Scythe Weilding Barb

Zirnius

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Scythe Weilding Barb

I'm sort of looking at making a barb that's going to use a scythe, purely for PvM and using ww as main attack. I've looked at some other posts and it seems one of the huge downsides to this is the large amount of str/dex req of grim scythe. At 140 a peice it leaves me with very few points to put into vit.

So what options am I looking at? Should I hold out until I can find a decent -req grim or drop down to a battle scythe and lose the range 5 and some damage? What if I can't find a -req grim, should I put as little points as str/dex so I can make up the gap in items with +stats?

And one more question, would having a lot less life in terms of barbs make a big difference in survivability if I had enough life leech?

I hope for some good ideas on how I could possibly pull this build off and still have a fun time not dying after every other ww. Thanks.

Edit: Ahh, wield not weild just caught it after submitting.
 
What about Bec-De-Corbin? It requires 133 str 91dex makes 1average damage less. Has same range of 5 but base speed is 0 instead of -10.
But speed is not that important? I'd go for a Partizan: less requirements more damage, but it only has 4range.. That is a lot compared to your optional battle scythe with 2range though.
Edit: Nvm, you really want the 'Scythe' eh? Well definately stick to Grim as the battle really sucks!
 
You might want to wait with building your barb tilll you get a nice -req? As the requirements are ridicilous :o
 
Scythes are only a good choice on classic if you have a very nice one and know how to use it. I would recommend a bec-de-corbin over a grim scythe too.
 
should b able to get a pretty good bec or - req grim, i made a lvl 86 Duke scyther back in the day, very good for rof runs cut through those urdar bosses like butter. With about 3500 life 10k defence and ar 10%+ ll approx you should be in good shape.
 
Why do people complain about the req of a grim scythe. It's 140/140, don't you need the same number of statpoints for a exec ?
Yes, a exec can have more damage, but is only range 3.

I'd say, go with a full req grim scythe, highest damage you can get your hands on, slap on goblins, angelic ring and another angelic piece and go play Blender. There really is nothing like WWing with a grim scythe. Dare to be different. :)

You shouldn't wait for a -req, since you might find a better one later on with full req.

Don't use itemstats to get to 140/140 because you might lose items if you die and while trying to get your corpse from under a horde of monsters, die again while having picked up half your gear. You then have 2 corpses and only one will come with you to the next game...
 
Why do people complain about the req of a grim scythe. It's 140/140, don't you need the same number of statpoints for a exec ? Yes, a exec can have more damage, but is only range 3.

It's not so much the Req as it is the versatility; with an Exe, you have the option of going 1 or 2 handed.

- Akukami



 
I guess I'll take a chance with full points for req, and make up for the lack of points in vita with some life on items. Maybe try to get a decent % LL so if I do take any hits while WWing I'll get it back pretty quick.

How should I go about putting the stat points into str/dex, should I go for one of the weaker weapon options first and get some points in vit? Sort of worried that if I don't get enough life on him earlier on it'll be pretty hard to kill anything while trying to level without dying.

As for the exe, the versatility of being able to use a shield is a big plus, but building a barb was either going to be a mart or lance otherwise. But I've never made a barb that's used a scythe before, and after looking at what they look like in action. I must say they look pretty cool.

Thanks for the tips.
 
It's not so much the Req as it is the versatility; with an Exe, you have the option of going 1 or 2 handed.

- Akukami
Indeed I guess that differs from person to person. I build characters around a weapon.
note that this is in a PvM context, and since there is no more 2 handed BvB, 2-handed exec BvB are all but extinct. If there is some 2 handed BvB going on, it'll be marts with perhaps lancers trying to range them.

When we're talking about stats, one might consider the difference between an exec(range 3) and a naga(range 3). Interestingly, The naga has 45 max base damage while the exec only has 40 max base damage.

I have not had the urge, after killing a few monsters 2 handed, to switch to 1 handed by putting on a shield. "I seem to be doing too much damage, I'll just half the damage I do so I can enjoy these monsters longer." :)

All sillyness asside, I do get what you mean though. People like having the option. And those people will, without a doubt, avoid polearms all together. Nothing says style like a Grim Scythe though.

I guess I'll take a chance with full points for req, and make up for the lack of points in vita with some life on items. Maybe try to get a decent % LL so if I do take any hits while WWing I'll get it back pretty quick.

How should I go about putting the stat points into str/dex, should I go for one of the weaker weapon options first and get some points in vit? Sort of worried that if I don't get enough life on him earlier on it'll be pretty hard to kill anything while trying to level without dying.

As for the exe, the versatility of being able to use a shield is a big plus, but building a barb was either going to be a mart or lance otherwise. But I've never made a barb that's used a scythe before, and after looking at what they look like in action. I must say they look pretty cool.

Thanks for the tips.

Unless you are doing HC, dying at lower levels is not really that much of a problem. When I leveled my Grim Scythe barb, I planned to meet the requirements of my scythe by the time I got to the level I could use it. It was a level 48 req scythe though, so that gave me some time. I think I used a -30 req scythe for a while to level him up to 48.
I advise keeping your eyes out for a tri-dura grim scythe. Your goblins will do most of the damage anyway, so you will want durability from your scythe, even if it's lower damage, keep a tri-dura around.



 
Scythes are only a good choice on classic if you have a very nice one and know how to use it. I would recommend a bec-de-corbin over a grim scythe too.


what do you mean by know how to use it?


in theory, doesnt the dex req for the scythe give enough AR to not use angelics PvM?



 
Not when you are still leveling your char. When you hit 80 or so, you can probably do with some 120+ ar rings, if your Scythe also has 150+ ar.

Yes, they do take a bit of practice, for some odd reason they do behave differently then lances. At times it seems asif they have more range then lances.
 
I havent't used a lance in quite some time, but I know this barb is fun already. He's slowly working his way through hell at level 55, right now in act 2.

I know in lod weapon speed affected the number of attacks(I think the speed of attacks actually) you could do with ww. I've read on another post that in classic weapon speed doesn't effect ww. So would a lance be hitting just as many times and as fast as a grim scythe?

And it's too bad out of three imbues on my pally I'd been saving for making a hopfully nice weapon, the best one isn't even higher than 13X damage, but it does the job for now at least. I think the cb on goblins really helps with killing, seeing as I'm only getting about 700 damage out of it.

But I've made up for the lack of life with a rare belt with 4X on it, and some nice looking saintly mage plate of the colosus with 5X ;p
 
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