Playing the Barbarian class in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) is an intriguing option. Barbarians, renowned for their ferocious fury and sheer power, are a great asset to any gathering. This tutorial will cover all you need to know about playing a 5e Barbarian, regardless of experience level. Whether you’re a newbie looking to create your first character or an experienced player eager to delve deep into this potent class.
Whart is 5e Barbarian
In 5e Barbarian is a fierce warrior class known for their raw strength, unmatched toughness, and primal connection to rage. Barbarians excel in combat by tapping into their inner fury, which enhances their physical abilities and makes them nearly unstoppable on the battlefield.
Here are some key features of a 5e Barbarian:
- Rage: The Barbarian’s signature ability. When raging, Barbarians deal more damage, gain resistance to certain damage types, and have advantage on Strength-based checks and saving throws.
- Unarmored Defense: Barbarians can forgo wearing heavy armor, using their natural toughness (Constitution and Dexterity) to protect themselves.
What is a Barbarian in D&D 5e?
The Barbarian in D&D 5e is a primal warrior fueled by fury and raw strength. Unlike other classes that rely on spells or finesse, Barbarians fight with pure power. Their Rage feature makes them stronger in combat, reducing damage and making them nearly unstoppable. They are often seen as the front-line fighters, able to take and deal incredible amounts of damage.
Barbarians typically come from tribal or wilderness backgrounds, disconnected from the complexities of cities and politics. Their connection to nature and their physical prowess make them unique in combat and roleplay.
Key Characteristics of Barbarians:
- Hit Points: Barbarians have the highest hit points in the game, making them the best damage-soakers.
- Armor: They don’t need heavy armor due to their ability to use Unarmored Defense.
- Damage: Barbarians excel in melee combat, especially with heavy weapons like greataxes and mauls.
- Rage: Their signature ability, which increases damage output and reduces incoming damage.
Role in a Party:
In a party, Barbarians usually fill the role of a tank or damage dealer. They can protect squishier allies and deal tremendous damage in melee combat. Whether you want to crush your enemies or soak up hits, Barbarians are built for frontline fighting.
Key Barbarian Class Features
Rage
- What it is: Rage is the Barbarian’s signature ability. While raging, you get bonuses to damage and resistance to physical damage (bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing).
- How it works: When you enter rage, you gain the following benefits:
- Advantage on Strength checks and saving throws.
- Bonus damage with melee weapons.
- Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
- Usage: You can rage a certain number of times per day, which increases as you level up.
Rage is what makes the Barbarian one of the strongest front-liners. Being resistant to damage and increasing your damage output is a massive boost in combat.
Unarmored Defense
- What it is: Barbarians don’t need heavy armor to protect themselves. They can use their natural toughness.
- How it works: When not wearing armor, your Armor Class (AC) is calculated as 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier.
- Usage: This means you can stay mobile and unarmored while still having a good defense.
This feature allows Barbarians to stay agile while maintaining strong defenses, especially when they have high Constitution and Dexterity scores.
Reckless Attack
- What it is: This ability allows you to attack with all your might, trading defense for offense.
- How it works: You gain advantage on your melee attacks for the turn, but enemies also gain advantage when attacking you until your next turn.
- Usage: Use this when you need to ensure a hit, especially when dealing with tough enemies or when using abilities that give extra damage.
Reckless Attack is perfect when you want to maximize your damage output, especially combined with Rage. It can help you land those powerful critical hits.
Danger Sense
- What it is: This ability gives you an edge in avoiding traps and spells.
- How it works: You gain advantage on Dexterity saving throws against effects that you can see, such as traps and spells.
- Usage: It’s particularly useful in dungeons filled with traps or against spellcasters who throw fireballs or lightning bolts your way.
This ability makes Barbarians incredibly hard to pin down, as they can dodge many area-of-effect attacks more easily than other classes.
Extra Attack
- What it is: This ability allows you to attack twice instead of once when you take the Attack action.
- How it works: At 5th level, you can make two attacks instead of one when you take the Attack action on your turn.
- Usage: This feature dramatically increases your damage output and makes Barbarians deadly in combat.
Having two attacks each turn means you can dish out a lot of damage quickly, especially when combined with Rage and heavy weapons.
Feral Instinct
- What it is: This feature boosts your initiative rolls, helping you act faster in combat.
- How it works: At 7th level, you have advantage on initiative rolls.
- Usage: Acting first in combat is a big deal, especially for a front-line fighter like the Barbarian. Feral Instinct ensures you’re more likely to get the jump on your enemies.
This feature lets you take control of combat early on, which is especially helpful in dangerous fights.
Barbarian Subclasses (Primal Paths)
Once you hit level 3, you can choose a Primal Path, which is the subclass for Barbarians. Your choice will define your fighting style and add unique abilities to your character. Here are the most popular Barbarian subclasses in 5e:
Path of the Berserker
The Path of the Berserker is all about maximizing your damage and becoming an unstoppable force in battle.
- Frenzy: When you rage, you can choose to go into a Frenzy. This allows you to make a single melee weapon attack as a bonus action on each of your turns.
- Mindless Rage: You become immune to being charmed or frightened while raging.
- Intimidating Presence: You can frighten a creature within 30 feet of you.
Best For: Players who want to deal out maximum damage and don’t mind taking a toll on their character’s well-being (since Frenzy causes exhaustion).
Path of the Totem Warrior
This path allows you to choose a totem animal, each providing different bonuses to your Barbarian.
- Bear Totem: You gain resistance to all damage except psychic while raging.
- Eagle Totem: You can Dash as a bonus action and enemies have disadvantage on opportunity attacks against you.
- Wolf Totem: Allies within 5 feet of you gain advantage on melee attack rolls against enemies.
Best For: Players who want a more versatile Barbarian. The Totem Warrior can be adapted for tanking, damage dealing, or support.
Path of the Ancestral Guardian
This path focuses on protecting your allies by summoning ancestral spirits to aid in battle.
- Ancestral Protectors: Your ancestors interfere with your enemies, giving them disadvantage on attack rolls against anyone other than you.
- Spirit Shield: You can use your reaction to reduce the damage a creature within 30 feet takes.
Best For: Players who like to protect their allies and control the battlefield.
Path of the Storm Herald
Storm Herald Barbarians draw power from the forces of nature, creating a storm aura around themselves.
- Storm Aura: Your aura extends 10 feet from you, dealing damage or providing buffs depending on the environment (desert, sea, tundra).
- Storm Soul: You gain resistance to a certain type of damage and other storm-related abilities.
Best For: Players who want to add a magical element to their Barbarian, focusing on area-of-effect damage and elemental powers.
Path of the Zealot
The Zealot is a religious fanatic who channels divine power into their rage.
- Divine Fury: You can deal extra radiant or necrotic damage to the first creature you hit each turn.
- Warrior of the Gods: If you die, you can be brought back to life without expensive materials.
Best For: Players who want a Barbarian that feels like a holy warrior, with a mix of divine powers and brute strength.
How to Build a 5e Barbarian (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Choose Your Race
When creating a Barbarian, the first step is to choose a race that enhances your abilities. Some races work better with Barbarians due to their stat bonuses and racial traits.
Here are some excellent race options for Barbarians:
- Half-Orc: Gain bonuses to Strength and Constitution, and the Relentless Endurance trait allows you to survive otherwise fatal attacks.
- Goliath: Get Strength and Constitution bonuses, and the Stone’s Endurance ability reduces damage you take.
- Mountain Dwarf: Bonuses to Strength and Constitution, and proficiency with armor and weapons.
- Human (Variant): Gain an extra feat at level 1, which can be used to further enhance your character.
Step 2: Assign Your Ability Scores
Barbarians rely heavily on a few key abilities. Here’s how to prioritize your stats:
- Strength: This is your primary stat for attacks and damage.
- Constitution: Boosts your hit points and makes you more durable in combat.
- Dexterity: Increases your Armor Class (AC) and helps with initiative.
- Wisdom: Useful for Perception checks and saving throws.
- Charisma: Only necessary for specific role-playing situations.
- Intelligence: Not a high priority for Barbarians.
Step 3: Choose Your Equipment
Barbarians prefer weapons that deal lots of damage. Here are some popular choices:
- Greataxe: This is a Barbarian’s signature weapon. It deals 1d12 damage and is perfect for heavy hitters.
- Maul: A two-handed weapon that deals 2d6 damage.
- Handaxe: Great for Barbarians who want a throwing option.
When it comes to armor, you can rely on Unarmored Defense if your Dexterity and Constitution are high. Otherwise, you can wear medium armor.
Step 4: Pick Your Skills
Barbarians can choose two skills from the following list:
- Animal Handling
- Athletics
- Intimidation
- Nature
- Perception
- Survival
Athletics and Perception are the best choices, as they come in handy during combat and exploration.
Step 5: Select a Background
Your background adds flavor to your character and grants additional skills and features. Here are some great background choices for Barbarians:
- Outlander: This background enhances the Barbarian’s connection to the wilderness. It gives proficiency in Survival and Athletics, as well as a feature that allows you to find food and water in the wild.
- Soldier: Perfect for a Barbarian who has served in a war, providing proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation.
Step 6: Feats or Ability Score Improvements?
Every few levels, Barbarians can either increase their ability scores or choose a feat. Feats can give your Barbarian a unique edge. Here are some good feat options:
- Great Weapon Master: Allows you to deal even more damage and take additional attacks when you score a critical hit.
- Tough: Gives you extra hit points, which is great for a tanky Barbarian.
- Savage Attacker: Lets you reroll damage dice on melee attacks, giving you better chances at high damage.
Optimizing Your Barbarian for Combat
Maximize Your Rage Usage
Rage is your best asset in combat, so make sure to use it wisely. Enter rage when you’re about to take or deal a lot of damage. Since you only get a limited number of rages per day, save it for tough encounters.
Leverage Reckless Attack for Critical Hits
Reckless Attack gives you advantage on your attacks, which means you have a higher chance of landing a critical hit. Use this in combination with Rage to deal massive amounts of damage.
Choose the Right Primal Path
Each Barbarian subclass offers different strengths. The Berserker is great for all-out damage, while the Totem Warrior gives you more versatility. Choose a path that fits your playstyle and the role you want to play in the party.
Be a Team Player
While Barbarians are often seen as lone wolves, they can greatly benefit their team. Using the Wolf Totem from the Path of the Totem Warrior, for example, can provide your allies with bonuses, making your party much more effective in combat.
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Conclusion
In D&D 5e, being a Barbarian means accepting brute force, physical might, and a direct approach to fighting. Barbarians are among the greatest classes for both novice and seasoned players because of their unmatched durability and damage output. The Barbarian offers a route for everyone, whether you want to play a warrior who is spiritually connected to nature or a merciless berserker.
FAQs
What is the best race for a Barbarian in D&D 5e?
The best race for a Barbarian typically includes those that provide bonuses to Strength, Constitution, or both. Popular choices include:
- Half-Orc: +2 Strength, +1 Constitution, and racial features like Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks that increase damage potential.
- Goliath: +2 Strength, +1 Constitution, and features like Stone’s Endurance, which reduces incoming damage.
What is the best weapon for a Barbarian in 5e?
The Greataxe is often considered the best weapon for Barbarians due to its high damage potential (1d12) and synergy with critical hits. The Maul (2d6 damage) is also a solid two-handed option for dealing consistent damage.
How does Barbarian Rage work in D&D 5e?
Rage is a core feature of Barbarians. While raging, a Barbarian gains:
- Advantage on Strength checks and saving throws.
- Bonus damage to melee attacks.
- Resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. Rage lasts for 1 minute and ends early if you are knocked unconscious or choose to end it.
Which subclass is best for a Barbarian in D&D 5e?
The best subclass depends on your playstyle:
- Path of the Berserker: Best for all-out damage and extra attacks through the Frenzy feature.
- Path of the Totem Warrior (Bear Totem): Great for tanking, offering resistance to all damage types except psychic while raging.
Should Barbarians wear armor in D&D 5e?
Barbarians can benefit from Unarmored Defense, which calculates Armor Class (AC) as 10 + Dexterity modifier + Constitution modifier. If your Dexterity and Constitution are high, it’s often better than wearing armor. However, wearing medium armor can be an option if you lack high Constitution or Dexterity scores.
