: 38 of 60
Required Level: 34
Required Strength: 85
Fingerprint: 0xeef65131
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+60% Increased Attack Speed
207% Enhanced Damage
+150% Damage to Undead
Heal Stamina Plus 25%
Required Level +5
Requirements -50% 1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune

That's a pretty low end Steeldriver, a higher end one would do quite a bit more damage, and I feel would take you a bit further than nightmare if you were patient enough.

I also second the idea of a Ribcracker or something similar.



 
Re: Advice on skill progression for a 2h hammer conc barb

Bonesnap can have up to 300% enchanted damage, more then any other unique two handed mace. If you have Bonesnap with 250% or more enchanted damage, I would suggest upgrading it into exeptional with horadric cube. I played my Zealot to first acts of hell with ordinary Bonesnap, and I'm currently playing Berserk barbarian which will also use normal Bonesnap untill I can equip Windhammer late in nightmare, so you can get pretty far with it.
 
Re: Advice on skill progression for a 2h hammer conc barb

I have a bone snap @ 296% ED so upping it could be an option....

Is there any way or formula I could use to see what the strength requirement would be after upping it? Although I wonder if the attack speed would be an issue?

With some sigon's gloves and belt I can get 30% IAS but I'm not sure that will really be enough
 
Re: Advice on skill progression for a 2h hammer conc barb

When you upgrade a weapon, it upgrades the weapon's base item type from the Normal version to the Exceptional version, or from the Exceptional version to the Elite version. So the upgraded weapon will have the requirements of the upgraded base item type. Arreat Summit is a good reference for this stuff.

For example, Bonesnap is a Maul. Check the Normal Maces on Arreat Summit and note what a Maul looks like, then check the Exceptional Maces--you should see that the Exceptional version is a War Club, and you can see it's strength requirement and all that fun stuff.

You can use the Weapon Speed Calculator to figure out how fast you'd attack with a particular base weapon and IAS.
 
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