Weapon Selection for a lvling Berserker

[Scoobydoo]

Does anyone know any good weapon choices for a leveling berserker?

I'm building one in SP, and so far I've resorted to using dual Steel war axes. He's currently level 26, and I kinda feel that my weapons aren't doing as much damage as I would like. I've saved up a bunch of gear using GoMule, so... if anyone has any recommendations on weapon progression for a lowbie berserker, I've love to hear it. BTW, I've just finished Duriel, and just made it to Act 3.

Thanks in advance.

 

[azzthom]

I have a friend using a twinked (by me) Barb. He's in almost exactly the same place as you. He's using Hellplague and Jade Tan Do and finding that, with merc, he does just fine. There are probably far better choices, but those two should be good enough for a while.

 

[Scoobydoo]

Hmm, Jade Tan Do does give CBF mod, and Hellplague does have nice stats and dual leech. Maybe that's exactly what the doctor ordered. Thanks

Don't suppose you have any other recommendations for mid level berserker weaponry? Something level 30 and up?

 

[hubb]

Butcher's Pupil can take you far once you're 39. Before that I think some of the exceptional swords are decent, have a look at Coldsteel Eye and Hexfire.

If you've got a good Butcher's and can make a Highland Blade 'Oath' for level 49 then you're good to go

 

[zaphodbrx]

Steeldriver is quite good too, if you want a two hander.

 

[Scoobydoo]

Thanks fellas. I've given both butchers and steeldriver a go, both are good weapons choices for a lvling berserker in the making. And after using both 1h + shield, I'd noticed that I tend to get blocklock on occassion even with whitstan + twitchtoe high block rate. I might consider going back to 2h weapons in the near future just to not get my attacks interrupted.

I've made a E-Oath small crescent in the past for a pally zerker once, and I might dust it off to test it on my berserker once I've hit the necessary levels. It's high dmg, ought to make things in NM a little easier, but is there a high end weapon of choice that I should be looking into? Most of the guides suggest either extremely rare uniques or hard to make runewords like eDeath. Any further recommedations?

 

[Pyrotechnician1]

Oath can probably take you to end game without too much difficulty, if you can get your hands on a Lo, grief has a great damage output and in a phase blade easily hits the last breakpoint.

 

[hubb]

*I was trying to think of a good two-hander, forgot about Steeldriver...

Yes, an interruptable attack and 0 defense doesn't really lend itself to blocking - that doesn't mean you can't use a one-hander though. You could use a low-block shield with useful mods (Rhyme for CBF and res), something like Spirit (FCR and +mana is nice for War Cry) or you can just equip a fast base weapon in the off-hand slot to speed up your attack:

When using Butcher's [10], equipping a Cutlass [-30] offhand does a lot for your IAS breakpoints:

FPA	Cleaver	Cleaver/Cutlass
11	70	30
10	105	52
9	174	89

^Same breakpoints apply if you decide to use the Oath SC.

IMO in norm and NM two-handers are generally too slow to justify the extra damage. Oath in a fast base is another story. I quite like Highland Blade and Champion Sword as bases as they're speedy and give you the option to go one-handed. Oath is end-game, if you want to do better you're looking at Death, Grief and BotD

 

[Scoobydoo]

Oath can probably take you to end game without too much difficulty, if you can get your hands on a Lo, grief has a great damage output and in a phase blade easily hits the last breakpoint.

Well, I do have a grief PB on SP (thanks to farming LK constantly with my SP Freezadin). And it's high dex req will lend itself to a higher blockrate...

It'd always baffled me that grief's +dmg works with a barb's berserk skill, but not pally's vengeance skill. How odd and predictable from blizzard. :rolf:

*I was trying to think of a good two-hander, forgot about Steeldriver...

Yes, an interruptable attack and 0 defense doesn't really lend itself to blocking - that doesn't mean you can't use a one-hander though. You could use a low-block shield with useful mods (Rhyme for CBF and res), something like Spirit (FCR and +mana is nice for War Cry) or you can just equip a fast base weapon in the off-hand slot to speed up your attack:

When using Butcher's [10], equipping a Cutlass [-30] offhand does a lot for your IAS breakpoints:

...

Same breakpoints apply if you decide to use the Oath SC.

IMO in norm and NM two-handers are generally too slow to justify the extra damage. Oath in a fast base is another story. I quite like Highland Blade and Champion Sword as bases as they're speedy and give you the option to go one-handed. Oath is end-game, if you want to do better you're looking at Death, Grief and BotD

Hmm, I might consider using that eOath SC with a wizzy for the res and other yummy mods. Is that a good idea?


edits: I haven't found a ethereal highland blade to make eOath in, that's why I've brought up the eOath SC that I had. I have considered making one in an ethereal BB, but that will use the last Mal rune that I currently have. If that isn't a good choice for an end game weapon, I'll probably stick with the SC instead.