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                          |     ||     |  Expansion Set:     
                          |_ _ _||_ _ _|  Lord of Destruction      

 Diablo II Lord of Destruction: Throwing Barbarian FAQ Version 1.00
                         


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Table of Contents
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I. Revision History
II. Why The Throwing Barb?
III. Stat Point Distribution
IV. Skills 
V. Skill Point Distribution (a complete list of where to put points)
VI. A Few Tips
VII. Extra Stuff

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I. Revision History
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9-4-2001: FAQ Started
9-7-2001: FAQ Finished, for now, Version 1.00

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II. Why The Throwing Barb?
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Well i had just finished a sword barbarian, and thehy were getting 
boring midway through hell. I wanted to try soemthing different and not 
commonly-used. I wanted to be different then the normal whirlwind barb. 
The throwing barb is really unqiue, and much more fun then any other 
class ive played. They are made very differently from other barbs and 
the strategy is very very different. If you like the bowazon and the 
barb, heres soemthing in between. I reall suggest every1 would try this 
kind of barb.

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III. Stat Point Distribution
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There is no real formula to put your points into every level, you will 
putting different points in every level, and usually every level you 
will dump all 5 points into one stat. This is because you need ltos of 
dexterity and strength to use most weapons. You will need lots of 
dexterity and lots of strength. In normal difficulty balanced axes need 
about 60 dex, so you should have 60 points in dex, and everything else 
but a few points in strength. Those few extra points shoudl be used in 
vitality. No points in energy, you will not need it. You wont need to 
use double throw in normal except against bosses so no mana will be 
needed, your regular throw attacks are fine. So you should put in enough 
strength for your armor, enough dexterity for your weapon, and then 
whatever else you want into vitality. 

Another side note: points in dexterity and strength both add to your 
attack damage.

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IV. Skills
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Combat Skills:

Level 1 - Bash
Points: 1
I suggest you only put 1 point here because better skills will become 
available as you level up. Dont waste your points here.

Level 6 - Double Swing
Points: 1
You should set this as your left-click until you get frenzy, 1 point is 
enough, you wont need that much AR until you get into higer 
difficulties, but by then you should have plenty.

Level 6 - Leap
Points: 1
Useless, you need too many points to get a good range on it, just use 
leap attack.

Level 12 - Stun
Points: 1
This has potential, but you need too many points for it to be effective 
in hell. Stick with double swing.

Level 12 - Double Throw
Points: 1-20
Put whatever you want here, if you see you arent hitting targets then 
put points in here. If you hit 90% of the time though, save your points.

Level 18 - Concetrate
Points: 1
I suggest only using this as a prereq, but if you really need the extra 
damage for your melee attacks then use this as your left-click. I prefer 
double swing but if you dont like it then this is a good backup.

Level 18 - Leap Attack
Points: 1
This is all you need here, you have unlimited range from the start and 
this will be used to get away not to attack so just use 1 point.

Level 24 - Frenzy
Points: 10
This should be your left-click when you get to level 24. It gives great 
damage, weapon speed, run/walk speed, and attack rating.

Level 30 - Whirlwind
Points: 0
You will find that you do not need this skill often as your throws 
should be doing plenty of damage, but if you have some mana leech and 
definitely need to then do so. I suggest sticking with frenzy though.

Level 30 - Berserk
Points: 5
You need this skill for physical immunes in hell difficulty, without it 
you will be stuck every time you reach a physical immune. 

Masteries:

Level 1 - Sword Mastery
Points: 0
You woint be using swords

Level 1 - Axe Mastery
Points: 1-20
Get one point here so your melee damage is good, if you have extra 
points then shove them on here, it all depends on how much you want to 
be meleeing

Level 1 - Mace Mastery
Points: 0
You wont be using maces

Level 6 - Polearm Mastery
Points: 0
You wont be using polearms

Level 6 - Throwing Mastery
Points: 20
Max this ASAP, without it you will do very little damage

Level 6 - Spear Mastery
Points: 0
You wont be using spears

Level 12 - Increased Stamina
Points: 1
Get 1 point here as a prereq, it gives a good bonus as well, so its not 
a point wasted

Level 18 - Iron Skin
Points: 1-20
Put as many as you can here, you always need more defense

Level 24 - Increased Speed
Points 1-2
If you see you are running from battle often, ut 2 points here, i think 
1 is fine though

Level 30 - Natural Resistance
Points: 7
You get 47 resistance with 7 points here, you get 30 from quests, that 
gives you 77 points in resistances, almost completely making up for the 
penalty in hell

Warcries:

Level 1 - Howl
Points: 1
Prerequisite, move on

Level 1 - Find Potion
Points: 1
Prerequisite, move on

Level 6 - Taunt
Points: 0
Not worth a point, you want enemies at a range anyway

Level 6 - Shout
Points: 1
Prerequisite, move on

Level 12 - Find Item
Points: 1-5
If you want to use this in later difficulties then use it. Dont put 
points here early though, the rewards are small and the mana cost is 
high. Useless until hell.

Level 18 - Battlecry
Points: 0
You wont have enough mana to cast this often, and you need your mana for 
double throw. Forget this skill

Level 24 - Battle Orders
Points: 1-20
Very good skill, you want as many points as you can here. Max it if you 
can.

Level 24 - Grim Ward
Point: 0
I never found this skill too useful, use it if you want but i dont 
suggest to waste the point

Level 30 - Warcry
Points: 0
Costs too much mana and needs to many points to be effective

Level 30 - Battle Commanad
Points: 0
Too short of a duration, needs too many points to be effective
-------
I gave you alot of choice to make, this is because many skills are very 
good but it depends on your playing style. You should be able to get 
most of the skills i put as "1-20" to max, now its up to you on which 
ones you want

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V. Skill Point Distribution
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Level 01 - Bash
Level 02 - Howl
Level 03 - Axe Mastery 
Level 04 - *Save* (1 saved)
Level 05 - *Save* (2 saved)
Akara pt - *Save* (3 saved)
Level 06 - Double Swing (3 saved)
Level 06 - Throw Mastery (2 saved)
Level 07 - Throw Mastery (2 saved)
Level 08 - Throw Mastery (2 saved)
Level 09 - Throw Mastery (2 saved)
Level 10 - Throw Mastery (2 saved)
Level 11 - Throw Mastery (2 saved)
Level 12 - Throw Mastery (2 saved)
Level 12 - Double Throw (1 saved)
Sewer pt - Increased Stamina (1 saved)
Level 13 - Throw Mastery (1 saved)
Level 14 - Throw Mastery (1 saved)
Level 15 - Throw Mastery (1 saved)
Level 16 - Throw Mastery (1 saved)
Level 17 - Throw Mastery (1 saved)
Level 18 - Throw Mastery (1 saved)
Level 18 - Iron Skin 
Level 19 - Throw Mastery 
Level 20 - Throw Mastery 
Level 21 - Throw Mastery 
Level 22 - Throw Mastery 
Level 23 - Throw Mastery 
Level 24 - Throw Mastery 
Level 25 - Throw Mastery 
Izual pt - Increased Speed
Izual pt - Shout
Level 26 - Battle Orders
Level 27 - Frenzy
Level 28 - Stun
Level 29 - Concentrate
Level 30 - Berserk
Level 31 - Natural Res
Level 32 - Natural Res
Level 33 - Natural Res
Level 34 - Natural Res
Level 34 - Natural Res
Level 35 - Natural Res
Level 36 - Natural Res
Akara pt - Leap
Level 37 - Leap Attack
Level 38 - Iron Skin
Level 39 - Frenzy
Level 40 - Iron Skin
Level 41 - Frenzy
Level 42 - Iron Skin
Level 43 - Frenzy
Sewer pt - Berserk
Level 44 - Iron Skin
Level 45 - Frenzy
Level 46 - Double Throw
Level 47 - Double Throw
Level 48 - Double Throw
Level 49 - Double Throw
Level 50 - Berserk
Izual pt - Battle Orders
Izual pt - Battle Orders
Level 51 - Berserk
Level 52 - Berserk
Level 53 - Berserk
*Right now you should be about starting hell. We have now
1 Axe Mastery
1 Leap
1 Leap Attack
1 Bash
1 Stun
1 Concentrate
1 Double Swing
1 Increased Stamina
1 Increased Speed
1 Howl
1 Shout
3 Battle Orders
20 Throwing Mastery
5 Double Throw
5 Frenzy
5 Berserk
5 Iron Skin
7 Natural Res
*From here on, its basically up to you, you have a nice layout and about 
2x as many skill points to put somewhere, this layout is just a 
recommendation, nothign is set in stone, modify it as you want*

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VI. A Few Tips
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1. I suggest putting a throwing weapon in each hand on both weapon set 
up. That means you will have 4 stacks of weapons, and axes get 130 a 
stack, so you will have approx. 500 throwing weapons per trip out of 
town. You will most likely have more as many magic weapons have 
increased stack size as a mod

2. Always repair in town, it is very helpful with the repair all button. 
It costs one gold for each weapon you restore. This means that if you 
have 30 throwing weapons left in your stack, it will cost 100 gold to 
repair it. Very cheap in later difficulties

3. Watch the symbol on the right of your screen telling you if you are 
low on throwing weapons, if so switch your weapon because if you dont 
then you will run out of throwing weapons. (if your throw weapon count 
goes to "0" then the weapon will dissapper forever.

4. Get a tank merc! This is one either from act2 or act5. I suggest 
getting an offensive merc in nightmare act2. They give you the might 
aura which increases your attack damage. You need your merc to absorb 
melee damage while you stand back and throw away.

5. Use your hotkeys well. Here is my setup

Right Click Hotkeys:
F1 - Tome of Town Portal
F2 - Throw Right Hand
F3 - Throw Left Hand
F4 - Double Throw

F5 - Battle Orders
F6 - Shout
F7 - Leap Attack

Left Click Hotkeys:
5 - Double Swing
6 - Stun
7 - Berserk
8 - Normal Attack

I configured my hotkeys in options to use 5, 6, 7, and 8 as hotkeys. I 
put all my hotkeys in groups. Melees in one, throws in another, and 
warcries and leap attacks in another.

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VII. Extra Stuff
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1. This FAQ is copyrighted to MasterTemplar, if you use this on your 
site without permission, legal action wil be taken. If you do want to 
use this on your site then you must email me, i will probably let you 
put it there as long as i am given proper credit.

2. E-mail. You can contact me at nykjoet@aol.com with anything you find 
questionable in my FAQ or any errors you see. I will try to fix them as 
soon as i can.

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