In Diablo 4, each class features a unique mechanic designed to enhance gameplay, and the Barbarian class is no exception. The recent update to the Arsenal System revitalizes the Barbarian experience, allowing players to optimize their builds with greater weapon versatility. This guide will explain how to unlock the Arsenal mechanic, effectively use it to enhance your gameplay, and highlight the best weapons and their bonuses.

Unlocking the Barbarian Arsenal Mechanic

To access the Barbarian’s Arsenal Mechanic, you must first reach level 15. Upon doing so, a quest titled "Barbarian: Masters of Battle" will unlock, guiding you to Ked Bardu. Completing this quest grants access to the Expertise tab, where you can view various weapon types and their associated bonuses.

At the start, your Arsenal will be at level 1. To level up this mechanic, you'll need to actively use different weapon types. Equipping multiple melee weapons is essential, as switching between them during combat will help you gain experience for each weapon type. This means it's beneficial to have at least four different weapons equipped to maximize your bonuses across various types.

Utilizing the Arsenal Mechanic

Assigning Weapons to Skills

The Arsenal System allows you to assign specific weapons to particular skills, giving you more control over your Barbarian's combat style. For example, you can pair the skill Bash with a bludgeoning weapon to maximize damage output. When you activate a skill, the Barbarian automatically equips the most suitable weapon from your loadout, enabling fluid transitions between attacks.

To assign a weapon to a skill, navigate to the Skill Assignment window under the Abilities tab. Hover over any damage-dealing skill and select the option to "Switch Weapon." This feature is especially important for the Walking Arsenal skill, which requires a diverse array of weapon types to function effectively.

Gaining Experience and Bonuses

Experience is earned through hitting enemies with your weapons, but not through kills. This means that if you're one-shotting foes, your weapon experience will suffer. Additionally, no experience is awarded in PvP mode, so engaging in combat with various enemies in PvE will help level up your weapons more effectively.

You can also practice with training dummies to gain experience in a controlled environment, but natural combat scenarios will yield more dynamic leveling.

Best Weapons, Bonuses, and Expertise Levels

Each weapon type offers distinct bonuses that enhance your Barbarian's combat capabilities. Below is a summary of the primary weapon types and their associated bonuses:

• One-Handed Axe

  • Rank 1 Bonus: 0.5% increased critical strike chance against injured enemies (doubles with 2 axes).
  • Rank 10 Bonus: Increased to 10%. Lucky Hit: Critical strikes have a chance to grant +0.6% increased attack speed for 2 seconds (doubles with 2 axes).

• One-Handed Mace

  • Rank 1 Bonus: 1% increased damage to stunned enemies (doubles with 2 maces).
  • Rank 10 Bonus: Increased to 10%. Lucky Hit: 10% chance to gain Berserking for 1.5 seconds when hitting a stunned enemy (doubles with 2 maces).

• One-Handed Sword

  • Rank 1 Bonus: Lucky Hit: 1% chance to gain 5 Fury when hitting a crowd-controlled enemy (doubles with 2 swords).
  • Rank 10 Bonus: Increased to 10%. Killing a crowd-controlled enemy grants +15% increased attack speed for 3 seconds (doubles for kills with 2 swords).

• Two-Handed Axe

  • Rank 1 Bonus: 1.5% increased damage to vulnerable enemies.
  • Rank 10 Bonus: Increased to 15%. 10% increased critical strike chance against vulnerable enemies.

• Two-Handed Mace

  • Rank 1 Bonus: Lucky Hit: 1% chance to gain 2 Fury when hitting an enemy (doubles when Berserking).
  • Rank 10 Bonus: Increased to 10%. Deal 15% increased critical strike damage while Berserking.

• Two-Handed Sword

  • Rank 1 Bonus: 2% of direct damage dealt is inflicted as bleeding damage over 5 seconds.
  • Rank 10 Bonus: Increased to 20%. Deal 30% increased bleeding damage for 5 seconds after killing an enemy.

• Polearm

  • Rank 1 Bonus: 1% increased Lucky Hit chance.
  • Rank 10 Bonus: Increased to 15%. Deal 15% increased damage while healthy.

Final Thoughts

The revamped Arsenal mechanic allows Barbarian players to tailor their combat experience significantly. By experimenting with different weapons and skill assignments, you can create a build that suits your playstyle and optimizes your damage output. Make sure to collect a diverse range of melee weapons to fully utilize the Weapon Expertise system and elevate your Barbarian’s performance in Season 6. Happy slaying!

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