The Ultimate Diablo 4 Hammer of the Ancients Barbarian Build for the Ultimate Endgame

Quick Links

The Barbarian's Hammer of the Ancients is an incredibly satisfying ability in Diablo 4, delivering devastating blows that can obliterate most monsters in a single hit. With the right build and strategy, this skill can be the key to dominating endgame content.

Diablo 4 Hammer of the Ancients Endgame Build

Despite the popularity of the Triple Shout Whirlwind build in Diablo 4's endgame Barbarian meta, Hammer of the Ancients remains a viable option with its slow yet satisfying playstyle. This Level 60 HotA setup is capable of swiftly taking down dungeon elites and wreaking havoc on pretty much everything else in the open world.

It's important for players to realize that Hammer of the Ancients requires some time to build up. The most effective upgrades for this skill come into play when the player's Fury is at its maximum level. This means that pacing and resource management are crucial aspects of this build, and players may need to adjust their playing style accordingly if they want to achieve the highest possible DPS.

Hot Bar Skill Setup

Take Battle Lunging Strike and assign the Two-Handed Slashing Weapon to it for the sake of triggering passive nodes (more on these below).

To maintain the resource cost of Hammer of the Ancients, Barbarians rely on Rallying Cry and Challenging Shout, along with their Fury generation nodes. These skills not only provide damage reduction but also increase the Barbarian's survivability with Unstoppable and movement speed. Leap with One-Handed Weapons serves three purposes: Fury generation, mobility, and the application of AOE Vulnerability through Paragon bonuses. For the ultimate, Call of the Ancients is the preferred choice due to its universal effectiveness in burning down tanky targets and increasing resource generation. To further increase damage against Vulnerable targets, equipping a Two-Handed Axe in the Weapon Expertise Technique slot is recommended.

Passive Skill Setup

This build focuses on maximizing melee damage, survivability, and Fury generation. Its Key Passive is Unbridled Rage, which boosts Core Skill damage by an impressive 135%, but at the expense of doubling their Fury cost.

In this build, Battle Lunging Strike is a crucial move, and Endless Fury and Hamstring are essential in maximizing its effectiveness. Endless Fury boosts Fury generation, while Hamstring slows bleeding targets, making them more vulnerable to damage modifiers against Slowed and Crowd-Controlled enemies, as well as the No Mercy passive.

To further optimize resource management, Furious Impulse is employed to mitigate the impact of Unbridled Rage on resource costs. By generating additional Fury every time the Barbarian switches weapons, this passive allows for different weapons to be assigned to Lunging Strike and Leap. Additionally, Furious Impulse reduces the resource cost of HotA by refunding 6 Fury on each non-consecutive cast.

Passive abilities are crucial in providing players with a better gameplay experience, and the other passives available serve to enhance survivability and overall quality of life. For instance, the Raid Leader passive allows for passive health regeneration when Shouts are active, while the Wallop passive increases the damage dealt by Two-Handed Bludgeoning Weapons to any enemy that is Vulnerable.

Gear and Legendary Aspects

Players should prioritize offensive Aspects on their gear pieces when utilizing this build to maximize the damage dealt by Hammer of the Ancients while maintaining healthy Fury levels. However, there is some flexibility to tailor their gear to their playstyle. It's recommended to use defensive Aspects on the remaining open gear slots for added protection. Inner Calm is best suited for boss fights as most other enemies will be defeated in just a few hits, allowing players to stand still and deal maximum damage. Additionally, Inner Calm won't be dispelled by Lunging Strike as long as players refrain from moving forward.

Players have the freedom to choose their gear as long as they possess the necessary Aspects. It is advisable to opt for equipment that amplifies damage against Bleeding, Vulnerable, and Crowd-Controlled opponents. Additionally, the Melted Heart of Selig is an excellent Unique item that can enhance HotA's damage output while also providing an extra 30% max Fury, more resource generation, and Core Skill damage.

Paragon Board Setup

For optimal results with this build, the Warbringer board is the top pick for its bonuses in Physical Damage and Fury generation. To maximize its potential early on, prioritize taking the Attachment Gate nearest to Hungering Fury, Raw Power, and the Glyph Socket. Additionally, unlocking Conditioned and its surrounding nodes can significantly enhance your survivability.

Using the Exploit Glyph is ideal for this build as it ensures that Vulnerable status is applied with just a single hit of either Lunging Strike or Leap on enemies. As the build progresses, players should focus on selecting Paragon Boards that boost their Physical Damage and resource generation. Weapon Master is a great option to consider as it comes with Hunter Killer and a legendary node that generates additional Fury when switching weapons.

Diablo 4 is available on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5.