VegaPrime's "Axe-nado" Barbarian | Category: Diablo BlogNovember-27-2014 10:00 AM PST (9 years ago) |
VegaPrime#1203 is tackling the “spin-to-win†Whirlwind build in the most metal way possible: by transforming his Barbarian into an unnatural disaster—a blade-filled maelstrom of death. Play Your Way gets downright badass this week as we take a look at the Axe-nado Barbarian! About the Build:Whirlwind builds are coveted by many long-time Barbarians. A flurry of metal and massacres, this classic style reaches back into Diablo’s history. VegaPrime#1203 brings us his own unique twist, running a few unconventional Runes and making an unlikely star out of the Stalgard’s Decimator Legendary weapon.
Axes, axes, and more axes. The more colorful theme of this build is an unending barrage of bladed glory, both emanating from your constant Whirlwind and the axes that spawn from Stalgard’s Decimator and Overpower. This theme doesn’t get in the way of the build being brutally effective, and it sets the stage for a hell of a good time. The Skills:A fairly sturdy build, you’ll find a fair mix of defensive and offensive options below with plenty of wiggle room to make the Axe-nado your own! Active Skills:
Passive Skills:
Alternative Skills:
The Items:This build has a relatively low point of entry, especially if you’ve already farmed up your Ring of Royal Grandeur and have a few pieces of the Immortal King’s Call set. Overall, there are options here and very few are mandatory.
Core Items:
Complementary Items:
Recommended Legendary Gems:
Recommended Stats:
Recommended Difficulty and Game Mode:VegaPrime is currently running his Axe-nado build in Normal (Non-Hardcore) mode at Torment VI for bounties and Nephalem Rifts. I’ve experimented a bit with this set on the PTR for Patch 2.1.2, and it’s a fun way to tackle lower tier Greater Rifts, so long as you keep an eye on your Toughness as you climb higher. Barbarians know it’s risky to run in Hardcore, and this build is certainly no exception. Definitely don’t overestimate your survivability if you’ve only got one life to live! Why We Like This Build:This build inspires me to load up my music list with heavy metal and wreck some serious face. It takes an iconic and nostalgic build, like Whirlwind, and adds equal parts silliness and badassery. Where do you get all those axes? Realistically, it doesn’t matter—at the end of the day, they’re all going to end up in a demon’s face.
Accessibility certainly plays a part as well, and while the Immortal King’s Call set is highly recommended, it’s still possible to make it work without it. Spinning to win is always a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to see how this build works out in the future once we have a whole new set dedicated to this play style! Tell Us What You Think!Do you spin right round, baby, right round? Have you been running a Whirlwind build lately and, if so, how is it different from the Axe-nado? Can you think of a Legendary that would better complement this set? Let us know in the comments! This wraps up our final Play Your Way feature for 2014, though don’t be afraid to submit your latest builds to us using our handy web form. We’ll be voting on your favorite build next week, so be sure to come back and let us know who you’d like to see featured on our Twitch.tv livestream! |