Jay SMASH!

by Jay Wilson, Game Director

When Diablo III unleashes itself on the world there is only one choice for me when it comes to the first class I will play. While I enjoy playing all of the classes, one in particular really speaks to the soul of who I am. Each of the heroes of Sanctuary has been blessed with powers and abilities that allow them to right the wrongs of the world. Some use magic, others are skilled with a bow, but the class I’m going to play at launch excels at one thing above all others: breakin' stuff. That’s what speaks to who I am, and that’s why I’m playing the barbarian at launch.



The barbarian is all about destroying enemies with overwhelming power, and he has a host of awesome abilities to do just that. He can cut through groups of nearby enemies with Cleave, devastate scores of enemies as a spinning Whirlwind, and shake the very ground with abilities like Seismic Slam and Earthquake. If he gets "really" angry he can activate Wrath of the Berserker, transforming himself into a red, fury-filled giant that crushes everyone around him. Crushing things makes me happy. :)



We spent a lot of time working on making sure that this feeling of massive physical power was relayed in all of the barbarian's actions. When the barbarian hits enemies, they fly further and explode bigger. The barbarian will hit you so hard your grandchildren will get headaches, and that's conveyed in the massive physics that come into play when he attacks. For those who like the core meat and potatoes of taking down demons with trusty axes and a strong arm, there is no substitute.



Being a barbarian means never having to be afraid. You aren't some skirt-wearin' caster, hiding behind spells and pets. You're tough enough to take a ton of damage, and you have a host of powerful mobility skills, including Leap, Furious Charge, and Sprint, all of which get you to the enemy fast. If you'd rather the enemy come to you, then harpoon them with Ancient Spear and drag them into chopping distance. The barbarian gets up close and personal, and when he does, it's the Lord of Terror who should feel fear.



The barbarian is a fantastic class to play in groups as well. All Diablo III classes deal damage in equal measure, so you don't take a back seat to anyone, but as one of, if not the toughest class in the game, you can use your mobility and resilience to lead the charge against your foes and keep enemies off your more fragile allies. Everybody likes to be first, right? Just look back at your team and tell them, "It's OK, I’ve got this." You also have several powerful war cries that can bolster the defenses of your party or weaken incoming monsters, making them easy pickings. Also, you'll be the biggest and most imposing person among your friends



In the unlikely event you do run into something you can't handle, you have a host of different control and defensive abilities unique to the barbarian. Stomp the ground to shake and stun all the enemies nearby. Steel your resolve with Ignore Pain, allowing you to shrug off the worst enemy attacks, and use abilities like Revenge to turn incoming damage into healing for you -- and pain for your enemies.



The final and best reasons I have for wanting to play the barbarian are the glorious armor and weapon choices available to him. Whether you are a dual-wielding berserker or a two-handed hammer swinging juggernaut, the massive melee weapons you get to wield, from axes, to swords, to maces, are awesome to behold. The barbarian is the only class that has access to the ‘Mighty Weapons’ category of items. These weapons are so massive that no mere mortal could heft them, but to a barbarian they’re just the right size.



While I can't wait to level every Diablo III class up to and into Inferno, the class I will be playing first is the barbarian.