u/Abaluss

It's my first time playing through the game and I have completely hit a wall during the ancient fight in act 5. No matter what strategy I am using I can't figure out how to beat them and my character keeps missing them when I am trying to land hits. I am a barbarian, level 33, strength is at 71, dexterity at 34, vitality at 132, energy at 13.

In my skill tree I have How 1, Shout 1, Battle Orders 3, 12 in axe mastery since I have been using axes as standard weapons, Bash 4, Leap 1, Stun 1, Leap Attack 1, Concentrate 6, Whirlwind 3, .

I have a two handed axe with 33 to 67 dmg and +50enchanced damage, +80 to attack rating, an armor with 183 defense, +35 enhanced defense, a helmet with 61 defense +33% enhanced defense, boots with 23 defense +46% enhanced defense, 10% better chance of getting magic items, a belt with 16 defense +40% enhanced defense, an amulet with 28% extra gold from monsters, a ring with 3% life stolen per hit, +2 to strength, +3 to energy, +17 maximum stamina, cold resist 5% and poison resist 5%, and a ring with 6% life stolen per hit and damage reduced by 2.

Is there even any way to beat them with my current gear or setup? At this point I'm debating to just make a new character and try again, and if I do what would be the most beginner friendly class for a pve, melee combat run? And what skills and stats to focus on to ensure I won't hit the same wall again? Or is there any cheese or secret to how to make the fight easier?

I'm playing Diablo 2 for the first time, new to dungeon games in general. I'm currently on act 2, my level is 21, my stats are strength 70, dexterity 31, vitality 70, energy 10. With skills I put 12 points into axe mastery, 4 points into bash, 1 into leap and 1 into leap attack. I'm playing as a barbarian and my plan is to go for a pure strength build with two handed weapons, high defense and strength. But as my situation is now I die way too quick and easily. I'm currently trying to complete the Arcane Sanctuary quest but I have to retreat back to town all the time to heal, I have used upp all of my healing potions. Safe to say I'm in a bad spot and I'm starting to think some changes needs to be made.

I think my gear setup should be solid at this point in the game. I have a weapon with 19-43, my armor is 93 defense. It's possible I need stronger rings and amulets though since those I'm using right now are low level. I have have an amulet that gives me extra gold from monsters, a ring that provides 1 to maximum damage and another with +1 to strength and lightning resist +8.

I was recommended by someone to reset my stats and put 60 into strength, 35 into dexterity and the rest of my points into vitality since apparently vitality is the most important stat for a strength build. As for skills I was told leap is a poor choice for a barbarian since it makes enemies fly back and I have to run to them. Leap attack has been helping me a ton though when I have been surrounded.

I really only care about making myself as strong as I need to be in order to finish the storyline. But I want to be sure that if I use my one free respecc I get it right this time and don't fuck upp again. Any help would be appreciated!

I'm at level 70, vitality is at 35, endurance 18, strength 45. The rest of the stats are untouched, I am at the one reborn boss fight. I'm completely new to the souls genre so my build might be a bit sloppy but as long as it can take me through the main game I don't mind. But one mechanism that I have been completely ignoring up till now is the use of blood gems and caryll runes. I want to improve my build by going for an appropiate combination of blood gems and caryll runes.

When I look around online many suggests going for the heavy abyssal gem down in the chalice dungeons but I'm thinking that might be a bit tough to get my hands on if I don't use any other runes or gems. So what's my best approach? I'm using the hunter axe if that matters.