The Arsenal System is the unique Barbarian Class mechanic in Diablo 4. It allows them to assign a specific equipped weapon for every attack skill and grants additional bonuses.
Diablo 4 Barbarian Arsenal System
Arsenal System Class Mechanic Overview
Due to their unique class mechanic, known as the Arsenal system, Barbarians can equip and swap about four weapons at a time, allowing for better customization. These include the main hand, off-hand, bludgeoning, and slashing weapons. Doing so allows you to freely assign specific equipment to certain skills based on your needs. For instance, Bash, which lets you stun and heavily damage targets, is well suited using a bludgeoning weapon. But if you wish to raise this ability's stun duration even more, then you should opt to switch to a two-handed bludgeoning weapon instead.
It's also worth noting that upon the skill's activation, you'll instantly equip the best weapon in your loadout. Furthermore, every weapon the Barbarian uses has a corresponding expertise stat, thereby leveling up their ranks accordingly. For example, if you wish to boost your Critical Strike chance, then wielding a one-handed ax will come in handy.
Because of this, it's highly recommended to collect and prepare a wide variety of melee weapons to take advantage of this class's build diversity and itemization progression.
How to unlock the Arsenal system?
Barbarians unlock the Arsenal system automatically when they reach level 5. They get access to the expertise tab, which can be opened by pressing shift + C, which shows all the different weapon types and their respective bonuses when using them. They all start at level 1 and can be leveled up to level 10 by using them in battle.
How do I level up the Arsenal system?
In order to level up the Arsenal system, players have to use the corresponding Weapon type to level it up. It is a natural process that occurs as you play, given that the Barbarian switches Weapons on the fly and uses diverse types. There are two important details that players will have to take into consideration.
- Weapons gain Experience to level up on hit, NOT ON KILL. This means that if you are over-leveled and are one-hitting everything on sight, it won't count much towards that weapon-type experience level, unlike a more challenging and defiant zone in which you will have to hit enemies multiple times to defeat them.
- Weapons do not gain experience points in PVP mode. Defeating or facing other players DOES NOT grant experience to your weapons.
Weapon Technique
The Technique Slot allows the player to choose a Weapon Expertise Effect that applies to all of their attacks, regardless of which weapon they are using.
Select an expertise of rank 1 or above to set your technique.
Players unlock Weapon Technique by completing Masters of Battle.
Weapons Expertise table
Weapon Expertise |
Rank 10 Power |
Rank 10 additional bonuses |
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 One-handed Axe Expertise |
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 One-handed Mace Expertise |
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 One-handed Sword Expertise |
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 Two-handed Axe Expertise |
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 Two-handed Mace Expertise |
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 Two-handed Sword Expertise |
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 Polearm Expertise |
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