Fastest Leveling Build

[CdMagicFind]

Fastest Leveling Build

I made a post about this in the general section but I figured it might be best to take this to the barbarian section now that I've mostly settled on making one. (That is, unless anyone thinks that there's a better ladder climbing choice. I was suggested a barb for survivability/cs ability.)

Anywho, what I'm asking for help on is what build to use at each segment of the game since respecing allows for different builds. I think that the beginning of ladder (or starting ladder at any time in the season) can be broken down into three stages:

1. Beginning - best (almost gearless) build for questing
2. Middle - best build for normal/nightmare baal runs
3. End - best build for hell baal runs

So I'm wondering what build would be used at each stage. What I've figured so far is: a double swing build at (1), leveled without respecing to a frenzy build at (2), and then a respec to zerker at (3) to cs well. Double swing seems to be the strongest low level pvm skill. Frenzy allows for faster running since I don't think barbs keep up with casters at this stage and is most useful running up to the throne (very quickly if you're using dual spirits and leap and what not) and battle orders. To end off, I was suggested the zerker build and it seems to work well, though I would think a WW build would work better since IM is removed if I wasn't suggested a zerker.

So... what do you guys think? :scratchchin:

 

[Rawness1]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

1. Trapper w/ fireblast + WoF but a Holy Fire paladin is probably the fastest... the Poison creeper is quiet nice too.
2. Orb sorc. Mainly because of the teleport.
3. Metaorb. Can handle immunities + Teleport to baals.

SP or Battle net? I'd suggest getting together a team of 8 people, going from start to finish if you want it to be "fast". There is no faster way in the beginning of the ladder really. The fastest leveling build is always going to be dependent in real circumstances and other people, you should get a Party to go along, otherwise the leveling part is kind of... hard to calculate as there's no reliable source of data.

 

[CdMagicFind]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

Well, I kind of meant exclusive to barbarians. Other conditions: battle.net and 3-8 players (1 sorc, 1 druid, and whoever else wants to tag along).

As for what you suggested, the whole point of this build was that a barb should be best near the end, so... I'm hoping I'm right about that.

 

[stephan]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

Unless you're twinked they basically are bad at any stage of the game.

 

[Kalkanor]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

ya barbs and any phys builds depend mostly on good weapons
well most builds ... palas have there auras so you can do good damage without a weapon...

 

[CdMagicFind]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

That's not really the point though. The point is how good they are end-game (which... shouldn't matter twinked or not if you gear yourself along the way). I want to know the best way to get to that point, not whether or not it's good or bad along the way...

 

[stephan]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

The problem is that you won't gear yourself 'along the way' with any kind of speed.

Assuming good gear and with IM gone, there is no reason not to make a WW barb.

 

[Barloc]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

I made a post about this in the general section but I figured it might be best to take this to the barbarian section now that I've mostly settled on making one. (That is, unless anyone thinks that there's a better ladder climbing choice. I was suggested a barb for survivability/cs ability.)

Anywho, what I'm asking for help on is what build to use at each segment of the game since respecing allows for different builds. I think that the beginning of ladder (or starting ladder at any time in the season) can be broken down into three stages:

1. Beginning - best (almost gearless) build for questing
2. Middle - best build for normal/nightmare baal runs
3. End - best build for hell baal runs

So I'm wondering what build would be used at each stage. What I've figured so far is: a double swing build at (1), leveled without respecing to a frenzy build at (2), and then a respec to zerker at (3) to cs well. Double swing seems to be the strongest low level pvm skill. Frenzy allows for faster running since I don't think barbs keep up with casters at this stage and is most useful running up to the throne (very quickly if you're using dual spirits and leap and what not) and battle orders. To end off, I was suggested the zerker build and it seems to work well, though I would think a WW build would work better since IM is removed if I wasn't suggested a zerker.

So... what do you guys think? :scratchchin:

I would agree on most of these points

1-Double Swing is indeed a great way to kill/level quickly in the beginning. I prefer single weapon/shield on swap when trouble arises (cold/res boost needed) so I don't have to town and just keep killing.

2-Nightmare. A little more of a mystery for me, since respecs weren't previously possible. My full builds have been mostly WW and conc. WW hits at lvl 30, but as mentioned by other posters, any skills you use will be slow killing without decent gear. Personally I'm a WW fan, and being frozen isn't an issue with this skill unlike all the others. If you want some FRW without frenzy, max increase speed and get some 30% boots-then respec.

3-Endgame. Still WW for me, but frenzy is amazing and uber viable- ww isn't.
@105% cast rate(w/enigma), getting to baal will be as fast as sorc, and you'll be less likely to die due to massive life/higher res. But you'll only be a GG support character. Barbs are easily outranked by other classes that kill monsters much faster then you can. I suppose zerker people can debate this, but I never see them and frankly its a 1 monster at a time kill, slowed by cold and decrepify.

 

[CdMagicFind]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

@Stephan: Is it really that bad..? I assumed I would be able to kill slowly but surely and would host baal games for the most part. As for why I wouldn't make WW, I'm just not sure of its CS ability, which is why I was planning to make the zerker.

@Barloc: Glad I wasn't way off with my choices. :crazyeyes: The frenzy build was chosen because I figured I'd only be able to get enough gear to stay alive but not enough to do decent damage. I'm hoping that's good enough and that I'll be able to tag along efficiently.. The argument for a barb at the end of the game seems to just be BO and survivability while doing CS. I'm not sure if WW can do this and I don't think frenzy is any good besides using it for FRW like I would be doing in mid game.

p.s. Since you guys don't seem to agree that barbs are a good build for this, do you have any suggestions for where I should turn to for a better one? (Sorcs are an obvious choice but the sorc part of ladder is cram packed.)

 

[Barloc]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

The argument for a barb at the end of the game seems to just be BO and survivability while doing CS. I'm not sure if WW can do this and I don't think frenzy is any good besides using it for FRW like I would be doing in mid game..

CS... You mean Critical Strike? Yup, That'd work for WW/Mastery.

p.s. Since you guys don't seem to agree that barbs are a good build for this, do you have any suggestions for where I should turn to for a better one? (Sorcs are an obvious choice but the sorc part of ladder is cram packed.)

Not me I only ever play Barb. You might get more answers to that specific question back at the community forum. But I do see those light/java zon's :girly:take down baal faster then I've ever seen.

 

[ohnoyellowdinosaur]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

definitely switch out berserk for a better skill. a frenzy barb actually sounds like a lot of fun. it also saves you one more respec.

 

[CdMagicFind]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

@Barloc: Er, CS as in Chaos Sanctuary. I guess some people just call it chaos.

@ohnoyellowdinosaur: I really don't consider Frenzy a better skill.

 

[Raging_Zealot]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

I've never had a problem in Chaos Sanctuary with WW, and now with IM gone, i don't see it being an issue at all. If anything I'd think the leach, AoE, and high mobility would make it easier than Berserk there now that the chance of getting insta killed by IM is gone, but I've never had a dedicated berserker, so I can't say for sure.

IMO the best ladder runners will be either a sorc (as mentioned, meteorb is a good choice as she can kill well everywhere) or a necro, skelemancers can beat the game pretty much naked and are thus good untwinked chars IMO. This isn't to say other characters I didn't mention aren't good as well.

Barbarians are one of my favorite classes to play, but are very weapon/gear dependent for good damage, which is why many here are pointing out they aren't ideal for ladder runners.

 

[CdMagicFind]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

I see... Thank you. I didn't think anyone was going to reply anymore.

I know that a sorceress (Meteorb) or Summoner are generally used for ladder climbing but I'm not sure of their success later on in ladder. I've been told that being able to clear CS safely is key, so I was suggested a barb. However, if it really is going to be so much trouble, maybe I shouldn't.. I guess I'll go back to the drawing board then. :yes:

 

[Scudstorm]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

I know that a sorceress (Meteorb) or Summoner are generally used for ladder climbing but I'm not sure of their success later on in ladder. I've been told that being able to clear CS safely is key, so I was suggested a barb.

What d'ya mean by success?

Sorcs win the awards of fastest Baal runner and most suited overall MFer.

Summoners are the cheapest MFers in the game; since one can clear Hell Pit naked, they can pack the highest MF values while still being able to kill effectively, so they're your best bet if you want to find a specific Unique by yourself.

Clear CS safely is one aspect of the game among many others, I dunno why you've been told it's so primordial... My current Frenzier rarely visits CS, but that does not make him a fail char.

 

[TurtleBay]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

The problem with the barb is they are not enough "clear" and too much "safety". Very high power sorceresses very rarely die, and in the end game between levels 90 - 99 hammerdins, sorcs, LF-zons, trap-sins and summoners deal way more damage. This allows them to run both baal and chaos in around 3 minutes which lets them level the fastest. The fastest baal groups would most likely not want barbs because the extra BO over killing speed is not worth it.

 

[Scudstorm]

Re: Fastest Leveling Build

The fastest baal groups would most likely not want barbs because the extra BO over killing speed is not worth it.

~3-4 good damage dealers is all you need for Baal runs, so why not.

Also, the fastest Baal groups do benefit from a Barb. Spamming Warcry can stun the third wave as they're spawned, denying them the occasion to cast Hydras. As Hydras count as monsters in Baal's spawning AI, it will accelerate the run by a few seconds. (IIRC... been off BNet for a while)