The Diablo 4 Barbarian class utilizes both two-handed and dual-wield weapons, with attacks changing depending on the skill used. Some skills, however, can use more than one weapon type. By default, the game will automatically select the weapon it thinks is best, regardless of what you actually want. That can be unhelpful when other skills rely on you using on particular weapon type like two-handed.
Fortunately, you can manually swap weapons in Diablo 4 by assigning a specific weapon to a given skill. The option is hidden in the game’s skill tree menu, but in this guide we’ll explain how to swap weapons as the Barbarian in Diablo 4
How to swap weapons as the Barbarian in Diablo 4
© Blizzard
The Barbarian will automatically swap weapons as needed when using skills that require a specific type. Rend, for example, will always use your equipped two-handed slashing weapon. But in some cases you can also manually assign a weapon to a skill from within the skill tree.
Open the skill tree (on console, press Start/Options and then use the bumpers to shift to the skill tree display) and find the skill in question. Hover over it and you’ll see an Arsenal Selection menu appear on any skills which have multiple options.
You can then Cycle Weapon (middle mouse on PC, Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox) to swap between auto-select, dual-wield, or two-handed. Find the weapon you want assigned to that skill, or let the game decide based on the damage your currently equipped weapons deal.
Early in the game, this is particularly useful for the Barbarian’s basic skill Bash. While this can be used with both two-handed and dual-wielded weapons, it generates more Fury and grants extra life-steal when using a two-handed weapon. If you’ve unlocked other skills that boost two-handed weapon strikes, you’ll want to ensure your basic attacks are using the right weapon.
And with that, you’ve learned how to swap weapons in Diablo 4. If you’re primarily building your Barbarian around two-handed attacks, make sure you assign the appropriate weapon to any flexible skills as you unlock them later in the game. Head over to our Diablo 4 beginners tips and tricks if you’re just starting out in Sanctuary for more handy advice. Want to ensure you're well equipped whatever class you play? Check out the HyperX Cloud III gaming headset to enjoy Diablo 4 in class and comfort.
