Diablo 4 Cyclone Barbarian Endgame Build Guide

One of the most iconic classes in Diablo will always be the Barbarian. If you’ve been following the series from the beginning, you’re probably well-acquainted with this all-brawns class that’s friendly for beginners, but still deadly on all difficulty levels of the game. For the Barbarian, an iconic skill that most players can’t live without, is Whirlwind.

This ability is a classic in many regards. Aside from being effective in many scenarios, a lot of players simply love it because of its nostalgia value. That said, it’s time you take this tried and tested ability to the ends of Sanctuary’s toughest challenges.

The Barbarian Cyclone

This Diablo 4 Barbarian endgame build is a low-risk, high-reward setup that’s perfect for the endgame. If you’ve been using Whirlwind as one of your primary abilities, then you shouldn’t have any issues getting used to how this kit works. With very little investment and a low learning curve, it’s the best for players of all levels.

Perhaps the hardest part about building this kit is grinding for a few specific Caged Hearts first. Worry not though as once you get these three recommended Caged Hearts, it’s going to be smooth sailing on your end. Or smooth spinning, rather.

Caged Hearts

1. Caged Heart of the Barber

Effect: Critical Strikes and all subsequent damage within 2-4 seconds is absorbed by your target. Then, the absorbed damage erupts onto surrounding enemies. Stored damage is increased by 10% per second.

This Caged Heart is at the core of many Diablo 4 Season 1 endgame builds because of its utility. With this skill, it’s very easy to clear our dense mobs in just a few seconds because of what it can do. For Whirlwind, this is perfect as you have the chance to store damage within enemies around you.

2. Caged Heart of the Focused Rage

Effect: After spending 100-60 Fury within 2 seconds, your next non-basic skill's Critical Strike Chance is increased by 20-30%.

One of the challenges with this build is that it requires a bit of Fury management. On the one hand, you’ll have a lot of opportunities to proc the effect of Focused Rage as you’ll be spending a lot of Fury using Whirlwind. We’ll talk about how you can manage your Fury later on.

3. Caged Heart of Revenge

Effect: 10-20% of incoming damage is instead suppressed. When you use a Defensive, Subterfuge, or a Macabre skill, all suppressed damage is amplified by 250% and explodes, dealing up to 1360-2040 Fire damage to nearby enemies.

Caged Heart of Revenge is a perfect Caged Heat because it helps you out offensively and defensively. It’s a good pick that ensures that you can withstand a ton of damage, and deal it back to your enemies immediately. You can even hurt them more if you focus on improving your Thorns stat.

Arsenal

It’s important that you follow the Arsenal setup we’re going to recommend as it will deeply affect the efficiency of this build.

Considering the way this build is made, you should focus on getting a decent Two-Handed Mace as a main weapon of choice. You’re looking for weapons with the highest damage output and in this case, the Mace has some of the highest raw damage you can find in any weapon.

Additionally, it has a Critical Strike Damage multiplier with the help of the Arsenal bonus but it’s not going to be that important. However, this extra bonus is still well-appreciated.

In your Technique Slot, you’re going to want to use the Two-Handed Axe. It helps increase your damage against Vulnerable enemies.

You’re essentially free to try out any weapon you want with this build but we’ve found this setup to be the most effective.

Skill Allocation

1. Lunging Strike - 2 Skill Points

Upgrades: Enhanced Lunging Strike

Lunging Strike isn’t actually essential for this build. However, we’re going to need it to progress with the Skill Tree. Of course, the Lunging Strike’s ability to help you generate Fury is still going to be appreciated as this build will consume more of it than you think.

2. Whirlwind - 7 Skill Points

Upgrades: Enhanced Whirlwind, Violent Whirlwind

Whirlwind has always been a part of the Barbarian’s set of skills in the Diablo games. If you’ve been a fan of the series and the class, then mastering this build should be a cakewalk.

Although its range isn’t that impressive, Whirlwind’s efficiency is definitely up there when it comes to killing enemies in a short amount of time. With the right passives and gear, you can kill huge hordes with Whirlwind as you inflict Vulnerable on them as your Barbarian spins.

3. Pressure Point - 3 Skill Points

Speaking of Vulnerable, Pressure Point is going to be an essential passive because it makes it easier for you to inflict this status effect on enemies while using Whirlwind. Whirlwind can hit multiple times in a matter of seconds so the chances of inflicting Vulnerable is high.

4. Rallying Cry - 3 Skill Points

Upgrades: Enhanced Rallying Cry, Tactical Rallying Cry

Getting Unstoppable is a must when you’re using Whirlwind as you don’t want any crowd control effects to stop you. That said, Rallying Cry will be your main source of Unstoppable. Other than that, this ability will also give you a wealth of other buffs including the much-appreciated and needed Fury generation.

5. Iron Skin - 1 Skill Point

It’s important to get the Aspect of the Iron Warrior with this build. While you have that Aspect, you’ll get the Unstoppable bonus when using Iron Skin. This ability is going to be crucial when it comes to your survivability but its best utility is to simply activate Unstoppable.

6. Challenging Shout - 7 Skill Points

Upgrades: Enhanced Challenging Shout, Tactical Challenging Shout

Challenging Shout is another means to boost your defenses with this build. Perhaps the most important thing to consider here is that this Shout taunts enemies. It will be a lot easier to get the most out of your Whirlwind once enemies are all around you. Don’t be afraid to use these often as the defensive boost you get can greatly help with your survivability.

7. Kick - 1 Skill Point

Whirlwind isn’t going to immediately kill your enemies. In fact, some of them might have a few health remaining once you’re done spinning. The best way to finish off these enemies is to use Kick. Aside from that, Kick is also a good Skill to use if you need to make a quick escape because it knocks back enemies.

8. War Cry - 3 Skill Points

Upgrades: Enhanced War Cry, Power War Cry

For tanky enemies, you’re going to want to use War Cry. It grants the Berserking bonus which gives you all sorts of offensive bonuses. War Cry can also be used in tandem with Lunging Strike spamming so that you can regenerate your Fury.

9. Booming Voice - 3 Skill Points

For any build that’s reliant on Shout Skills, you’re going to want Booming Voice. This maximizes the duration of our Shout effects which is perfect on both offensive and defensive areas.

10. Raid Leader - 3 Skill Points

Raid Leader makes your Shout a healing skill when you’re in a party. If you’re planning on going on dungeon raids with a party, then you definitely need to get Raid Leader. Otherwise, you can reallocate the points here and put them to Iron Skin instead.

11. Guttural Yell - 3 Skill Points

Even lowly minions can kill you if the horde is big enough. This passive ability decreases the damage the enemies do once you use a Shout. It’s perfect for all endgame abilities as you’re bound to be surrounded again and again by tough foes.

12. Pit Fighter - 3 Skill Points

Using Whirlwind as your primary skill means that you’ll always be at the forefront of fights. Pit Fighter is a good choice so Whirlwind does even more damage. The decreased damage from range enemies is a great bonus that helps improve your survivability by a huge margin.

13. Thick Skin - 1 Skill Point

Only needed to gain access to the next passive.

14. Counteroffensive - 3 Skill Points

As you’ll be in harm’s way most of the time, Counteroffensive can be an excellent ability to help you survive most scenarios. The amount of Fortify you can get with this build is enough to trigger this passive most of the time. This only means that you can maximize your damage even further.

15. Heavy Handed - 3 Skill Points

The Arsenal setup we have will have you using two-handed weapons mostly. That said, you’re going to want to get Heavy Handed so that you get even more damage bonuses for your abilities.

16. Wallop - 3 Skill Points

You’re going to be using a Mace for this build so you want to get Wallop too. The build will let you apply the Vulnerable status effects to your enemy quite efficiently. That means with Wallop, you can maximize your damage to higher levels.

17. Concussion - 3 Skill Points

Since you’ll be using a Two-Handed Mace, you have up to a 45% chance to Stun enemies while using Whirlwind. The skill itself deals with multiple hits so that means you have a high chance of Stunning enemies around you once you start spinning at the center of the area.

18. Tempered Fury - 1 Skill Point

Only needed to get access to the next passive.

19. Invigorating Fury - 3 Skill Points

With the build as Fury-heavy as it is, you’re going to have a lot of opportunities to heal yourself with huge amounts simply by using Whirlwind.  This gives you near-endless opportunities for healing without potions while on the offensive.

20. Unbridled Rage - 1 Skill Point

This passive will make this build harder or easier depending on the equipment you have. Ideally, you want to get all Fury bonuses possible as this passive doubles the amount you consume when using skills. The damage bonus you get in return is well-worth it though.

Gameplay

The gameplay for this build is actually very simple. Approach your targets, and use Challenging Shout, War Cry, and Rallying Cry, in that order. Although you can use them in any way you want to, this order makes it easier to manage your cooldowns for the shouts.

Once you’re done shouting, hold Whirlwind and start spinning away. Be patient as it will take some time but you’ll soon see the damage ramp up among the enemies. If you’re in trouble, make sure to use Iron Skin as a means to increase your survivability. If there are enemies that survive the ordeal, use Kick. Like Whirlwind, do these things in an endless cycle.

When it comes to Fury management, your best bet at increasing your Fury quickly is Rallying Cry. Other than that, your other passives and active skill upgrades are also going to help you generate Fury.

Aspects

For this build, make sure to unlock the following Codex of Powers:

• Aspect of ‍Berserk Ripping in Mournfield (Dry Steppes)

• ‍Aspect of Death Wish in Penitent Cairns (Scosglen)

• ‍Aspect of Disobedience in Halls of the Damned (Kehjistan)

• Aspect of ‍Echoing Fury in Siroccos Caverns (Kehjistan)

• Aspect of ‍Inner Calm in Raethwind Wilds (Scosglen)

• ‍Aspect of Might in Dark Ravine (Dry Steppes)

• Aspect of ‍Numbing Wrath in Heathen's Keep (Hawezar)

• ‍Ghostwalker Aspect in Broken Bulwark (Scosglen)

• ‍Iron Blood Aspect  in Forgotten Ruins (Kehjistan)

• ‍Needleflare Aspect in Yshari Sanctum (Kehjistan)

• ‍Rapid Aspect in Buried Halls (Dry Steppes)

Make sure to spread these out in your Gear as these can help maximize the efficiency of the kit overall. If you have the time to further maximize this build, you’re going to want a few more Aspects. Unfortunately, you’re going to need to grind for these as they only drop from loot.

1. Aspect of Limitless Rage

Effect: Each point of Fury you generate while at Maximum Fury grants your next Core Skill [1-2]% increased damage, up to [15-30]%

As we’ve said, this build will require a lot of Fury consumption, but it will also have a ton of Fury generation. Aspect of Limitless Rage is a great way to help you unleash even more damage to enemies. 

2. Smiting Aspect

Effect: You have [10-20%] increased Critical Strike Chance against Injured enemies. While you are Healthy, you gain [20- 40%] increased Crowd Control Duration.

This Aspect gives your great bonuses for staying healthy, and for keeping the enemies at seriously low health. The added crowd control duration will help you navigate hordes much easier so repositioning is simpler.

Luckily, both Aspects are found on the same gear types. Here’s what types of enemies you need to focus on farming.

The Aspects can also be found on Rings and Amulets but these drop from every enemy type.

Cut Down The Hordes of Hell

This Diablo 4 Barbarian endgame build might have its flaws but it’s perfect for those that want to maximize the utility of the class’s most iconic skill. It might be challenging to master Fury management at first but once you do master it, you’ll see your Barbarian spinning endlessly on the map.