Dark and Darker: Barbarian Guide

In Dark and Darker, players face dangerous dungeons, filled with enemies and treasure, while choosing from a variety of classes. The Barbarian is one of the most powerful classes in the game, known for its heavy-hitting attacks that can decimate enemies in just a few swings. This guide will break down the best builds, perks, and abilities for the Barbarian.

Barbarian Class Overview

The Barbarian is a master of two-handed weapons, particularly axes, and excels in dealing with massive damage. With just a couple of well-timed blows to an enemy's head, a Barbarian can end a fight almost instantly. However, the class is slow, both in movement and attack speed, which can leave it vulnerable against quicker opponents.

Pros:

    Extremely high damage, capable of killing enemies with a few hits.

    Great for solo and team play.

    Can smash through objects like doors and chests.

    Higher health pool compared to other classes.

Cons:

    Slow attack and movement speed.

    Can be outmaneuvered by faster classes.

    Struggles to chase down fleeing opponents.

Despite these limitations, the Barbarian shines in combat where raw strength and durability are required. Next, let's explore the perks and abilities that make this class so powerful.

Barbarian Perks and Abilities

As you level up in Dark and Darker, you gain access to various perks and abilities that enhance your Barbarian's combat capabilities. Here's a breakdown of the best options.

Perks

    Axe Specialization – Adds +10 base damage to all axes. This is a must-have if you are focusing on axe-wielding, which is the Barbarian's bread and butter.

    Berserker – Increases damage as your health decreases, boosting attack damage by up to 18%.

    Carnage – After killing an enemy, you get a +10 damage boost for four seconds, making you more lethal in extended battles.

    Iron Will – Grants resistance to magic, reducing the damage you take from spells, which is especially useful against Wizards.

    Morale Boost – After killing an enemy, you gain 10% of your HP back, which is fantastic for sustaining longer fights.

    Savage – Grants 10% extra armor if you are not wearing chest armor.

    Smash – Allows you to break doors, chests, and other objects without needing tools, speeding up your looting process.

    Toughness – Increases your HP by 10%, making you even harder to kill.

    Two-Handed Expert – Adds 5% damage when using two-handed weapons, perfect for maximizing your output with heavy weapons.

Abilities

    Rage – Increases your movement speed and strength for a short time but reduces defense by 20%. This is useful for closing gaps or making a quick escape.

    Reckless Attack – The next attack you make ignores 75% of your target's armor, making this perfect for enemies with heavy defense.

    Savage Roar – Causes a fear effect and reduces enemies' physical defense by 25% for a short period. This is great for crowd control, especially in solo runs.

    War Cry – Boosts your and your allies' health by 25% for a short time, adding survivability during tough encounters.

Starter Barbarian Build

At level 0, the Barbarian only has access to one perk. Morale Boost is highly recommended as your starting perk, allowing you to regenerate health after every kill, which is particularly useful for solo runs or group play where healing may be limited.

For abilities, Savage Roar and Rage are currently the meta picks. Savage Roar is invaluable in both PvE and PvP, as it scatters enemy mobs and reduces enemy armor, while Rage provides a critical boost in movement speed, helping you close the distance between you and faster enemies.

Max Level Barbarian Build

Once you reach the maximum level, you can choose up to four perks. A strong perk combination for the Barbarian is:

    Morale Boost

    Smash

    Berserker

    Carnage

This build is designed to maximize survivability and offensive output. Morale Boost keeps you alive by restoring HP after every kill, while Smash enhances your ability to break doors and access loot faster. Berserker and Carnage significantly increase your damage output, ensuring that you dominate the battlefield with every swing.

Stick with Savage Roar and Rage for your abilities, as they remain essential throughout the game. These abilities provide the utility and damage needed to excel in both solo and team-based content.

Is Solo Barbarian Viable

The Barbarian is one of the best classes for solo play in Dark and Darker. The fear effect from Savage Roar can scatter enemies, giving you valuable time to regroup or focus on key targets. When it comes to solo boss encounters, such as the Cave Troll in the Goblin Cave, the Barbarian stands out as one of the top contenders. The combination of high damage and crowd control makes it easier to take down powerful foes, especially with a large, two-handed weapon.

Best Gear for the Barbarian

As a Barbarian, your primary focus should be on acquiring Two-Handed Axes, as they deal massive damage. Aiming for the head with downward swings will yield devastating results. Additionally, keep an eye out for gear that increases your Armor Rating (AR) and the Might stat, as these will bolster your strength and defense.

When it comes to armor, consider your perk choices. If you're using the Savage perk, avoid chest armor to receive the extra armor bonus. However, if you're not using that perk, prioritize high AR and magical resistance to counter enemy Wizards.

Collecting higher-tier gear like Green and Blue items will significantly improve your survivability and damage output in more difficult dungeon runs. Keep an eye out for gear with Magic Resistance or bonuses that add +1 to all attributes to further enhance your performance.

Barbarian Gameplay Tips

    Aim for the Head – Headshots with your two-handed axe can deal massive damage, making it easy to take down enemies quickly.

    Use Savage Roar – This ability's fear effect is excellent for controlling large groups of enemies, giving you the space you need to deal damage.

    Prioritize Squishy Classes – In PvP, go for Rogues, Rangers, and Wizards first. A couple of well-placed hits will take them down.

    Leverage Haste – If you're teamed up with a Wizard, ask for the Haste spell. It will make up for your slow movement, allowing you to close the gap on enemies and unleash devastating blows.

With the right build, perks, and gear, the Barbarian is an unstoppable force in Dark and Darker. By carefully managing your Dark And Darker Gold and equipping the best Dark And Darker Items, you can dominate dungeons solo or with a team.