Difference between revisions of "Barbarian"

Latest revision as of 02:01, 3 November 2017

One of the first two classes introduced with Diablo 3, the Barbarian is a powerful melee class that uses fury as a resource. The Barbarian is the only one of the first five characters to use strength for a mainstat and has consistently ranked as one of (or the) most popular class during the first year of Diablo 3.

Barbarian skills

The Barbarian was also present in Diablo I and Diablo II:

"Barbarian" can also to the race of humans living in the northern lands of Sanctuary.

Diablo III Class

The Barbarian
Skills:	Barbarian Skills
Passives:	Barbarian Passives
Resource:	Fury
Common builds:
Unknown.
Background
Origin:	Bastion's Keep, Mount Arreat
Affiliation:	Children of Bul-Kathos
Friends:	Druids (distrust)
Foes:	None known

1 Concept
2 Barbarian Active Skills
3 Barbarian Passive Skills
- 3.1 Barbarian Traits
4 Background
- 4.1 Male Barbarian's Backstory
- 4.2 Female Barbarian's BackStory
5 Development
- 5.1 Character Model Evolution
6 Character Biography
- 6.1 Official Lore
7 Media
- 7.1 Barbarian Profile Video
8 Resources
9 References

Concept[edit | edit source]

Male Barbarian.

Barbarians are the only playable class that returns from Diablo 2. Necromancers are seen as NPCs and Paladins are mentioned, but the Monk, Demon Hunter, Wizard, and Witch Doctor are technically new classes, though some of them fairly obviously fill the same archetypal style roles. (Wizards differ only slightly from Sorceresses in Diablo 2.)

From Jay Wilson [1] in 2008, speaking about the Barbarian's concept.

The barbarian is the only returning class. Originally we actually planned to have no returning classes, but as we developed the barbarian, it essentially ended up turning into a barbarian. We sort of got to the point where we went – because we actually had a different name for him originally - I think were going to call it this other name and everyone else is just going to call it the barbarian, so maybe we should just call it the barbarian. One of the things we really did not want to do – it's why we set that initial goal to not repeat classes – was, we didn't just want a rehash; we wanted to make the sequel and the sequel has new gameplay and new experiences. I know a lot of people really love the classes in Diablo 2 and it's not my desire to intentionally arc those people – I like those classes to; I love the Necromancer, he's my favorite class from Diablo 2 – but as our goal we really wanted to provide new experiences; that was our focus.

Barbarian Active Skills[edit | edit source]

During early development all classes had their skills sorted into 3 skill trees, much as we saw in Diablo 2. The Barbarian's were Battlemaster, Berserker, and Juggernaut. The skills (passive and active) in each and the arrangement of the skill trees evolved during development, until ultimately the entire concept was scrapped. In the final game all passive skills are sorted separately from actives, and there are no more "trees," just skills and rune effect that become available at various levels from 1-60.

The following is a quick list of barbarian skills. See the Barbarian skills page for a more thorough summary, or any of the individual skills pages for full information.

Fury Generators[edit | edit source]

These skills build Fury for the Barbarian. At low levels characters must bang away with these basic abilities in order to build up Fury, which is expended by more powerful attacks. At high levels much Fury gain comes from equipment or procs, largely from critical hits, and actually using Fury Generators is less important.

Bash - Melee attack with bonus damage and a chance of knockback.

Ground Stomp.

Cleave - The Barbarian swings at multiple targets at once, dealing bonus damage to all targets in front of him.
Leap - The Barbarian leaps very quickly over a considerable distance, dealing damage to all enemies in the radius where he lands.
Ground Stomp - Stomps on the ground, dealing area of effect damage and stunning all nearby enemies.
Frenzy - A melee attack that increases the damage and attack rate with each hit.
War Cry - A shout that produces Fury, and increases the armor of the Barbarian and all nearby party members for a short duration.
Furious Charge - The Barbarian charges across most of the screen at high speed, dealing damage to all enemies in his path.
Ancient Spear - A ranged attack that hurls a spear, skewering enemies and hauling them into melee range. Slows target for a short time.

Ancient Spear.

Fury Spenders[edit | edit source]

These skills expend Fury for attacks that are (generally) more powerful or versatile than Fury Generators.

Threatening Shout - A shout that debuffs the enemies around the Barbarian, reducing damage done by enemies for a short duration.
Hammer of the Ancients - A melee attack in which the Barbarian smashes a giant hammer down for massive damage and increased critical hit chance.
Battle Rage - A shout that increases Barbarian's damage and critical hit chance for a short duration.
Weapon Throw - The Barbarian hurls his melee weapon at his foes for additional damage and slows target.
Rend - A vicious attack that strikes all enemies within the range of Barbarian, leaving enemies bleeding for additional damage every second.
Seismic Slam - A ranged attack that sends a wave of force out from the Barbarian, causing damage and knockback.
Sprint - Grants a substantial movement speed boost for a short duration.
Whirlwind - The Barbarian swirls in a cyclone, delivering multiple attacks to everything in his path.

Situational Skills[edit | edit source]

These skills generally cost Fury to use, but rather than functioning as direct attacks, they are buffs, debuffs, defensive abilities, panic buttons, or other helpful talents.

Ignore Pain - The Barbarian reduces damage taken for a short time period.
Revenge - A melee attack that can only be activated when the Barbarian is hit. Deals area of effect damage and regains health for a % of the damage dealt.
Overpower - A melee attack that can only be activated when the Barbarian deals a critical hit. Deals area of effect damage to all enemies in range.
Earthquake - Shakes the earth violently, causing massive damage to all nearby enemies.
Call of the Ancients - Summons Talic, Korlic, and Madawc for a short duration. They fight with the Barbarian for the duration, using weapon skills in their attacks.
Wrath of the Berserker - A buff that grants higher Critical Hit, Attack Speed, Dodge Chance, and Movement Speed for a short duration.

Barbarian Passive Skills[edit | edit source]

All classes in Diablo 3 can choose from 3 passive skills (enabled at level 10, 20, and 30). The Barbarian's passive skills are very powerful with a number of them focused on increased damage, much to the envy of other classes with passives that add little or no DPS.

This is a very quick listing. See the Barbarian passives article for more details, or click on any of the individual passive skills for full stats and info.

Bloodthirst - Causes the Barbarian to gain life based on the amount of damage he deals, in a traditional leech-skill.
Pound of Flesh - Increases the frequency and healing power of health globes.
Ruthless - Increases the chance and damage of critical hits.
Weapons Master - Provides a bonus based on weapon type.
Inspiring Presence - doubles the length of the Barbarian's shouts and regenerates Life.
Berserker Rage - Increases the Barbarian's damage when he is full of Fury.
Animosity - Increases Fury generation and maximum Fury.
Superstition - Reduces non-physical damage.
Tough as Nails - Increases the Barbarian's armor and thorns damage.
No Escape - Increases the damage of Ancient Spear and Weapon Throw, and provides buffs for both.
Relentless - Reduces damage taken and eliminates Fury cost when the Barbarian is badly injured.
Brawler - Increases the Barbarian's damage when he is swarmed.
Juggernaut - Reduces the effects of debuffs on the Barbarian.
Boon of Bul-Kathos - Reduces the cooldown on Earthquake, Call of the Ancients, and Wrath of the Berserker.
Unforgiving - Eliminates Fury decay and gives Fury over time.

Barbarian Traits[edit | edit source]

Traits were passive skills during early development. Many of them were directly transformed into Passives, but others were dropped entirely. Traits had trait points, from 1-5 points that would improve their effect, but this sort of point system was entirely removed from Diablo 3 during development.

See the Barbarian traits page for full info on what the traits system looked like.

Background[edit | edit source]

Lead by Bul-Kathos, the tribes called "barbarians" by the people of the Western Kingdoms united and took upon themselves a sacred duty to protect Mount Arreat and its mystical secrets, until it was destroyed. They call themselves the Children of Bul-Kathos.

The Children of Bul-Kathos developed a kinship with the land over the years, and learned to harness the primal energies in nature to enhance their own substantial physical prowess, popularly referred to as "fury". They also developed a spiritual strength that far surpasses most of the living and dead creatures found throughout Sanctuary. Ancient spirits even guarded the very gates to the Worldstone Keep.

A number of Barbarians started roving the lands outside the Steppes, prepared for war and seeking information regarding the activities of the Prime Evils. During the concluding events of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction, the characters defeated Baal, only to learn from Tyrael that the Worldstone had been corrupted and would have to be destroyed. The destruction of the Worldstone caused a shockwave so powerful it blasted Mount Arreat to rubble, destroying the remainder of Baal's army in the process, thus saving the Barbarian lands from its invasion. However the Barbarians found their sacred Mt. Arreat laid to complete waste, and the duty that had been theirs for generations was therefore broken.

Arreat Crater

Twenty years later, when Diablo III takes place, the Barbarian lands are largely deserted, and the only remains of Mount Arreat, formerly the symbol of the lands and the source of the Barbarians' spiritual strength, is a huge crater.

More than the physical damage, the events detailed in Act Five of Diablo II devastated the Barbarian culture. The Barbarians gained their identity and cultural pride from protecting the Worldstone within Mount Arreat. To see it defiled by Baal and his minions, and then destroyed, tore out the heart of these proud people. They abandoned their homeland and became nomadic, wandering the lands of Sanctuary and pitching themselves into battle after battle in an effort to forget the pain of their shattered homeland.

Abd al-Hazir visited the Barbarian lands and wrote about his experiences and observation in the 25th entry of his writings. It sets the stage for the story we will learn when playing the game.

The Barbarians consider it their sworn duty to protect Mount Arreat and the mysterious object within. They believe that if they fail to uphold their duty to the great mount, or are not given a proper burial upon its slopes, they will be denied a true warrior's death, and their spirits shall roam the land without honor for all eternity.

If there are any barbarians left alive, they must truly be without hope. Perhaps this is the genesis of the rumors of monstrous things reported to resemble the barbarians in size and ferocity, but that are in reality nothing more than unreasoning, inhuman beasts. Could the destruction of not only their home but also their very beliefs have actually brought this magnificent race so low?

Read more about the Barbarian people and their history on the Children of Bul-Kathos article.
Read more about Barbarian cities in the Barbarian cities article.

Male Barbarian's Backstory[edit | edit source]

Barbarian story changes?

The male Barbarian was initially-planned as a returning character. Literally, the D3 barbarian was the same individual as the D2 barbarian, returning to fight evil twenty years later. Jay Wilson spoke of this during the WWI 2008 panel Denizens of Diablo:

This is actually the same individual from Diablo 2. He's aged twenty years, and he's got a personality in this game. Look at his gear; his [[armor]] has points on which he could impale himself. It's extra protection for the harsh environment, but it's also dangerous to him. The day to day life characters lead in this world is very hard. With the Barbarian, we had to updating a classic.

The Barbarian was exciting for us to work on -- to take a classic char we all love to play and bring him back to life. What's this guy been doing for the past 20 years? This guy's 8 feet tall and 300 lbs of pure muscle. He saw things during the events of Diablo II that would have killed most people, but he's still around. In D3 we aged him, grayed his hair, gave him some scars. We think those elements help sell the story visually. Signs of age, how he wears his armor. All that helps us tell the story visually.

This story innovation proved problematic during development, as it would have required entirely different dialogues and plot/quest structures for just the male Barbarian and no other characters. (For instance, how would the male Barbarian have spoken to Tyrael? Or reacted to having to face Diablo again, twenty years after defeating him previously? For these reasons, the idea of the male Barbarian being the same individual from Diablo 2 was scrapped during development, as Bashiok reported in late 2010.[2]

There were talks shortly after BlizzCon about this and I believe the idea to give the male barbarian a unique story as compared to the female gender is now in question. It’s very likely to be simplified, the male barbarian would not be unique, and would no longer be spelled out as the barbarian from Diablo II.

This information has not been further updated, and no more details were shared about why the developers would want to make this change. It would clearly save them a lot of work writing different dialogues for the male and female Barbarians, but the male Barb would differ from everyone else also. He would have memories of battling Mephisto, Diablo, and Baal. He's ventured to the Burning Hells. He's met Deckard Cain and Tyrael. He knows why and how the Worldstone was destroyed, etc.

Though little is known about the story of Diablo III, it's clear that a lot of those past events will be referenced in the game, and various NPCs, monsters, and other characters will return. Besides being a lot of work to write different dialogues for the male Barbarian in all those instances, it's possible that some of the game's plot twists and turns wouldn't work. Events might simply not make sense for the male Barbarian, since he would/should have so much more information than the other 9 gender/class individuals. This, more than inconvenience/extra work, might be the motivation behind Blizzard's apparent decision to retcon the male Barbarian him into another noob.

Female Barbarian's BackStory[edit | edit source]

Female Barbarian.

Unlike her male counterpart, the female Barbarian had no backstory during early development. In the final game she is much like the males and females of the other classes, just a youngish hero out to battle evil.

Development[edit | edit source]

Along with the Witch Doctor, the Barbarian was unveiled as the first Diablo III class at WWI 2008 in Paris. The character details changed greatly during the years of development after that point and before release, but the basic style and look of the character remained constant.

Character Model Evolution[edit | edit source]

The Barbarians, both male and female, were reworked visually during their development. Since the Barbarians were the first characters completed, they were the roughest, and were the only characters to receive "new faces" during development. This was confirmed by a new, prettier/softer female Barbarian image released in October 2010, and accompanying comments by Bashiok. [3]

Bashiok: Both the female and male barbarian have had pretty drastic make-overs since the original character renders back from announcement. All of the heroes from announcement have to one degree or another been gone over again since then, but I’d say the barbs are most noticeable as their actual faces were redone.

The female Barbarian's face was prettified a bit, made less square and hard, between the early in-game character model and the more refined one produced later in development.

Female Barbarian facial evolution.

Character Biography[edit | edit source]

The Barbarian is the only class to return from Diablo II. The initial character story was that the male Barbarian was the same individual from Diablo II. Twenty years later he'd be called back to the war, as the demonic invasion commenced. This plot twist has been reconsidered, and as of November 2010 it sounds like it might be written out of the game. To the dismay of most fans.

That aside, the plot situation of the Barbarians in Diablo III is that they are out to avenge the destruction of their homeland. When Mount Arreat was destroyed along with the Worldstone, it tore the spiritual heart out of the Barbarians lands, and the surviving Barbarians are now wanderers and nomads, untethered and rootless after the desecration of their homeland. This element of the character is hinted at in the official character lore.

Official Lore[edit | edit source]

As related in entry #25 in the writings of Abd al-Hazir.

In my journey to catalogue the various denizens, civilizations, and fauna of our world, I have traveled far and wide, but never before have I been struck with such dismay as when standing upon the ramparts of the ancient fortress of Bastion's Keep. I came to see firsthand the barbarians, those near-legendary, immense, relentless, dual-wielding furies of combat dwelling upon their sacred Mount Arreat.

Instead, I stand here looking at a mountain that has been torn asunder by some extraordinary force. The sight, I must confess, is incomprehensible. Yet what I see before me cannot be denied.

What truly happened here? Where are those majestic warriors of old?

Though they were once misunderstood as simple, bloodthirsty invaders, the long and noble history of these proud people is now rightly acknowledged. And therein lies the greater tragedy here, for those of us familiar with the nobility of the barbarians remember too what they call their "vigil", the concept that lay at the very heart of their culture. The barbarians consider it their sworn duty to protect Mount Arreat and the mysterious object within. They believe that if they fail to uphold their duty to the great mount, or are not given a proper burial upon its slopes, they will be denied a true warrior's death, and their spirits shall roam the land without honor for all eternity.

If there are any barbarians left alive, they must truly be without hope. Perhaps this is the genesis of the rumors of monstrous things reported to resemble the barbarians in size and ferocity, but that are in reality nothing more than unreasoning, inhuman beasts. Could the destruction of not only their home but also their very beliefs have actually brought this magnificent race so low?

Media[edit | edit source]

Barbarian Profile Video[edit | edit source]

You can find pictures in the Diablo 3 screenshot and picture gallery:

Male Barbarian in battle.
Male and female barbs.
Female in-game barb.
Male ingame barb.
Male Barb attack.
Male Barb armour.
Male Barb close-up.
Fem barb sketches.
Female barb posing.
Barbarian & the Burning Tower.

Resources[edit | edit source]

Blizzard's Barbarian page has plenty of plot information, and short videos of some skills in action.
Diablo III Media Coverage Archive for all interviews, previews, pictures and more.

References[edit | edit source]

Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Entry no. 0025
Diablo II Manual
Denizens of Diablo WWI 2008 Panel
Jay Wilson AusGamers Interview
Kastigar's Really Big Barb thread -- IncGamers 8th Aug 2011

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer primary

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer secondary

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer corpses

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer bloodandbone

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer reanimation

Template:Skill navbox Necromancer curses

Fan-made Classes			Fan-made Skills [e]
• Alchemist • Arcane Warrior • Artisan • Aurian Mage • Bard • Channeller • Dragon Warrior	• Flagellant • Giant (U) • Hollow Man • Nomad • Onaga Manji • Phase Knight	• Ranger • Slayer (U) • Techpriest (U) • Telepath • Untainted (U) • Zealot	Dragon Warrior Skills • Bow and Throwing Skill Tree • Dragon Disciplines Skill Tree • Martial Arts Skill Tree	Untainted Skills • Divine Skill Tree	Aurian Mage Skill • Holy Power Skill Tree • Shadow Spells Skill Tree • Nature Forces Skill Tree
(U) = Unfinished				Untainted Skills • Divine Skill Tree

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Class navbox}}[[Image:Barb-1.jpg|thumb|150px|Male Barbarian.]]The [[Diablo III]] '''Barbarian''' is an evolutionary improvement on the [[Diablo II]] Barbarian. He (or she) retains some of the same [[Barbarian Skills|skills]], such as [[Whirlwind]] and [[Leap Attack]], but he has a variety of new skills to unleash on her enemies, and seems to play with a more violent, crushing style, exuding power and devastation with her every movement.
+One of the first two classes introduced with Diablo 3, the '''Barbarian''' is a powerful [[melee]] class that uses [[fury]] as a [[resource]]. The Barbarian is the only one of the first five characters to use [[strength]] for a [[mainstat]] and has consistently ranked as one of (or the) most popular class during the first year of Diablo 3.
-* See a full listing of the [[Barbarian Skills]].
+* [[Barbarian skills]]
+The Barbarian was also present in [[Diablo I]] and [[Diablo II]]:
+* {{iw|Barbarian_Diablo_I Barbarian (Diablo I: Hellfire)}}
+* {{iw|Diablo_2_Barbarian Barbarian (Diablo II)}}
-==Character Design==
+"Barbarian" can also to the race of humans living in the northern lands of Sanctuary.
-The Barbarian is back, and he (or she) is bigger and better. There's a great emphasis on power and destruction; on wanting every movement to look massive and devastating. The D3 Team spoke about the character concept during the WWI 2008 [[WWI_2008:_Denizens_of_Diablo_Panel|Denizens of Diablo]] panel.
+* [[Children of Bul-Kathos]]
+* [[Barbarian cities]]
-::''This is actually the same individual from Diablo 2. He's aged twenty years, and he's got a personality in this game. Look at his gear; his [[armor]] has points on which he could impale himself. It's extra protection for the harsh environment, but it's also dangerous to him. The day to day life characters lead in this world is very hard.''
-::''With the Barbarian, we had to updating a classic. The Barbarian was exciting for us to work on -- to take a classic char we all love to play and bring him back to life. What's this guy been doing for the past 20 years? This guy's 8 feet tall and 300 lbs of pure muscle. He saw things during the events of Diablo II that would have killed most people, but he's still around. In D3 we aged him, grayed his hair, gave him some scars. We think those elements help sell the story visually. Signs of age, how he wears his armor. All that helps us tell the story visually.''
+{|cellpadding="2" width="250px" align="right" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; background: #2D0606; clear:left; margin-top: 5px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px; line-height: 10px; font-size: 10px; float:right;"
+!colspan="2" style="text-align: center; line-height: 12px; font-size: 14px;"|'''[[Diablo III Class]]'''
+|-
+|colspan="2" style="text-align: center;"|[[File:Barbarians.jpg|200px]]
+|-
+!colspan="2" style="text-align: center; line-height: 14px; font-size: 16px;"| The Barbarian
+|-
+| [[Skills]]:
+| [[Barbarian Skills]]
+|-
+| [[Passives]]:
+| [[Barbarian Passives]]
+|-
+| [[Resource]]:
+| [[Fury]]
+|-
+! colspan="2" | Common [[builds]]:
+|-
+| colspan="2" | Unknown.
+|-
+! colspan="2" |
+<center>Background</center>
+|-
+| Origin:
+| [[Bastion's Keep]], [[Mount Arreat]]
+|-
+| Affiliation:
+| [[Children of Bul-Kathos]]
+|-
+| Friends:
+| [[Druid]]s (distrust)
+|-
+| Foes:
+| None known
+|}
+==Concept==
+[[Image:Barb-1.jpg|thumb|left|120px|Male Barbarian.]]
-==Story==
+Barbarians are the only playable class that returns from Diablo 2. Necromancers are seen as NPCs and Paladins are mentioned, but the [[Monk]], [[Demon Hunter]], [[Wizard]], and [[Witch Doctor]] are technically new classes, though some of them fairly obviously fill the same archetypal style roles. (Wizards differ only slightly from Sorceresses in Diablo 2.)
-The Barbarian character himself is the same individual from [[Diablo II]]. In his personal history the Barbarian defeated [http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Baal Baal], only to learn from [[Tyrael]] that the [[Worldstone]] was corrupted and would have to be destroyed. The destruction of the Worldstone blasted [[Mount Arreat]] to rubble, destroying the remainder of Baal's army and saving the Barbarian lands from their invasion. Twenty years later, when Diablo III takes place, the Barbarian lands are largely deserted, and the only remains of Mt. Arreat, formerly the symbol of the lands and the source of the Barbarians' spiritual strength, is a huge crater.
-More than the physical damage, the events detailed in {{wl|[http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Act_Five Act Five of Diablo II]}} devastated the Barbarian culture. The Barbarians gained their identity and cultural pride from protecting the Worldstone within Mount Arreat. To see it defiled by Baal and his minions, and then destroyed, tore out the heart of these proud people. They abandoned their homeland and became nomadic, wandering the lands of [[Sanctuary]] and pitching themselves into battle after battle in an effort to forget the pain of their shattered homeland.
+From [[Jay Wilson]] [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371] in 2008, speaking about the Barbarian's concept.
-The plot information on [http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/characters/barbarian.xml Blizzard's Barbarian page] drives this point home, and sets the stage for the story we'll learn when playing the game.
+<blue>The barbarian is the only returning class. Originally we actually planned to have no returning classes, but as we developed the barbarian, it essentially ended up turning into a barbarian. We sort of got to the point where we went – because we actually had a different name for him originally - I think were going to call it this other name and everyone else is just going to call it the barbarian, so maybe we should just call it the barbarian.
+One of the things we really did not want to do – it's why we set that initial goal to not repeat classes – was, we didn't just want a rehash; we wanted to make the sequel and the sequel has new gameplay and new experiences. I know a lot of people really love the classes in Diablo 2 and it's not my desire to intentionally arc those people – I like those classes to; I love the Necromancer, he's my favorite class from Diablo 2 – but as our goal we really wanted to provide new experiences; that was our focus.</blue>
+==Barbarian Active Skills==
+During early development all classes had their skills sorted into 3 [[skill trees]], much as we saw in Diablo 2. The Barbarian's were [[Battlemaster_Skill_Tree|Battlemaster]], [[Berserker_Skill_Tree|Berserker]], and [[Juggernaut_Skill_Tree|Juggernaut]]. The skills ([[passive]] and active) in each and the arrangement of the skill trees evolved during development, until ultimately the entire concept was scrapped. In the final game all passive skills are sorted separately from actives, and there are no more "trees," just skills and rune effect that become available at various levels from 1-60.
+The following is a quick list of barbarian skills.  See the [[Barbarian skills]] page for a more thorough summary, or any of the individual skills pages for full information.
+===Fury Generators===
+These skills build Fury for the Barbarian.  At low levels characters must bang away with these basic abilities in order to build up Fury, which is expended by more powerful attacks. At high levels much Fury gain comes from equipment or [[proc]]s, largely from [[critical hit]]s, and actually using Fury Generators is less important.
+* [[Bash]] - Melee attack with bonus damage and a chance of [[knockback]].
+[[File:Barb-stomp1.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Ground Stomp]].]]
+* [[Cleave]] - The [[Barbarian]] swings at multiple targets at once, dealing bonus damage to all targets in front of him.
+* [[Leap]] - The [[Barbarian]] leaps very quickly over a considerable distance, dealing damage to all enemies in the radius where he lands.
+* [[Ground Stomp]] - Stomps on the ground, dealing [[area of effect]] damage and stunning all nearby enemies.
+* [[Frenzy]] - A melee attack that increases the damage and attack rate with each hit.
+* [[War Cry]] - A [[shout]] that produces [[Fury]], and increases the armor of the Barbarian and all nearby party members for a short duration.
+* [[Furious Charge]] - The [[Barbarian]] charges across most of the screen at high speed, dealing damage to all enemies in his path.
+* [[Ancient Spear]] - A ranged attack that hurls a spear, skewering enemies and hauling them into melee range. Slows target for a short time.
+[[File:Ancient-spear2.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Ancient Spear]].]]
+===Fury Spenders===
+These skills expend Fury for attacks that are (generally) more powerful or versatile than Fury Generators.
+* [[Threatening Shout]] - A [[shout]] that debuffs the enemies around the [[Barbarian]], reducing damage done by enemies for a short duration.
+* [[Hammer of the Ancients]] - A melee attack in which the [[Barbarian]] smashes a giant hammer down for massive damage and increased [[critical hit]] chance.
+* [[Battle Rage]] - A [[shout]] that increases [[Barbarian]]'s damage and [[critical]] hit chance for a short duration.
+* [[Weapon Throw]] - The [[Barbarian]] hurls his melee weapon at his foes for additional damage and slows target.
+* [[Rend]] - A vicious attack that strikes all enemies within the range of [[Barbarian]], leaving enemies bleeding for additional damage every second.
+* [[Seismic Slam]] - A ranged attack that sends a wave of force out from the [[Barbarian]], causing damage and [[knockback]].
+* [[Sprint]] - Grants a substantial movement speed boost for a short duration.
+* [[Whirlwind]] - The [[Barbarian]] swirls in a cyclone, delivering multiple attacks to everything in his path.
+===Situational Skills===
+These skills generally cost Fury to use, but rather than functioning as direct attacks, they are [[buff]]s, [[debuff]]s, defensive abilities, [[panic button]]s, or other helpful talents.
+* [[Ignore Pain]] - The [[Barbarian]] reduces damage taken for a short time period.
+* [[Revenge]] - A melee attack that can only be activated when the [[Barbarian]] is hit. Deals [[area of effect]] damage and regains health for a % of the damage dealt.
+* [[Overpower]] - A melee attack that can only be activated when the [[Barbarian]] deals a [[critical hit]]. Deals [[area of effect]] damage to all enemies in range.
+* [[Earthquake]] - Shakes the earth violently, causing massive damage to all nearby enemies.
+* [[Call of the Ancients]] - Summons [[Talic]], [[Korlic]], and [[Madawc]] for a short duration. They fight with the [[Barbarian]] for the duration, using weapon skills in their attacks.
+* [[Wrath of the Berserker]] - A buff that grants higher [[Critical Hit]], [[Attack Speed]], [[Dodge Chance]], and [[Movement Speed]] for a short duration.
+==Barbarian Passive Skills==
+All classes in Diablo 3 can choose from 3 passive skills (enabled at level 10, 20, and 30). The Barbarian's passive skills are very powerful with a number of them focused on increased damage, much to the envy of other classes with passives that add little or no [[DPS]].
+This is a very quick listing. See the [[Barbarian passives]] article for more details, or click on any of the individual passive skills for full stats and info.
+* [[Bloodthirst]] - Causes the [[Barbarian]] to gain life based on the amount of damage he deals, in a traditional [[leech]]-skill.
+* [[Pound of Flesh]] - Increases the frequency and healing power of [[health globes]].
+* [[Ruthless]] - Increases the chance and damage of critical hits.
+* [[Weapons Master]] - Provides a bonus based on weapon type.
+* [[Inspiring Presence]] - doubles the length of the [[Barbarian]]'s [[shouts]] and regenerates Life.
+* [[Berserker Rage]] - Increases the [[Barbarian]]'s damage when he is full of [[Fury]].
+* [[Animosity]] - Increases [[Fury]] generation and maximum [[Fury]].
+* [[Superstition]] - Reduces non-physical damage.
+* [[Tough as Nails]] - Increases the [[Barbarian]]'s armor and thorns damage.
+* [[No Escape]] - Increases the damage of [[Ancient Spear]] and [[Weapon Throw]], and provides [[buff]]s for both.
+* [[Relentless]] - Reduces damage taken and eliminates [[Fury]] cost when the [[Barbarian]] is badly injured.
+* [[Brawler]] - Increases the [[Barbarian]]'s damage when he is swarmed.
+* [[Juggernaut]] - Reduces the effects of [[debuff]]s on the [[Barbarian]].
+* [[Boon of Bul-Kathos]] - Reduces the cooldown on [[Earthquake]], [[Call of the Ancients]], and [[Wrath of the Berserker]].
+* [[Unforgiving]] - Eliminates [[Fury]] decay and gives [[Fury]] over time.
+===Barbarian Traits===
+Traits were passive skills during early development. Many of them were directly transformed into Passives, but others were dropped entirely. Traits had trait points, from 1-5 points that would improve their effect, but this sort of point system was entirely removed from Diablo 3 during development.
+* See the [[Barbarian traits]] page for full info on what the traits system looked like.
+==Background==
+Lead by [[Bul-Kathos]], the tribes called "barbarians" by the people of the [[Western Kingdoms]] united and took upon themselves a sacred duty to protect [[Mount Arreat]] and its mystical secrets, until it was destroyed. They call themselves the [[Children of Bul-Kathos]].
+The Children of Bul-Kathos developed a kinship with the land over the years, and learned to harness the primal energies in nature to enhance their own substantial physical prowess, popularly referred to as "[[fury]]". They also developed a spiritual strength that far surpasses most of the living and dead creatures found throughout Sanctuary. [[Ancient]] spirits even guarded the very gates to the [[Worldstone]] Keep.
+A number of Barbarians started roving the lands outside the Steppes, prepared for war and seeking information regarding the activities of the [[Prime Evil]]s. During the concluding events of ''Diablo II: Lord of Destruction'', the characters defeated {{iw|Baal Baal}}, only to learn from [[Tyrael]] that the Worldstone had been corrupted and would have to be destroyed. The destruction of the Worldstone caused a shockwave so powerful it blasted Mount Arreat to rubble, destroying the remainder of Baal's army in the process, thus saving the Barbarian lands from its invasion. However the Barbarians found their sacred Mt. Arreat laid to complete waste, and the duty that had been theirs for generations was therefore broken.
+[[Image:Map-arreatcrater2.jpg|left|thumb|Arreat Crater]]
+Twenty years later, when [[Diablo III]] takes place, the Barbarian lands are largely deserted, and the only remains of Mount Arreat, formerly the symbol of the lands and the source of the Barbarians' spiritual strength, is a huge crater.
+More than the physical damage, the events detailed in {{wl|[http://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Act_Five Act Five of Diablo II]}} devastated the Barbarian culture. The Barbarians gained their identity and cultural pride from protecting the Worldstone within Mount Arreat. To see it defiled by Baal and his minions, and then destroyed, tore out the heart of these proud people. They abandoned their homeland and became nomadic, wandering the lands of [[Sanctuary]] and pitching themselves into battle after battle in an effort to forget the pain of their shattered homeland.
+[[Abd al-Hazir]] visited the Barbarian lands and wrote about his experiences and observation in the [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Entry no. 0025|25th entry]] of [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir|his writings]]. It sets the stage for the story we will learn when playing the game.
 ::''The Barbarians consider it their sworn duty to protect [[Mount Arreat]] and the mysterious object within. They believe that if they fail to uphold their duty to the great mount, or are not given a proper burial upon its slopes, they will be denied a true warrior's death, and their spirits shall roam the land without honor for all eternity.
@@ Line 22: / Line 153: @@
 ::''If there are any barbarians left alive, they must truly be without hope. Perhaps this is the genesis of the rumors of monstrous things reported to resemble the barbarians in size and ferocity, but that are in reality nothing more than unreasoning, inhuman beasts. Could the destruction of not only their home but also their very beliefs have actually brought this magnificent race so low?
+* '''Read more about the Barbarian people and their history on the [[Children of Bul-Kathos]] article.'''
+* '''Read more about Barbarian cities in the [[Barbarian cities]] article.'''
+===Male Barbarian's Backstory===
+[[File:Barb-male-story.jpg|thumb|400px|Barbarian story changes?]]
+The male Barbarian was initially-planned as a returning character. Literally, the D3 barbarian was the same individual as the D2 barbarian, returning to fight evil twenty years later.  Jay Wilson spoke of this during the [[WWI 2008]] panel [[WWI_2008:_Denizens_of_Diablo_Panel|Denizens of Diablo]]:
+<blue>This is actually the same individual from Diablo 2. He's aged twenty years, and he's got a personality in this game. Look at his gear; his [[armor]] has points on which he could impale himself. It's extra protection for the harsh environment, but it's also dangerous to him. The day to day life characters lead in this world is very hard.  With the Barbarian, we had to updating a classic.
+The Barbarian was exciting for us to work on -- to take a classic char we all love to play and bring him back to life. What's this guy been doing for the past 20 years? This guy's 8 feet tall and 300 lbs of pure muscle. He saw things during the events of Diablo II that would have killed most people, but he's still around. In D3 we aged him, grayed his hair, gave him some scars. We think those elements help sell the story visually. Signs of age, how he wears his armor. All that helps us tell the story visually.
+</blue>
+This story innovation proved problematic during development, as it would have required entirely different dialogues and plot/quest structures for just the male Barbarian and no other characters. (For instance, how would the male Barbarian have spoken to [[Tyrael]]? Or reacted to having to face Diablo again, twenty years after defeating him previously? For these reasons, the idea of the male Barbarian being the same individual from Diablo 2 was scrapped during development, as [[Bashiok]] reported in late 2010.[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/male-barbarian-aged-experienced-no-more/]
-===Old? Female?===
+<blue>There were talks shortly after BlizzCon about this and I believe the idea to give the male barbarian a unique story as compared to the female gender is now in question. It’s very likely to be simplified, the male barbarian would not be unique, and would no longer be spelled out as the barbarian from Diablo II.</blue>
-[[Image:Barb-f-pose1.jpg|thumb|125px|Female Barbarian.]]Some suspension of disbelief is necessary to accept the Barbarian character as presented in [[Diablo III]]. After all, the Barbarian was male in [[Diablo II]], and the story in D3 is identical for the male or female versions of each character, thus you can play a female Barbarian in D3 whose past history includes all the events in Diablo II.  It's also an interesting concept to have the same character return in D3, as a grizzled veteran of countless conflicts, as a grown man (or woman) who defeated the three Prime Evils twenty years ago... and who starts off D3 at level 1, without the ability to do much more than swing an axe.
-Still, looking at the [[gameplay video]] from [[WWI 2008]], they do seem to manage to give a very powerful impression of the Barbarian. Too bad we do not know the level of that character.
+This information has not been further updated, and no more details were shared about why the developers would want to make this change. It would clearly save them a lot of work writing different dialogues for the male and female Barbarians, but the male Barb would differ from everyone else also. He would have memories of battling [[Mephisto]], [[Diablo]], and [[Baal]]. He's ventured to the [[Burning Hells]]. He's met [[Deckard Cain]] and [[Tyrael]]. He knows why and how the [[Worldstone]] was destroyed, etc.
+Though little is known about the [[story]] of Diablo III, it's clear that a lot of those past events will be referenced in the game, and various NPCs, monsters, and other characters will return. Besides being a lot of work to write different dialogues for the male Barbarian in all those instances, it's possible that some of the game's plot twists and turns wouldn't work. Events might simply not make sense for the male Barbarian, since he would/should have so much more information than the other 9 gender/class individuals. This, more than inconvenience/extra work, might be the motivation behind Blizzard's apparent decision to retcon the male Barbarian him into another noob.
-==Resources==
+===Female Barbarian's BackStory===
-* [[Barbarian Skills]].
+[[Image:Barb-f-pose1.jpg|thumb|125px|Female Barbarian.]]
-* [http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/characters/barbarian.xml Blizzard's Barbarian] page has plenty of plot information, and short videos of some skills in action.
+Unlike her male counterpart, the female Barbarian had no backstory during early development. In the final game she is much like the males and females of the other classes, just a youngish hero out to battle evil.
-* [[Media Coverage|Diablo III Media Coverage Archive]] for all interviews, previews, pictures and more.
 ==Development==
-The Barbarian was not intended to come over from [[Diablo II]] originally. A character with similar appearance and skills was planned, but everyone in the dev team started calling it Barbarian, and so they decided to call it that. [[Jay Wilson]] quote: [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]
+Along with the Witch Doctor, the Barbarian was unveiled as the first Diablo III class at [[WWI 2008]] in Paris. The character details changed greatly during the years of development after that point and before release, but the basic style and look of the character remained constant.
-----
-:: ''The barbarian is the only returning class. Originally we actually planned to have no returning classes, but as we developed the barbarian, it essentially ended up turning into a barbarian. We sort of got to the point where we went – because we actually had a different name for him originally - I think were going to call it this other name and everyone else is just going to call it the barbarian, so maybe we should just call it the barbarian.''
+===Character Model Evolution===
+The Barbarians, both male and female, were reworked visually during their development. Since the Barbarians were the first characters completed, they were the roughest, and were the only characters to receive "new faces" during development. This was confirmed by a new, prettier/softer female Barbarian image released in October 2010, and accompanying comments by [[Bashiok]]. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/female-barbarian-gear-set-preview/]
+::'''Bashiok:''' Both the female and male barbarian have had pretty drastic make-overs since the original character renders back from announcement. All of the heroes from announcement have to one degree or another been gone over again since then, but I’d say the barbs are most noticeable as their actual faces were redone.
+The female Barbarian's face was prettified a bit, made less square and hard, between the early in-game character model and the more refined one produced later in development.
+[[File:Barb-fem-faces.jpg|center|frame|Female Barbarian facial evolution.]]
+<!--
+===Trivia===
+Use only if actual trivia. If so, add to [[:Category:Trivia]] as well
+-->
+==Character Biography==
+The Barbarian is the only class to return from Diablo II. The initial character story was that the male Barbarian was the same individual from Diablo II. Twenty years later he'd be called back to the war, as the demonic invasion commenced. This plot twist has been reconsidered, and as of November 2010 it sounds like it might be written out of the game. To the dismay of most fans.
-::''One of the things we really did not want to do – it's why we set that initial goal to not repeat classes – was, we didn't just want a rehash; we wanted to make the sequel and the sequel has new gameplay and new experiences. I know a lot of people really love the classes in Diablo 2 and it's not my desire to intentionally arc those people – I like those classes to; I love the necromancer, he's my favourite class from Diablo 2 – but as our goal we really wanted to provide new experiences; that was our focus.''
+That aside, the plot situation of the Barbarians in Diablo III is that they are out to avenge the destruction of their homeland. When [[Mount Arreat]] was destroyed along with the [[Worldstone]], it tore the spiritual heart out of the Barbarians lands, and the surviving Barbarians are now wanderers and nomads, untethered and rootless after the desecration of their homeland.  This element of the character is hinted at in the official character lore.
-----
-Jay did not disclose what the original name was.
+===Official Lore===
-===Media===
+As related [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Entry no. 0025|in entry #25 in the writings]] of Abd al-Hazir.
-Male and Female Barbarians are featured in numerous pieces in the Image Gallery.
-* [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=barbarian&x=0&y=0&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=24&cat=546&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=546 Barbarian Screenshots].
-* [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=barbarian&x=0&y=0&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=24&cat=563&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=563 Barbarian Concept Art].
-* [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?si=barbarian&x=0&y=0&limit=&thumbsonly=0&perpage=24&cat=550&ppuser=&thumbcheck=0&page=1&sortby=&sorttime=&way=&cat=550 Barbarian Wallpapers].
+<blockquote><i>In my journey to catalogue the various denizens, civilizations, and fauna of our world, I have traveled far and wide, but never before have I been struck with such dismay as when standing upon the ramparts of the ancient fortress of Bastion's Keep. I came to see firsthand the barbarians, those near-legendary, immense, relentless, dual-wielding furies of combat dwelling upon their sacred Mount Arreat.
+<br><br>
+Instead, I stand here looking at a mountain that has been torn asunder by some extraordinary force. The sight, I must confess, is incomprehensible. Yet what I see before me cannot be denied.
+<br><br>
+What truly happened here? Where are those majestic warriors of old?
+<br><br>
+Though they were once misunderstood as simple, bloodthirsty invaders, the long and noble history of these proud people is now rightly acknowledged. And therein lies the greater tragedy here, for those of us familiar with the nobility of the barbarians remember too what they call their "vigil", the concept that lay at the very heart of their culture. The barbarians consider it their sworn duty to protect Mount Arreat and the mysterious object within. They believe that if they fail to uphold their duty to the great mount, or are not given a proper burial upon its slopes, they will be denied a true warrior's death, and their spirits shall roam the land without honor for all eternity.
+<br><br>
+If there are any barbarians left alive, they must truly be without hope. Perhaps this is the genesis of the rumors of monstrous things reported to resemble the barbarians in size and ferocity, but that are in reality nothing more than unreasoning, inhuman beasts. Could the destruction of not only their home but also their very beliefs have actually brought this magnificent race so low?</i></blockquote>
-[[Image:Barb-concept1.jpg|frame|center]]
+==Media==
-==History==
+===Barbarian Profile Video===
-It is said that when the world was very young the tribes of the [[Northern Steppes]] were given sacred charge. Somewhere deep within the great mountain [[Arreat]], lies a source of great power, crucial to the well-being of all humanity. The tribes act as guardians of this artifact, and through this sacred duty, have shaped their way of life in observance of this power.
-Steeped in mystery and tradition, these people refer to themselves as the '''Children of [[Bul-Kathos]]''', the great and ancient king. To better protect their lands from outside forces they adopted a nomadic lifestyle, frequently moving within the confines of the Steppes and maintaining few permanent settlements. Isolating themselves from the world outside their territories, they eschew the use of magic and complex machinery, as they believe these things can only weaken the resolve developed over so many years.
+<youtube>palBSOyP2ZI</youtube>
-The Children of Bul-Kathos have developed a kinship with the land and have learned to harness the primal energies in nature to enhance their own substantial physical prowess. Because of this, and their freedom from the trappings of the outside world, the [[Western Kingdoms]] has historically referred to these tribes as barbarians, an epithet that belies the rich cultural and spiritual history these people possess. Although some trade with these curious folk, they do so only along the outmost borders of their lands. All intrusions into the territory surrounding [[Mount Arreat]] are forbidden, and warriors from the northern tribes are quick to thwart any incursions.
-Every attempt at conquest has always been met with fierce and decisive resistance in an account of one skirmish, hordes of Barbarian tribesmen silently appeared where none had been but moments before. Their bodies painted in mysterious designs, the tribesmen descended on the invaders, howling as the charged like the fierce mountain winds. Fully half of the trespassing soldiers immediately dropped their weapons and fled, the remainder were set upon by the Northmen with a fervor that none of the battle-hardened invaders had ever witnessed. No quarter was asked and none was given, but in the end, when the outlanders sounded a full retreat, no chase was given either . . . at least none that could be observed.
+You can find pictures in the Diablo 3 screenshot and picture gallery:
+* [http://www.diii.net/gallery/ Diablo 3 screenshots and pictures]
+* Barbarian [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/search.php?keywords=barbarian&cat=560&x=0&y=0 Act One screenshots]
+* Barbarian [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/search.php?keywords=barbarian&cat=561&x=0&y=0 Act Two screenshots]
+* Barbarian [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/search.php?keywords=barbarian&cat=509&x=0&y=0 Character Artwork]
+* Barbarian [http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/search.php?keywords=barbarian&cat=510&x=0&y=0 Wallpapers]
-It is interesting that recently, since news of [[Diablo]]'s re-emergence has spread, a small number of Barbarian warriors has been seen roving the lands outside the Steppes, prepared for war and seeking information regarding the recent activities of the [[Prime Evil]]s.
+<gallery>
+Image:Barb-concept1.jpg|Male Barbarian in battle.
+Image:Barbarians.jpg|Male and female barbs.
+Image:Barb-f-pose1.jpg|Female in-game barb.
+Image:Barb-1.jpg|Male ingame barb.
+Image:Barb-concept2.jpg|Male Barb attack.
+Image:Barb-concept3.jpg|Male Barb armour.
+Image:Barb-concept4.jpg|Male Barb close-up.
+Image:Barb-concept5.jpg|Fem barb sketches.
+Image:Barb-concept6.jpg|Female barb posing.
+Image:Barb-art-glowei1.jpg|Barbarian & the [[Burning Tower]].
+</gallery>
+==Resources==
+* [http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/characters/barbarian.xml Blizzard's Barbarian] page has plenty of plot information, and short videos of some skills in action.
+* [[Media Coverage|Diablo III Media Coverage Archive]] for all interviews, previews, pictures and more.
-==Traits and Abilities==
-Renowned for their awesome combat prowess as well as their arrogant demeanor, the Barbarians appear to be perpetually girt for battle. Through harsh conditioning, the Barbarians excel in physical combat and tremendous feats of strength. They derive their power chiefly from intense physical training, but also tap primal energies from the living world around them. They can manifest these or add to their already considerable catalogue of superhuman feats of strength and power.
 ==References==
 * [[Writings of Abd al-Hazir: Entry no. 0025]]
+* [[Diablo II Manual]]
+* [[WWI_2008:_Denizens_of_Diablo_Panel|Denizens of Diablo WWI 2008 Panel]]
+* [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371 Jay Wilson AusGamers Interview]
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8012653#post8012653 Kastigar's Really Big Barb thread] -- IncGamers 8th Aug 2011
+{{Skill_navbox_Diablo_III|Barbarian}}
-[[Category:Basics]]
+[[Category:Barbarian]]
 [[Category:Classes]]
-[[Category:Barbarian]]
 [[Category:Ethnic groups]]
+[[Category:Basics]]