In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (D&D 5e), Barbarians are fierce warriors who harness primal fury and raw physical power. They are known for their incredible toughness, devastating melee attacks, and an almost supernatural resistance to damage when they are enraged. Whether you're a savage from the wilds, a tribal protector, or a berserker on the battlefield, the Barbarian class allows you to channel untamed strength in combat.

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Core Features of the Barbarian

Barbarians in D&D 5e focus on physicality and rage. Their abilities are designed to keep them fighting even in the most dangerous situations.

1. Rage

Rage is the hallmark of Barbarians. Entering a state of rage empowers your attacks and gives you resistance to damage, turning you into a powerhouse in battle. While raging:

• You gain advantage on Strength-based attacks and checks.


• You add bonus damage to melee attacks.


• You gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

Mechanics: Rage lasts for 1 minute, but ends early if you don't attack or take damage. Initially, you can rage twice per long rest, but this increases as you level up.

2. Unarmored Defense

Barbarians don't need heavy armor to protect themselves. When not wearing armor, their Armor Class (AC) is calculated as 10 + their Dexterity modifier + their Constitution modifier. This allows them to focus on natural agility and toughness without needing to rely on armor.

3. Reckless Attack

At 2nd level, Barbarians can throw caution to the wind and fight recklessly. Using Reckless Attack, you gain advantage on melee weapon attacks using Strength, but enemies also gain advantage on attacks against you until your next turn. This feature emphasizes the Barbarian's offensive mindset, prioritizing damage over defense.

4. Danger Sense

Also at 2nd level, Barbarians develop a primal awareness of threats. Danger Sense grants advantage on Dexterity saving throws against effects you can see, such as traps and spells. This helps Barbarians avoid damage from area effects and hazards.

5. Extra Attack

At 5th level, Barbarians gain Extra Attack, allowing them to make two attacks instead of one when they take the Attack action on their turn. This is a crucial ability for increasing damage output.

6. Fast Movement

At 5th level, Barbarians also gain a 10-foot bonus to their movement speed, helping them close the distance with enemies or retreat from danger quickly.

7. Feral Instinct

Starting at 7th level, Barbarians gain advantage on initiative rolls, ensuring they act early in combat. Additionally, if you are surprised at the beginning of combat but are raging, you can still act on your first turn, which makes it difficult for enemies to catch you off guard.

8. Brutal Critical

From 9th level onward, Barbarians deal additional damage on a critical hit. This starts with one extra damage die and increases as they level up, making their crits particularly devastating.

9. Relentless Rage

At 11th level, Barbarians become nearly impossible to kill. If you drop to 0 hit points while raging, you can make a Constitution saving throw (DC starting at 10) to drop to 1 hit point instead, allowing you to keep fighting. The DC increases with each use until you take a long rest.

10. Persistent Rage

At 15th level, a Barbarian's rage no longer ends early unless they choose to end it. This means you can maintain your rage for the full minute, regardless of whether you are attacking or taking damage.

11. Indomitable Might

At 18th level, Barbarians can use their Strength score in place of a roll on Strength checks if the roll is lower than their Strength score. This makes them highly reliable in feats of physical power.

12. Primal Champion

At 20th level, Barbarians embody the peak of physical prowess. They gain +4 to both Strength and Constitution, increasing their maximum score for these abilities to 24, making them nearly unstoppable.

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Primal Paths: Barbarian Subclasses

At 3rd level, Barbarians choose a Primal Path, which shapes their abilities and fighting style. Each subclass provides unique features that enhance different aspects of the Barbarian's playstyle.

Path of the Berserker

The Berserker is the most straightforward and aggressive subclass, focusing on sheer power and relentless attacks.

• Frenzy: While raging, you can enter a frenzy that lets you make an additional melee attack as a bonus action. However, you suffer a level of exhaustion after the rage ends.


• Mindless Rage: While raging, you cannot be charmed or frightened, allowing you to maintain focus on battle.


• Retaliation: Starting at 14th level, when you take damage from a creature within 5 feet, you can use your reaction to attack them in return.

Path of the Totem Warrior

The Totem Warrior Barbarian draws power from spirit animals, enhancing their combat abilities with supernatural gifts.

• Totem Spirit: At 3rd level, you choose a totem animal (bear, eagle, or wolf) that grants different benefits. For example, the bear totem gives you resistance to all damage except psychic while raging.


• Aspect of the Beast: At 6th level, you gain further powers based on your totem, such as enhanced tracking, mobility, or physical strength.


• Totemic Attunement: At 14th level, your totem animal grants a powerful ability, such as causing nearby creatures to be frightened or allowing you to fly during combat.

Other Notable Paths

• Path of the Ancestral Guardian: Barbarians who call upon their ancestors to protect their allies, reducing damage to their teammates.


• Path of the Storm Herald: Barbarians who harness elemental power, channeling storms, deserts, or the sea to damage enemies and protect themselves.


• Path of the Zealot: Barbarians devoted to divine forces, gaining the ability to cheat death and fight with divine fury.

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Building an Effective Barbarian

Primary Stats

• Strength: The Barbarian's most important stat, fueling melee attacks and physical feats.


• Constitution: Boosts your hit points and helps with Unarmored Defense.


• Dexterity: Useful for AC and initiative if using Unarmored Defense.

Weapons

• Greataxe and greatsword are ideal for dealing high damage, especially when combined with Reckless Attack.


• Using a shield for defense is also an option, but many Barbarians favor two-handed weapons for maximum damage.

Feats

• Great Weapon Master: A must-have for heavy-hitting Barbarians, allowing extra damage and bonus attacks on crits or kills.


• Tough: Increases your hit points, making you even harder to kill.


• Sentinel: Great for controlling the battlefield, letting you stop enemies in their tracks.


• Resilient (Constitution): Improves your Constitution saving throws, which is crucial for maintaining rage.

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Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• High Damage Output: Barbarians excel at dealing massive damage in melee combat.


• Toughness: With high hit points and damage resistance, Barbarians are hard to bring down.


• Mobility: Increased speed and tactical movement options allow Barbarians to control the battlefield.

Weaknesses:

• Weakness to Magic: Barbarians often struggle against spells and effects targeting mental stats like Wisdom or Intelligence.


• Limited Range: Barbarians are primarily melee fighters, so ranged combat is a challenge.

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Conclusion

The Barbarian class in D&D 5e is the embodiment of raw power and relentless combat. Whether you're a wild berserker or a spiritual totem warrior, the Barbarian brings unmatched physicality, resilience, and fury to the battlefield. With powerful subclasses and features that make them nearly impossible to stop, Barbarians thrive in the heart of combat, where they can let their primal rage loose and dominate the battlefield.