PvP Double Throw/Whirlwind Barbarian Guide

Double Throw/Whirlwind Hybrid Barbarian Guide for PvP and PvM

PvP Rank: C Class / PvM Rank: B Class

Introduction

Double Throw Barbarians can use two ethereal Lacerators with a chance to Amplify enemies on hit which can double your physical damage. Barbarians are strong at surviving damage especially when they're using two ranged throwing weapons. It's also possible to trade for rare ethereal throwing weapons that out damage ethereal Lacerators but they're rare and sometimes expensive.

Throwing Barbarian Skills

Double Throw Barbarians are now better in PvM because they conserve throwing weapons with the Throwing Mastery. They also have very high single target damage and they can use Battle Orders and Shout which gives them excellent defenses.

Recommendation: Double Throw Barbarian

Stats: Enough Strength for gear, enough Dexterity for maxed block (which also increases your throwing weapon damage and attack rating), all remaining points in Vitality, 0 Energy.

Skill Points:

20 Double Throw

20 Throwing Mastery

20 Battle Orders

20 Double Swing (Double Throw synergy)

1 Battle Command

1 Increased Stamina

1 Increased Speed

1 Whirlwind (if this is a PvP build)

1 Axe Mastery (if this is a PvP build)

Enough in Natural Resistance to slightly over stack your resistances.

All remaining points in Axe Mastery to give your Whirlwind increased attack rating and damage.

Double Throw Barbarian Gear

Weapons

Two Ethereal Lacerators - Lacerators each give a 33% chance to Amplify on hit which double your physical damage, give increased attack speed, and they can be ethereal because they have replenishes quantity. One Ethereal Lacerator should be switched to an ethereal Warshrike in PvM for high pierce (important), deadly strike, replenishes quantity, and a much faster attack speed.

Weapons (High End)

Ethereal Lacerator/Ethereal Rare Throwing Weapon - There are ethereal rare elite throwing weapons that can be much better than an ethereal Lacerator for PvP and they can even have replenishes quantity but they're extremely rare and typically expensive.

Weapon Switch (PvP)

Ethereal Breath of the Dying Berserker Axe (Vex Hel El Eld Zod Eth) - Gives 30 to all attributes which includes 30 Strength for the 156 Strength requirement of Stormshield, 30 Dexterity for more attack rating, and -25% target defense to help you hit opponents. You should keep one Call to Arms (Amn Ral Mal Ist Ohm) for +4 to Battle Orders in your Horadric Cube to switch to when you use Battle Orders. You need to switch because one weapon set is reserved for throwing weapons and the other weapon set is reserved for Whirlwind weapons. Only one ethereal Lacerator will fit in your Horadric Cube but if you're using an ethereal Warshrike or an ethereal rare throwing weapon you can also keep a +3 to Warcries weapons in your cube for another +3 to Battle Orders.

Weapon Switch Shield (PvP)

Ethereal Breath of the Dying Berserker Axe and Stormshield (Um'd) - An ethereal Breath of the Dying Berserker Axe should be used on weapon switch for Whirlwind with a Stormshield which has 35% reduced physical damage taken and a high block chance.

Town Switch Battle Orders Equipment (PvP)

You can optionally switch to Battle Orders equipment in town. You can switch to Warcries weapons, a +5 or +6 Battle Orders helmet, +3 to Warcries amulet, 2 Stone of Jordans (or Bul-Kathos' Wedding Bands) for +2 to skills, and +1 Warcries Skill Grand Charms but this is rarely worth the time in my opinion. If you want a faster way of buffing up you can simply keep one Call to Arms for +4 to Battle Orders, a +3 to Warcries amulet, and if there is room a +3 to Warcries throwing weapon in your Horadric Cube.

Weapon Switch (PvM)

You won't need to use Whirlwind in PvM. In PvM you should use a Call to Arms (Amn Ral Mal Ist Ohm) for +1 to all skills and +3 to Battle Orders (only one is needed for the +3 o skills limit) and a +3 to Warcries throwing weapon on your weapon switch. The budget option is to use two +3 Warcries weapons which can be purchased from Act 5 Anya in Nightmare difficulty at a decent level.

Helmet

Arreat's Face (Um'd) - Gives +2 to Barbarian Skills, +2 to Barbarian Combat Skills, 30% faster hit recovery, 20% increased attack rating (important), up to 6% life stolen per hit, 20 strength, 20 dexterity, all resistances +30%.

Body

Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo) - Gives up to 300% enhanced damage, up to all resistances +30%, high life per level, 5% to maximum lightning resistance, and a 20% chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck. Fortitude is important for damage on Double Throw Barbarians but it's still sometimes worth it to switch to an Enigma (Jah Ith Ber) runeword body armor for Teleport.

Gloves (PvP)

Blood Gloves - These gloves can give 20% increased attack speed, 10% crushing blow, 3% life leech, dexterity, life, and resistances.

Budget Gloves (PvP)

Magnus' Skin - The budget option gives 20% increased attack speed, 100 to attack rating, and 15% fire resistance.

Budget Gloves (PvM)

Laying of Hands - These gloves are the best option for PvM because they give 20% increased attack speed, 350% increased damage against demons, 10% chance to cast level 3 Holy Bolt on striking, and 50% fire resistance.

Belt (PvP)

Verdungo's Hearty Cord - Gives up to 15% reduced physical damage taken, 40 vitality, replenish life +13, and 10% faster hit recovery.

Belt Vs. Lightning Builds

Thundergod's Vigor - Use this belt in PvP against lightning damage builds for 20 strength, 20 vitality, 1-50 lightning damage, 10% to maximum lightning resistance, 20 lightning absorb, and a 5% chance to cast level 7 Fist of the Heavens when struck.

Belt (PvM)

Razortail - This belt should be used in PvM for a 33% chance to pierce, 15 dexterity, and +10 to maximum damage.

Feet

Gore Riders - Gives 30% faster run walk, 15% deadly strike, 15% crushing blow, and 10% chance of open wounds.

Feet Vs. Lightning & Cold Builds That Lower Your Resistances

Tri-Resistance Faster Run/Walk Boots - Look for rare 30% faster run walk boots with up to 40% cold resistance, 40% lightning resistance, and 40% poison resistance. As a budget option you can also use Natalya's Boots for 40% faster run walk, high defense, up to 25% cold resistance, and up to 25% lightning resistance.

Feet Vs. Fire Builds

Hotspur (Up'd)- Use these boots when fighting fire damage builds for 45% fire resistance, 15 life, and 15% to maximum fire resistance. Hotspur boots can be Up'd to Demonhide Boots in the Horadric Cube using a Perfect Diamond, Shael rune, and Tal rune. They can be Up'd a second time to Wyrmhide Boots in the Horadric Cube using a Perfect Diamond, Lem rune, and Ko rune.

Amulet

Highlord's Wrath - Gives +1 to all skills, deadly strike per level, 1-30 lightning damage, and 35% lightning resistance.

Rings

Raven Frosts - You should use Raven Frosts which give up to 20 dexterity, 250 attack rating, 20% cold absorb, and cannot be frozen.

Rings (Absorb)

You should switch one Raven Frost to a Dwarf Star for 15% fire absorb and 40 life when fighting fire damage builds and you should switch one Raven Frost to a Wisp Projector for up to 20% lightning absorb when fighting lightning damage builds.

Charms

Hellfire Torch for +3 Barbarian skills, Annihilus for +1 to skills, one poison damage small charm to cancel enemies' life regeneration, and an inventory full of max damage/attack rating/life charms.

Mercenary Type

Act 2 Might Mercenary

Mercenary Weapon

Ethereal Infinity (Ber Mal Ber Ist) - Lacerators cast Amplify so Reaper's Toll isn't needed for the Decrepify curse. You should instead use an Infinity for its Conviction aura which lowers enemies' defenses and resistances. The Pride runeword isn't recommended for PvM because it has low damage and it sometimes doesn't leech enough life to keep your mercenary alive. The Pride runeword is better for PvP but this shouldn't matter because it's considered bad manners to use a mercenary when you're dueling.

Mercenary Armor

Ethereal Fortitude (El Sol Dol Lo) - Gives 300% enhanced damage, up to all resistances +30%, life per level, 5% to maximum lightning resistance, and a 20% chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck.

Mercenary Helmet

Ethereal Andariel's Visage (Ral'd) - Gives +2 to all skills, 10% life leech, -30% fire resistance, and 30 strength. Ral gives 30% fire resistance as a budget option but you can eventually upgrade to a 30% fire resistance jewel with 15% increased attack speed.

Budget Mercenary Weapon

Ethereal Insight (Ral Tir Tal Sol) - Gives up to level 17 Meditation which gives very high mana regeneration.

Budget Mercenary Armor

Duriel's Shell - Gives all resistances +20%, 50% cold resistances, life per level, 15 strength, and cannot be frozen.

Budget Mercenary Helmet

Tal Rasha's Helmet - Gives 10% life steal, all resistances +15%, and 60 life.

Note: Ethereal items don't lose durability on mercenaries.

Double Throw Barbarian Strategy

Double Throw Barbarians have high life, high defense, and can deal very high damage but you also have to be skillful with your aim to duel well with this character. High block and defense builds like Paladins and builds that have homing attacks like Bowazons and Bone Necromancers can be very difficult to take down. Using a Whirlwind weapon with a Stormshield on weapon switch is important for PvP and it's also helpful for approaching builds like Bow Amazons. It's usually much better to let PvP opponents come to you which makes aiming your throwing weapons significantly easier. Whirlwind should be used as a backup attack in dueling but try not to over use it or it can also cause the person you are dueling to run away and play defensively.

Double Throw Barbarian Leveling Items

You can use Hsarus's Belt and Gloves once you are at least level 3 and have 30 Strength for high defense and attack rating from the set bonus. Bane's Garments set should be switched to at level 8 for high damage, attack rating, and great set modifiers. You can add Angelic Amulet and Ring once you reach level 12 for life and attack rating and you can use a Manald Heal ring for up to 7% mana stolen as early as level 15. You can also gamble throwing weapons at various levels until you get two throwing weapons with decent rolls if you plan on leveling as a Throwing Barbarian. The Smoke (Nef Lum) runeword body armor only requires level 37 and it's an excellent inexpensive starter runeword that can be used early on for 20% faster hit recovery and an easy all resistances +50%.

That's all for the PvP Double Throw Barbarian Guide. You can check out more guides in the menu at the top of this page. Good luck!