D2R 2.4.3 Whirlwind Changes - Tips for D2R Whirlwind Barbarian Build after 2.4.3 Patch

A notable change in Diablo 2 Resurrected 2.4.3 Patch is the improvements to Whirlwind attacks, which would affect the way how you can build your Whirlwind Barbarian in the future. Now in this article, let’s check out what benefits and drawbacks the D2R 2.4.3 Whirlwind changes bring and some tips for 2.4 Whirlwind Barbarian build. 

D2R 2.4.3 Whirlwind Changes - Tips for D2R Whirlwind Barbarian Build after 2.4.3 

What changes have been implemented to Whirlwind in D2R Patch 2.4.3? How will it affect your Whirlwind Barbarian build? In a lot of ways, it has been significantly improved sort of buff, but in other ways potentially nerfed depending on the weapon choice that you're gonna use. Let's see how Dbrunski125 explained that.

Benefits of D2R 2.4.3 Whirlwind Changes

Since the changes of the Whirlwind attacks, the base damage at level 1 is now +30 instead of -50, in addition to that the attack rating has jumped from 0 to +50. This is gonna work a lot better for characters with sort of mediocre Diablo 2 items trying to level and build up as a Whirlwind Barbarian, it's actually a viable choice. Now you don't get slapped with a -50 damage penalty at the first level, which is very tough, so this change is good for leveling with mid-tier gear as a WW barbarian.

In addition to those changes, slower weapon bases now are more viable that is because your offhand is will now count towards the breakpoints of the whirlwind, so you can't exceed the four frames from LoD, but prior to this patch change, basically the only weapons you would ever use would be Grief or Breath of the Dying in a whirlwind barbarian, because those were the D2R weapons that allowed you to reach a specific breakpoint.  

In a nutshell, these changes result in a lot stronger for dual hand whirlwind barbarians who like dual Grief, very positive changes overall for the whirlwind.

Disadvantages of D2R 2.4.3 Whirlwind Changes

However, there are also some disadvantages as well, this is largely due to the changes to increase attack speed. Previous to this patch, if you had holy fire is active on you or if you didn't have a source of Cannot be Frozen, the whirlwind would only be affected in the distance that it takes to travel from point A to point B so that would be a lot slower, but the actual whirlwind itself would remain unchanged with these, new increased attack speed changes, if you totally freeze or if you don't have sources going to be frozen, in addition, point A to point B is slowed down, the actual whirlwind itself will be slowed down. 

Depending on the weapon combination that you're using, you may or may not want to supplement with a little bit extra increased attack speed to kind of counteract that slowdown, maybe if you're farming a lot of chaos sanctuary or something like that.

The second drawback from the whirlwind changes comes down to the damage scaling changes, new whirlwind is actually less enhanced damage than the previous one, now with that being said, all the quality of life changes, and the short warming fixes the changes to the first attack of your dual-wielding weapons that is all positive changes and more damage, melee is already at a significant disadvantage to any other caster build, you actually have less raw enhanced damage than what you did before.

Overall, when it comes to nerf and buff, it is good in terms of weapon options, and it is bad in terms of melee. 

More Options for D2R 2.4 Whirlwind Barbarian Gear

Now you're not tied to using dual Grief, even though it seems still the best option, but you could definitely use dual Death or Death in a Colossus Sword until you get dual Grief. Then the buffed attack rating and damage starting at earlier levels do make it a lot better to use with sort of mediocre geared characters, that is all fantastic. Compared to nerfing Grief, it is probably better to elevate and improve Death and Breath of the Dying and other weapon choices so that they are closer to Grief to give you a different option like maybe higher raw enhanced damage. The main reason is melee is at a massive disadvantage to caster characters and Grief may be their single strongest choice.