Barbarian
Barbarians come alive in the chaos of combat. They can enter a berserk state where Rage takes over, giving them superhuman strength and resilience. A barbarian can draw on this reservoir of fury only a few times without resting, but those few Rages are usually sufficient to defeat whatever threats arise.
For some, their Rage springs from a communion with fierce animal spirits. Others draw from a roiling reservoir of anger at a world full of pain. For every barbarian, Rage is a power that fuels not just a battle frenzy but also uncanny reflexes, resilience, and feats of strength.
Their courage in the face of danger makes barbarians perfectly suited for adventuring. Wandering is often a way of life for their native tribes, and the rootless life of the adventurer is little hardship for a barbarian. Some barbarians miss the close knit family structures of the tribe, but eventually find them replaced by the bonds formed among the members of their adventuring parties.
Quick Build
You can make a barbarian quickly by following these suggestions. First, put your highest ability score in STR, followed by CON. Second, choose the Outlander Background.
Class Features
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1D12 per Barbarian level
At 1st level: 12 + Your CON Modifier
At higher levels: 1D12 or 7 if lower than 7, + CON Modifier
Proficiencies
- Armor
- Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields
- Weapons
- All Weapons
- Tools
- Herbalism Kit
- Saving Throws
- STR, CON
- Skills
- Choose two from: Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, and Survival
Starting Equipment
- 1. (a) a greataxe or (b) any martial melee weapon
- 2. (a) two hand axes or (b) any simple weapon
- 3. An explorer's pack and four javelins
Barbarian Table
| Level | Rages | Rage Damage |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2 | +2 |
| 2nd | 2 | +2 |
| 3rd | 3 | +2 |
| 4th | 3 | +2 |
| 5th | 3 | +2 |
| 6th | 4 | +2 |
| 7th | 4 | +2 |
| 8th | 4 | +2 |
| 9th | 4 | +3 |
| 10th | 4 | +3 |
| 11th | 4 | +3 |
| 12th | 5 | +3 |
| 13th | 5 | +3 |
| 14th | 5 | +3 |
| 15th | 5 | +3 |
| 16th | 5 | +4 |
| 17th | 6 | +4 |
| 18th | 6 | +4 |
| 19th | 6 | +4 |
| 20th | Unlimited | +4 |
Class Features
Rage
In battle, you fight with primal ferocity. On your turn, you can enter a Rage as a bonus action.
While Raging, you gain the following benefits if you aren't wearing Heavy armor
You have advantage on STR checks and STR saving throws.
When you make a melee weapon attack using STR, you gain a bonus to the damage roll that increases as you gain levels as a Barbarian, as shown in the Rage Damage column of the Barbarian table.
You have Resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage.
If you are able to cast spells, you can't cast them or concentrate on them while Raging.
Your Rage lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are knocked Unconscious or if your turn ends and you haven't attacked a hostile creature since your last turn or taken damage since then. You can also end your Rage on your turn as a bonus action.
Once you have Raged the number of times shown for your Barbarian level in the Rages column of the Barbarian table, you must finish a long rest before you can Rage again.
Unarmored Defense
Your agility and hearty nature protect you. While you are not wearing any armor, your AC equals 10 + your DEX modifier (Minimum 1 ) + your CON modifier (Minimum 1). You can use a shield and still gain this benefit.
Weapon Mastery
Your practice has made you an elite among weapon wielders. You can use the mastery properties of two weapons of your choice.
Danger Sense
You gain an uncanny sense of when things nearby aren't as they should be, giving you an edge when you dodge away from danger. You have advantage on DEX saving throws against effects that you can see, such as traps and spells. To gain this benefit, you can't be Blinded, Deafened, or Incapacitated.
Reckless Attack
You can throw aside all concern for defense to attack with fierce determination. When you make your first attack on your turn, you can decide to attack recklessly. Doing so gives you advantage on melee weapon attack rolls using STR during this turn, but attack rolls against you have advantage until your next turn.
Primal Path
You choose a path that shapes the nature of your Rage. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 6th, 10th, and 14th levels.
→ Choose your subclass belowPrimal Knowledge
You unlock more of your primal nature. You gain proficiency in another skill listed in the Barbarian skill list.
While Raging you can substitute a STR check for one of the following skills: Acrobatics, Intimidation, Perception, Stealth, or Survival as your primal power hones your agility, bearing, and senses.
Ability Score Increase
You can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Extra Attack
You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn as your combat prowess reaches new heights.
Fast Movement
Your stamina and footwork are further honed. Your speed increases by 10 ft while you aren't wearing heavy armor.
Feral Instinct
The Rage within you hones your senses. If you are Surprised at the beginning of combat and aren't Incapacitated, you can act normally on your first turn, but only if you enter your Rage before doing anything else on that turn.
Instinctive Pounce
No one escapes the vast Rage within you. As part of the bonus action of activating your Rage, you can move half of your movement speed.
Ability Score Increase
You can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Brutal Critical
You learn how to best injure your enemies with strength and good aim. You can roll one additional weapon damage die when determining damage for a critical hit with a melee attack.
Brutal Strike
Your reckless attacks have an added edge as you channel some of that recklessness. If you use Reckless Attack you can forgo your advantage and as long as you do not have disadvantage you can add 1D10 damage of the same type the weapon deals or the unarmed strike. You can also choose an effect from the following
Forceful Blow: The target is pushed 15 ft straight away from you. You can then move half your movement speed toward the target without provoking opportunity attacks.
Hamstring Blow: The target’s movement speed is reduced by 15 ft until the start of your next turn. A target can only be affected by one Hamstring Blow at a time.
Relentless Rage
Your Rage can keep you fighting despite grievous wounds. If you drop to 0 hit points while you're Raging and don't die outright, you can make a DC 10 CON saving throw. If you succeed, you drop to 1 hit point instead.
Each time you use this feature after the first, the DC increases by 5. When you finish a short or long rest, the DC resets to 10.
Ability Score Increase
You can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Brutal Critical
Your expertise and ever growing Rage aid you in ending your foes. You can roll two additional weapon damage dice when determining damage for a critical hit with a melee attack.
Improved Brutal Strike
You have two new ways to attack furiously. The following are now among your options for Brutal Strike effects
Staggering Blow: The target has disadvantage on the next saving throw it makes and cannot make opportunity attacks until the start of your next turn.
Sundering Blow: Before the start of your next turn, the next attack made on the target has a +5 bonus to the roll. An attack can only gain one Sundering Blow bonus.
Persistent Rage
Your anger and wrath never truly cool. At the beginning of Initiative you regain all uses of your Rage. When you regain uses of your Rage this way you cannot do so until you finish a long or short rest.
Your Rage is so fierce that it ends early only if you fall Unconscious, you choose to end it, or until one minute passes after combat ends..
Ability Score Increase
You can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Brutal Critical
You have become a killing machine, dealing massive damage with your combat prowess and strength. You can roll three additional weapon damage dice when determining damage for a critical hit with a melee attack.
Improved Brutal Strike
You are a master of the devastating power of the brutal strike. When you use Brutal Strike you add an additional 2D10 damage instead and can use two different Brutal Strike effects.
Indomitable Might
Your strength seldom fails you. If your total for a STR based check or saving throw is less than your STR score, you can use that score in place of the total.
Epic Boon
You gain an Epic Boon feat for which you qualify.
Primal Champion
You embody the power of the wilds. Your STR and CON scores increase by 4. Your maximum for those scores is now 25.
Primal Paths
Barbarian Subclasses (15)
Choose your subclass at the level indicated in the class table above.