Diablo 4 is a massive game featuring an extreme amount of different weapons, armor, jewelry, and items to help you create your perfect character. No matter what your play style is, you can find gear to suit your desired build. One Class that has a rewarding play style and several amazing builds is the Barbarian Class. A fan favorite in Diablo, this class is known for blowing the competition out of the water when it comes to damage. However, to make the most of your Barbarian, they’ll need a great weapon – preferably several. Which ones should you choose?
Because most loot in Diablo 4 is randomly generated from a list of possible Aspects and Affixes, we’ll be talking about the best Aspects that can drop on weapons, which will help you decide. Playing to the strengths of the Barbarian, each of these Offensive Aspects has been ranked based on the amount they’ll increase your damage, and whether they synergize well with top-tier builds. In addition, we’ll cover some of the best unique weapon drops for Barbarians, which are ranked on the same criteria.
Updated by Abigail Angell on November 10th, 2023: Barbarians continue to have several viable builds in the meta and to help our readers make the best use of this article, it has been updated with streamlined formatting for increased readability. In addition, the article has been modified to reflect any changes to the game since its launch.
15 Aspect Of Limitless Rage Weapons
Use Maximum Fury to Deal Maximum Damage
This Aspect is one of the best Offensive Aspects for Barbarians and is build neutral. Unfortunately, this is an Aspect that does not have a Codex of Power for players to find in the Eternal Realm. Instead, you will need to find the Aspect and extract it from an item. Its description reads:
- Each point of Fury you generate while at Maximum Fury grants your next Core Skill [1-2]% increased damage, up to [15-30]%
This means that as you gain Fury (what Barbarians use to use their Skills) at max Fury, you will do more damage the next time you use a Core Skill. Because most Barbarian Builds rely on their Core Skills for the majority of their damage and use their abilities for buffs and defense, a more powerful Core Skill is a big deal.
14 Aspect Of Ancestral Force Weapons
Increase the AoE of the Hammer of Ancients Ability
This is another great option for an Aspect attached to a weapon for Barbarians. It can be found in the Sunken Ruins Dungeon in the Scosglen region of the map. It can also be found on an item and extracted. This Aspect does the following:
- Hammer of the Ancients quakes outwards, dealing [32-50]% of its damage to enemies
This Aspect is so valuable because of the sheer number of players relying on the Hammer of Ancients Skill for their build. Some builds that utilize it are the Juggernaut Build and the Two-Handed Berserker Build. This Aspect will allow Barbarians who use this Skill to do an incredible amount of damage, making it a great option for an Aspect.
13 Weapons With Aspect Of Encroaching Wrath
Greater Damage For Weapon Mastery
The Aspect of Encroaching Wrath is another great offensive Aspect for Barbarians. Unfortunately, like many others, this Aspect does not have a Codex of Power that players can obtain on the Eternal Realm, and Seasonal drops are ever changing. Instead, you should plan to extract the Aspect from an item that already has it. The description reads:
- After spending 100 Fury, your next Weapon Mastery Skill deals [82-100]%[x] increased damage.
Fury is what you will use to use Skills, so spending it is easy. Additionally, many builds benefit from more impactful Weapon Mastery Skills such as Rupture or Death Blow builds. The result is an Aspect that is easy to trigger often, regardless of whether you are fighting packs or bosses. Definitely keep any max rolls of this one that you find.
12 Weapons With Aspect Of Dire Whirlwind
A Must-have for Whirlwind Barbarians
This Aspect is one of the best for the Class and a good part of the reason why the Whirlwind Barbarian build is so dominant in the meta. The Aspect can be found in the Garan Hold Dungeon, located in Scosglen. You can also find an item with the Aspect and extract it that way. As for its effect:
- Whirlwind’s Critical Strike Chance is increased by [3-8]% for each second it is channeled, up to [9-24]%.
A 24% buff to your Critical Strike Chance on top of the base value is insane, and this makes building crit damage with Whirlwind as your main damage ability very viable. The only reason that this doesn’t make it higher on the list is that many players are moving away from the Whirlwind Barbarian to more engaging builds.
11 Weapons With Aspect Of Ancestral Echoes
Grow Your Ancestral Army
This Aspect is another great one for Barbarians and builds off of their flavor as clan-based warriors. Players can find it in the Ancient Reservoir of Hawezar, or extract it from a random Legendary drop. The description reads:
- Lucky Hit: While Call of the Ancients is on your Action Bar, damaging enemies with Leap, Upheaval, or Whirlwind have up to a [40-50]% chance to summon an Ancient to perform the same Skill.
Not only is this Aspect thematically cool, but the ability to activate the Aspect is quite commonly used. Having Call of Ancients along with Leap, Upheaval, or Whirlwind is compatible with most builds, leaving you two other spaces for shouts. Once activated, the ancestor will copy your ability – potentially doubling your damage output.
10 Doombringer
Damage Over Time Every Time You Lucky Hit
The Doombringer is a Unique Sword that can be found in Diablo 4. Thankfully, this amazing Sword can be wielded by any Class, not just Barbarians. However, the Barbarian Class can utilize this Sword just as well (if not better) than other Classes. While you have a slightly higher chance of obtaining Doombringer when fighting Endgame bosses such as Duriel or Lilith, there is no set way to obtain it. In fact, this item is very rare.
However, lucky players who get ahold of the Doombringer sword are in for a treat. It has the following effect:
- Lucky Hit: Up to a [15 – 25%] chance to deal [X] Shadow damage to surrounding enemies and reduce their damage done by 20% for 5 seconds.
Lucky Hit chance is relatively high on a number of barbarian abilities, and the addition of shadow damage over time is welcome for builds that already max damage over time dealt. Some examples of builds that make excellent use of this item are the Blood-Soaked Barbarian and the Whirlwind Barbarian.
9 Weapon With Aspect Of Berserk Ripping
When You Go Berserk, People Bleed
The Aspect of Berserk Ripping is one of the best Aspects offered to Barbarians. This Aspect’s Codex of Power can be found in the Mournfield Dungeon in the Dry Steppes region of the game. You can also find items with this Aspect and extract the Aspect, so you can imprint it on another weapon. The Aspect’s effect reads:
- Whenever you deal direct damage while Berserking, inflict [20-30%] of the base damage as additional Bleeding damage over 5 seconds.
This can be made use of by any build, as additional damage over time is never a bad thing. However, it is especially enjoyed by players who can easily keep Berserking active for long periods, such as the Whirlwind Barbarian or Doubleswing Barbarian. Another option for synergy with this Aspect is the Rend ability, which allows you to deal scaling damage based on the amount of Bleeding damage currently stacked on a target.
8 Ramaladni’s Magnum Opus
Hit Harder at the Cost of Your Fury
Ramaladni’s Magnum Opus is another Unique Sword available to the Barbarian Class in the game. This Unique Sword, like many others, can be found throughout the game. There is no set location, and it can be found anywhere in chests, dropped by enemies, etc. However, you have a slightly higher chance of obtaining it when fighting Endgame bosses such as Duriel or Lilith.
The Sword’s effect reads:
- Skills using this weapon deal [0.1 – 0.3%] increased damage per point of Fury you have, but you lose 2 Fury every second
Because Fury generation is the most important part of many Barbarian builds, and it is very easy to run out, this sword takes finesse to use. However, its worth it, as the damage increase can be insane. Builds whose abilities generate high amounts of Fury are best suited to this weapon, such as Bleed Barbarians.
7 The Grandfather
Insane Critical Strike Damage
The Grandfather is a Unique Two-Handed Sword. This is another weapon that isn’t restricted to the Barbarian, and Druids are also able to use this weapon. However, it is arguable that Barbarians may get better usage out of it. This is another item that is incredibly rare and is best farmed by endgame bosses. This sword’s key abilities are the following:
- Increase your Critical Strike Damage by [60 – 100%]
- All other properties on this weapon have a chance to roll higher than normal.
The big jump to your Critical Strike damage dovetails nicely with any build that has a high Critical Strike Chance. While many builds can make use of this sword, the most natural fits are the Whirlwind Barbarian or Death Blow Barbarian.
6 Ancient’s Oath
Steel Grasp Covers a Larger Area
Ancients’ Oath is a Unique Two-Handed Axe. Barbarians are the only Class that can use this Axe, and they can cause some serious damage with it. Unfortunately, like the others, this Axe doesn’t have a specific drop location. You will need to open chests, farm endgame bosses, and kill Elite Enemies if you want a chance of seeing this Axe.
The Axe’s effect is quite useful for any build with the Steel Grasp ability in its rotation:
- Steel Grasp launches 2 additional chains. Enemies hit by Steel Grasp are Slowed by [55 – 65%] for 3 seconds.
As Steel Grasp is a popular selection for the Bleed and Rend Barbarian builds, as well as anyone who wants to group enemies, there are many viable builds that make great use of this weapon. In addition, Steel Grasp slowing enemies is very useful for mobs that like to run away (like Loot Goblins) as barbarians lack ranged damage options.
5 Fields Of Crimson
Rupture Causes Pool of Blood
Fields of Crimson is a Unique Two-Handed Sword that is exclusive to the Barbarian Class. It offers some amazing perks for Barbarians and is a must for anyone wanting to perfect the Class. If you use the skill Rupture, you need this item. Like the others before it, this Unique weapon is a random drop. You’ll need to go searching if you want to add it to your arsenal.
The Sword’s effect reads:
- While using this weapon, damaging at least one enemy with Rupture creates a blood pool that inflicts x Bleeding damage over 6 seconds
- Enemies standing in the pool take 10% increased Bleeding damage
Rupture is the core skill for many builds, but is particularly important for the Blood-Soaked Barbarian build. Bleed-focused Barbarians will get such a damage boost from this sword that any other weapon in that slot would be a downgrade.
4 Weapons With Dust Devils Aspect
Whirlwind Causes Small Storms in the Vicinity
The Dust Devil Aspect is arguably the best Offensive Aspect for Barbarians. It is only logical that adding this Aspect to a weapon would make that weapon even better. Unfortunately, unlike the last Aspect, this one cannot be found in a set location. You’ll need to find an item with it and extract the Aspect from it. Then the Occultist can imprint it onto a new weapon.
The Aspect’s description reads:
- Whirlwind leaves behind Dust Devils that deal [X] damage to surrounding enemies.
Considering the Whirlwind Barbarian build is one of the most popular in the series, this is a high-tier Aspect. Anytime you use Whirlwind, you’ll summon Dust Devils that will deal a certain amount of damage to the surrounding foes, effectively increasing the area of effect for the ability.
3 Hellhammer
Upheaval Barbarians Can Light Everything On Fire
The Hellhamer is a Unique Two-Handed Mace, exclusive to the Barbarian Class. It offers some amazing perks to Barbarians who use it. Unfortunately, this is yet another weapon that doesn’t have a set location. It is able to drop anywhere in the game at any time, although end-game bosses have a slightly higher chance to drop it.
The Mace’s effect reads:
- Upheaval ignites the ground, Burning enemies for an additional x damage over 3 seconds.
If you use Upheaval, this is a great weapon for you. Not only will your attack act like normal, but it will also cause enemies near you to burn for several seconds, dealing persistent damage. Upheaval isn’t the skill of choice for the highest-tier Barbarian builds, but there is a viable build centered around the ability with a loyal player base.
2 Overkill
Death Blow Deals AoE Damage & Has No Cooldown
Overkill, as the name suggests, is Overkill with how incredibly good it is. This is another Unique Two-Handed Mace that is exclusive to Barbarians. If you want a great Mace as a Barbarian, this may be your best bet. Unfortunately, like all the others, this item is dropped randomly. There is no set time or place where you can find this item. However, if you spend enough time killing high-level Elite enemies, destroying breakables, and opening chests, you’ll eventually find this amazing weapon.
The Mace’s effect reads:
- Death Blow creates a shockwave, dealing [16 -30%] of its Base damage to enemies.
- Enemies who die to this effect also reset Death Blow’s Cooldown
Not only is Death Blow an important Skill in the Bloody Barbarian build, but it also has its’ own build centered around executing enemies. If you want to follow either of these options, then this Mace is a great weapon. Insanely, if you deal enough damage, Death Blow can perpetually be off of cooldown.
1 The Butcher’s Cleaver
Use This Axe To Make Enemies Run In Fear
The Butcher’s Cleaver is one of the best weapons in the game and for good reason. It is also one of the most notoriously difficult items to obtain. It is a Unique One-Handed Axe wielded by the nightmare himself The Butcher. Being one of the game’s best easter eggs, The Butcher can appear anywhere in any dungeon you enter. You cannot hunt him, he hunts you. This makes this item extremely difficult to find, as you need to get lucky on his spawn, kill him, and then have the Axe drop (which is not guaranteed).
The Axe’s effect reads:
- Lucky Hit: When you Critically Strike an enemy you have up to a 100% chance to Fear and Slow them by [40 – 75%] for 4 seconds.
Not only does your Critical Strike now Fear and Slow enemies, but the Axe also offers boosts to Critical Strike Damage, Damage to Healthy enemies, and Damage to crowd-controlled enemies. This is amazing for any Barbarian build, especially those that frequently Critically Strike such as the Whirlwind Barbarian or Death Blow Barbarian.