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How to Switch Weapons as the Barbarian in Diablo 4

Mar-20-2024 PST
Every class in Diablo 4 offers a distinct gameplay style, and the Barbarian introduces a unique Arsenal mechanic that enables wielding up to four weapons simultaneously, facilitating seamless swaps between them during gameplay. This feature not only adds thematic richness but also significantly influences the Barbarian's combat strategy. Notably, players can allocate specific skills to utilize particular weapon types, thereby leveraging exclusive passives and abilities.

This Diablo 4 guide will demonstrate the manual process of switching weapons while playing as the Barbarian.

Switching Weapons as a Barbarian: A Step-by-Step Guide

To delve into the rationale behind weapon switching for Barbarians, it's essential to understand the method. While this game mechanic may seem intricate, it proves surprisingly user-friendly once discovered, albeit with the potential to go unnoticed if not actively sought.

Upon accessing the skill assignment menu via the skill tree, players can relocate any invested skills on their action bar. By hovering over the skill to be assigned, a dedicated Barbarian-exclusive interface reveals the weapon—be it a bludgeoning two-hander, a slashing two-hander, or dual-wielding one-handed weapons—associated with the attack. Ordinarily, the game performs automatic calculations to suggest the weapon yielding the highest damage output. However, individuals seeking manual control can opt to "cycle weapon" (achieved through X on PlayStation and the mouse wheel on PC), witnessing their "Arsenal Selection" transition among the available choices.

This personalization pertains solely to the modified skill and remains effective until reversed.

Significance of Weapon Switching

If you're pondering the rationale behind manual weapon adjustments when the game autonomously optimizes damage output, you're not alone. Efficiently dispatching foes serves as the core objective in Diablo 4. Nonetheless, certain passive skills only activate based on the weapon types employed.

For instance, early in the Barbarian skill tree, investing in the Endless Fury passive boosts Fury generation in Basic Skills while wielding a two-handed weapon. By selecting a skill like Lunging Strike with superior dual-wielding weapons, the game automatically highlights them for the attack. However, failing to align with Endless Fury renders these points futile. Redirecting Lunging Strike to a two-handed weapon ensues in capitalizing on the Endless Fury bonus, despite containing formidable dual-wielding weapons.

Furthermore, various skills exhibit distinct effects contingent on the Arsenal weapon type. For instance, using a two-handed weapon amplifies Bash's stun duration from 1.25 to 2 seconds every fourth hit.

It is imperative to acknowledge that not all skills are adaptable to weapon cycling. Certain abilities like Flay mandate a slashing weapon, while Hammer of the Ancients exclusively utilizes the two-handed bludgeoning weapon. Nevertheless, unless explicitly specified, the weapon cycle system allows players to choose the optimal means of vanquishing foes.