What is the Best Barbarian Follower? A Comprehensive Guide
The question of the best follower for a Barbarian often sparks debate among players. While each follower offers unique benefits, the Templar consistently emerges as the top recommendation for most Barbarian builds, particularly in games like Diablo 3. This is largely due to his healing capabilities and supportive abilities, which synergize extremely well with the Barbarian’s often brutal, close-quarters combat style. The Templar’s Guardian ability, in particular, can provide crucial survivability, ensuring that the Barbarian can remain in the fray longer and inflict maximum damage.
Why the Templar Reigns Supreme for Barbarians
The Barbarian is a class that thrives on close combat, often taking significant damage in the process. Unlike the Scoundrel, who focuses on ranged damage and utility, or the Enchantress, who provides crowd control and buffs, the Templar excels at keeping the Barbarian alive. Here’s a more in-depth look at why the Templar is the preferred choice:
Healing and Survivability
The core of the Templar’s value lies in his healing spells. He provides consistent healing, which is invaluable to the Barbarian who is frequently exposed to enemy attacks. This allows the Barbarian to focus on their damage output without worrying constantly about their health. The Templar’s healing often means the difference between a successful encounter and a frustrating death, especially in higher difficulty levels.
The Guardian Ability
The Templar’s Guardian ability is a standout for Barbarians. This ability allows the Templar to leap to the aid of a struggling ally. When a Barbarian is at low health, the Templar’s intervention can turn the tide of battle. It’s a crucial save that allows the Barbarian to survive critical encounters and continue their onslaught.
Consistent Support
Unlike other followers whose contributions may be more situational, the Templar provides consistent support throughout combat. His healing is continuous and his abilities often are passive or require a reaction from the Barbarian being in trouble, making his contributions reliable and easy to benefit from.
Synergy with Barbarian Gameplay
The Templar’s focus on healing and defense compliments the Barbarian’s aggressive style. Barbarians are built to engage enemies at close range; therefore the templar’s abilities allow them to do so with more confidence. The synergy between the Templar’s supportive role and the Barbarian’s offensive strategy makes them the ideal duo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Barbarian followers, covering a range of concerns and game mechanics:
1. What is the best Barbarian follower in Diablo 3?
The Templar is widely regarded as the best follower for Barbarians in Diablo 3, primarily due to his healing abilities and Guardian skill, which greatly enhance the Barbarian’s survivability.
2. Why is the Templar better for Barbarians than the Scoundrel or Enchantress?
The Scoundrel and Enchantress provide utility, crowd control and damage, which, while helpful, don’t address the Barbarian’s primary weakness of being vulnerable to taking lots of damage at close range. The Templar’s focus on healing and defense directly counters the Barbarian’s vulnerability, resulting in better overall synergy.
3. Does the Templar’s healing scale with the Barbarian’s stats?
While the Templar’s healing is not directly tied to the Barbarian’s stats, his healing output can be enhanced by gearing him with items that increase his Vitality and skill effectiveness. The more health he has, the longer he can sustain his supportive role.
4. Can the Templar’s Guardian ability be relied upon in all situations?
The Guardian ability is highly effective in many scenarios, but it’s not a guaranteed life saver in every instance. It works best when the Barbarian’s health is low but still within range for the Templar to assist. Relying solely on it is risky; a smart player manages risk and leverages it as an extra tool.
5. Are there any Barbarian builds that might benefit more from a different follower?
While the Templar is the most consistently effective choice, a Barbarian focusing on ranged attacks or crowd control might find value in the utility of the Scoundrel or Enchantress. However, this would be a very specific and less common build.
6. What kind of gear should I prioritize for the Templar?
Prioritize gear that increases the Templar’s Vitality, Cooldown Reduction, and Life Regeneration. These stats will increase his survivability and the effectiveness of his skills. Items that enhance healing specifically are also very useful.
7. Does the Templar’s gear have an impact on the Barbarian’s overall performance?
Yes, a well-geared Templar can significantly boost the Barbarian’s overall performance. The increased healing and survivability provided by good equipment allow the Barbarian to stay engaged longer, resulting in higher DPS output.
8. Is the Templar useful in higher difficulty levels?
Absolutely. The Templar’s value increases dramatically in higher difficulty levels where survivability becomes paramount. His consistent healing and Guardian ability become absolutely crucial for surviving tough fights.
9. Can the Templar contribute any damage to help a Barbarian?
While not his main purpose, the Templar can contribute some minor damage, mostly through his abilities. However, his strength lies in his supportive abilities, and focusing on increasing his damage will not benefit the Barbarian much.
10. Does the Templar have a specific skill tree that is best for Barbarians?
There isn’t a specific “skill tree” in Diablo 3 for followers, but rather choices you make as they level up. Prioritizing skills that improve his healing and survivability, such as Inspire and Intervene, are the most beneficial for a Barbarian.
11. How often should I be checking on my Templar’s equipment?
Regularly check your Templar’s equipment and keep him well geared. Aim to update his gear every few levels to ensure he’s maximizing his supportive potential. The impact of a well-geared Templar should never be underestimated.
12. Can the Templar’s skills be customized?
Followers in Diablo 3 have specific skills that unlock as they level, but players have some limited choices on which skill will be unlocked first, usually focusing on which provide the most passive benefits first.
13. Does the Templar offer any crowd control effects for the Barbarian?
While the Templar is not primarily a crowd controller, he can provide some minor crowd control through his skills, but they are not enough to rely on. His main contribution is still healing and survivability.
14. Is the Templar equally effective for all Barbarian builds?
The Templar’s core strength of healing and survivability makes him a generally good fit for almost all Barbarian builds. Certain specific setups may benefit slightly more from other followers, but most builds will still find the Templar the best choice.
15. Can the Templar be killed, and how does that affect the Barbarian?
Yes, followers can be killed, but this does not greatly affect the game. They will resurrect after a brief period. Having a follower die frequently can be a sign that their equipment is not up to par.
Conclusion
In summary, while the other followers offer some benefits, the Templar’s healing abilities and Guardian ability make him the optimal choice for most Barbarian players. He provides a crucial layer of survivability, allowing the Barbarian to engage in combat more aggressively and effectively. By prioritizing the Templar’s support, players can maximize the potential of their Barbarian builds and conquer the challenges of the game with greater ease.