1.11 BVB barb by Crimson-tide

[crimson-tide]

BVB BARBby:Crimson-tide

Key:

1. Introduction
2. Description
3. Break Points
4. Skills
5. Stats
6. Types of BVB’s
7. Gear
8. Strategy
9. Conclusion



Introduction:

The BVB is a barb based on the idea, that no other barb can kill you. The bvb has always been around, and is feared, by most other barbs. As the name states this is barb vs. barb, but proves to be an effective character dueling other melee chars, and the few smiters using Grief PB.

Description:

The BVB focuses on dueling other barbs mainly, and is used to fight most melee characters as well. The BVB has max block, 50 Damage Reduction, high defense, high attack rating, and high life. This is a mainly a PVP character, but can be used for most PVM cases as well.

Break Points:

FHR Frames
0% 9
7% 8
15% 7
27% 6
48% 5
86% 4
200% 3
4680% 2


Your Goal FHR is: 27 is fine, but 48 is better, you shouldn’t need 86 FHR as a bvb.


FBR Frames
0% 7
9% 6
20% 5
42% 4
86% 3
280% 2
Your Goal FBR is: 20% which is just using SS.

Increased Attack Speed


Your increased attack speed while using:
Bezerker Axe is: 34 IAS
Colossus Blade is: 39 IAS
Balrog Blade is: 34 IAS
These Ias are required to get the maximum hits from WW.
Skills:


Max

20 WW
20 Axe/Sword mastery
20 Bo
20 Shout
Rest into Iron Skin

You can actually pick If you want to max Iron Skin or Shout, but shout is more commonly maxed, due to the fact that it helps other people, not just yourself.

1 pt. Wonders

1 Natural Res. Optional
1 Increased Speed Optional
1 Bezerk (optional)
1 Battle Commands (must)

Pre Reqs.

4 if you don’t not take any optionals
5 if you take Increased Speed

Note: WW only gets IAS from your weapon, nothing else. Also, this has no end lvl? Why, because every lvl you get for the barb He gets Stronger.

Stats:

Strength: enough for gear
Dexterity: enough for max block (203 with ss at lvl 90)
Vitality: The Rest
Energy: NONE

Types of BVB’s


Damage BVB:

This BVB focuses on Raw Damage, Trying to do all his damage straight up, no damage over time. This bvb will usually have at least 7k damage.

Open Wounds BVB:

This Bvb focuses mainly on using Open Wounds, trying to do most of his damage over time. This Bvb will probably have no more than 3k damage, but will have 100 Open Wounds chance.

Hybrid BVB:

This bvb focuses on doing his damage from both sources, Open wounds and Raw damage. This Bvb will probably have 6k, damage and have at least 40% to get open wounds. 35% is a good enough amount for Open Wounds though.

This Build will focus mainly on the hybrid Build, but all builds are deadly, I just perfer a mix of raw damage, and Open Wounds, but all 3 types will be listed.

Gear:


Tips: Make sure to Hit max DR and block with the setup you are going to use.

Helm:

1. Arreats:, this is the only choice on a bvb, this will provide 20 strg, 20 dex, and 20% to attack rating along with other useful mods. This is the best helm for a bvb, after testing all possible options. Try for eth upd Arreats or just eth Arreats. Jah, or Jewel this with a 40-ed/9 strg jewel, or 40-ed/15 max jewel. Shael this if you want to hit 48 FHR.



Chest:

1. Fort: This is one of the top Choices for the Bvb, this is used mainly for the hybrid, and Raw Damage builds. Fortitude increase you damage, adds high defense, 7 damage reduction. Try to get it in Archon Plate, or Wire Fleece. This should not cost you more than 111 strg to equip.
2. Duress: this is another one of the top Choices for the BVB, it is cheap, and adds Crushing blow and lots of Open Wounds. This choice is mainly for the open wounds setup. It also provides over nice mods. Try to get it in Archon Plate, or Wire Fleece. This should not cost you more than 111 strg to equip.
3. Enigma: This is a decent choice for a BVB, 2 to all skills, Strg, life, and 8 damage reduction makes this a nice choice. This can be used for the hybrid of raw damage BVB.
4. There are several remaining choices for Armor, those include Ecaras, and 2 skills eth valor, but I will not include these, because I don’t like to use these, and a duress is by far better than both of these, and is much cheaper to afford.


Weapon:

1. Breath of the Dieing: BOTD is a great choice for a bvb weapon, it adds high damage, 30 to all attributes, and some other mods. I personally like BOTD, over must other BVB weapons, But this does not Mean it is the best choice. This must be in a bezerker axe or colossal blade and this MUST be ethereal, so your damage will be increased. The decision of weather to use Bezerker axe or Colossal Blade, is your decision. I choose Colossal Blade over bezerker Axe, because I like the look better. But Ebotdz provides better damage. In the end Ebotdz is better than a EbotdCB. Their Ranges are both 3. This is to be remembered for the Rest of the Rune word Options for weapons I list.
2. Fury: Fury is perhaps the best BVB weapon out there. It adds Open wounds, deadly strike, and High attack rating. This paired with fort offers the most damage. Make this either in Bezerker axe or Burlog Blade. Both do the same amount of damage, and have the same range. This barb, is mainly Open Wounds, and does the most amount of damage.
3. Eth Death Cleaver(EDC): This is an exetremely good choice, this weapon offers damage, lower than Grief, or Ebotdz, but when it Hits DS, which it does a lot due to the fact it has 66 Ds, it doubles it damage, paired with Rends, and other items this is extremely godly, Great for all damage/hybrid build.
4. Grief: Another good choice for a bvb weapon. This weapon main thing to notice is its hidden damage. This must be equipped with 34 Ias, so you can reach the final break point of WW for bezerker axe. Pb is indestructible, Bezerker axe has a range of 3, but pb has a range of 2, making Bezerker axe anything greater than Pb anything in all PVP cases.

There are other Weapon choices, Doom, Beast, and unique, but these aren’t worth mentioning, because they don’t offer as much damage, as these 4 listed above, I’m 100% certain, you can afford Fury, if you are attempting this build, doom, and beast aren’t any where close to this weapon.

Shield:


1. StormSheild(SS):Best shield out there for the BVB, adds max 35, DR, this is essential for any melee vs. melee class. Also, has exceptionally high def, and adds 30 to Strength, which is a plus. Jah this if you have max DR and are happy with your damage, Pul this is you want more def, Ber, this if you are having trouble hitting max, def(using Duress /w dungos without 15 DR), cham this is you don’t want to be frozen, usually doesn’t happen in BVB duels, or 40/15 max, for more damage.

Belt:


1. Verdungo’s: this is the best belt there is for a BVB, Adds 30-40 Vita, 10-15 DR, and Fhr. This is the top choice belt for a bvb.
2. Tgods: If you want more strg, and have max DR without dungo’s this is a great choice, and it adds 20 strg/vita.
3. String of Ears: adds mana and life steal, only plus, use this if you can’t afford dungos or tgods

Boots:


1. Gores: this is your only choice really, they add CB, DS, and Ow, along with high Def, and this is a great choice and probably the only 1.

There are other choices, but they are nowhere near as good as Gores,

Gloves:


1. Rends: Great choice for the BVB, 50+ ED and 15+ strg is what you want with these gloves. 60/20’s will increase your damage by 500. These also offer high def as well. Raw Damage build only
2. Dracs: Another Great choice for the BVB, adds Ow(35%) and Strg if you want more life. These are great with hybrid/OW build


Ammys/Rings:


1. Angelics Combo: this is your best, and possibly only choice when fighting bvb’s, they add Massive AR, and provide you with mana when you are hit. 2x angelic rings & ammy
2. Angelic ammy /w 1 ring & Raven: This is a decent choice adds, Good amount of AR, and 20 dex(hopefully), try to shoot for a 200+ AR raven, with 20 dex. If you use this setup, you shouldn’t cham anything.
3. Highlords /w 2x ravens: worst choice, adds more damage, but u lose way too much AR, if using this, you must have 2x perf ravens, or its not worth it.

Switch:


1. 2x Hoto’s: these add 6 to all skills, Good choice for Shout/bo
2. 1x hoto & 1x 3 bo cta: I don’t suggest using this, you will lose 2 lvls or shout, for 1 lvl of bo.
3. 2x Warcry Weapons /w fal: adds strg incase you need it if you can’t wear gear on switch, but it shouldn’t be a problem, with gear that adds skills.

Inventory:


1. Btorchhopefully /w 20/?? Res, doesn’t matter that much in this build if you are going full PVP. Adds 3 to all barb skills
2. Anni/w 20/?? Same reason as before. Adds 1 to all skills
Heres were choices come in for your inventory
4. 32020’s: Great choice Add lots of life/ar/ and a decent amount of damage, these are number 1 choice for extra space in inventory
5. Mastery gcs & 40+ life mod /w 10x 32020’s: Great choice add decent amount of Life/ and Great Defense. Add small amount of damage and AR. A number 1 choice aswell.
6. 451 poison scs or 251/20 lifers: These add lots of Posion damage, but considered BM. These will help a lot if you can get hits off, but can be countered easily. The 251/20 lifers are probably the better choice, because it provides a meadian, if they start to use antidotes, then your scs won’t totally be wasted.
7. Assort mean of Charms with life are a last resort no telling what they will do.


Stash:


In stash you should include

1. Demon Limbfor Enchant
2. Any Prebuff gear EX.:Warcry Gc’s, 2x sojs/warcry ammy, 5 BO deli, Enigma, and arach.
3. Treachery, if you want to hit max res/DR if you don’t have it. Shouldn’t be a problem, and certainly NOT a must!
4. Any gear, if you plan on doing a bit of team dueling, ex. Sorb gear/Enigma if you are not dueling all barbs. Which with this build you shouldn’t have anyways (sorb gear, enigma is must for Prebuff)

Strategies:


1. DOD: sometimes known as Tri-ww: tactic is to make ww’s in a short pattern around the opponent, Works great only with barbs/melee chars that stand still. This type of ww, will give u maximum chance to hit someone in the smallest amount of time, you make short ww’s that take a max of about 4 frames. This will provide to best damage. This only works with melee chars that stand still. This works good when dueling most barbs, that wont move around a lot.
2. Long WW’s: Mostly commonly used wrong, The object is to make long WW’s when a barb that moves around a lot, or barb that is Wwing to you. You should WW at an angle towards him, just trying to glance him, this tactic works great when u are using a char with a lot of Open wounds or poison damage. This provides for the 8-secs/200 frames for Open wounds to take effect. Another common use for this when fighting an opposing WW barb, is to WW towards, where you think their WW will end, by doing this if you time it right, you will wind up WW through were they will end, at the exactly time they end the WW, if you ww in front of them, and they are running, they exiting WW running, reducing their Block by 1/3 make it extremely easy to hit them.
3. Tele + ww: not a great tactic unless, you tele in front of where they are Wwing, because you can execute WW as soon as you end tele this will work. You are going to want to WW away from them, because more than likely they will keep moving in that direction for a few seconds at the most. Works Great vs. barbs they are using Open wounds that are running away a lot when Open wounds go off. This is the best strategy for the Zons that like to keep their distant and run from you when you get close.
4. Wwing in front of them rapidly: There isn’t a name for this, but it works great if someone is running at you, make short WW’s in front of you, they will run into them (try to ww in a left to right pattern, This will probably at best only work with newbs, but it does work with anyone wwing towards you). This tactic should be used for the Raw Damage, barb, as you want the most chances to hit someone else with.
5. Short WW’s: Same concept as Long WW’s but you want to use this if you are a raw damage barb, as Long WW’s are mainly for hybrids/open wounds barbs. Make short WW’s as someone WW’s towards you, ww off at an angle, but do it shortly. If you do this, you can also chase their behind and ww after them, trying to mimic their WW’s and hopeing to get hits in, Smart barbs, will just WW right back at you, but some will run away. With luck, you will WW through them as they stop. And if they are running once again, their block will be at 1/3.

Remember to Walk, Never Run while in a BVB duel. Be patience, make them come to you; I guarantee they will come to you. Also if someone Tele-WW’s at you, make short ww’s away, and try to time you ww’s so as soon as they tele to you ww away, Towards the way they came From! If you time this Right, they will not hit you, they will more than likely WW straight forward. If you Ww away at the right moment, you will get all the hits in, and they will get none!

This Concludes the Barb vs. barb Strategy. This is a BVB class meant for Barbs to duel Barbs only. You can duel only melee classes, and will more than likely Win, but that is not the purpose of this guide.

Conclusion:


The BVB is a strong Melee character to be reckoned with, it will beat most melee chars out there, if not all. It has extremely High AR, Def, and Life. Along with max block and DR, make it a deadly, and extremely hard character to beat, by melee chars. This is not to be used Versus Most casters. The BVB is the best char to beat other barbs, with. If used correctly it can beat any Barb. Most People Consider BVB 90% gear and 10% Skills, the 10% skill though, is the most important part of the BVB. You might have the best gear out there, but you will need skill to use it, don’t get frustrated if you use this build, and are beat several times, it takes time to learn have to use the BVB.

If you follow this guide, with the weapons I said I used, using ebotdz you should have
1. Life: without Prebuff 6.2k, 44 bo: 7k, 53 bo(gcs) 7.7k or higher
2. Def: 25k-35k depending on prebuff, and if frost from fort
3. AR: With all 32020’s & ebotdz/ fury = 30k edc/grief= 28k(with prebuffs) – 20k without prebuffs.
4. Damage: /w Rends: 7k /w Dracs 6.5k-ebotdz
5. Damage: /w rends 6.5k /w Dracs 6k-ebotdcb

These are around the amount of life, you will have if are built around Ebotdz and Fort

The Following is the Damage for Weapons With Ow’s Over 8 secs, per 1 Hit. Then Open wounds, is the amount of damage you would do with open wounds if you were Lvl 90. That amount is then X by the % chance that it will go off. An ex is 533.4 x .35(35% chance of Ows) =186.69

Rank1; Fury Zerk/Fort: Raw damage:258::Ow damage:533::Total:791
Rank2; Grief Zerk/Fort: Raw damage:598:: Ow damage:186::Total:784
Rank3; Grief Zerk/Duress: Raw damage:415::Ow damage:362::Total:777
Rank4; Grief Zwei/Fort: Raw damage:574::Ow damage:186::Total:760
Rank4; Grief Zwei/Duress: Raw damage:398::Ow damage:362::Total:760
Rank5; Beast/Duress: Raw damage:221::Ow damage:495::Total:716
Rank6; Cleaver/Duress: Raw damage:335::Ow damage:362::Total:697
Rank7; Cleaver/Fort: Raw damage:482::Ow damage:186::Total:668
Rank8; Botd/Duress: Raw damage:303::Ow damage:362::Total:665
Rank9; Botd/Fort: Raw damage:436::Ow damage:186::Total:622
Rank10; Beast/Fort: Raw damage:296::Ow damage:320::Total:616

Cleaver= EDC and they don’t include DS, which is 66% or 2/3 and that doubles your damage, with a very high Proc chance.

To find DS you follow the equation:
Example: 22 CS, and 66 DS from EDC

=CS + (DS/100)*(100-CS)
=22% + (66/100)*22%
=22% + 51.48%
=73.48%

CB= -10% of enemies remaining life in PVP.

Special Thanks to:

Bnetislovely - for all the duels we have had
Omnicide/Barloc for info
Frater and Lotis from blizzsector for info
Diabloii.net for info
Battle.net/d2exp(arreat summit.)
And of course! All the newbs I ever pwned!
Thank you ALL!

Don’t Reproduce Without My Consent

[Joshy]

Bvbs will not beat windy druids ever, unless the druid totally doen't know what hes doing.

[FraterPerdurabo]

Sticked, even though I don't agree with it 100%.

You completely insist on using eBOTD, even though it's one of the worst possible choices for a BvB, which you even state below (from info copied from diabloii.net). The +30 all stats are handy, but damagewise, it will never compare to Grief (neither will it in any other aspect). It sucks. Only options are Grief/Fury/gozu rare BA (just saw one @d2jsp a few days ago).

Also, if you only have 10k ar without prebuff, something is wrong. You should have way more than that.

There is no way that a BvB will ever beat a Windy. Ever.

And for Christ's sake, why can no-one spell Loits' name?

edit: by the way, forget about Pheonix. You will need ~400 DEX for max block with it, and without block you'll get torn apart.

[L4E]

also, fix the godamn font size.. =/
lmao he spelled it "lotis"..

[crimson-tide]

Lol, my bad, and ive never been baet with by a grief bvb, and i have seen some with hihg Griefs, wow, did i put 10k AR? its 20k AR, ill change that, I messed that up, but ive never been beat by a grief weilding bvb, and i have tryed grief vs ebotd, and i have found that the ebotd barb is better than a greif barb. Maybe its just me. I dont know, but i still have been better with the botd, and have never been beat by a grief barb, so my ultimate choice goes for BVB, i know i said i perfered Ebotd, but i listed Greif as a choice, beacuse i know it can be good. I am just better with ebotd. ill take out that part about windy durid. And the Rare BA? talking about doom rend? just wondeirng, didn't list aht, even though its probably the best weapon out there. Just not many of them out there.

Ill work on fixing the Font Size, didn't realize it was that smart untill it showed up on forums, and i haven't had that much time to mess with it. This was the only forum i could find that could work with Word, and the other 2 ive been having to change around.

[Loits]

I would save 3 skill points by not skilling increased speed, the fatigue skill and berserk. Increased speed is great for a bvc cos it helps you desync bigtime but on a bvb it shouldn't make a big difference as long as you can excpect what your opponent is doing.

Imo shael in arreats is a waste because 4 scs are less important than that socket there. 1 point in energy is roughly eaqual to 10 life after bo therefore using a 7fhr/9dex/9str jool or something like that would be better that is if you have a eth bugged arreat. Eth upped arreat (zod) would by my second choice.

Enigma is a bad choice for bvb because the def is much less in comparison to high base def armors such as sacred that have forti or any other +ed% rw in them.

Imo the only thing you can sox your storm with is a shael to up your fbr.

Phoenix is dumb cos it has no block on it.

Verdango+storm+arreat is a must have for any build, you should never take these off a bvb.

Instead of using 1 raven+angelic duo use a chamed arreat when you need it, 2 angelic rings is a must have imo.

This is coming from a person who has never really experimented with bvbs but has made a bva in the past so i might be wrong about this.

Addition: I just thought about this and it sounds very unorthodox but has anyone ever tried using ber arreat+ber storm and using Hsarus boots+belt aswell as dual angelics?

[crimson-tide]

Yo lotis, i put those points in my guide if u read about the Weapons, and stuff, Sheal in SS, is ok, i thougth i put 9strg/40 ED jewel, thats in my ebuged arreats, guess i forgot to put that, but i know Phonix is a bad choice, and i put it. But if u use Coa, it can work, and i was thinking about that at 1 point, but id lose so much AR. I siad 2x angelics and ammy was my top choice for rings. Enigma is ok, if you know how to use it, i know there some that are exetremely godly with it, beacuse they haev Exceptionaly high Strg, and Vita, that have like 200 by building it around fort, then throwing on Enigma to jack up Strg, by loads, i haven't expiernment much with that type of build, thats why i didn't list it. The 1's are my first choice.

Frater and Lotis, thanks for the info you gave me :)

[FraterPerdurabo]

i know Phonix is a bad choice, and i put it. But if u use Coa, it can work

400 DEX will not work.

Frater and Lotis, thanks for the info you gave me :)

Np

[crimson-tide]

400 dex? shit i did wrong equation, its possible with 300 dex, but bad choice , ill remove that part of course. YA, you guys were some big help lol.

Imo, well the barb i madea to use this jsut got pwnted in an xfer, lol. Paypal to the rescue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dementia]

not sure if im aloud to post here or anythign but..i made this char in hero editor wiht ebotdz and he didnt even hit 5k dmg...used ss arreat, fort, dungo, gores, rends, angelics and he kinda sucked....i want to make bvb but that did not convince me..

[JimTheGreen]

Very thorough, thanks!

[Design]

Wondering how you can counter BvB that have crazy life

[db_jynx]

Wondering how you can counter BvB that have crazy life

this shit is probably really old, but i just got back on here so:

barb with crazy life = OWs / Lots of Mana / Lots of Def.

don't underestimate OWs, when grief doesnt work for raw dmg (yes Crimson, grief is by far best BvB weapon out there), go either Fury or 4/5 Um Zerker (w/e max would be) with a shael or 2 in it. Also have used Eth Up'd zod Toothrow which has been sexy.

personally, i always go ar/life gcs and scs. with this and an either OWs or grief setup you should have no problems.

[crimson-tide]

Realize this is an old question, and i dont' check these forums much, but i would counter a high life BVB with either a high life BVB, a high OW BVB, or a BVB that has 30k+ Defense, maybe even 40k. - Eth bugged prudence to hit this /w fort prebuffed.