Path of the Battlerager

Restriction: Dwarves Only

Only dwarves can follow the Path of the Battlerager. The battlerager fills a particular niche in dwarven society and culture.

Battlerager Armor

At 3rd level, you gain the ability to use Spiked Armor as a weapon.

While you are wearing spiked armor and are raging, you can use a bonus action to make one melee weapon attack with your armor spikes against a target within 5 feet of you. If the attack hits, the spikes deal 1d4 piercing damage. You use your Strength modifier for the attack and damage rolls.

Additionally, when you use the Attack action to grapple a creature, the target takes additional piercing damage if your grapple check succeeds. This damage is equivalent to your Strength modifier.

Dwarven Craft

Also at 3rd level, you are an adept craftsman of your culture. You gain proficiency in smith’s tools. If you are already proficient, you add double your proficiency bonus to any check you make that uses smith’s tools. In addition, you are able to weld spikes onto armor. You require eight hours and the appropriate tools to attach spikes in this way.

Armor Modification

Beginning at 6th level, you learn to enhance the spikes on your armor. You can spend one hour to make one of the following modifications. You can only benefit from one modification at a time.

• Barbed Armor: You create small barbs on your spikes, causing more damage to any you hit with them. Any creature that takes damage from your spiked armor, takes an additional 2d4 piercing damage.
• Poison: You can apply a dwarven poison to the spikes. Whenever you hit a creature with your spiked armor, the creature must make a DC 13 saving throw. On a failed save, they take an additional 1d4 poison damage and are poisoned until the start of your next turn.
• Shield Spikes: Some battleragers prefer to spike their shields. Instead of spiked armor, you now wield a spiked shield. Whenever you would normally hit a creature with your spiked armor, you instead hit them with your shield. When you do so, they must make a Strength saving throw (8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier) or take an additional 1d4 damage be pushed 10 feet away from you in a straight line.

Builder

At 10th level, you learn the mending cantrip. In addition, you learn the spell Leomund’s tiny hut and can cast it once without expending material components. The hut assumes a stony, gray appearance when you cast it in this way. You require a long rest to cast this spell again.

Spiked Retribution

Starting at 14th level, you learn to use your spiked armor to harm those that attack you. When a creature within 5 feet of you hits you with a melee attack, the attacker takes piercing damage if you are raging, aren't incapacitated, and are wearing spiked armor. The damage is equal to your Strength modifier.

Changes

These changes should help the subclass better reflect a dwarven heritage and make spiked armor feel worthwhile.

1. Dwarven Craft added
2. Armor Modification replaced Reckless Abandon
3. Builder replaced Battlerager Charge
4. Spiked Retribution instead does damage equal to your Strength modifier

Image Credit: ??