Primal Instincts

Not all warriors learn to fight from expert soldiers or formal schools of war. Those known as Barbarians are born with a lust for battle in their blood. They are able to wield weapons of war with deadly force based on pure instinct. What they lack in technique, these wild warriors make up for with pure brute force. Like an animal backed into a corner, a Barbarian will fight with near-supernatural strength and ferocity.

Unbridled Rage

The source of every Barbarian's prowess in battle is the white hot Rage deep within their soul. How this Rage manifests is different for each primal warrior. For some Barbarians, it is an irresistible lust for blood that only subsides when each of their foes lays slain at their feet. For others, their Rage is an emotionless trance that allows them to ignore any emotions, loyalties, or injuries that would interfere with their fight.

No matter how this primal Rage manifests itself, it grants all Barbarians near-supernatural levels of might and allows them to shrug off blows that would fell a lesser warrior. The wild fury of Rage drives a Barbarian to be the first to engage their foe, no matter how deadly. Many Barbarians spend their lives seeking ever-greater foes to test the limits of their Rage, only satisfied when facing one who can match their strength.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d12 per Barbarian level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 12 + your Constitution modifier.
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d12 (or 7) + your Constitution modifier per Barbarian level after 1st

Proficiencies

• Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
• Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
• Tools: None

• Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
• Skills: Choose two of the following: Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, and Survival

Equipment

As a Barbarian, you start with the following equipment:

• (a) a greataxe, (b) greatsword, or a (c) maul
• (a) two handaxes or (b) any simple weapon
• hide armor, an explorer’s pack, and four javelins

Alternately if your group uses the starting wealth rule to purchase equipment, a Barbarian starts with 2d4 x 10 gp.

Quick Build

You can make a Barbarian quickly by using the suggestions here. Make Strength your highest ability score, followed by
    Constitution. Second, choose the Outlander background.

Rage

You fight with an unchecked primal ferocity in battle. Starting at 1st level, you can use a bonus action on your turn to enter a Rage. While your Rage lasts, you gain all the benefits listed below, so long as you aren't wearing heavy armor:

• You have advantage on any Constitution checks, Strength checks, and Strength saving throws that you make.
• Whenever you hit with a Strength-based weapon attack you deal a bonus 1d4 damage of the weapon's type. As you gain Barbarian levels, this damage bonus increases to match the Exploit Die column on the Barbarian table.
• You resist all bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
• You cannot cast spells or concentrate on spells or effects.

Your Rage lasts until the end of your next turn, but it ends early if you become unconscious. You can extend your Rage to the end of your next turn by attacking a creature, taking damage, making a Strength check, or using a bonus action to extend it. You can maintain your Rage for up to 10 minutes.

Once you enter a Rage, you must finish a short or long rest before you can Rage again. As you gain Barbarian levels, you can Rage additional times between each short or long rest, as shown in the Rages column on the Barbarian table above.

Unarmored Defense

Also at 1st level, so long as you are not wearing armor, your Armor Class is equal to 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier. You can use a shield with this feature.

Also at 2nd level, you have gained savage abilities that enhance your martial skill on and off the battlefield:

Primal Path

At 3rd level, you choose the Primal Path that best represents your Barbarian's style of combat and the source of your Rage: Path of the Berserker, Brute, Champion, or Totem Warrior.

Also included at the end of this class are Primal Paths inspired by official Barbarian options: Blood & Iron, the Conduit, the Lycan, Storm, Wild Sorcery, and the Zealot.

Your Primal Path grants you features at 3rd level, and again when you reach 6th, 10th, and 14th level in this class.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or two ability scores by 1. As normal, you can't increase
    one of your ability scores above 20 using this feature.

Critical Strike

You ruthlessly exploit the weakness of your foes. Starting at 11th level, when you score a critical hit with a weapon attack while you are Raging, you can use a Savage Exploit you know as part of that attack without expending an Exploit Die.

Relentless Rage

The white hot fury of your Rage burns ever brighter. Also at 11th level you gain the following benefits while Raging:

• If you drop to 0 hit points, but do not die outright, you can choose to end your Rage to drop to 1 hit point instead.
• When you are forced to make an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw you gain a bonus to your roll equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of +1).

Persistent Rage

You have mastered your Rage, becoming one with your anger. Beginning at 15th level, when you Rage it lasts for 1 hour.

Indomitable Might

Your physical power and stamina rival the heroes of legend. Starting at 18th level, if you make a Strength or Constitution check and the result of your roll is lower than your Strength score, you can use your Strength score in place of the result.

Primal Champion

You embody the raw power of the primal wilderness and have exceeded the physical limits of normal mortals. At 20th level, both your Strength and Constitution scores increase by 4,
    and your maximum for both of those scores is now 24.

Mindless Rage

6th-level Path of the Berserker feature
You lose yourself in your wild Rage. You can't be charmed or frightened while Raging. If you are charmed or frightened when you Rage, the effect is suspended for the duration.

Moreover, while you are Raging, you can ignore the effects of the first five levels of exhaustion that you have.

Intimidating Presence

10th-level Path of the Berserker feature
Your presence inspires fear. You can use menacing shout without expending an Exploit Die a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses of this feature when you finish a long rest.

If you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack on the same turn that you use menacing shout, that creature has disadvantage on its saving throw against menacing shout.

Unrivaled Fury

14th-level Path of the Berserker feature
The fury you direct at your foes in battle is unrivaled. You can
    use savage rebuke at will, without expending a Exploit Die.

Path of the Brute

While most Barbarians hail from the wild places of the world, Brutes discovered their Rage in the underbelly of civilization. Their abilities stem from a combination of street smarts and
   pure grit. All those who follow this Path share one thing in
  common, they prefer to solve their problems with their fists.

Champion Exploits

3rd-level Path of the Champion feature
You learn certain Exploits at the Barbarian levels noted
in the table below. They don't count against your number
of Exploits Known and can't be switched upon gaining a level.

Fighting Style

3rd-level Path of the Champion feature
You supplement your Rage with martial training. You learn a Fighting Style from the list below. You can't learn a Fighting Style more than once, even if you gain this feature again.

Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can switch your Fighting Style for another option from the list below:

Totemic Exploits

3rd-level Path of the Totem Warrior feature
You learn certain Exploits at the Barbarian levels noted in
the table below. These don't count against your number of Exploits Known and can't be switched upon gaining a level.

Spirit Guide

3rd-level Path of the Totem Warrior feature
Your connection to the primal spirits of nature allows you to communicate with wild beasts. You learn the beast sense and speak with animals spells, but can only cast them as rituals.

Totemic Spirit

3rd-level Path of the Totem Warrior feature
Choose one of the animal spirits from the list below to gain its benefits. Once selected, this choice cannot be changed.

Bear. The resilient spirit of the Bear increases your ability to take physical hits. While Raging, you gain resistance to all types of damage except force and psychic damage.

Eagle. The fierce spirit of the Eagle grants you the ability to move fast as the wind. While Raging, you can use a bonus action to gain the benefits of the Dash and Disengage action, including the bonus action that you use to enter a Rage.

Elk. The noble spirit of the Elk makes you extraordinarily swift. While Raging, your walking speed increases by 15 feet.

Tiger. The ruthless spirit of the Tiger empowers your leaps in battle. Once per turn while Raging, you can use mighty
leap at its lowest level without expending an Exploit Die.

Wolf. The cunning spirit of the Wolf enhances your
ability to fight alongside your pack. While Raging,
allied creatures of your choice have advantage on
any melee attack roll they make against hostile
creatures within 10 feet of you.

Totemic Aspect

6th-level Path of the Totem Warrior feature
You gain the benefits of a second animal spirit, choosing from the list below. Once selected, this choice cannot be changed:

Elephant. The spirit of the Elephant lends you its power. When you make a Strength (Athletics) or a Wisdom (Insight) check you can add your Constitution modifier to your roll.

Owl. The spirit of the Owl grants you its sight. When you make an Intelligence (Investigation) or Wisdom (Perception) check you can add your Constitution modifier to your roll.

Panther. The spirit of the Panther increases your cunning. When you make a Dexterity (Stealth) or Wisdom (Survival) check you can add your Constitution modifier to your roll.

Spirit Walker

10th-level Path of the Totem Warrior feature
You can turn to your Totem Spirits for spiritual guidance. You learn the commune with nature spell, but you can only cast it as a ritual, beseeching your Totem Spirits for information.

Moreover, once per long rest, you can cast commune with nature and replace one of your animal Totem Spirits with another animal Totem Spirit available at the same level.

Totemic Attunement

14th-level Path of the Totem Warrior feature
You gain the benefits of a final animal spirit, completing your training as a Totem Warrior. Choose from the list below:

Lion. The spirit of the Lion imbues you with regal power. While Raging, any hostile creatures within 5 feet of you have disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you.

Falcon. The spirit of the Falcon grants you its wings. While Raging, you gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed.

Rhino. The spirit of the Rhino lends you its power. While Raging, if you hit a creature that is one size larger than you or smaller with a Strength-based melee weapon attack, it must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be
knocked prone.

1st-Degree Exploits

Exploits of the 1st-degree are minor techniques slightly more complicated than swinging a weapon. They can be learned by warriors with modest training and have no level prerequisite.

Trampling Rush

Prerequisites: Strength of 11
When you move at least 20 feet toward a creature and hit it with a melee weapon attack, you can expend an Exploit Die and attempt to trample the creature. It must succeed on a Strength saving throw, or it takes additional damage equal
to one roll of your Exploit Die and is knocked prone.

Aggressive Sprint

As a bonus action, you can expend one Exploit Die to move up to your walking speed toward a hostile creature that you can see and make a single melee weapon attack against it.

Arresting Critical

Prerequisites: 5th level, Strength of 13
When you score a critical hit on a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one Exploit Die to critically disable
its movement. For 1 minute, its speed is reduced to 0.

The creature can make a Constitution saving throw at the start of each of its turns, ending this effect on a success.

Bloodthirsty Critical

Prerequisites: 5th level, Strength of 13
When you score a critical hit on a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend an Exploit Die to
instantly make one additional
weapon attack against that
creature. On hit, you deal
additional damage equal to
one roll of your Exploit Die.

If you score a critical hit with
the attack granted by this Exploit,
you cannot use this Exploit again
to make another attack.

Concussive Blow

Prerequisites: 5th level, Strength of 13
When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack,
you can expend an Exploit Die to empower the attack
and force it to make a Constitution saving throw. On
a failed save, the target suffers the effects below until
the beginning of your next turn:

• Its speed becomes 0.
• It can speak only falteringly.
• It has disadvantage on all attack rolls, ability
  checks, and Dexterity saving throws.
• Attack rolls against it have advantage.

Greater Hurl

Prerequisites: 5th level, Strength of 13
As an action, you can expend an Exploit Die to touch
one creature at least one size smaller than you and
attempt to throw it. It must succeed on a Strength
saving throw or be thrown at a space that you can
see within 30 feet. A creature can choose to fail.

If the creature lands in an unoccupied space it falls
prone. But, if it hits another creature, that creature
must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or take bludgeoning damage equal to one roll of your Exploit
Die + your Strength modifier.

If a feature causes you to count as a size larger
for your carrying capacity or the size of creatures
you can grapple, you also count as one size larger
    for the creatures you can throw.

Honor Duel

Prerequisites: 5th level
As a bonus action, you can expend an Exploit Die and shout a challenge at a foe. One creature of your choice within 30 feet that can see or hear you must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the creature has disadvantage on all attack rolls it makes against targets other than you for 1 minute.

The creature can repeat this saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success. This effect ends early if you attack a creature other than the target.

Immovable Stance

Prerequisites: 5th level, Strength or Constitution of 13
As a bonus action, you can expend an Exploit Die to enter an immovable stance that lasts until you move from the space. Each time a creature attempts to grapple, move you against your will, or move through your space while you are in this stance it must first succeed on a Strength saving throw. On
a failed save, you can instantly grapple it or knock it prone.

Menacing Shout

Prerequisites: 5th level, Constitution or Charisma of 13
As a bonus action, you can expend one Exploit Die and force
one creature within 30 feet that can see or hear you to make
   a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it is frightened of you
      until the end of your next turn and must use its action to
        move as far from you as possible without harming itself.

Confounding Critical

Prerequisites: 9th level, Strength of 15
When you score a critical hit on a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one Exploit Die to strike at the head, weakening its ability to think. For 1 minute, its thoughts are muddled and whenever it makes an attack roll, ability check, or Constitution saving throw to maintain its concentration, it must roll a d6 and subtract the result from its roll.

The creature can make an Intelligence saving throw at the start of each of its turns, ending this effect on a success.

Destructive Slam

Prerequisites: 9th level, Strength of 15
In place of an attack, you can expend Exploit Dice (up to your proficiency bonus) and strike the ground at your feet, forcing all creatures in an adjacent 20-foot cube to make a Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, they take bludgeoning damage equal to two rolls of your Exploit Die for each Exploit Die you spent + your Strength modifier and are knocked prone. On a success, they take half as much damage and don't fall prone. Objects in this area take the maximum amount of damage.

Moreover, the area of the 20-foot cube becomes difficult terrain until a creature takes 1 minute to clear it.

Primal Terror

Prerequisite: 9th level
As an action, you can expend one Exploit Die to attempt to drive a creature within 5 feet into a fit of primal fear, forcing
it to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, it loses the ability to distinguish friend from foe, regarding all creatures as enemies for the next minute. Each time it takes damage, it repeats the saving throw, ending this effect on a success.

The creature must choose the target of each attack and spell at random from among the creatures it can see in range.

If a creature provokes an opportunity attack from the affected creature, it must make that attack if it is able to.

Mythic Resilience

Prerequisites: 9th level, Constitution of 15
When you take damage from an effect you can see, you can expend Exploit Dice (up to your proficiency bonus) to reduce the incoming damage. For each Exploit Die you expend you roll three Exploit Dice, adding your Constitution modifier to the total of all the dice. You reduce the damage by the total.

If the total rolled exceeds the amount of damage, you gain temporary hit points equal to the remaining amount.

Roar of Triumph

Prerequisites: 9th level
When you score a critical hit, you can expend an Exploit Die to let out a cry that can be heard up to 300 feet away. You and a number of creatures of your choice who can hear you equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1) gain temporary hit points equal to your level + your Constitution modifier.

Savage Defiance

Prerequisites: 9th level
As an action you can expend an Exploit Die to issue a savage challenge. Creatures of your choice within 60 feet that can hear you have disadvantage on attacks against targets other than you for 1 minute, or until they hit you with an attack.

War Cry

Prerequisites: 9th level
As an action, you can expend one Exploit Die and issue a mighty cry, forcing creatures of your choice that can hear you in an adjacent 30-foot cone to make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, they drop whatever they are holding and are frightened of you for 1 minute. If a frightened creature ends its turn and does not have line of sight to you, it can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success.

Devastating Critical

Prerequisites: 13th level, Strength of 17
When you score a critical hit on a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one Exploit Die to shatter its focus. If it was concentrating on a spell or effect, it automatically loses concentration, and for 1 minute, it has disadvantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws, and any saving throws it makes to maintain concentration.

The creature can make an Intelligence saving throw at the start of each of its turns, ending this effect on a success.

Staggering Blow

Prerequisites: 13th level, Strength of 17
When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend an Exploit Die to strike with near-supernatural power, dealing additional damage equal to three rolls of your Exploit Die. The target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw, or for the next minute it has disadvantage on all ability checks and attack rolls and it cannot take reactions.

The creature can make a Wisdom saving throw at the start of each of its turns, ending these effects on a success.

    For each size category you are above Medium, the amount of weight you can move as part of this Exploit is doubled.

For example, a Medium-sized Barbarian with 20 Strength could expend 3 Exploit Dice to use this Exploit, multiplying their 20 Strength by 150, to lift up to 3,000 pounds. If they were Large, they would double this weight to 6,000 pounds.

When this Exploit ends you must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or suffer a number of levels of exhaustion equal to the number of Exploit Dice you spent.

Path of the Conduit

Not all Barbarians are savages who revel in bloodlust. Some walk a Path of spiritual connection. Those who walk the Path of the Conduit form bonds with spirits who have passed from the mortal plane. Some stand as guardians of their ancestral tombs, others channel the power of legendary warriors, and others open themselves up to the power of any local spirit.

Animal Form

3rd-level Path of the Lycan feature
You can control your lycanthropy, allowing you to shift your form at will. As an action, you can expend a use of your Rage to transform into the Animal Form of your lycanthropy, much like a Druid transforms using their Wild Shape feature.

Choose a beast of CR 1 or lower to represent the animal that your curse is based on. Common Animal Forms include boars, brown bears, dire wolves, tigers, and rats. Once it is chosen, your Animal Form cannot be changed.

When you transform into your Animal Form, you follow all of the rules of the Wild Shape feature from the Druid class, which can be found in Chapter 3 of the Player's Handbook.

You can use all of your Barbarian features, including Rage and Savage Exploits, while you are transformed.

You can remain in your Animal Form for up to
1 hour. You then revert to your normal form
unless you expend another Rage as a bonus
action to extend your transformation. You
can also revert to your normal form as an
action. You instantly revert to your normal form
if you fall unconscious, drop to 0 hit points, or die.

Bestial Rage

3rd-level Path of the Lycan feature
When you Rage, you manifest a portion of your bestial power in the form of one of the natural weapons listed below, which lasts for the duration of that Rage. These weapons all count as simple melee weapons which you are proficient with, and use your Strength modifier for their attack and damage rolls:

Bite. You grow fangs that deal 1d8 piercing damage on hit. Once per turn when you hit a creature with this Bite, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Constitution modifier.

Claws. Your hands elongate into savage claws that deal 1d6 slashing damage on hit. Whenever you take the Attack action on your turn and make only Claw attacks, you can make one additional Claw attack as part of that Attack action.

Tail. You sprout a long thick tail that deals 1d8 piercing damage on hit and has the reach property. When a creature within 10 feet that you can see targets you with a weapon attack, you can use your reaction to add one roll of your Exploit Die to your Armor Class against that attack.

Lycan Exploits

3rd-level Path of the Lycan feature
You learn certain Exploits at the Barbarian levels noted in
the table below. These don't count against your number of Exploits Known and can't be switched upon gaining a level.

Path of the Storm

Dwelling in places of great elemental power, Barbarians who follow the Path of the Storm come to embody the destructive power of the elements themselves. The primal fury of their Rage turns them into walking disasters; swirling blizzards, devastating hurricanes, and sweltering storms of flame.

Magic Awareness

3rd-level Path of Wild Sorcery feature
As an action, you can open your awareness to the presence of magic. Until the end of your next turn, you know the location of spells or magic items within 60 feet that aren't behind total cover. When you sense a spell, you learn its school of magic.

You can use this feature once per short or long rest at no cost, after which you must expend an Exploit Die to use it.

Sorcerous Exploits

3rd-level Path of Wild Sorcery feature
You learn certain Exploits at the Barbarian levels noted in
the table below. These don't count against your number of Exploits Known and can't be switched upon gaining a level.

Wild Sorcery

3rd-level Path of Wild Sorcery feature
When you Rage, you roll on the Wild Sorcery table on the following page to determine the magic effect you produce.

If a Wild Sorcery effect requires a saving throw, targets make their saving throws against your Exploit save DC.

Sorcerous Infusion

6th-level Path of Wild Sorcery feature
As an action, you can touch a creature, including yourself, and confer one of the following benefits to that creature:

• Choose an ability score, for 10 minutes, when the target makes an ability check or saving throw with that ability score it gains a bonus to its roll equal to your Exploit Die.
• The creature gains temporary hit points equal to your level + your Exploit Die. For as long as the temporary hit points last, the target is immune to Wild Sorcery effects.
• You touch a target and expend any number of Exploit Dice. The target regains an expended spell slot of a level equal to the number of Exploit Dice you expend.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses each time you finish a long rest.

Unstable Sorcery

10th-level Path of Wild Sorcery feature
Your unpredictable magic lashes out to protect you. When you take damage or fail a saving throw while Raging, you can use a reaction to immediately roll on the Wild Sorcery table.

Sorcerous Warrior

14th-level Path of Wild Sorcery feature
Whenever you roll on the Wild Sorcery table you can roll
    twice and choose the magical result that takes place.

Champion of the Gods

3rd-level Path of the Zealot feature
You have been chosen for a divine purpose. Spellcasters can cast spells that restore you to life (not undeath) such as raise dead, without needing the normal material components.

Divine Fury

3rd-level Path of the Zealot feature
Your weapon strikes are imbued with the celestial power of the god you serve. While you are Raging, the first creature you hit with a weapon attack on each of your turns takes bonus damage equal to one roll of your Exploit Die + your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1).

The type of this bonus damage changes depending on your alignment: Good (radiant), Neutral (thunder), Evil (necrotic).

Zealous Exploits

3rd-level Path of the Zealot feature
You learn certain Exploits at the Barbarian levels noted in
the table below. These don't count against your number of Exploits Known and can't be switched upon gaining a level.

Fanatical Focus

6th-level Path of the Zealot feature
Your divine cause propels you to find success when others would fail. When you fail a saving throw while Raging, you can expend an Exploit Die, roll it, and add the result to your saving throw, possibly turning a failure into a success.

Divine Mandate

10th-level Path of the Zealot feature
As a bonus action on your turn, you can issue a divine battle cry to your allies. Up to 10 creatures that can hear you within 60 feet have advantage on all attack rolls and saving throws until the beginning of your next turn.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Rage Beyond Death

14th-level Path of the Zealot feature
The gods will not allow you to die while you still serve them. Being reduced to 0 hit points while Raging doesn’t knock you unconscious. While in this state, you still make death saving throws as normal, and you suffer the normal effects of taking damage while at 0 hit points. If you start your turn with three failed death saving throws you must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw to maintain your Rage.

If your Rage ends and you still have 0 hit points, you fall unconscious. If you have three failed death saves, you die.