by Noober
14.03.05
v1.00
Introduction
What is a WolfBarb?
The simple answer is a Barbarian that can turns into a wolf.
Why play a WolfBarb?
Huge life
Excellent attack speed
Originality (to a certain extent)
Good for Hardcore
Practically the same skill layout as a BvB WWBarb giving easy conversion
Why not play a WolfBarb
No teleport
If you choose not to use a Raven Frost (see equipment), being frozen will kill you in pvp (as will Decrepify).
Little damage (made up by crazy attack speed)
Requires level 79 before you can shift (i.e. Wolfhowl's level requirement is 79)
Stat Placement
Strength: As will almost every PvP build, only enough for equipment. This includes charms (i.e. if you have an Annihilus). It is quite possible to get by with a little extra invested, however do not invest in strength for the damage bonus, it simply isn't worth it.
Dexterity: Plan for max block with [Dexterity Required = (2*clvl*75 / Shield Block) + 15] your end game shield. Like strength, it is not worth investing for the Defence bonus or Attack Rating bonus.
Vitality: Max. Warcry's + Werewolf abilities = ALOT OF HEALTH.
Energy: You will not need more energy for PvP. However if you plan on having some fun in PvM you may want to add some energy. Even with a 4 mana attack and Battle Orders, because of the ultra-fast 4 frame attack, I find myself out of mana annoyingly often. This can be remedied by multiple mana potions or placing points in Energy. I recommend the mana potion route.
Skill Placement
Due to the fact that a WolfBarb gains it's main abilities from an item, it is not necessary to maximise your main attack allowing for a greater focus on Warcry's and Combat Masteries.
Max the following skills in this order:
20 Weapon Mastery - Obviously dependant on your weapon of choice. Max it.
20 Battle Orders - Crucial. Extra health and mana is good
. 20 Shout - I prefer maxing this before Iron Skin as it is affected by buffing equipment. You may want to max this after Iron Skin (or place a single point in Iron Skin first) if you do not have echoing weapons on switch.
20 Iron Skin - More defence. It's not as if you have anything else to do.
One-point wonders:
1 Battle Command - Not needed, any extra points are just for duration (i.e. essentially wasted).
1 Increase Speed - For the speed.
1 Natural Resistance - Yet another one-point wonder.
Prerequisites:
Howl
Increased Stamina
Remaining points can be distributed between Increased Speed and Natural Resistance or see below for Whirlwind details. Be aware of Increased Speed’s heavy diminishing returns.
You can also choose to add a point in Berserk allowing one to deal with Physical Immunes with greater ease.
Total Points to complete build: 85 (Level 74 after all skill quests completed). Remember that Wolfhowl requires level 79.
Whirlwind Hybrid Subsection
Since you will have quite a few extra points (because you don’t need to max a main skill), you can invest in a secondary attack. I personally use whirlwind, however my preferred choice of Berserker axes conflicts with my preferred choice of Wolf weapon (caduceus/mace). Therefore you will not have sufficient points in required masteries unless you forgo Iron Skin or Griswold’s Caduceus. This is my current (planned) structure is:
Main skills:
3 Whirlwind – Main secondary attack. Probably the best melee attack in the game. I use three points to break even the damage with Battle Command and Arreats Face.
16 Axe Mastery – Investing in this gives better returns then Whirlwind.
One-points wonders:
1 Berserk – Dealing with immunes
Prerequisites:
1 Bash
1 Stun
1 Concentrate
1 Leap
1 Leap Attack
Changed Equipment will be:
Arreats Face Slayer Guard (preferably glitched)
Beast Berserker Axe – Open wounds (and the increased AR) is key against high defence characters Barbs
Breath of the Dying Berserker Axe – possibly duel-wielded with Beast, but there are not likely to be many such situations
Strategy
Mainly get used to taking advantage of your range against enemies like smiters who usually use the range 2 Asteron’s Ward (but when Grief comes over…). Don’t whirl through characters, but rather in a triangle shape around them (i.e. dance of death). Barb vs. Barb whirling is generally equipment/luck based. If in trouble learn to whirl away (this is also important versus Chargers) Also, if you get outwhirled by a WWsin, stop playing this game.
Equipment
- Speed (both Run/Walk and attack), Life and AR/Defence are the key stats of this build.
Some things to note when considering equipment:
- Werewolves will take only IAS on the weapon and 50% of the IAS on the gloves.
- The combination of Shout and Iron Skin may warrant taking a high Strength, high Defence armour.
- Plus to Druid/Shapeshifting skills will not work with this build.
- When you are frozen, your attack speed is not lowered, though your movement speed still is. It is therefore not as important to have ‘cannot be frozen’.
Equipment is sorted from most desirable (in my humble opinion)
- From personal experience (and this view is echoed by most veteran WolfBarbs), when choosing weapons, you will do better to get fast attack speeds (in particular a 4 frame attack) then more damage.
Main Weapon
Griswold's Redemption Caduceus (from the Grizwold's Legacy set) - 40% IAS and 4 open sockets allow it to hit the 4 frame attack requirements when socketed with 4x Shaels. 4x 40/15's (heavily duped jewels with 15% increased attack speed and 40% enhanced damage) can also be used for more damage but a slower attack. I personally recommend this (the x4 Shaels that is).
Azurewrath Phase Blade (Elite Unique Sword) – Must be Shaeled. Quite popular among WolfBarbs.
Breath of the Dying Warspike (Runeword Vex+Hel+El+Eld+Zod+Eth) - Allows for much more damage then Griswold's Caddy, however it also has much lower attack speed (7 frames) and is more expensive (especially to get a good one/415% ED). The required mastery is also Axe which means that this is good in conjunction with Whirlwind.
Tomb Reaver (Exceptional Unique Polearm) – From what I hear, the best PvM weapon (with x3 Sheal). After a little testing I would agree. Too bad about the masteries though .
Beast Berseker Axe (Exceptional Unique Polearm) – Not recommended as your main weapon unless you need the range (3). Expect to pay a lot for repairs, though.
Breath of the Dying Phase Blade (Runeword Vex+Hel+El+Eld+Zod+Eth) - Less damage then Griswold's and much more expensive. Not recommended.
Shield
Stormshield Monarch (Elite Unique Shield) - Still the best. Not too expensive online, however finding one is harder. Godly damage reduction.
Whitstan's Guard Round Shield (from the Orphan's Call set) - Highest block, low requirements, rubbish for everything else.
Sanctuary Large Shield (Runeword Ko+Ko+Mal) - Cheap, nice block, resists and fast hit recovery. Only placed in a large shield for the low requirements, you may wish to change to a higher block shield. Slow Missiles is EVIL however and is generally regarded as bad manners.
Secondary Weapon
Beast Berserker Axe/Caduceus (Runeword Ber+Tir+Um+Mal+Lum) – You will need this to beat some of the best characters. You will hate the repair costs, though. Love the AR, Open Wounds and Damage.
Wizardspike Bone Knife (Elite Unique Dagger) – Use as secondary for huge resists.
Weapon Switch
x2 Heart of the Oak Flails (Runeword Ko+Vex+Pul+Thul) - For the insanely rich who have nothing better to do.
x2 Echoing One-Handed weapons (Magical Items) - For Warcry's of course.
