Welcome to our Diablo 4 the Hammer of the Ancients Barbarian build guide! You’ll wield your colossal hammer to decimate hordes of foes. With a combination of mobility, crowd control, and strategic shouts, you’ll become an unstoppable force on the battlefield. Get ready to embrace the thrill of unleashing destruction as a HotA Barbarian!
Diablo 4 Hammer of the Ancients Barbarian Gameplay
Here’s a simplified table outlining the key aspects of the HotA Barbarian playstyle in Diablo 4:
Key Aspect
Description
HotA
Powerful AOE attack skill that forms the foundation of the build, maximizing damage output.
Ancestral Force
Enhances HotA, enabling massive AOE damage.
Fury Generation
Initially challenging, but once resolved, significantly boosts the build’s potency.
Shouts
Incorporates three shouts for various benefits:
Rallying Cry (Unstoppable and Fury generation)
War Cry (Berserking and increased damage)
Challenging Shout (damage reduction)
Mobility and Control
Utilize your skills to enhance mobility and control crowds.
Wrath of the Berserker
Powerful skill providing additional damage and activating Berserking against Elites and Bosses.
All in all, The HotA Barbarian playstyle focuses on delivering devastating AOE damage, managing Fury effectively, utilizing shouts for benefits, and incorporating mobility and crowd control skills. Mastering these elements allows players to effectively tackle challenging content in Diablo 4.
Diablo 4 HotA Barbarian Strengths and Weaknesses
It’s important to know your chosen class well before the end game. Understanding its strengths and weaknesses can greatly benefit you in future fights.
Pros
Cons
Offers powerful “Big Smash” attacks
Limited to melee range combat
Requires low Fury cost for skill activation
Performs mediocrely against single targets
Highly effective in group play situations
Damage output is low when Fury is low
Provides a high chance of landing lucky hits
Requires the use of a bludgeoning weapon
Make the most of the information available to you and use it to your advantage. By leveraging your strengths and compensating for your weaknesses, you’ll increase your chances of emerging victorious.
Diablo 4 HotA Barbarian Skills
As a Barbarian, you possess a diverse array of skills that can turn the tides of battle in your favor. In this section, we will explore each skill, its unique attributes, and how you can strategically utilize them to dominate your adversaries.
Now, let’s delve into the specific abilities of the HotA Barbarian that you can leverage to your advantage throughout the game.
These abilities have been designed to enhance your gameplay experience and provide you with convenient options in various situations. By understanding and utilizing these abilities effectively, you’ll be able to adapt to challenges, maximize your efficiency, and ensure a smoother gaming experience. Let’s explore these HotA Barbarian abilities and discover how they can work to your benefit.
Hammer of the Ancients
Hammer of the Ancients is a powerful fundamental ability that deals substantial damage while requiring minimal Fury expenditure. Its true potential is unlocked when paired with Enhanced Hammer of the Ancients, allowing for Fury regeneration, and Furious Hammer of the Ancients, enabling devastating attacks with maximum resources. By utilizing the Offensive Aspect of Ancestral Force, this skill transforms into a shockwave that emanates in all directions, obliterating enemies within a large area.
Rallying Cry
Rallying Cry stands as a vital Shout within our arsenal, elevating the entire party’s Movement Speed and enhancing Fury generation. The increased Movement Speed empowers you to strategically position yourself, maximizing the impact of each swing from Hammer of the Ancients and consequently generating additional Fury. This coordinated approach allows us to efficiently engage multiple adversaries and further fuel our combat prowess.
War Cry
War Cry bestows upon our party a significant multiplicative damage boost, amplifying our overall offensive capabilities. Additionally, it provides us with the invaluable benefits of Fortify, bolstering our defenses, and Berserking, enhancing both our Movement Speed and attack speed. This combination of heightened resilience and swiftness empowers us to withstand enemy assaults while swiftly maneuvering across the battlefield, enabling us to strike with precision and unleash devastating attacks.
Challenging Shout
Challenging Shout serves as a primary defensive buff within our arsenal, fortifying our resilience in the midst of combat. Not only does it provide a formidable layer of protection, but it also possesses the unique ability to regenerate Fury whenever we sustain damage. This becomes exceptionally potent considering our constant presence in melee range, where we relentlessly unleash the might of Hammer of the Ancients, depleting our Fury reserves. The combination of increased defenses and the Fury replenishment mechanic empowers us to sustain our offensive onslaught while ensuring our survivability on the battlefield.
Wrath of the Berserker
Wrath of the Berserker stands as the ultimate pinnacle of our skill set, offering unparalleled benefits in the heat of battle. Upon activation, we are bestowed with formidable buffs, including an additional source of Berserking, which further intensifies our Movement Speed and attack speed. With the continuous expenditure of Fury through the relentless strikes of Hammer of the Ancients, we unlock the devastating potential of Prime Wrath of the Berserker, enabling us to deal even greater damage to our foes. Additionally, this powerful state grants us immunity to crowd control effects, rendering us Unstoppable and ensuring our unyielding presence on the battlefield.
Lunging Strike
The final skill slot offers flexibility to cater to our specific needs. Initially, Lunging Strike serves as a reliable choice to address any ongoing Fury-related challenges. However, once our Fury issues are resolved, we can explore other options. Ground Stomp emerges as an excellent choice, capable of interrupting powerful attacks from Elite enemies and granting an additional damage bonus when enemies are stunned. Alternatively, for PvP scenarios, Charge proves to be a valuable selection, enabling swift engagement and closing the gap between opponents. On the other hand, if mobility and additional Fury generation are our priorities, Leap becomes a preferred option, granting us the ability to swiftly traverse the battlefield while replenishing our Fury reserves. Ultimately, the choice of the skill in this slot depends on our current objectives and playstyle.
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Diablo 4 HotA Barbarian Gearing
Mastering the Diablo 4 HotA Barbarian requires obtaining the right gear, which plays a vital role in your success.
In this part, we’ll cover all the essential aspects, including stats, unique items, gems, as well as elixirs and healing potions, to help you excel in the game.
HotA Barbarian Best in Slot Gear
Optimizing your Barbarian’s gear is essential for mastering the game. Enhance your gameplay knowledge by exploring the essential items, elements, and statistics outlined below.
Gearing Options
Slot
Aspect
Stats
Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapon
Edgemaster’s Aspect
High DPS
Vulnerable Damage
Critical Strike Damage
Damage vs Close
Damage vs Slowed
Core Skill Damage
Damage vs Crowd Controlled
Damage vs Bleeding
Strength
Dual Wield Weapon #1
Aspect of Limitless Rage
Preferred Weapon Class: Sword
Vulnerable Damage
Critical Strike Damage
Damage vs Close
Damage vs Slowed
Core Skill Damage
Damage vs Crowd Controlled
Damage vs Bleeding
Strength
Dual Wield Weapon #2
Accelerating Aspect
Preferred Weapon Class: Sword
Vulnerable Damage
Critical Strike Damage
Damage vs Close
Damage vs Slowed
Core Skill Damage
Damage vs Crowd Controlled
Damage vs Bleeding
Strength
Two-Handed Slashing Weapon
Aspect of the Expectant
Vulnerable Damage
Critical Strike Damage
Damage vs Close
Damage vs Slowed
Core Skill Damage
Damage vs Crowd Controlled
Damage vs Bleeding
Strength
Helm
Aspect of Might
Cooldown Reduction
Maximum Life
Total Armor
Strength
Chest
Aspect of Disobedience
Damage Reduction While Fortified
Damage Reduction vs Close
Damage Reduction vs Bleeding
Damage reduction vs Distant
Maximum Life
Gloves
Smiting Aspect or Aspect of Berserk Ripping
Ranks to Hammer of the Ancients
Critical Strike Chance
Critical Strike Chance vs Injured Attack Speed
Pants
Iron Blood Aspect
Damage Reduction While Fortified
Damage Reduction vs Close
Damage Reduction vs Bleeding
Damage reduction vs Distant
Maximum Life
Total Armor
Boots
Ghostwalker Aspect
Movement Speed
Fury Cost Reduction
Movement Speed After Killing Elite
Berserking Duration
Amulet
Aspect of Ancestral Force
Cooldown Reduction
Fury Cost Reduction
Ranks to Heavy Handed
Ranks to No Mercy
Ranks to Pit Fighter
Ranks to Slaying Strike
Damage Reduction While Fortified
Damage Reduction vs Close
Damage reduction vs Distant
Ring #1
Bold Chieftain’s Aspect
Resource Generation
Critical Strike Chance
Critical Strike Damage
Vulnerable Damage
Ring #2
Aspect of Echoing Fury or Aspect of Berserk Fury
Resource Generation
Critical Strike Chance
Critical Strike Damage
Vulnerable Damage
The Hammer of the Ancients Barbarian benefits greatly from several unique items that are either the best choices or worth considering. However, it’s important to note that some of these items are extremely rare and may not drop for many players, making it impractical to rely solely on them. Here are some noteworthy selections:
Harlequin Crest
This item is considered the best option for most, if not all, builds, including the Hammer of the Ancients Barbarian. However, it is also one of the rarest items in the game.
The Grandfather
For all Barbarian builds, The Grandfather is the optimal choice. Unfortunately, it is also one of the rarest items to come across in the game.
Temerity
These pants offer a reliable source of Barrier and synergize well with Raid Leader and Invigorating Fury. It’s worth considering using them in combination with the Conceited Aspect.
While these items can greatly enhance your gameplay, it’s important to keep in mind their rarity and the fact that they may not be accessible to every player. Therefore, it’s wise to have alternative options in mind when building your character. If you dont feel like leveling and gearing your character buy limited Diablo 4 Ultimate Bundle!
HotA Barbarian Stat Priorities
Gear in Diablo 4 comes with various stats and status effects, but not all of them are important for your specific build. Here’s a general breakdown of important stats and a priority list for each gear slot.
Stats for HotA Barb
Arsenal System
Our primary skill, Hammer of the Ancients, scales solely from the weapon we choose to attack with in the Arsenal System. To use Hammer of the Ancients effectively, we must equip a Two-Handed Mace since it’s the only Bludgeoning Weapon type in Diablo 4 that allows us to use the skill. Other weapons we equip are mainly for their stats and not for active use.
Vulnerable Damage
This stat provides a significant damage boost and is easily activated by the Exploit effect. Stack as much Vulnerable Damage as possible to maximize your damage output.
Critical Strike Chance and Damage
These stats provide incredible damage increases. Look for gear that offers these stats wherever possible to enhance your offensive capabilities.
Cooldown Reduction on Helm
This stat is crucial for reducing the cooldown of your Shouts. It plays a vital role in maintaining the uptime of your important abilities, so prioritize gear with Cooldown Reduction on the helm.
Dexterity over Strength
Prioritize Dexterity over Strength because certain Paragon nodes require Dexterity, and it also helps us reach 100% Critical Strike Chance. Willpower and Intelligence should not be prioritized unless specifically needed for a Paragon node.
Fury Cost Reduction and Maximum Fury
These rolls are beneficial for reducing the resource cost of your Hammer of the Ancients and increasing your maximum Fury. Look for gear that provides these stats to allow for more frequent use of your powerful skill.
Note, that some stats may prevent others from appearing or may only be found on certain gear slots.
Hammer of the Ancients Barbarian Gems
When it comes to enhancing your Barbarian’s gear, it’s essential to focus on specific stats and status effects that truly matter for your build. To help you with this, here’s a simplified breakdown and priority list for each equipment slot.
Helm, Chest Armor, and Pants: Royal Sapphires. Jewelry: Royal Skulls. Weapon Slots: Royal Emeralds.
By strategically placing these gems, you’ll maximize the potential of your HotA Barbarian.
HotA Barbarian Elixirs and Incenses
To enhance your gameplay as a Hammer of the Ancients Barbarian in Diablo 4, make sure to visit the Alchemist in any main town. The Alchemist offers the ability to craft beneficial Elixirs and Incenses with various effects. For this build, the recommended crafted Elixir is the Precision Elixir, which boosts both Critical Strike Chance and Critical Strike Damage.
Elixirs and Incenses
Keep in mind that Incenses are pricier to craft and have a duration of 20 minutes. However, the Reddamine Buzz Incense is a solid choice as it increases Maximum Life by 500 for each nearby player.
Additionally, there are more potent Elixirs that cannot be crafted but can be obtained by completing tasks throughout the game world. Some noteworthy options for the Hammer of the Ancients Barbarian include:
Elixir of Cruelty: This elixir dramatically increases Critical Strike Chance, amplifying your chances of landing critical hits.
Expertise Elixir: This elixir reduces the resource cost of your abilities, allowing you to use them more frequently without depleting your resources rapidly.
Elixir of Fortitude: This elixir enhances your Maximum Life, granting you increased survivability during battles.
Any Elixir of -slaying: These elixirs provide increased damage against specific types of enemies. Choose the one that aligns with the enemies you commonly face for maximum effectiveness.
By utilizing these crafted and found elixirs, you can bolster your Barbarian’s capabilities and gain an edge in combat.
The Paragon system becomes accessible when you reach level 50. Paragon Nodes offer a range of beneficial effects, from minor stats found in Normal and Magic Nodes to more potent and unique bonuses in Rare Nodes,Glyph Sockets, and Legendary Nodes.
1. Starting Board
To acquire the Glyph and socket called Crusher, follow this path:
Prioritize taking all the Strength nodes available.
Acquire both Raw Power and Iron Strength nodes.
If you have a Glyph that is essential for your build to function effectively, you can temporarily place it in this path instead of Crusher.
Exit through the top of the skill tree and attach the Warbinger board.
2. Warbringer
Rotate the board so the Glyph node is on the bottom-left corner.
Path to the Glyph through Havoc and socket Exploit.
Take all the Dexterity nodes in the Glyph range and both Raw Power and Conditioned.
Head north and grab the Warbinger node, which is the only Legendary node we take in the final build.
Head right to pick up Guarded Advance.
Exit left and attach the Flawless Technique board.
3. Flawless Technique
Rotate the board so Flawless Technique is on the bottom.
Path through the Havoc node and grab all the Critical Strike Damage magic nodes around it.
Path to the Glyph and socket Wrath. We actually this Glyph to be in our final board, but we need it’s power early on. Later you’ll put Territorial in this spot.
Take all the Dexterity nodes in the Glyph range and Brash.
Exit through the top and attach the Decimator board.
4. Decimator
Rotate the board so Decimator is on the top.
Path to the Glyph and socket Marshal.
Take exactly 40 Strength nodes in the Glyph range and every magic and rare node nearby.
Exit through the right and attach the Blood Rage board.
5. Blood Rage
Rotate the board so Blood Rage is on the bottom-right corner.
Path to the Glyph and socket Disembowel.
Take all Strength nodes in the Glyph range and Grit and Revel.
Exit through the top and attach the Blood Rage board.
6. Bone Breaker
Rotate the board so Bone Breaker is on the top.
Path to the Glyph and socket Wrath from your Flawless Technique board. Place
Territorial where Wrath was.
Take every Dexterity node in the Glyph range and Vigor.
You just completed the Paragon Board!
To simplify the process, let’s grasp the basic idea we’re aiming for. Our main focus is on Glyphs and the bonuses they provide. Once they reach level 15 or higher, they significantly enhance your build. Our strategy involves progressing through five boards and prioritizing the enhancement of our Glyphs. Along the way, we’ll also acquire a powerful Legendary Node called Warbinger, which greatly boosts the Fortify effect. The other Legendary Nodes may not be as valuable once you have a complete endgame build.
Apart from that, we’ll pick up Rare Nodes when they contribute to our overall strategy, particularly if they provide stats that amplify separate multiplier categories such as Critical Strike Damage and Vulnerable Damage. As you progress through the boards, you can rearrange your Glyphs to optimize their placement. For example, in our final board, we have Wrath, which is an exceptionally powerful Glyph and should ideally be acquired earlier in the process.
Diablo 4 HotA Barbarian Glyphs
Paragon boards are characterized by the Glyphs they use. Glyphs are placed in sockets and offer massive benefits that increase with the required stats within their radius. Glyphs can be levelled up through successful Nightmare Dungeons completion. It’s crucial to focus on levelling the Wrath Glyph as it scales remarkably well. Here is a table showing the Glyphs we utilize in our build, ranked by levelling priority.
Glyphs
Description
Exploit
A truly powerful Glyph that automatically applies Vulnerable for 3 seconds. This is a separate multiplier that’s hard to acquire for us. It’s crucial to have.
Wrath
This Glyph, responsible for Critical Strike Damage, results in massive damage and cannot be overlooked. Although it’s the last socketed Glyph in the endgame board, it should be placed somewhere earlier to take advantage of its value before reaching level 100.
Marshal
This Glyph revives our Shouts, which is our main goal as a Barbarian. It’s placed in the Decimator board to intensify the Vulnerable nodes.
Territorial
This Glyph always deals damage to nearby targets. It’s placed in the Bone Breaker slot and can achieve 49 Dexterity, leading to +9.6% increased damage to close enemies, as well as 10% Damage Reduction against close enemies.
Disembowel
Due to all the nerfs to the shout cooldowns, this Glyph is needed to restore them. Each enemy killed will be bleeding from the Two-Handed Sword Expertise Technique Slot.
Crusher
This Glyph significantly enhances damage and can be greatly enhanced due to its Strength requirement.
Once all your Glyphs hit level 15, continue levelling them to 21 in the same order. Keep in mind that other worthwhile glyphs, like Undaunted and Imbiber, may be considered for survival.
Diablo 4 HotA Barbarian Season 1 – The Malignant
In Diablo 4 Season 1, players embark on an exciting new questline to track down and defeat Malignant Monsters spread throughout the world of Sanctuary. These formidable foes hold a valuable prize: Caged Hearts. By acquiring these precious artifacts and placing them in Jewelry-infested sockets, players can unlock extraordinary powers that enhance and modify their character’s build. Check out our Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant guide!
In Diablo 4 Season 1, there are a total of 32 Caged Hearts, each belonging to one of four distinct types, represented by different colors. These colors are:
Vicious (Orange): These Caged Hearts grant offensive powers, empowering your character’s attacks.
Brutal (Blue): Caged Hearts of this type provide defensive powers, bolstering your character’s resilience in battles.
Devious (Pink): Caged Hearts in this color offer utility powers, allowing your character to perform special actions and abilities.
Wrathful (Black): The Caged Hearts of this type are called “Super” hearts and possess extraordinary powers.
When socketing these Caged Hearts, there are specific rules to follow. The first three Caged Hearts must be placed into sockets that match their respective infested socket colors. However, the fourth Caged Heart can be inserted into any available infested socket.
It’s important to note that once a Caged Heart is socketed, it becomes permanent and cannot be removed. However, if desired, they can be broken down into Invokers. These Invokers can be used to target farm specific Caged Hearts within the Malignant Tunnels.
Keep in mind that the higher the level, the more powerful the Caged Hearts that will drop. So, as you progress and face more challenging enemies, you have a greater chance of obtaining stronger Caged Hearts to enhance your character’s abilities.
HotA Barbarian Best in Slot Caged Hearts
Name
Description
Caged Heart of Focused Rage
After spending 100-60 Fury within 2 seconds, your next Non-Basic Skill’s Critical Strike Chance is increased by 20-30%.
Caged Heart of the Malignant Pact
Cycle through a Malignant bonus every 20 kills:
Vicious: Gain 21% Attack Speed.
Devious: Core and Basic Skills have a 16% chance to fully restore your Primary Resource.
Brutal: Every 20 seconds, gain a Barrier absorbing 85-102 damage.
Caged Heart of The Barber
Critical Strikes and all subsequent damage within 2.0-4.0 seconds is absorbed by your target. Then, the absorbed damage erupts onto surrounding enemies. Stored damage is increased by 10% per second.
Harness the power of the HotA Barbarian and conquer the fiery depths of Diablo 4. Unleash your rage, seek powerful gear, and become a force to be reckoned with. Stand tall, brave warrior, and let your victories echo throughout Sanctuary. Now, go forth and leave your mark on Diablo 4’s battlefield.
