Today I want to show you guys what I believe will be the new Leapquake build in 2.1: the Freezequake barb. With the buff to EQ damage for all runes and 2 handed weapons in PTR, using a Furnace and permafreezing everything is likely to earn barbs a permanent spot in groups, along with helping them progress far into greater rifts solo.
In this video I present the build, discuss skill/mechanic changes in 2.1, go over the gear, paragon points, and solo a greater rift. Enjoy!
This discussion was a bit buried, since I started it right when the PTR began. It was also pre-2hander buff, and without a Furnace. Whirlwind is def a better choice for someone with a 2 hander, but I think you should also consider mixing in Rend - Mutilate, especially with furnace. Using Lamentation belt, you can apply 2 stacks of rend, giving your furnace 2 extra chances to tick alongside whirlwind. It will also increase your Earthquake damage by 10% (possibly 20% from second stack but I haven't tested it since seasons started). I see you say "I tried Rend", but the DPS increase and bonus Furnace ticks would seem like a win/win mixing that in there before you start spinning.
One other thing to try: Use Strongarm Bracers with Leap - Call of Arreat for clearing the rift a bit faster. Aughilds giving you the 15% damage on elites is great, but up to 30% bonus on all trash + most blue packs usually makes up the difference for me. Then you can quick town portal as soon as RG spawns to swap back to Aughilds.
I was able to clear lvl 30 rift without Furnace, before 2 hander buff using Cold Leaper... your gear combo should allow for much higher than that.
http://www.diablofans.com/forums/diablo-iii-class-forums/barbarian-bastions-keep/89856-2-1-0-ptr-cold-barb-is-awesome
This discussion was a bit buried, since I started it right when the PTR began. It was also pre-2hander buff, and without a Furnace. Whirlwind is def a better choice for someone with a 2 hander, but I think you should also consider mixing in Rend - Mutilate, especially with furnace. Using Lamentation belt, you can apply 2 stacks of rend, giving your furnace 2 extra chances to tick alongside whirlwind. It will also increase your Earthquake damage by 10% (possibly 20% from second stack but I haven't tested it since seasons started). I see you say "I tried Rend", but the DPS increase and bonus Furnace ticks would seem like a win/win mixing that in there before you start spinning.
One other thing to try: Use Strongarm Bracers with Leap - Call of Arreat for clearing the rift a bit faster. Aughilds giving you the 15% damage on elites is great, but up to 30% bonus on all trash + most blue packs usually makes up the difference for me. Then you can quick town portal as soon as RG spawns to swap back to Aughilds.
I was able to clear lvl 30 rift without Furnace, before 2 hander buff using Cold Leaper... your gear combo should allow for much higher than that.
Some things to consider:
-Rend damage is really bad. It just is. Lamentation may make it usable, but it's still a poor choice for this build, as there are MUCH better belts: chilanik's, cassius, WH, IK, captains - depending on your gearing strategy (IK vs. no IK, CDR amount, perma 50% DR, group sprint, etc).
-There's really no space in this build for BOTH WW and Rend. You'd have to give up war cry or battle rage, neither of which is an option. Or give up ignore pain, but then you're just asking to die.
-I agree rend has good procs with Furnace, but I feel EQ procs it enough.
-Call of Arreat is a mixed bag IMO. You're talking 30% elite damage on SOME elites, SOMETIMES, vs. 15% elite damage at ALL times + 15% elite damage reduction at ALL times + 7% ranged/melee reduction at ALL times.
-I think the TP + gear/skill swap mechanic will get changed somehow. It's 100% cheesy and basically makes every class have 2 builds with 2 sets of gear - I really don't think this is what Blizzard is intending.
Call of Arreat strategy was more to help with the speed of clearing in general, as it greatly increases damage done to white trash. Usually this isn't an issue, but certain high HP mobs take a while to kill.
Also realize with my suggestions, that's from someone who does NOT have a furnace OR Pride of Cassius. Not very lucky with drops in that department. Personally I think The Furnace allows anyone to use almost any build successfully. Sadly, it's pretty much a requirement to kill past rift 30 for barb since our class struggles with high hp single target fights. Maybe someday I'll see one drop and see what difference it makes.
I've swapped to 100% season on the PTR and am 1 piece away from leapquake again (RoRG or Earth Gloves), so I'll play around a bit with mixing in other skill / gear combos as well. I like the Crimson set you have incorporated in there for the bonus CDR, though I'd love to mix in some Hexing pants instead for the 25% damage boost while leaping / WWing (again for someone without Furnace looking to get past 30).
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In this video I present the build, discuss skill/mechanic changes in 2.1, go over the gear, paragon points, and solo a greater rift. Enjoy!
http://youtu.be/ohvMLHrM_4M
MeatHeadGaming - YouTube - Twitch - Facebook - Web
This discussion was a bit buried, since I started it right when the PTR began. It was also pre-2hander buff, and without a Furnace. Whirlwind is def a better choice for someone with a 2 hander, but I think you should also consider mixing in Rend - Mutilate, especially with furnace. Using Lamentation belt, you can apply 2 stacks of rend, giving your furnace 2 extra chances to tick alongside whirlwind. It will also increase your Earthquake damage by 10% (possibly 20% from second stack but I haven't tested it since seasons started). I see you say "I tried Rend", but the DPS increase and bonus Furnace ticks would seem like a win/win mixing that in there before you start spinning.
One other thing to try: Use Strongarm Bracers with Leap - Call of Arreat for clearing the rift a bit faster. Aughilds giving you the 15% damage on elites is great, but up to 30% bonus on all trash + most blue packs usually makes up the difference for me. Then you can quick town portal as soon as RG spawns to swap back to Aughilds.
I was able to clear lvl 30 rift without Furnace, before 2 hander buff using Cold Leaper... your gear combo should allow for much higher than that.
-Rend damage is really bad. It just is. Lamentation may make it usable, but it's still a poor choice for this build, as there are MUCH better belts: chilanik's, cassius, WH, IK, captains - depending on your gearing strategy (IK vs. no IK, CDR amount, perma 50% DR, group sprint, etc).
-There's really no space in this build for BOTH WW and Rend. You'd have to give up war cry or battle rage, neither of which is an option. Or give up ignore pain, but then you're just asking to die.
-I agree rend has good procs with Furnace, but I feel EQ procs it enough.
-Call of Arreat is a mixed bag IMO. You're talking 30% elite damage on SOME elites, SOMETIMES, vs. 15% elite damage at ALL times + 15% elite damage reduction at ALL times + 7% ranged/melee reduction at ALL times.
-I think the TP + gear/skill swap mechanic will get changed somehow. It's 100% cheesy and basically makes every class have 2 builds with 2 sets of gear - I really don't think this is what Blizzard is intending.
MeatHeadGaming - YouTube - Twitch - Facebook - Web
Also realize with my suggestions, that's from someone who does NOT have a furnace OR Pride of Cassius. Not very lucky with drops in that department. Personally I think The Furnace allows anyone to use almost any build successfully. Sadly, it's pretty much a requirement to kill past rift 30 for barb since our class struggles with high hp single target fights. Maybe someday I'll see one drop and see what difference it makes.
I've swapped to 100% season on the PTR and am 1 piece away from leapquake again (RoRG or Earth Gloves), so I'll play around a bit with mixing in other skill / gear combos as well. I like the Crimson set you have incorporated in there for the bonus CDR, though I'd love to mix in some Hexing pants instead for the 25% damage boost while leaping / WWing (again for someone without Furnace looking to get past 30).