Barbarian Class Guide for D&D 5e 2024

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[davea]

Conan the Barbarian: "Crom, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you, will remember if we were good men or bad. Why we fought, or why we died. All that matters is that two stood against many. That's what's important! Valor pleases you, Crom... so grant me one request. Grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then to HELL with you!"

[windycitydoodler]

Why does everyone forget the Rage=Strength checks at advantage part?
It's now no longer forgettable, because Primal Knowledge makes Acrobatics, Intimidation, Perception, Stealth and survival into *strength checks.*
Not only are you making these rolls with your best stat, you are doing them at *advantage.*
The strength check part of Rage goes from a ribbon feature to making what could be hard skill checks into something hard to miss!

[elementzero]

Mage Slayer is a Feat worthy of strong consideration on a Barbarian.

The initial benefit against Spellcasters might be campaign-specific, but the second benefit is great. You can simply choose to succeed an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma save that you've failed. You can do this again after each short or long rest. The feat also grants the usual +1ASI to Strength or Dexterity.

Being able to succeed on a critical save is a big deal for a Barbarian in particular, as that's always going to be their weakest point. It's almost guaranteed to be more useful than a whiteboard feat like Charger that doesn't translate all that well to actual gameplay.

[ZenBearV]

I’m playing a Zealot Barbarian in Curse of Strahd. I play him like a Paladin, a young and naive but earnest and virtuous man who is just trying to protect people.

Instead of Raging, he Panics. His fight-or-flight response kicks him into overdrive and he goes all-out until whatever threat he’s facing is dealt with. Like how Hulk is always angry, my boy is always scared, which is why he committed himself with such religious zeal to the Cardinal Virtue of Courage.

I built him with decent CHA to be an inspiring presence to those around him. I plan to take Inspiring Leader at 8 to signify his progress toward becoming the paragon he’s destined to be. He recites poetry to himself to calm his nerves, so when he gets IL he’ll recite those poems to those he inspires.

[rekcroom]

I like to think that Primal knowledge makes your rage work like some form of primal instinct. It’s not just “You’re so angry you are more perceptive.” It’s more like you’re channeling the mind of a cornered animal, both aware of every threat around you and prepared to strike at a moments notice. An adrenaline rush essentially, hence why it keys off your Strength stat. At least that’s how I’d describe it at my table.

[TheHornedKing]

I like the idea of the cold fury, were instead of roaring in rage, you become dead silent, and glare with murder at your enemies. Makes your barbarian scary in a different way.

[Zorkman]

Notable change from 5e, you cant end your rage as a bonus action anymore. This only really affects spellcasting barbarians. Basically, if you want to cast a spell in combat (and you are currently raging), you can stop raging at the end of your turn and then wait until your next turn to cast it. In 5e you could end it as a bonus action then cast the spell with your action.

[mykolgibby]

My Watchers Paladin/World Tree Barbarian is gonna be a fun support. Thanks for all you guys do for DND and other table tops. You’re my favorite dnd YouTube guys!

[alinkinthechain]

Holy shit a tales of symphonia reference in 2024?! One of my all time favorite rugs.

In fact, Presea would make for an amazing world tree barbarian

[SwordsmanOrion]

Presea being mentioned in a Barbarian video wasn't on my Dungeon Dudes bingo card today. But I'm glad it happened.

[redactedlemons]

One thing to note about Brutal Strikes is it’s only affecting on 1 attack. The 2nd attack and any bonus action or reaction attacks you get, still get the advantage from Reckless Attack…and, because Reckless Attack is active, a Berserker would still be getting their Frenzy damage.

[Cheddarcheesemonkey]

I play a zealot and we had a fight against something like 25 "minions." They had more than 1 HP, 22 to be exact, but that's enough that most of the party destroys them in one hit at level 7 (none of us are power building.) I felt like a fucking superhero tanking so many hits and killing one with every attack, wading through the enemy and destroying things left and right. I love playing a barbarian.

[matthewschwoebel]

A gnome pirate barbarian was my first 5E character. Great fun. He added to his name with each important victory.

[Aether_Veilborne]

2014 Zealot: Too Angry to Die
2024 Zealot: Magical Girl Transformation

[sillvvasensei]

Don't forget Indomitable Might also applies to Primal Knowledge skills while raging. So your Acrobatics, Athletics, Intimidation, Perception, and Survival checks.

[czcrossman]

I’m starting a new campaign this weekend IN PERSON FOR ONCE lol and I’m on the fence between Barb & Fighter. Just watched both of your 2024 videos for those classes to help me decide. As much as I truly LOVE the Barbarian class (I played a Goliath Ancestral Guardian for YEARS in an online campaign), I think I’m gonna go with Fighter for this one. Thanks for all the great info & insight Dudes!!

[Fortykpainter]

I would love to see your take on a path of the giant barbarian using the new 2024 ruleset. That along with the new world tree subclass is really exciting.

[lancourt]

Some thoughts. I love that the brutal strikes do not have a test or save... You are just gonna knock em back 15' if you hit it. Resetting yourself to 22hp (or more) when you hit zero is amazing, since you are still raging, so those 22+ HP might soak up a ton more damage. As for the subclasses.... Man I want to play all four of them. Most classes I want to play one or two, but all four speak to me!

[barlesnotcharles]

I love your comprehensive and holistic discussions of how to play each class in this updated series!

[infornography]

Barbarian rage can also not be getting angry but instead getting hyperfocused on combat. Instead of an excess of emotion, it could be the emotion draining from them as they become so focused on fighting that everything else is tuned out.

Just because the ability is called rage doesn't mean you can't flavor it differently.