Human Barbarian Guide (DND 5E)

Welcome to our Human Barbarian Guide for DND 5E! Are you ready to unleash your inner warrior and dominate the battlefield? Barbarians are powerful melee fighters known for their ability to deal massive damage and shrug off enemy attacks. In this guide, we’ll dive into the world of Barbarians in DND 5E, exploring their unique abilities, character build options, and more.

Barbarians excel in combat, making them ideal defenders and strikers. With high hit points and the ability to resist weapon damage while raging, they can withstand even the toughest foes. While their tactics may seem straightforward, charging into melee and using Reckless Attack can be incredibly exhilarating.

It’s important to note that Barbarians don’t have many skills by default, but fear not! Optional Class Features can provide additional options and customization, allowing you to fine-tune your Barbarian to fit your playstyle.

Key Takeaways:

• Barbarians are powerful melee fighters in DND 5E, specializing in dealing damage and shrugging off enemy attacks.
• They have high hit points and resistance to weapon damage while raging.
• Barbarians excel in combat and can function as both defenders and strikers.
• Optional Class Features provide additional options and customization for Barbarians.
• Stay tuned for more in-depth information on Barbarian abilities, character build options, and more!

Barbarian Class Features

The Barbarian class features are centered around the core abilities that define the Barbarian’s prowess in combat. These abilities grant them the resilience and strength to dominate the battlefield.

Rage

The Barbarian’s Rage is a fundamental feature that sets them apart from other classes. When a Barbarian enters a rage, they gain several advantages. Firstly, they deal bonus damage with their melee attacks, making them even deadlier in close combat. Additionally, while raging, Barbarians have resistance to damage, allowing them to withstand heavy blows. Furthermore, Barbarians gain advantage on strength checks, making them exceptional at tasks requiring brute force.

Unarmored Defense

Barbarians possess the ability to maintain a high armor class even without wearing traditional armor. Their Unarmored Defense feature allows them to use their natural toughness to protect themselves. By relying on their Constitution and Dexterity, Barbarians can shrug off blows that would penetrate the defenses of other warriors.

Reckless Attack

Barbarians embrace a reckless fighting style that grants them advantages in melee combat. With Reckless Attack, Barbarians can choose to throw caution to the wind and gain advantage on their melee weapon attacks. This fierce and aggressive approach allows them to strike with deadly precision, overwhelming their opponents.

Danger Sense

Barbarians possess an innate sense of danger, honed by their instinctual nature. The Danger Sense feature provides Barbarians with advantage on Dexterity saving throws against effects they can see, such as traps or spells. This heightened awareness enables them to evade threats that would catch others off guard.

Primal Path

At 3rd level, Barbarians can choose a Primal Path, which represents their specialized focus within their barbarian training. These subclasses provide unique features and abilities that further enhance the Barbarian’s capabilities. Whether it’s the berserker’s ferocious attacks or the totem warrior’s connection to the spirits of nature, the choice of Primal Path brings additional depth to the Barbarian class.

Extra Attack

Barbarians become even more deadly when they reach 5th level and gain the Extra Attack feature. This ability allows them to make two melee weapon attacks on their turn, instead of the usual one. This increased number of attacks amplifies their damage output and makes them formidable adversaries in combat.

Fast Movement

Barbarians are known for their swift and relentless pursuit of their foes. The Fast Movement feature grants Barbarians increased movement speed, ensuring they can close the distance to engage their enemies quickly. This exceptional agility allows Barbarians to be a constant and imposing presence on the battlefield.

Feral Instinct

Barbarians possess an unrivaled instinctual awareness that gives them an edge in combat. The Feral Instinct feature bestows upon Barbarians the ability to anticipate danger. They gain advantage on initiative rolls and can act normally even if surprised, as long as they are raging. This heightened vigilance allows them to quickly react to threats, making them difficult to catch off guard.

Brutal Critical

As Barbarians increase in level, they refine their combat prowess. The Brutal Critical feature enhances the Barbarian’s critical hits, resulting in even more devastating attacks. Barbarians can roll additional damage dice when landing a critical hit, multiplying the harm they inflict upon their adversaries.

Relentless Rage

Barbarians possess an unwavering resolve and an impressive endurance. The Relentless Rage feature represents their ability to push beyond their physical limits. When a Barbarian reaches 11th level, they can resist being knocked unconscious while raging, staying in the fight despite the most severe injuries.

Indomitable Might

A Barbarian’s strength knows no bounds. At 18th level, Barbarians gain the Indomitable Might feature, allowing them to use their incredible Strength score in place of the total for any Strength checks they make. This extraordinary power showcases their awe-inspiring physicality.

Primal Champion

At the pinnacle of their ability, Barbarians reach 20th level and unlock the Primal Champion feature. This final feature boosts both the Barbarian’s Strength and Constitution scores, reflecting their unparalleled mastery over their physical capabilities. As Primal Champions, they serve as living embodiments of primal strength and indomitable spirit.

“A Barbarian’s rage fuels their unmatched strength, and their primal instincts guide them through the chaos of battle.”

Optional Class Features

Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything introduced Optional Class Features for the Barbarian class. These features offer additional ways to customize and enhance your Barbarian. One notable feature is Primal Knowledge, which grants two additional skill proficiencies, improving the Barbarian’s non-combat capabilities. The choice of Optional Class Features should be based on individual preferences and the character concept. It’s important to consider the overall build and playstyle when selecting Optional Class Features.

Ability Scores

In order to create a powerful Barbarian character, it’s essential to understand the importance of ability scores and their impact on your capabilities. The primary ability scores for Barbarians are Strength and Constitution. Let’s take a closer look at how these attributes contribute to your success on the battlefield.

Strength

Strength is a key attribute for Barbarians, as it determines your effectiveness in dealing damage with melee attacks. The higher your Strength score, the more destructive your strikes will be. With a mighty swing of your weapon, you can cleave through enemies and leave a trail of devastation in your wake.

Constitution

Constitution plays a crucial role in a Barbarian’s survivability. It not only increases your maximum hit points, allowing you to withstand more punishment, but it also enhances the effectiveness of your Unarmored Defense feature. This feature provides a high armor class even without wearing armor, making you a formidable force on the battlefield.

Dexterity

While Strength and Constitution take precedence for Barbarians, Dexterity can still be beneficial. It can improve your Armor Class, making you harder to hit, and it also complements the Danger Sense feature, which grants advantage on Dexterity saving throws. A higher Dexterity score can enhance your defensive capabilities and increase your overall survivability.

While Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity are the primary ability scores for Barbarians, other attributes like Wisdom, Intelligence, and Charisma can be secondary priorities based on your character concept and role within the party. It’s crucial to carefully consider the racial bonuses and choose a race that complements your chosen playstyle and emphasizes your strengths as a Barbarian.

Barbarian Races

When creating a Barbarian character, choosing the right race can greatly enhance their combat abilities. Several races synergize well with the Barbarian class, providing bonuses to strength and constitution. Whether you’re looking for an optimal build or a unique character concept, there are various options to consider for your Barbarian’s race.

The following races are known to excel in the Barbarian class:

• Half-Orc: With their natural strength and savage resilience, Half-Orcs make formidable Barbarians. Their ability score increase to strength complements the Barbarian’s need for raw power, and their Relentless Endurance feature allows them to cheat death.
• Goliath: Goliaths possess tremendous strength and endurance, making them a popular choice for Barbarians. Their powerful physique and Stone’s Endurance feature, which reduces damage taken, provide excellent survivability in combat.
• Mountain Dwarf: The Mountain Dwarf’s natural strength and constitution increase fit perfectly with the Barbarian’s needs. Dwarven resilience grants them poison resistance and advantage on saving throws, making them sturdy combatants.
• Variant Human: The versatility offered by the Variant Human’s feat selection can enhance your Barbarian’s abilities in unique ways. You can choose a feat like Great Weapon Master or Tough to tailor your character to your preferred playstyle.
• Dragonborn: While not the most common choice, Dragonborn can still shine as Barbarians. Their Breath Weapon feature adds a ranged attack option to a primarily melee-oriented class.

Ultimately, the best race for a Barbarian depends on your character concept and playstyle. Consider racial bonuses, ability score increases, and racial features when choosing a race for your Barbarian character. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and explore unique combinations!

Barbarian Skills

In addition to their formidable combat abilities, Barbarians have the opportunity to develop skills that enhance their versatility outside of battle. While Barbarians have limited skill options by default, they can choose from a selection of skills that align with their primal nature and enhance their role within an adventuring party.

Selecting Barbarian Skills

When choosing skills for a Barbarian character, it is crucial to consider their unique character concept and the desired role they will play within the party. While Barbarians excel in combat, selecting skills that complement their personality and support the overall group dynamic can greatly enhance their effectiveness in non-combat situations.

• Athletics: Barbarians are known for their brute strength, making Athletics a natural choice. This skill allows them to perform feats of athleticism, such as climbing, swimming, and grappling with ease.
• Intimidation: Barbarians’ imposing presence and fierce nature can strike fear into the hearts of their enemies. Proficiency in Intimidation allows them to effectively intimidate and demoralize opponents.
• Nature: Barbarians have an innate connection with nature and the wilderness. Proficiency in the Nature skill allows them to navigate and understand the natural world, identify plants and animals, and survive in harsh environments.
• Survival: Barbarians are master survivors, with a keen instinct for tracking, finding food, and navigating through challenging landscapes. Proficiency in Survival enables them to thrive in the wilderness.
• Perception: Barbarians’ heightened senses make them excellent observers. Proficiency in Perception allows them to notice hidden details, spot potential threats, and be vigilant in any environment.
• Animal Handling: Due to their deep connection with nature, Barbarians often possess an affinity for animals. Proficiency in Animal Handling enables them to calm and control animals, making them valuable companions or sources of aid.

While these default skill options provide Barbarians with a solid foundation, the use of Optional Class Features, such as Primal Knowledge, can greatly expand their skill proficiencies. Primal Knowledge grants Barbarians additional skill proficiencies, allowing them to further customize their character and excel in non-combat scenarios. By choosing the right skills and leveraging Optional Class Features, Barbarians can showcase their versatility beyond the battlefield.

Barbarian Backgrounds

Backgrounds in DND 5E provide the opportunity to add depth and flavor to your Barbarian character. They offer not only a backstory but also skills and additional roleplaying opportunities. When selecting a background for your Barbarian, it’s essential to consider their history, upbringing, and motivations. Different backgrounds can complement the Barbarian’s rugged nature and enhance their narrative. Let’s explore some fitting background options for Barbarians:

1. Outlander

The Outlander background is perfect for Barbarians who have lived a wild and untamed life. It reflects a connection to nature and the ability to survive in harsh environments. As an Outlander Barbarian, you are skilled in wilderness lore, capable of traversing treacherous lands, and adept at hunting and gathering food. Your rough upbringing has made you resilient and self-sufficient, preparing you for the challenges that lie ahead.

2. Haunted One

The Haunted One background adds a mysterious touch to your Barbarian character. Perhaps your past is tormented by a dark secret or tragic event, driving you to seek vengeance or redemption. This background allows you to embrace the brooding nature of a haunted Barbarian, adding an intriguing layer of darkness to your personality. Your haunted past fuels your rage, making you a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

3. Soldier

The Soldier background is a classic choice for Barbarians who have honed their skills on the battlefield. As a seasoned warrior, you possess discipline, tactical knowledge, and expertise in combat tactics. Your time in the military has shaped you into a formidable force, combining the might of a Barbarian with the discipline of a soldier. This background offers the opportunity to explore themes of loyalty, camaraderie, and duty.

These are just a few examples of background options for Barbarians. Each background adds a unique flavor and story to your character, allowing you to delve deeper into their personality and motivations. Remember, the choice of background should align with your vision of the character and enhance their overall roleplaying experience.

Barbarian Feats

Feats are optional character improvements that provide additional abilities and bonuses. As a Barbarian, there are several feats that can enhance your combat prowess and overall character build. Here are some useful feats for Barbarians:

1. Great Weapon Master: This feat allows you to deal heavy damage with your attacks and make bonus attacks when you score a critical hit or reduce a creature to 0 hit points. It’s perfect for Barbarians who prefer wielding two-handed weapons and want to maximize their damage output.
2. Polearm Master: If you wield a polearm, this feat is a great choice. It grants you the ability to make a bonus attack with the opposite end of your polearm, deal additional damage when you hit with the polearm’s reach, and use a reaction to make an opportunity attack when a creature enters your reach.
3. Tough: This feat increases your hit point maximum, making you more resilient in combat. As a Barbarian, your high hit points are already a strength, and Tough further enhances your survivability.
4. Sentinel: With this feat, you become a master of battlefield control. It allows you to make opportunity attacks against creatures who try to move away from you, even if they take the Disengage action. It also reduces their speed to 0 when you hit them with an opportunity attack.

When selecting feats for your Barbarian character, it’s essential to consider your playstyle and build. Choose feats that align with your desired combat approach and enhance your strengths as a Barbarian.

Choose your feats wisely, and unleash the true potential of your Barbarian character on the battlefield!

Barbarian Weapons

Barbarians are known for their proficiency with a wide range of weapons, allowing them to unleash devastating attacks on their opponents. When it comes to selecting weapons for your Barbarian character, it’s essential to consider both their playstyle and desired weapon preferences.

Two-handed weapons are a popular choice among Barbarians due to their sheer power and high damage potential. Options such as greataxes, greatswords, and warhammers can deal massive amounts of damage with a single swing. These weapons are perfect for Barbarians who enjoy charging into the heart of battle and striking fear into their enemies.

However, if you prefer a more balanced approach, versatile weapons like longswords or battleaxes can be a great choice. These weapons allow for both one-handed and two-handed use, giving you the flexibility to adapt to different combat situations. Furthermore, versatile weapons can be paired with a shield for added defense, making you a durable frontline protector for your party.

Here is a table highlighting some popular Barbarian weapons:

Remember, the weapon you choose can greatly impact your Barbarian’s effectiveness in combat. Whether you prefer the raw power of a two-handed weapon or the versatility of a versatile weapon, be sure to select a weapon that complements your Barbarian’s playstyle.

Barbarian Armor

When it comes to armor, Barbarians have the option of wielding their signature barbaric might while clad in medium armor like chain mail or breastplates. However, many fierce warriors prefer a more primal approach, relying on their innate Unarmored Defense feature.

Unarmored Defense allows Barbarians to tap into their raw physical prowess, granting them a high armor class even when they forgo traditional armor. This feature combines their exceptional Dexterity and Constitution scores, providing a formidable barrier against enemy attacks. By embracing their natural attributes, Barbarians can retain their agility and mobility in battle, enabling them to swiftly maneuver across the battlefield.

Deciding between armored and unarmored Barbarians ultimately boils down to the desired playstyle and character concept. While wearing armor offers additional protection, it may limit a Barbarian’s mobility and hinder their ability to use certain class features. On the other hand, relying on Unarmored Defense offers greater flexibility and the opportunity to fully unleash their primal strength.

To aid in your decision-making process, refer to the following table that highlights the benefits and considerations of armored and unarmored Barbarians:

By considering these factors, you can tailor your Barbarian’s armor choice to align with your preferred playstyle and optimize your character’s combat effectiveness.

Multiclassing

Multiclassing in DND 5E allows characters to combine abilities and features from multiple classes, creating diverse and unique character builds. When considering multiclassing as a Barbarian, it’s important to evaluate your desired playstyle and build to ensure a balanced and effective character.

Classes that synergize well with the Barbarian’s strengths include Fighter, Rogue, and Druid.

“Multiclassing provides the opportunity to integrate additional versatility and utility into a Barbarian’s playstyle. For example, combining Fighter levels with Barbarian can grant access to additional fighting styles and extra attacks, enhancing the Barbarian’s combat effectiveness. Rogue levels can provide expertise in skills and sneak attack damage, enabling the Barbarian to excel in both brute force and finesse. Druid levels can offer spellcasting abilities and the utility of wild shape, broadening the Barbarian’s options both in and out of combat.”

– Experienced Player

While multiclassing offers numerous benefits, it is important to consider the trade-offs. Multiclassing may slow down or limit the progression of the Barbarian’s class features, potentially impacting their combat effectiveness and survivability.

Here is an example of how a Barbarian multiclass build might look:

In this example, the character gains the benefits of both Barbarian and Fighter classes, combining the Barbarian’s rage and damage features with the Fighter’s extra attacks and action surge.

Ultimately, the decision to multiclass should be based on your desired playstyle and the character concept you wish to explore. It’s important to find the balance between staying true to the Barbarian’s core strengths and gaining the additional versatility offered by other classes.

Multiclassing can open up a world of possibilities for your Barbarian character, allowing them to unleash their inner warrior in new and exciting ways.

Conclusion

The Human Barbarian Guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Barbarian class in DND 5E, highlighting their powerful melee fighting abilities and character build options. Barbarians are expert damage dealers who can withstand enemy attacks with their Rage feature and combat prowess. With high hit points and resistance to weapon damage, Barbarians excel in close combat and can fulfill both defensive and offensive roles in an adventuring party.

Creating a powerful Barbarian character involves careful consideration of various factors. The choice of race, ability scores, skills, and feats can greatly impact the effectiveness of a Barbarian build. Synergistic race options such as Half-Orc, Goliath, and Mountain Dwarf can enhance a Barbarian’s combat abilities, while feats like Great Weapon Master or Polearm Master can further amplify their damage potential.

By selecting the ideal combination of features and customizing their playstyle, a Human Barbarian can dominate the game and unleash their inner warrior. Whether charging headlong into battle or meticulously strategizing their every move, the Human Barbarian embodies the primal force of a relentless fighter. To dive into the thrilling world of Barbarian playstyle, refer to the Human Barbarian Guide and embark on unforgettable adventures in the realm of DND 5E.