Diablo 4 PTR Patch 1.4.0 - Barbarian Class Adjustments and Improvements

Barbarians in Diablo 4 are set to experience a significant overhaul in the upcoming PTR Patch 1.4.0. There are several nerfs to the Charge ability, rebalancing of Weapon Expertise, and general bug fixes to improve gameplay for Barbarian players.

Balance Updates

In this patch, several balance updates have been implemented for various classes, including the Necromancer, Barbarian, Druid, and Sorcerer Companions. These companions now receive 100% of the player's attributes, allowing for a more immersive gameplay experience.

Additionally, skill tags have been updated across the board, allowing for more Aspects and other effects to impact a wider range of skills and abilities. For example, applicable "Shout" skills for the Druid and Barbarian are now tagged as Shouts. Furthermore, new tags such as "Chain" and "Mobility" have been introduced to categorize abilities more accurately.

These changes in skill tags have also prompted various updates to the Aspects, ensuring that they align appropriately with the new tagging system and provide balanced gameplay.

Barbarian

The Barbarian class has undergone several significant changes in this patch. Some notable adjustments include the removal of the Barbarian's innate 10% Damage Reduction and the removal of the equipment requirement for legendary powers.

• Skills

• Charge: Damage reduced from 250% to 180%
• Charge: Cooldown Reduction per Target Hit reduced from 3 to 2 seconds
• Charge: Cooldown Reduction for hitting a Boss reduced from 6 to 4 seconds
• Charge: Maximum Cooldown Reduction reduced from 9 to 6 seconds
• Frenzy: Now gains 2% increased Critical Strike Chance for every 10 Fury spent, replacing the previous mechanic of increased damage based on Fury
• Rend: Damage against Vulnerable enemies increased from 12% to 25%

These changes aim to balance the effectiveness of certain skills, ensuring a more fair and dynamic gameplay experience for Barbarian players.

• Passives

• Bonus damage reduced from 135% to 100%

By adjusting the passive abilities, the Barbarian class achieves a more acceptable power level, aligning with the overall balance updates of the game.

• Weapon Expertise

The Weapon Expertise skill line for the Barbarian has also received some rebalancing in this patch. Several changes worth mentioning include:

• Lucky Hit chance increased from 10% to 15%
• Damage while Healthy increased from 10% to 15%
• Fury gain increased from 2 to 5 for Two-Handed Mace Expertise
• Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies increased from 5% to 10% for One-Handed Axe Expertise

These adjustments aim to provide more viable options for Barbarian players and promote versatility in their weapon choices.

Conclusion

With the release of PTR Patch 1.4.0, the Barbarian class in Diablo 4 undergoes significant changes that address balance issues, enhance gameplay dynamics, and improve overall player experience. These updates not only rebalance skills and passives but also refine the Weapon Expertise skill line, offering more diverse playstyles for Barbarian players. We look forward to seeing how these changes impact the Barbarian class and the overall meta in Diablo 4.