The Barrage build in Diablo 4 brings a unique blend of ranged and melee playstyles that transforms the way Rogue is typically played. This build may not offer much mobility, but it compensates with a massive onslaught of arrows that can take down everything on the screen, provided they can withstand the Shadow damage. This build is perfect for players who prefer to stand their ground, hold a button down, and watch as their enemies get obliterated by a barrage of arrows. It's specifically designed for clearing out hordes and taking down bosses in the Nightmare and early Torment levels.
Diablo 4 Rogue Barrage Build
Skills | Total Points |
Fundamental Puncture | 3 |
Advanced Barrage | 7 |
Countering Smoke Grenade | 3 |
Countering Stealth | 3 |
Blended Shadow Imbuement | 7 |
Supreme Shadow Clone | 3 |
This build can be seen as an advancement of the Flurry build when it comes to playstyle. It revolves around engaging in combat at close range just like the Flurry build, and shares similar fundamentals in terms of resource management and gameplay mechanics.
Barrage is a powerful skill that deals more damage when used up close, as more arrows can hit the same target per cast. Similar to a shotgun blast, the closer the target is, the more devastating the effect will be. For added effectiveness, try combining Advanced Barrage with Fundamental Puncture to ensure arrow bounces and critical hit buffs. In situations where AOE is a concern, Improved Barrage can be a suitable alternative. In battles with large groups of elites, Smoke Grenade can prove to be a lifesaver by providing cover and enabling players to take advantage of Inner Calm Aspect and Inner Sight's unlimited Energy window. To maximize AOE damage, consider pairing Smoke Grenade with Shadow Imbuement.
When the battle gets intense, Concealment can be your savior as it allows you to escape stuns and relocate yourself. By upgrading this ability, the Skill player can land a critical strike, making it an excellent tool to quickly eliminate key targets. Additionally, Shadow Clone can also come in handy during intense fights as it not only doubles your damage output but also provides the Unstoppable perk, which can make quick work of any demons in your path.
Passive Skills
Skills | Points |
Sturdy | 3 |
Siphoning Strikes | 3 |
Exploit | 3 |
Malice | 3 |
Shadow Crash | 1 |
Consuming Shadows | 3 |
Weapon Mastery | 3 |
Precision Imbuements | 3 |
Innervation | 3 |
Second Wind | 3 |
Rapid Gambits | 1 |
Trick Attacks | 3 |
This particular build heavily relies on the Lucky Hit effects, making Second Wind a valuable inclusion to the passive setup. As players will be frequently using Barrage, taking advantage of the extra Lucky Hit Chance seems like a wise decision.
Standard passives for ranged Rogue builds are present, but Sturdy and Siphoning Strikes are added for Barrage usage in close combat. Inner Sight is the recommended Specialization for unlimited arrow spam, but Preparation can be used for more Shadow Clones. Make Precision the Key Passive to increase critical hit power significantly.
Gear and Aspects
Offense | Defense | Utility |
Inner Calm | Disobedience | Ravenous |
Accelerating | Might | Umbral |
Vengeful | Cheat's |
When it comes to offense, Inner Calm, Accelerating, and Vengeful are the top three aspects to focus on. While Branching Volleys and Arrow Storms can boost AOE damage, it's crucial for players to prioritize the former three in their gear.
To effectively use Barrage in combat, players need to prioritize Aspects that generate Energy or boost its regeneration rate. Two great options for this are Ravenous and Umbral, with the latter even increasing Energy gained from Puncture.
As for defense, damage-reduction effects are crucial. While the build already has natural healing abilities, it's important to have a defensive item that can prevent players from being taken out in one hit. In higher difficulties, Disobedience is a must-have for its protective capabilities.
Paragon Boards
To further strengthen your character, consider filling in any remaining slots with items that provide additional damage or defenses. While Unique items are not required, equipping items such as Grasp of Shadow or Cowl of the Nameless can greatly enhance your abilities on the battlefield.
For those players looking to maximize their Core Skill damage and take advantage of the bonus effect of the Exploit Glyph, Cunning Stratagem is a reliable choice. However, it's important to note that the Legendary node on this board won't benefit the build since it doesn't utilize Combo Points. To optimize the build, be sure to swap in the Combat Glyph into the first socket on the board as soon as possible.
Consider picking up the No Witnesses perk to boost your DPS post-ultimate, prioritizing it over Exploit if it isn't critical to your playstyle. Cheap Shot can also be a useful choice, as Daze qualifies as a Crowd Control status. As you progress through tougher content, focus on acquiring bonuses that enhance your damage output or ability to survive. Keep in mind that modifications to this build may be necessary past level 70, as enemies grow more formidable.
Diablo 4 is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.