Barbarian

Class Traits
Role: Striker. You use powerful two-handed weapons to deal serious damage to your enemies. Your physical power and daunting presence can cause foes to cower before you, and you can temporarily increase your abilities by harnessing great bursts of terrifying rage. Depending on your choice of class features and powers, you lean toward either defender or leader as a secondary role. Power Source: Primal. You are a primal champion, a warrior devoted to the natural world and an embodiment of your tribe’s fierce traditions. Key Abilities: Strength, Constitution, Charisma
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, leather, hide Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, military melee Bonus to Defense: +2 Fortitude
Hit Points at 1st Level: 15 + Constitution score Hit Points per Level Gained: 6 Healing Surges per Day: 8 + Constitution modifier Trained Skills: From the class skills list below, choose three trained skills at 1st level.  Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Athletics (Str), Endurance (Con), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Nature (Wis), Perception (Wis) Build Options: Rageblood barbarian, thaneborn barbarian, thunderborn barbarian, whirling barbarian, ruthless reach barbarian Class Features: Barbarian Agility, Feral Might, rage strike, Rampage

“My strength is the fury of the wild.”

Description

Barbarians are savage warriors who deal out powerful blows from their mighty weapons. They charge from foe to foe and seldom feel the pain of an enemy’s strike. For barbarians’ foes, the moments of greatest terror come when barbarians call upon primal forces to lend power to their raging spirits. These rages, although temporary, give a barbarian incredible powers, a combination of skill, willpower, and a legacy of ancient tribal rituals.

As a barbarian, you have a link to powerful nature spirits and other primal forces bound to the warriors of your tribe by the songs and totems of your legacy. These spirits lend energy to your rages, transforming you into a devastating force on the battlefield. As you become more experienced, these rages transcend mortal limitations, manifesting directly as waves of elemental power or gifting you with supernatural recuperative powers.

When the heat of battle is upon you, will you respond with a sudden charge that fells with one mighty swing of your weapon, or with a prolonged rage that leaves destroyed foes in your wake?

Barbarian Overview

Characteristics: You combine powerful melee attacks with an excellent ability to absorb damage. You gain tremendous bursts of power through mighty rages. You have unusually high hit points for your role, making you more durable than other strikers.

Religion: Most barbarians revere the primal spirits of the natural world rather than calling on the gods of the Astral Sea. Some barbarians don’t see conflict between the gods and the primal spirits and therefore honor deities of nature or warfare in addition to the primal spirits. These barbarians often revere Kord, Melora, Avandra, or the Raven Queen. Evil or chaotic evil barbarians turn to Gruumsh or, more rarely, Bane or Zehir.

Races: Goliaths are ideal rageblood barbarians. Dragonborn make excellent thaneborn barbarians. Half-orcs are often barbarians but don’t favor either of the two types. Dwarf and shifter barbarians tend to be rageblood barbarians, while halfling and half-elf barbarians choose the thaneborn path.

Humans, half-orcs and goliaths are the most common barbarians, but it can be great fun roleplaying a barbarian from a race that ordinarily chooses other paths. The following list of suggested builds indicates the type of barbarian likely to thrive when playing popular D&D races.

Deva	Thaneborn
Doppleganger	Whirling
Dragonborn	Thaneborn
Drow	Whirling
Dwarf	Rageblood
Eladrin	Thaneborn
Elf	Whirling
Genasi	Rageblood
Gnoll	Whirling
Gnome	Thaneborn
Goliath	Rageblood
Half-Elf	Thaneborn
Half-Orc	Whirling
Halfling	Whirling
Human	Rageblood
Kalashtar	Thaneborn
Minotaur	Thunderborn
Shadar-Kai	Whirling
Longtooth Shifter	Rageblood
Razorclaw Barbarian	Whirling
Revenant	Rageblood
Tiefling	Thaneborn
Warforged	Thunderborn

Some of the reasoning behind the assignments is subtle. Ability score adjustments count for a great deal, but in a case like the minotaur, who is equally competent as a rageblood barbarian or as a thunderborn barbarian, we’ve leaned toward thunderborn barbarian so that war cry can clear space for the minotaur’s signature charge.

Creating a Barbarian

You can choose any barbarian powers you like for your character, though many barbarians favor one of two builds: the rageblood barbarian or the thaneborn barbarian. All barbarians rely on Strength. Barbarians also benefit from a high Constitution or Charisma, depending on which expression of the class they favor.

Rageblood Barbarian

You can withstand a great deal of physical punishment, especially when you are in the throes of rage. At higher levels, your powers, particularly your rages, visibly manifest the spirits sacred to your tribe. Strength should be your highest ability score, since you use it for your attacks, but make Constitution a close second. Charisma might be your third-best score, especially if you want to use some powers designed for the thaneborn barbarian build. Rageblood barbarians lean toward defender as a secondary role.

Suggested Class Feature: Rageblood Vigor

Suggested Feat: Weapon Expertise

Suggested Skills: Athletics, Endurance, Perception

Suggested At-Will Powers: devastating strike, recuperating strike

Suggested Encounter Power: avalanche strike

Suggested Daily Power: bloodhunt rage

Thaneborn Barbarian

You use primal power to fuel your mighty rages and lend power to your already imposing personal presence. Your combination of physical prowess and charismatic appeal draws allies to you as surely as it fills your foes with fear. Again, make Strength your highest ability score, followed by Charisma and then Constitution. Thaneborn barbarians lean toward leader as a secondary role.

Suggested Class Feature: Thaneborn Triumph

Suggested Feat: Rising Fury

Suggested Skills: Athletics, Intimidate, Perception

Suggested At-Will Powers: howling strike, pressing strike

Suggested Encounter Power: vault the fallen

Suggested Daily Power: macetail’s rage

Thunderborn Barbarian

Some barbarians can be mistaken for savage warriors bereft of magic, at least until they rage. Whether you are raging or not, no one makes that mistake about you. Your ferocity and power have endeared you to the primal spirits of thunder. They circle around you, waiting for a time when you unleash them on your enemies.

When you stride into battle, low thunder rumbles around you. Even underground or on a clear day, the deep-throated murmur of distant storms accompanies you. When you charge, the growl grows into thunderclaps, sounding nearby. When you shriek your battle cry, a booming roar breaks over your enemies.

The faint-hearted cower before you. Those who are brave or foolish enough to stand before the rumble of your approach are laid low by your weapons and your rage.

Thunderborn barbarians lean toward controller as a secondary role. Powers improved by Thunderborn Wrath include blasts, which allow you to affect small groups of enemies, so it pays to move as close to as many enemies as possible. Consider favoring feats and powers that allow you to move more easily around the battlefield.

Like other barbarians, you should make Strength your highest ability score. Constitution should be your second highest score, since Thunderborn Wrath powers often rely on it.

Suggested Class Feature:Thunderborn Wrath

Suggested Feat: Thunderborn Rage

Suggested Skills: Athletics, Intimidate, Nature

'Suggested At-Will Powers: howling strike, howl of fury

Suggested Encounter Power: shout of terror

Suggested Daily Power: tyrant's rage

Whirling Barbarian

Some barbarians, particularly elves and half-orcs, rely on speed and startling force to slay their enemies. Stories abound of the ability of such barbarians to cut down an entire group of bandits in the blink of an eye. These whirling barbarians combine supreme speed and agility with great strength.

Whirling barbarians fight with two weapons, often a pair of axes or swords. Dwarf whirling barbarians favor battleaxes and war picks, whereas half-orcs lean toward clubs and maces.

Compared to other barbarians, whirling barbarians are more mobile and better able to deal damage to several enemies with a single attack. Such barbarians rove the battlefield, swinging their weapons in a blur and hewing down any foes that are rash enough to draw near.

You can choose from several methods for improvement as a whirling barbarian. Feats that increase your prowess at wielding two melee weapons are a good investment, since Whirling Slayer powers all require you to wield two weapons. Consider wielding a thrown weapon in one hand to give yourself the option of fighting at range. Multiclassing into ranger will give you even more two-weapon powers to choose from.

Strength should be your highest ability score, since it bolsters all your barbarian attacks. You should make Dexterity your second-highest score, because that ability is often used by Whirling Slayer powers.

Suggested Class Feature: Whirling Slayer

Suggested Feat: Two-Weapon Fighting

Suggested Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Perception

Suggested At-Will Powers: pressing strike, whirling rend

Suggested Encounter Power: whirling frenzy

Suggested Daily Power: thunder hooves rage

Ruthless Reach Barbarian

Barbarians favor two-handed weapons because these weapons allow their wielders to use more leverage, a concept that translates into heavier, more damaging blows. One type of barbarian, the ruthless reach barbarian, has mastered the use of two-handed reach weapons, which apply leverage with each strike like no other type of weapons. The long haft of a glaive, halberd, or longspear allows a ruthless reach barbarian to generate immense power when targeting foes at his or her weapon’s maximum reach—in other words, 2 squares away. The barbarian evocations presented here take this into account, and a ruthless reach barbarian is doubly dangerous when he or she has a little room to work.

Although still a striker through and through, a ruthless reach barbarian can act as controller in a secondary role by attacking small groups of foes or moving enemies around the battlefield. He or she can even serve as a defender in a pinch, using reach to keep enemies at bay or cutting weaker foes down before they can enter melee range.

Suggested Class Feature: Thaneborn Triumph

Suggested Feat: Raging Reach

Suggested Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Endurance

Suggested At-Will Powers: savage reach, devastating strike

Suggested Encounter Power: room for carnage

Suggested Daily Power: swift panther rage

Barbarian Class Features

Barbarian Agility

While you are not wearing heavy armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC and Reflex. The bonus increases to +2 at 11th level and +3 at 21st level.

Feral Might

Barbarians connect with the natural world in a variety of ways. Some barbarians grow so hardened to physical punishment that they find it easier to simply absorb, rather than avoid, attacks. Others are living examples of the power of one’s will to shape one’s fate. Choose one of the following options. The choice you make gives you the benefit described below and also provides bonuses to certain barbarian powers, as detailed in those powers.

Rageblood Vigor: You gain the swift charge power. In addition, whenever your attack reduces an enemy to 0 hit points, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Constitution modifier. The number of temporary hit points equals 5 + your Constitution modifier at 11th level and 10 + your Constitution modifier at 21st level.

Thaneborn Triumph: You gain the roar of triumph power. In addition, whenever you bloody an enemy, the next attack by you or an ally against that enemy gains a bonus to the attack roll equal to your Charisma modifier.

Thunderborn Wrath: You gain the war cry power. In addition, once per round when your attack bloodies an enemy, each enemy adjacent to you takes thunder damage equal to your Constitution modifier.

Whirling Slayer: You gain the whirling lunge power, and you can wield a one-handed weapon in your off hand and treat it as an off-hand weapon. In addition, once per round when your attack bloodies an enemy, you can shift 2 squares as a free action, and each enemy adjacent to you at the end of the shift grants combat advantage to you until the end of your next turn.

Rage Strike

Barbarian daily attack powers have the rage keyword. They allow you to unleash powerful bursts of emotion, willpower, and primal energy. Each rage power starts with a mighty attack, and then you enter a rage, which grants an ongoing benefit.

At 5th level, you gain the rage strike power, which lets you channel an unused rage power into a devastating attack while you’re raging. Using rage strike is an alternative to using a second rage power in a climactic battle; it gives you the damage output of a daily power without forcing you to enter a different rage.

Rampage

Once per round, when you score a critical hit with a barbarian attack power, you can immediately make a melee basic attack as a free action. You do not have to attack the same target that you scored a critical hit against.

Barbarian Powers

Your powers are evocations of primal strength. At lower levels, your powers rely partly on martial skill and personal presence, but even at the start of your career, the primal spirits of the world infuse your body with vigor. At higher levels, the primal spirits flow more freely through you and your weapons, creating effects that are more obviously supernatural.

Your barbarian daily attack powers have the rage keyword. While you are raging, your barbarian at-will attack powers gain certain benefits, as detailed in those powers.

Class Features

Each barbarian gains the power rage strike, usable only during a rage, at 5th level.

Rage Strike Barbarian Feature You channel your primal rage into a devastating attack. Daily (Special) Primal, Weapon Standard Action  Prerequisite: You must be raging and have at least one unused barbarian rage power. Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC. To make this attack, you expend an unused barbarian rage power. Hit: You deal damage based on the level of the rage power you expend:  1st level 3[W] + Strength modifier  5th level 4[W] + Strength modifier  9th level 5[W] + Strength modifier  15th level 6[W] + Strength modifier  19th level 7[W] + Strength modifier  25th level 8[W] + Strength modifier  29th level 9[W] + Strength modifier Miss: Half damage. Special: You can use this power twice per day.

The Feral Might class feature grants each barbarian one of the following powers.

Roar of Triumph Barbarian Racial Feature Your howl of victory shakes your enemies to the core, as they know your blood thirst is not yet quenched. Encounter Fear, Primal Free Action Close burst 5 Trigger: Your attack reduces an enemy to 0 hit points Target: Each enemy in burst Effect: Each target takes a –2 penalty to all defenses until the end of your next turn.	Swift Charge Barbarian Racial Feature As your foe falls, you rush toward your next victim. Encounter Primal Free Action Personal Trigger: Your attack reduces an enemy to 0 hit points Effect: You charge an enemy.
War Cry Barbarian Feature Your potent victory cry sends nearby enemies reeling in terror. Encounter Fear, Primal Free Action Close blast 3 Trigger: Your attack reduces an enemy to 0 hit points Target: Each enemy in blast Effect: You push each target 1 square.	Whirling Lunge Barbarian Racial Feature Striking down one foe, you whirl deeper into enemy ranks. Encounter Primal, Weapon Free Action Melee 1 Trigger: Your attack reduces an enemy to 0 hit points Effect: You shift 2 squares and then deal 1[W] damage (off-hand weapon) to an enemy adjacent to you that you can see.

Exploits

Level 1 At-Will

Howl of Fury Barbarian Attack 1 You strike a hearty blow, then unleash an ear-splitting battle cry. At-Will Primal, Thunder, Weapon Standard Action Melee weapon Target: One Creature Attack: Strength vs. AC Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage. You then howl in a blast 3 that includes the target. Each enemy in the blast, other than the target, takes thunder damage equal to your Constitution modifier. If you are raging, the thunder damage equals 3 + your Constitution modifier.  Level 21: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage, and add 5 to the thunder damage, whether or not you are raging.	Whirling Rend Barbarian Attack 1 You strike out in two directions, drawing blood from different enemies. At-Will Primal, Weapon Standard Action  Prerequisite: You must be wielding two melee weapons. Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC (main weapon) Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage, and an enemy adjacent to you other than the target takes 1[W] damage (off-hand weapon). If you are raging, add your Dexterity modifier to both damage rolls.  Level 21: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage, and 2[W] damage (off-hand weapon).
Devastating Strike Barbarian Attack 1 You strike with awesome power, more concerned with offensive strength than defensive posturing. At-Will Primal, Weapon Standard Action Melee weapon Prerequisite: You must be wielding a two-handed weapon. Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC Hit: 1[W] + 1d8 + Strength modifier damage.  Level 11: 1[W] + 2d8 + Strength modifier damage.  Level 21: 2[W] + 3d8 + Strength modifier damage. Effect: Until the start of your next turn, any attacker gains a +2 bonus to attack rolls against you. If you are raging, attackers do not gain this bonus.	Howling Strike Barbarian Attack 1 With a blood-freezing scream, you throw yourself into the fray. At-Will Primal, Weapon Standard Action Melee weapon Prerequisite: You must be wielding a two-handed weapon. Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC Hit: 1[W] + 1d6 + Strength modifier damage.  Level 11: 1[W] + 2d6 + Strength modifier damage.  Level 21: 2[W] + 3d6 + Strength modifier damage.  Special: When charging, you can use this power in place of a melee basic attack. If you are raging, you can move 2 extra squares as part of the charge.
Pressing Strike Barbarian Attack 1 You push lesser foes from your path, moving through the lines of battle at will. At-Will Primal, Weapon Standard Action Melee weapon Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage, and you push the target 1 square. If you are raging, the attack deals 1d6 extra damage.  Level 21: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage. Effect: Before the attack, you shift 2 squares. You can move through an enemy’s space during the shift, but you can’t end there.	Recuperating Strike Barbarian Attack 1 Nothing restores your will to fight more than slamming your weapon into a foe. Each crushing swing gives you more will to press on. At-Will Primal, Weapon Standard Action Melee weapon Prerequisite: You must be wielding a two-handed weapon. Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage, and you gain temporary hit points equal to your Constitution modifier. If you are raging, the number of temporary hit points you gain equals 5 + your Constitution modifier.  Level 11: 1[W] + 1d6 + Strength modifier damage.  Level 21: 2[W] + 2d6 + Strength modifier damage.
Savage Reach Barbarian Attack 1 Your great strength and the reach of your weapon allow you to smash enemies aside with each blow. At-Will Primal, Weapon Standard Action Melee weapon Prerequisite: You must be wielding a two-handed reach weapon. Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage, and you slide the target 1 square. If you are raging, you can slide the target 2 squares.  Level 21: 2[W] + Strength modifier damage.

Level 1 Encounter

Template:Avalanche Strike	Template:Bloodletting
Template:Great Cleave	Template:Vault the Fallen
Template:Desperate Fury	Template:Resurgent Strike
Shout of Terror Barbarian Attack 1 The primal storm that rages within you manifests as a terrifying battle scream that causes your enemies to hesitate. Encounter Fear, Primal, Weapon Standard Action Melee weapon Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC Hit: 1[W] + Strength modifier damage. You then howl in a blast 3 that includes the target. Each enemy in the blast is slowed until the end of your next turn.  'Thunderborn Wrath: Until the end of your next turn, you gain a bonus to damage rolls against slowed creatures equal to your Constitution modifier.	Template:Whirling Frenzy
Template:Room for Carnage	Template:Rending Strike

Level 1 Daily

Template:Bloodhunt Rage	Template:Macetail's Rage
Template:Rage Drake's Frenzy	Template:Swift Panther Rage
Template:Blood Bear Rage	Template:Life Thane Rage
Template:Savage Juggernaut Rage	Thunder Hooves Rage Barbarian Attack 1 You hammer the enemy with a heavy blow, and the spirits of stampeding beasts fill you wilh strength. Daily Primal, Rage, Weapon Standard Action Melee weapon Target: One creature Attack: Strength vs. AC Hit: 3[W] + Strength modifier damage. Miss: Half damage. Effect: You enter the rage of the thunder hooves. Until the rage ends, you can move through one or two enemies' spaces during each of your turns. When you move through an enemy's space, your next attack against that enemy during the same turn deals 1[W] extra damage.
Template:Tyrant's Rage	Template:Always Falling Rage
Template:Bloodseeker’s Rage	Template:Skull-Taker’s Rage

Level 2 Utility

Template:Combat Sprint	Template:Primal Vitality
Template:Stonebreaker	Template:Tiger Leap
Template:Bounding Stride	Template:Feral Rejuvenation
Template:Savage Comeback	Template:Savage Growl
Template:Shrug It Off	Template:Bloodthirsty Resurgence

Level 3 Encounter

Template:Blade Sweep	Template:Blood Strike
Template:Daring Charge	Template:Hammer Fall
Template:Shatterbone Strike	Template:Brutal Slam
Template:Reckless Rampage	Template:Rippling Blades
Template:Thundering Howl	Template:Whirling Step
Template:Longstrike Charge	Template:Roaring Challenge

Level 5 Daily

Template:Frost Wolf Rage	Template:Silver Phoenix Rage
Template:Thunder Hawk Rage	Template:Vengeful Storm Rage
Template:Ancient Berserkers' Rage	Template:Rage of the Crimson Hurricane
Template:Razor Wind Rage	Template:Tiger's Claw Rage
Template:Ambusher’s Rage	Template:Earthquake Dragon’s Rage
Template:Longstrike Slayer Rage

Level 6 Utility

Template:Combat Surge	Template:Indomitable Shift
Template:Instinctive Charge	Template:Loss of Will
Template:Climber's Claws	Template:Primal Charge
Template:Relentless Surge	Template:Run Rampant
Template:Snarling Defiance

Level 7 Encounter

Template:Curtain of Steel	Template:Great Shout
Template:Feast of Violence	Template:Tide of Blood
Template:Blood Sacrifice	Template:Fearsome Smash
Template:Harbinger of Doom	Template:Looming Threat
Template:Slash and Slash Again	Template:Devastating Leverage
Template:Wheat to the Scythe