Best Barbarian build in Diablo 4 Season 5: Leveling and endgame

The Best Barbarian build in Diablo 4 Season 5 is what any returning or new player will want to set up if they're hoping to main this class. Thanks to the Tempering system from Season 4, the Flay Barbarian has stood out as the best Barbarian build for players to choose from. When it comes to both leveling and endgame progression this build is strong, safe, and efficient.

This build utilizes the Flay ability to stack Bleed onto enemies, killing them with overwhelming damage over time. You can also opt to use the Rupture ability to deal massive instant damage on targets. The Tempering mechanic can increase your output by extending the duration of all the bleeds you apply.

In this guide we're going to go over the best Barbarian build in Diablo 4 Season 5, explaining how to level fast and make it strong enough for endgame.

NOTE: This article is subjective and reflects the writer's opinion.

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Leveling your Diablo 4 Season 5 Barbarian build

As is often the case, waiting until a certain level for your main build is best here. (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

When playing a Flay Barbarian in Diablo 4 Season 5, it's best to use a dedicated leveling build, as is usually the case with all characters. For this specific setup, we recommend running a Whirlwind build to get yourself high enough for the main build. This is a very simple but powerful build that requires no gear and will allow you to get some practice in with Flay as you level.

Below we'll list the best skills to take, in order, when creating a Whirlwind Barbarian for leveling purposes:

Best Barbarian Leveling Skills:

• Battle Flay (5/5)
• Furious Whirlwind (5/5)
• Tactical Rallying Cry (1/5)
• Imposing Presence (3/3)
• Power Charge (5/5)
• Swiftness (3/3)
• Fighter's Death Blow (5/5)
• Pit Fighter (3/3)
• Hamstring (1/3)
• Cut to the Bone (3/3)
• Thick Skin (1/3)
• Counteroffensive (3/3)
• Defensive Stance (2/3)
• Supreme Wrath of the Berserker
• Heavy Handed (1/3)
• Brute Force (3/3)
• Walking Arsenal

Gearing a fresh character can be an uphill climb, but this build operates well without much. (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

These skill choices combined will provide you with the damage, utility, and defense you need to clear any enemies or Diablo 4 quests. While this build can operate well with no unique gear, there are a few pieces that can speed up your progression if found.

Here are some of the best weapons and armor for leveling if you manage to find them while playing Diablo 4 Season 5:

Name	Aspect Unlock	Effect
Runic Skullcap of Tempering Blows	Completing Defiled Catacomb in Fractured Peaks	Gain Fortify after swapping weapons 5 times.
Earthstriker's Necklace	Completing Maugan's Works in Hawezar	Next non-Basic Skill will Overpower and deal increased Overpower damage after swapping weapons 8 times.
Circle of the Relentless Armsmaster	Completing Calibel's Mine in Scosglen	Gain increased Fury Generation and reduced Fury cost while all Walking Arsenal damage bonuses are active.
Slaking Loop	Completing Maulwood in Fractured Peaks	Chance to gain Fury when a Core Skill deals direct damage to a Bleeding enemy. Increased maximum Fury.

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Diablo 4 Season 5 Barbarian endgame guide

This endgame build will see you annihilating bosses and hordes alike with Bleed damage. (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

Once your leveling build has carried you as far as its power will allow, you'll be ready to swap your skills around to prepare for the endgame. This Flay-centered build is a primary single target-focused build, but by utilizing Rupture, you shouldn't have problems with AOE damage either. This diversity of gameplay makes it ideal for the Diablo 4 Infernal Hordes mode, which will see you taking on both.

Below we'll list the skills you need to take to set this build-up to the best of its potential:

Best Barbarian Endgame Skills:

• Battle Flay (20/5) (15 Item Contribution)
• Furious Double Swing (1/5)
• Endless Fury (3/3)
• Strategic Ground Stomp (1/5)
• Imposing Presence (3/3)
• Outburst (1/3)
• Power Leap (5/5)
• Aggressive Resistance (1/3)
• Prolific Fury (3/3)
• Battle Fervor (3/3)
• Warrior's Rupture (1/5)
• Pit Figther (3/3)
• Hamstring (1/3)
• Cut to the Bone (3/3)
• Thick Skin (1/3)
• Counteroffensive (3/3)
• Defensive Stance (3/3)
• Supreme Wrath of the Berserker
• Tempered Fury (1/3)
• Invigorating Fury (2/3)
• Walking Arsenal

There are quite a few trees to fill out here, but when done right this build will be unstoppable. (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

With all the proper skills chosen, this build will have the power, defense, and utility it needs to stay alive in the hardest content. This build in particular will excel at speed farming for materials.

To make it truly as strong as it can be, however, you'll need the best in slot gear, which we'll list in the table below:

Name	Gems	Effect
Crown of Lucion	1x Ruby	Gain increased damage and Resource Cost for 4 seconds, stacking 5 times, when you use a Skill with a Resource Cost.
Rage of Harrogath	2x Ruby	60% chance to reduce Cooldowns by 1 second when applying bleed.
Weapon Master's Runic Gloves	None	Weapon Mastery Skills have an additional Charge. Chance to Stun enemies for 2 seconds when damaging with a Weapon Mastery Skill.
Runic Leggings of Might	2x Ruby	Increased Damage Reduction for 2-7 seconds when using Basic Skills.
Runic Cleats of Metamorphosis	None	Become unstoppable for 2.5 seconds when you Evade. Enemies along your path take physical damage and Vampiric Curse. Evade Cooldown increased by 5-10 seconds.
Chain of Adaptability	1x Amethyst	Basic Skills generate 3 primary resource when cast below 50% max resource and deal 30-120% increased damage when cast above 50% maximum resource.
Loop of Giant Strides	1x Amethyst	Hitting an enemy reduces Leap Cooldown by 2.5-5 seconds, per enemy hit. Hitting a boss provides max reduction.
Loop of the Relentless Armsmaster	1x Emerald	Gain 35-65% increased Fury Generation and 15% reduced Fury Cost while all Walking Arsenal damage bonuses are active.
Bonebreaker of the Moonrise	2x Topaz	Gain 4% Attack Speed for 10 seconds, stacking 5 times, when damaging an enemy with Basic Skills.
Fields of Crimson	2x Topaz	Damaging an enemy with Rupture creates a blood pool that inflicts bleed damage over 6 seconds. Enemies in a blood pool take increased damage.
Edgemaster's Bearded Axe	1x Topaz	Skills deal 5-20% increased damage based on available primary resource.
Shard of Verathiel	1x Topaz	Basic Skills deal 50-200% increased damage but cost +25 primary resource.