Diablo 4 introduces a new mechanic for wielding multiple weapons, as skills may require you to switch to specific weapon types. However, there are also methods to select your preferred weapon if the skill does not demand a particular type. This guide provides information on unlocking skills and setting up weapons for each skill.
Understanding Skills and Unlocking Them
Before you can switch between weapons, you must first obtain the relevant skill. To acquire skills, you need to level up and access the Abilities chart. From there, you can choose a skill from the Diablo 4 Gold Skill Tree Menu.
Certain classes, such as the Rogue and Barbarian, naturally use different weapons for different skills. However, you can still equip various weapon types on your character. For instance, a Rogue wielding the Heartseeker will automatically shoot a bow, but will switch to equipped daggers or swords when using the Blade Shift skill.
Switching Weapons and Assigning Weapons to Skills
Once you have the appropriate skill, you need to assign it to your hotkey. To do this, open the Abilities Tab in the Character Menu and click on the Skill Assignment Button (or use L3 on console controllers). Each type of skill is displayed in separate rows, with highlighted skills indicating those already unlocked. Select the desired skill and move it to the hotbar by choosing the desired button/key (additional slots unlock as you level up).
Each class has specific skills that require certain weapons. For example, if you want to utilize dual wield weapons as a Barbarian, you need a skill that "Requires Dual Wielded weapons." If you prefer a two-handed weapon, you must have a skill that states it Requires a "Two-Handed weapon."
Particularly, the Barbarian has numerous skills, some of which necessitate a specific weapon type, while others may state "Requires any complete Arsenal Weapon" or "Physical Damage." For these skills, you can allow the game to automatically select the best weapon or manually choose one for the skill:
PC: Hover over the skill on your hotbar to display the buy Diablo IV Items tooltip, and press the middle mouse button to cycle between applicable weapons. Symbols will indicate the types of weapons, with the arrow circle representing Auto Select.
Consoles or controllers: Go to the Ability Tab in the Character Menu and either use L3 to access the Skill Assignment section or press Assign Skill to position the skill on your hotbar. Once the skill is set, press X (on Xbox) or Square (on Playstation) to switch between weapon types. If a skill does not allow you to switch weapon types, it means it requires a specific type to be used.