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Diablo 4 Build

Ancients Leveling Guide - Strike of the Ancients

Barbarian

Leveling

Verified

Cliptis

Season 13

By Cliptis

Updated on May 12, 2026

May 12, 2026

Build Overview

This guide is work in progress and more updates are coming in as we get more information closer to the Lord of Hatred launch.

This may be the strongest leveling build out there. This will utilize the new Summon Ancient mechanics paired with a ton of mobility skills to make this a fast paced, Ancient slaying build.

Please read through the How it works section of the planner and if you have further questions you can join me live on Twitch, YouTube, TikTok and X. If you have questions while I'm not live, join Discord. We have a team and community ready to answer all your questions! You can also check out Cliptis.com for a collection of all my How-To guides.

For a complete and comprehensive leveling strategy, watch this video: The Ultimate Leveling Guide (All Classes)

Strengths and Weaknesses

Very tanky
Easy early damage
Many ways for Resource Generation
Earthquakes

Build Variants

Level 1-35

Level 36-70

ENDGAME PLANNER

Assigned Skills

Level 1-35

Level 36-70

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Primary

Secondary

Technique

This will be your starting variant. For gear at these levels you just take anything that is an upgrade and has an Aspect on it. Any legendary gear will gain additional stats over yellow gear so those are always upgrades even if the aspects don't affect your build.

Your weapon Arsenal selection will be TBD for this set up. This is different from your Technique Expertise.

At level 10

Tempering unlock. As long as you can afford it putting Elemental Surge on as many weapons as you can greatly increases your damage, even with rare temper manuals.

Enchanting Fury Per Second and Fury on Kill

Equipment

Level 1-35

Level 36-70

ENDGAME PLANNER

HelmAspect of Disobedience

Chest armorAspect of Might

GlovesDeath Wish Aspect

PantsAspect of Numbing Wrath

BootsGhostwalker Aspect

AmuletAspect of Bul-Kathos

Ring 1Rapid Aspect

Ring 2Aspect of the Umbral

Bludgeoning weaponEdgemaster's Aspect

Dual wield weapon 1Needleflare Aspect

Dual wield weapon 2Aspect of Inner Calm

Slashing weaponAspect of Retribution

Equipment Priority

+12

Even though during the early stages of leveling Resistances and Armor aren't as important. Once you start moving into Penitent, you'll need to start adding these in.

Tempering and Enchanting are great ways to add Resistances and Armor early on, until you get your End Game gear.