Hammer Time Barbarian BUILD for Diablo IV [S- Tier Grade]

(It’s HAMMER TIME! Slam that massive Warhammer into the ground and grind your foes into dust.)

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Diablo IV launched on June 6th, 2023 for PC (Battle.Net), XBOX, & PlayStation) and I’ve had my fair share of playing and testing done. I’m now ready to start making full Builds/Theorycrafts that work for both ‘fresh-into-endgame’ characters as well as late endgame. I’ll evolve & keep them updated when we get major rebalance updates. This is one such build for the Barbarian Class called Hammer Time.

I’ve also made spreadsheets for my builds (see the links below) that have shortlisted the active and passive skills + legendary aspect + unique item + gems & sockets + suggested stat rolls + paragon boards that work well with the build which you can use to tinker. Alternatively, I’ve added build calculator links (mostly needed for the paragons)

This build will be updated when needed.

Video Version:

Skill Trees

Below you’ll see ONLY the Active & Passive skills that were selected for this build. For additional skills that can be taken + alternative skill options, you can check my RDY-4-Launch Builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Hammer Time) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

Basic Skill (Resource Generator/Builder) (Required Points: 0 )

Core Skill(s) (Resource Spender) (Required Points: 2 )

Defensive Skills (Required Points: 6 )

Brawling Skills (Required Points: 11 )

Weapon Mastery Skills (Required Points: 16 ) Not taking an active Weapon Mastery skill

Ultimate Skills (Required Points: 23 )

Specializations (Required Points: 33 )

Class Mechanic:

The Barbarian class mechanics is called Arsenal and this is how I believe it works:

The Barbarian class can equip 4 weapons at the same time: a Dual-wielding set of 2x One-Handed weps + two separate Two-Handed weapons (not dual-wielding those). They switch in combat between those based on what weapon is assigned to specific skills via the class unique Arsenal System. So each skill can have its own weapon assigned to it as long as it’s one of the 4 weapons equipped. The weps you don’t actually use work as ‘stat sticks’, even any aspects slotted on them. Here are the types:

• Dual Wielded 1-Handed Weapons on Barbarians can be either Slashing or Bludgeoning such as: Swords, Axes, or Maces. The game seems to clump all 1-Handed weapons together under the “Dual-Wielding” as far as Barbarians and their skill tags are concerned so regardless of Slashing or Bludgeoning type, a 1-Handed weapon will apparently not count as either.
• The two slots of Two-Handed Weapons can be occupied by Slashing type weps like Swords, Axes, & Polearms and/or by Bludgeoning Maces
• Ideally 1x 2h Slashing, 1x 2h Bludgeoning and a Dual-Wield 1h combo for the 4 weps if you go for a swap-centric build

On top of this, each weapon type has it’s own passive bonus levels weapon & a technique which gets unlocked after a certain threshold is reached. Here is how I recommend that you arrange the weapons by skill and also which weapon technique to use:

• Dual Wielded OR 2-handed Slashing will be attached to Charge But. I personally prefer Dual Wielded for it as I’m looking for speed when used to escape enemy CCs or initiate a fight rather than dmg with that skill.
• 2-handed Bludgeoning must be on both Bash & Hammer of the Ancients as the build demands it for Bash‘s guaranteed Core Skill Overpower after critically striking 4 times with a 2H Bludgeoning

Unique Items

In Diablo IV we can equip more than one unique item at the same time (not so ‘unique’ if we can get decked out in full uniques I guess). It seems that the one unique per build idea that Uniques inherited from the Mythical gear they supposedly replaced was scrapped even before the closed beta tests. My top pick will be the following one but check below it & the notes under the Aspects list for more info:

Top Pick Unique for the Build

Harlequin Crest (Helm)

Gain [5-8%] Damage Reduction. In addition, gain +[2-4] Ranks to All Skills.

[0.245 – 0.455] Maximum Life
X% Cooldown Reduction
+[42 – 70]% Crafting Material Drop Rate
[14 – 28] All Stats

“This headdress was once worn by an assassin disguised as a court mage. Her treachery was unveiled, but not before she used its magic to curse the king’s entire lineage.” – The Fall of House Aston

Additional/Alternative Unique for the Build

Ideally I’d want this one in the build but not sure how well it would work considering the Fury Drain that will occur

Melted Heart of Selig (Amulet)

[4 – 25]% Resistance to All Elements

Gain +30% Maximum Resource. In addition, when you take damage, drain [3 – 8] Resource for every 1% of Life you would have lost instead.

[10 – 18] All Stats
+[12.5 – 19.5]%
Core Skill Damage
+[16.5 – 23.5]% Damage while Healthy
[7 – 14]% X Generation (Struck’s note: I’m 100% sure X here stands for each class’ Primary Resource: Mana, Essence, Spirit, Energy, Fury)

“Do not allow your passions to become obsessions. Fuel the fire that burns within you, but it is madness to allow yourself to become ash to please an uncaring universe.” – Last words of Master Selig

This one is an EXTREMELY RARE DROP but IF you get it It may be an amazing one for the 2h Slashing slot. (We get a solid chunk of MULTIPLICATIVE crit dmg from it and that should be a solid dps boost by itself on top of the +% dmg, life and core stats)
The Grandfather (Two-Handed Sword)

+[17.5%] Critical Strike Damage

Increases your Critical Strike Damage by x[60 – 100]%. The other properties on this weapon can roll higher than normal.

+[14 – 28]% Damage
[0.245 – 0.455] Maximum Life
[20 – 36] All Stats
Ignores Durability Loss

This one is an ALTERNATIVE pick and not something I suggested for the final build but worth considering. (It has pretty good rolls that come with it and pretty useful when mobbing, not so much vs bosses)
Mother’s Embrace (Ring)

[6 – 35]% Fire Resistance
[6 – 35]% Cold Resistance

If a Core Skill hits 5 or more enemies, [20 – 40]% of the Resource cost is refunded.

+[2 – 6]% Critical Strike Chance
+[14 – 21]% Critical Strike Damage
+[21 – 42]% Overpower Damage
+[12.5 – 19.5]% Core Skill Damage

“Every tome, every scroll, every book in this temple produces the same answer. The only being willing to stand against the Eternal Conflict, against the Prime Evils, was Lilith.” – Elias

This one is an ALTERNATIVE pick and not something I suggested for the final build but worth considering. (It comes with not so good rolls but the unique affix is nice for either bosses or mobbing)
Ring of Starless Skies (Ring)

[6 – 35]% Lightning Resistance
[6 – 35]% Shadow Resistance

Each consecutive Core Skill cast reduces the Resource cost of your next Core Skill by [5 – 10]%, up to a maximum of 30%.

[10 – 18] All Stats
+[4 – 10]% Lucky Hit Chance
+[9.5 – 16.5]% Damage to Crowd Controlled Enemies
+[12.5 – 19.5]% Core Skill Damage

“Yours is the power to pluck the stars from the heavens with the ease of a child gathering fruit from the bough.” – Unknown

Sockets & Gems

There are various possible good/viable choices for the gem slots. I’ve shortlisted what works by slot. I’d recommend picking one of those:

Weps: Ruby. Emerald is also good, but Ruby is what this build needs more.
Armor: Ruby or Saphire (dmg reduction apparently is very needed in high tier NM dungeons).
Jewelry: Skull for Armor until they rework resistances. After the rework: Diamond unless you need specific resistance more than all.

Legendary Aspects / Powers

I will only list the Legendary Aspects that have been selected for the build and the slots in which I advise putting those. For in-depth information you can check my RDY-4-Launch Builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Hammer Time) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

• Helm: Aspect of Might OR Aspect of The Protector / Harlequin Crest (see notes below)
• Amulet: Accelerating Aspect (see notes below)
• Chest: Aspect of Might OR Aspect of The Protector
• Pants: Aspect of Disobedience
• Gloves: Aspect of Ancestral Force
• Boots: Eluding Aspect
• Ring 1: Aspect of Echoing Fury
• Ring 2: Bold Chieftain’s Aspect
• Main Hand Weapon: Rapid Aspect
• Off-hand Weapon: Aspect of The Expectant (see notes below)
• 2-H Weapon (Bludgeoning): Earthstriker’s Aspect
• 2-H Weapon (Slashing): Aspect of Limitless Rage (see notes below)

NOTES: How to re-arrange if using any of the Uniques:

- For Harlequin Crest (Helm): Aspect of Might OR Aspect of The Protector gets removed from the Helm slot to make room for the Unique Helm.

ALTERNATIVE PICKS (if you decide to use them), my advice will be to sacrifice one of the offensive aspects (especially if already using the Unique Helm):

- For Melted Heart of Selig (Amulet): Aspect of The Expectant gets removed from the Off-hand weapon slot, then Accelerating Aspect goes into the, now empty, Off-hand slot to make room for the Unique Amulet.
- For Grandfather (Greatsword): Aspect of The Expectant gets removed from the Off-hand weapon slot, then Accelerating Aspect goes into the, now empty, Off-hand slot to make room for Aspect of Limitless Rage to go into the Amulet Slot, which makes room for the Unique Greatsword.
- For any 1 of the Unique Rings: You will need to sacrifice one of the Ring aspects and it may be hurting the build to loose any of those two. Up to you to decide which on is okay to sacrifice for that Unique ring but I'd recommend testing out how it will be without Aspect of Echoing Fury as the unique rings will, at least on paper, make up for the lost Fury generation.

Paragon Boards:

Use the links below to check the paragon boards selected and the nodes I’ve taken. One link is for what the boards will look like at lvl 93 with 190 paragon points (so more paragon points will be obtained on the way to 100). The other link is what the boards will look like when fully maxed out (I left the last 5 point unspent in case one want the Carnage legendary node) on paragon points.

• 190/223 Paragon Pts. (~LVL 93 with renown & altar pts): Click THIS LINK
• MAX LEVEL & (MAX – 5) Paragon points spent (218/223): Click THIS LINK

Suggested Gear Rolls to look out for (NOT in order of priority):

I’ve shortlisted 41 different affixes that work well with the build of almost 300 total. I’ll highlight in Orange the ones I think should get higher priority. NOTE: I’ve added a new “Top Priority per Slot” list but left the old unsorted list below it.

This is the Sorted by Slot list of Top Priority Affixes/Rolls:

• Helm:
  • Priority 1: Cooldown Reduction
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, Maximum Fury
  • Priority 3: Core Stats (Str, Dex, Wil, All Stats)
  • Priority 4: Total Armor
• Amulet:
  • Priority 1: Cooldown Reduction, Movement Speed
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, +X Ranks of All Brawling Skills or to a Passive you like, +X% Damage with Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapons
  • Priority 3: +X% Damage, Damage Reduction from Close or Distant Enemies/While Injured,
  • Priority 4: Fury Cost Reduction, Overpower Damage with Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapons
• Chest:
  • Priority 1: Damage Reduction from Close or Distant Enemies/while Fortified
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, + X% Damage
  • Priority 3: Core Stats (Str, Dex, Wil, All Stats), Total Armor
  • Priority 4: Physical Damage, Fortify Generation, Overpower Damage with Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapons
• Pants:
  • Priority 1: +Ranks of Charge, Damage Reduction from Close or Distant Enemies/while Fortified
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, Damage Reduction while Injured
  • Priority 3: Core Stats (Str, Dex, Wil, All Stats), Total Armor
  • Priority 4: Damage Reduction
• Gloves:
  • Priority 1: + X ranks to Hammer of the Ancients, Critical Strike Chance, Overpower Damage
  • Priority 2: Damage to Injured Enemies, Critical Strike Chance Against Injured Enemies
  • Priority 3: Lucky Hit: Up to a 5% Chance to Restore +X% Primary Resource, Lucky Hit Chance
  • Priority 4: Core Stats (Str, Dex, Wil, All Stats), Lucky Hit: Up to a 5% Chance to Heal +X Life
• Boots:
  • Priority 1: Movement Speed, Fury Cost Reduction
  • Priority 2: Damage Reduction while Injured
  • Priority 3: Core Stats (Str, Dex, Wil, All Stats)
  • Priority 4: Fortify Generation
• Ring 1:
  • Priority 1: Overpower Damage, Critical Chance, Maximum Fury
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, Critical Damage, Vulnerable Damage, Damage to Close Enemies
  • Priority 3: Damage to Stunned/Slowed/Crowd Controlled Enemies
  • Priority 4: Physical Damage, Lucky Hit Chance
• Ring 2:
  • Priority 1: Overpower Damage, Critical Chance, Maximum Fury
  • Priority 2: Maximum Life, Critical Damage, Vulnerable Damage, Damage to Close Enemies
  • Priority 3: Damage to Stunned/Slowed/Crowd Controlled Enemies
  • Priority 4: Physical Damage, Lucky Hit Chance
• Main Hand Weapon: Apparently, weapons can NOT roll two types of Damage mods!!!
  • Priority 1: Damage to Vulnerable Enemies & Vulnerable Damage, Damage to Close Enemies, Overpower Damage
  • Priority 2: Critical Strike Damage, Core Skill Damage
  • Priority 3: Damage to Slowed/Stunned Enemies
  • Priority 4: Core Stats (Str, Dex, Wil, All Stats)
• Off-hand Weapon: See the 1H Weapon Rolls List
• 2-H Weapons: See the 1H Weapon Rolls List

+ X% Damage

Critical Strike Chance/Critical Damage Bonus

Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Physical/2H Bludgeoning Skills

Critical Chance/Critical Damage with Core Skills

Damage with Core Skills

Lucky Hit Chance

+ X Ranks to Core Skills

+ X Ranks to Hammer of the Ancients/Rallying Cry/Challenging Shout/Charge

Overpower Damage

+ Willpower, + Dexterity, + Strength

+ All Stats

+ Maximum Life

Fury Generation / Regeneration / On Kill

Resource/Fury Cost Reduction

Cooldown Reduction

Physical/2H Bludgeoning Damage Bonus

Lucky Hit Chance with Physical/2H Bludgeoning Damage

Resistance to All Elements

+ % Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Physical Damage

+ % Physical Damage to Elites

+ % Critical Strike Chance with Physical Damage Against Elites

+ % Damage for X Seconds After Killing an Elite

Damage Reduction for X Seconds After Killing an Elite

Damage Reduction from Elites

Damage / Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Close Enemies

Damage / Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Crowd Controlled Enemies

Vulnerable Damage

Damage / Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Vulnerable Enemies

Lucky Hit: Up to a 5% chance to Restore +X% Primary Resource

Lucky Hit: Up to a 5% chance to Heal +X Life

Damage while Healthy

Fortify Generation

Damage while Fortified

Chance When Struck to Fortify for X Life

Movement Speed

Attack Speed

Damage vs Injured Enemies

Lucky Hit: Up to a +X% Chance to Execute Injured Non-Elites

Critical Strike Chance Against Injured Enemies

Damage vs Healthy Enemies

Weapon Damage (not sure if there are any bonuses to that as rolls)

Useful Links (Spreadsheets & more):

For all of my Diablo IV Post-Launch & RDY-4-Launch Theorycrafts/Builds: This Spreadsheet

For my Diablo IV Class Skill Trees (can be used as mini-calculator): This Spreadsheet

For all of my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Theorycrafts/Builds: This Spreadsheet

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This concludes the Hammer Time Barbarian Build for Diablo IV. If you’re interested in the game below are links to the various platforms where one can buy it (you can just click the links to open a new tab):

PC (Battle.Net)

XBOX

PlayStation

Official Website