Welcome to our Diablo 4 Hammer of the Ancients (HotA) Barbarian Build for Endgame. This build offers incredible AOE damage output and can be run with minimal gear. It is a great option when you are just starting off in the early Endgame. This build will be very Fury dependent, but as you progress you will open up many flexible build options after obtaining more sources of Fury generation. In this article we will cover the Skill Tree, Aspects, Paragon Board, Glyphs and everything you need to run the Hammer of the Ancients (HotA) Barbarian Build!
Pros
- Plays well with groups.
- High AOE damage.
- Great Crowd-Control.
Cons
- Requires Proper Fury management, Otherwise Damage is Low .
- Average Single Target damage.
- You must play in melee range.
Skill Tree and Paragon Board
Board Order and Glyphs
- 1.) Starting Board – Crusher: This build will focus on using Bludgeoning weapons. By specifically having a Mace in your Barbarian Arsenal you will receive a major damage bonus.
- 2.) Warbringer – Exploit: Improving vulnerable enemy damage is paramount for this build and will result in a massive damage increase.
- 3.) Flawless Technique – Territorial: Critical Strike Damage is a great way to improve damage in any build, especially one that focuses on Critical Hits.
- 4.) Blood Rage – Marshal: Shouts are incredibly important for offensive and defensive buffs, Fury generation, and Cooldown Reduction. Decreasing their cooldowns will help to improve the flow of the build.
- 5.) Decimator – Disembowel: While bleeds are not the focus of the build, we do still receive great benefit from this Glyph thanks to the Aspect of Berserk Ripping. We will have high Berserk uptime and be able to apply more potent bleeds when taking this Glyph. It also offers a great source of Cooldown Reduction.
- 6.) Bone Breaker – Wrath: After the Season 1 Patch this now increases all damage and not just core abilities. As such, it is an even more powerful way to get damage from this build.
Glyph Leveling Priority
Below you will find the important Rare Glyphs for the HotA Barbarian. Make note, you should upgrade each Glyph to level 15 first, and then push them to max.
- 1.) Wrath
- 2.) Exploit
- 3.) Marshal
- 4.) Territorial
- 5.) Disembowel
- 6.) Crusher
Weapon Technique
Expertise: Two-Handed Mace Expertise – We are required to use a Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapon for Hammer of the Ancients. As such, the Two-Handed Mace Expertise will come passively and be a great source of additional Fury.
Technique: Two-Handed Sword Technique – This will allow all abilities, specifically Hammer of the Ancients, to apply a bleed for additional damage output and a slow.
Season One: Malignant Hearts
The Seasonal Affix tied to Season One will add a huge boost to all builds in Diablo 4. This will provide you essentially bonus gem slots that will add unique effects which may provide massive damage, defensive, or utility boosts. For more information on this, please refer to our Season 1 Malignant Hearts Guide
Below you will find the suggested Malignant Hearts for this build:
Recommended
- Focused Rage (Vicious, Offensive): After spending 100-60 Fury within 2 seconds, your next Non-Basic Skill’s Critical Strike Chance is increased by 20-30%.
- Revenge (Brutal, Defensive): 10-20% of incoming damage is instead supressed. When you use a Defensive, Subterfuge or a Macabre skill, all suppressed damage is amplified by 250% and explodes, dealing up to 1360 – 2040 Fire damage to Nearby enemies.
- The Barber (Wrathful, Super): Critical Strikes and all subsequent damage within 2.0 – 4.0 seconds is absorbed by your target. Then, the absorbed damage erupts onto surrounding enemies. Stored damage is increased by 10% per second.
Optional
- *Malignant Pack (Wrathful, Super): Cycle through a Malignant bonus every 20 kills: (NOTE: Use instead of Revenge if you do not need Defensiveness).
- Gain 20% Attack Speed
- Core and Basic Skills have a 15% chance to fully restore your Primary Resource
- Every 21 seconds, gain a Barrier absorbing 85 – 102 damage
- Ignoring Pain (Wrathful, Super): Incoming damage has a 5-15% chance of being ignored and instead Healing your for 17 – 68.
- Resurgent Life (Brutal, Defensive): While below 40% – 60% Life, you receive 50% – 60% more Healing from all sources.
Legendary Aspects & Gearing
Below is a list of Aspects we use and recommend for this build. The Aspects are in order starting from the most to least important.
Required
These Aspects act as the core of the build and allow it to function. These will ALWAYS be needed.
- Aspect of Ancestral Force (Offensive)
- Aspect of Echoing Fury (Resource)
- Bold Chieftain’s Aspect (Resource)
Recommended
These Aspects are suggested for improving damage output or overall defensiveness. Some of these may be interchanged with other preferences or in the case of obtaining a Unique drop.
- Aspect of Berserk Ripping (Offensive)
- Edgemaster’s Aspect (Offensive)
- Aspect of the Expectant (Offensive) – If you drop your Basic Skill because you have enough Fury generation you may drop this Aspect.
- Aspect of Limitless Rage (Offensive)
- Aspect of Berserk Fury (Resource)
- Aspect of Disobedience (Defensive)
- Aspect of Numbing Wrath (Defensive)
- Ghostwalker Aspect (Mobility)
Optional
- Conceited Aspect (Offensive)
- Aspect of the Protector (Defensive)
- Aspect of Disobedience (Defensive)
- Iron Blood Aspect (Defensive)
- Wind Striker Aspect (Mobility)
Aspect Slots
Note that Aspects are limited to specific gear slots. Use the list below to decide where to put your aspects. This build does not restrict you, but note some unique items may require you to adjust accordingly:
- Offensive – Amulets, Gloves, Ring, Weapons
- Defensive – Amulets, Chest, Helm, Legs
- Mobility – Amulets, Boots
- Resource – Rings
- Utility – Amulets, Boots, Chest, Gloves, Helm
Suggested Aspect Slots
| Item Slot | Aspect |
| Helm | Numbing Wrath |
| Chest | Disobedience |
| Gloves | Expectant |
| Pants | Iron Blood |
| Boots | Ghostwalker |
| 2H Bludgeoning | Ancestral Force |
| 1H Dual Wield | Berserk Ripping |
| 1H Dual Wield | Edgemaster’s |
| 2H Slashing | Limitless Rage |
| Amulet | Conceited |
| Ring #1 | Bold Chieftain’s |
| Ring #2 | Echoing Fury |
Unique Items
This Hammer of the Ancients (HotA) Barbarian build has a few Unique items it can take advantage of them. Some are mandatory to maximize the damage of the build, others are potential defensive options depending on preference.
- Temerity (Recommended BIS): Effects that Heal you beyond 100% Life grant you a Barrier up to [50% – 100%] of your Maximum Life that lasts for 30 seconds. NOTE: If you use this Unique, consider using Conceited Aspect on gear. Also, contribute more points to the Raid Leader passive.
- The Grandfather (Recommended BIS): Increases your Critical Strike Damage by x[60% – 100%]. This weapon can also roll other properties higher than normal.
- Harlequin Crest (Recommended BIS): Gain [5% – 8%] Damage Reduction. In addition, gain +2 Ranks to all Skills.
- Rage of Harrogath (Optional): Lucky Hit: Up to a [20% – 40%] chance to reduce the Cooldowns of your Non-Ultimate Skills by 1.5 seconds when you inflict Bleeding on Elites.
- Melted Heart of Selig (Optional): Gain 30% Maximum Resource, in addition, when you take damage, drain [3 – 8] Resource for every 1% Life you would have lost instead. NOTE: Only use this unique until you have Temerity and can then roll the Conceited Aspect on your Amulet.
Best in Slot
| Item Slot | Aspect |
| Helm | Harlequin Crest* |
| Chest | Rage of Harrogath* |
| Gloves | Expectant |
| Pants | Temerity* |
| Boots | Ghost Walker |
| 2H Bludgeoning | Ancestral Force |
| 1H Dual Wield | Berserk Ripping |
| 1H Dual Wield | Edgemaster’s |
| 2H Slashing | The Grandfather* |
| Amulet | Conceited |
| Ring #1 | Bold Chieftan’s |
| Ring #2 | Echoing Fury |
Stat Priority and Gems
| Item | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Gem |
| Helm | Cooldown Reduction | + Max Life | +Max Fury | Strength | Armor | Royal Sapphire |
| Chest | Damage Reduction while Fortified | Damage Reduction from Close enemies | + Ranks to Challenging Shout | Damage Reduction from Bleeding enemies | Maximum Life | Royal Sapphire |
| Gloves | + Ranks to Hammer of the Ancients | Critical Strike Chance | Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies | Attack Speed | Strength | |
| Pants | Damage Reduction while Fortified | Damage Reduction from Close enemies | Maximum Life | Damage Reduction from Bleeding enemies | Armor | Royal Sapphire |
| Boots | Movement Speed | Fury Cost Reduction | Berserk Duration | Movement Speed from Killing Elites | Fortify Generation | |
| Amulet | Cooldown Reduction | Fury Cost Reduction | + to Heavy Handed Passive | + to Pit Fighter Passive | + to Slaying Strike Passive | Royal Skull |
| Ring x 2 | Fury Generation | Critical Strike Chance | Vulnerable Damage | Critical Strike Damage | + Max Fury | Royal Skull |
| Weapon 1H | Weapon Damage | Vulnerable Damage | Critical Strike Damage | +Damage to Close Enemies | +Core Skill Damage | Royal Emerald |
| Weapon 2H (Slashing and Bludgeoning) | Weapon Damage | Vulnerable Damage | Critical Strike Damage | +Damage to Close Enemies | +Core Skill Damage | Royal Emerald |
Rotation
The Hammer of the Ancients (HotA) Barbarian Build plays very similar to other Shout-focused Barbarian builds, such as a Whirlwind Barbarian (If you are interested in learning more about this build be sure to reference our Whirlwind Barbarian Guide). It centers around taking advantage of the defensive and offensive buffs that derive from the 3 shouts we take, and optimizing cooldown reduction, in order to maintain high buff uptime while maximizing our damage to make Hammer of the Ancients more potent. It is specifically designed for AoE scenarios, but can still be effective on Boss encounters.
General
- Use Lunging Strike to engage enemies, if you are in need of Fury, or if you are using Aspect of the Expectant.
- Use Challenging Shout, War Cry, and Rallying Cry together, with at least 5 enemies nearby if possible. This will proc cooldown reduction, consistent healing, and many offensive and defensive buffs.
- Wrath of the Berserker can be used when fighting multiple elites, large packs, or for burst damage on boss fights.
- Use Hammer of the Ancients are your primary damage dealing ability. In AOE situations, hit as many targets as possible. Be sure to have as much Fury as possible before casting in order to deal the most damage possible.
Bosses
Boss fights will follow the same rotation. Be sure to optimize burst damage windows by taking advantage of DPS cooldowns such as Wrath of the Berserker or War Cry Do your best to line these up when you have the most available Fury and ways to generate it. The goal is to dump as much as possible within your cooldown windows.
Be mindful of when your Defensive cooldowns are inactive, such as Challenging Shout. Play more safely when these cooldowns are not available.
Conclusion
This concludes our Diablo 4 Hammer of the Ancients (HotA) Barbarian build! For more information on Diablo 4, including Class Builds and Guides, be sure to check out our Diablo 4 home page!