Idea for a Barbarian build

[Nobby]

I'm currently playing through the game with a couple of m8's and loving every second of it. We started talking about our next playthrough already (not even through act 1 yet) and I'm pretty sure I want to go Barbarian. The idea I had was just to go all out Hulk mode with the barbarian (not necessarily unarmed, just stupid and hard hitting / me go smash type).

I'm still quite new to all of this so I'm not sure if I'm building this one correctly or not, but would love to get some feedback (especially when it comes to feats or AIS)

So far I had the following in mind:
Half - Orc
Soldier background

STR: 17 / DEX 16 / CON 15 / INT/WIS/CHAR 8

Lvl 1 -> 5: Barbarian
lvl3: Berserker
Lvl4: GWM / Polearm

lvl 6 -> 9: Fighter
Action surge
Battle master (trip, sweep & push manoeuvres)
extra feat (here I'm not sure if I should pick the other one that I took at lvl 4 or if I should go AIS for STR 18 & CON 16)

lvl 10 -> 12: Rogue
Pick up thief subclass for extra bonus action

Could this build work as a barbarian?

Cheers for any tips.

[Abaddon the Despoiler]

Ask Crom.

[Vixziค็็็็็n]

Originally posted by Abaddon the Despoiler:

Ask crom.

Hahah I see what you did there. That said prepare to be sorely disappointed when your Barbarian sounds like he stepped straight out of a UK prep school.

[Nobby]

Originally posted by Abaddon the Despoiler:

Ask Crom.

Got the answering machine. Something about Conan needing more oil or something

[Trapmaker]

Originally posted by Nobby:

I'm currently playing through the game with a couple of m8's and loving every second of it. We started talking about our next playthrough already (not even through act 1 yet) and I'm pretty sure I want to go Barbarian. The idea I had was just to go all out Hulk mode with the barbarian (not necessarily unarmed, just stupid and hard hitting / me go smash type).

I'm still quite new to all of this so I'm not sure if I'm building this one correctly or not, but would love to get some feedback (especially when it comes to feats or AIS)

So far I had the following in mind:
Half - Orc
Soldier background

STR: 17 / DEX 16 / CON 15 / INT/WIS/CHAR 8

Lvl 1 -> 5: Barbarian
lvl3: Berserker
Lvl4: GWM / Polearm

lvl 6 -> 9: Fighter
Action surge
Battle master (trip, sweep & push manoeuvres)
extra feat (here I'm not sure if I should pick the other one that I took at lvl 4 or if I should go AIS for STR 18 & CON 16)

lvl 10 -> 12: Rogue
Pick up thief subclass for extra bonus action

Could this build work as a barbarian?

Cheers for any tips.

I suppose that works, I wouldn't take berserker though esp if you're getting GWM since GWM gets you bonus action attacks on crit/kills anyway, IMO bear heart is probably the best barbarian subclass, As for feats vs ASI's some feats are good a lot of them are pretty meh, So ASI's are pretty good.

As an addon to this i'd probably ditch the rogue dip and put the rest of the levels into fighter so you get a third ASI, And i'd probably take riposte over pushing attack.

[yuzhonglu]

I went barb 8/ rogue 4 and throw-barb with tavern brawler. Quite effective.

[Nobby]

Originally posted by Trapmaker:

I suppose that works, I wouldn't take berserker though esp if you're getting GWM since GWM gets you bonus action attacks on crit/kills anyway, IMO bear heart is probably the best barbarian subclass, As for feats vs ASI's some feats are good a lot of them are pretty meh, So ASI's are pretty good.

As an addon to this i'd probably ditch the rogue dip and put the rest of the levels into fighter so you get a third ASI, And i'd probably take riposte over pushing attack.

Ah nice thanks for the tip. Had a bit of a look into wildheart and diving strike does sound pretty thematic of what I'm trying to go for :)

I forgot that fighter get a feat at lvl 6 too. Then I'd probably go 6 barb / 6 fight

[Nobby]

Originally posted by yuzhonglu:

I went barb 8/ rogue 4 and throw-barb with tavern brawler. Quite effective.

Which subclasses and feats (besides tavern brawler) did you take?

[TheMasterBlaster]

if want an indestructible Hulk barbarian, you absolutely need Bear Heart. Forget about Eagle Heart.

if you're playing a Half-Orc, go with Champion instead of Battle Master.

Here's what I'd do...

Level 1-5 Fighter (you want that Extra Attack ASAP)
Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
Subclass: Champion
Feat: ASI 1 or 2 points into STR to 18, another point into CON if you only need 1 point for STR

then

Barbarian Level 6-9 (maybe remove your armor if Unarmored Defense is better)
Subclass: Wildheart, Bear Heart
Feat: Great Weapon Master (not so much for the +10 damage as for the crit triggered Bonus Action attack)

then

Fighter Level 10-12
Feat: Mage Slayer (for the Reaction Attack, especially potent with a Reach weapon)
Feat: Tough

[Nobby]

Originally posted by TheMasterBlaster:

if want an indestructible Hulk barbarian, you absolutely need Bear Heart. Forget about Eagle Heart.

if you're playing a Half-Orc, go with Champion instead of Battle Master.

Here's what I'd do...

Level 1-5 Fighter (you want that Extra Attack ASAP)
Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting
Subclass: Champion
Feat: ASI 1 or 2 points into STR to 18, another point into CON if you only need 1 point for STR

then

Barbarian Level 6-9 (maybe remove your armor if Unarmored Defense is better)
Subclass: Wildheart, Bear Heart
Feat: Great Weapon Master (not so much for the +10 damage as for the crit triggered Bonus Action attack)

then

Fighter Level 10-12
Feat: Mage Slayer (for the Reaction Attack, especially potent with a Reach weapon)
Feat: Tough

Sweet this also looks like a very interesting build, thanks for that.

So champion in this case is better to focus more on the crits I take it?

Is mage slayer better than polearm for instance? I'm not far in the game yet but I would think mages are usually further away and taken care by more ranged attacks? It limits weapon choices granted but it seems like quite a decent feat as well

[Sir_Baldur]

I've been enjoying my BardBarbarian

Level 1 Barbarian.

Defeat the Cambion for the flaming sword.

If you don't have a lock-pick/face character - then going the next 4 levels in bard - then taking the sentinel feat (granting you your second attack) - can be rewarding. You can thunderwave enemies off a cliff, use song of rest for an extra short rest, and pretty much win every dialogue encounter through taking expertise in intimidate. The game provides several extremely powerful polearms throughout Act 2, giving you plenty of weapons to use sentinel with.


You can find clothing that provides either +2 con or +2 str in the game.

You can find bracers of defense in the basement of the blighted village.

The rest of my levels I put into barbarian to end with 4 Bard - 8 Barbarian.

For barbarian subclass either the wild mage or berserker will work well with this build.

[Darkaiser]

Originally posted by Sir_Baldur:

I've been enjoying my BardBarbarian

Level 1 Barbarian.

Defeat the Cambion for the flaming sword.

If you don't have a lock-pick/face character - then going the next 4 levels in bard - then taking the sentinel feat (granting you your second attack) - can be rewarding. You can thunderwave enemies off a cliff, use song of rest for an extra short rest, and pretty much win every dialogue encounter through taking expertise in intimidate. The game provides several extremely powerful polearms throughout Act 2, giving you plenty of weapons to use sentinel with.


You can find clothing that provides either +2 con or +2 str in the game.

You can find bracers of defense in the basement of the blighted village.

The rest of my levels I put into barbarian to end with 4 Bard - 8 Barbarian.

For barbarian subclass either the wild mage or berserker will work well with this build.

Spoiler









If you injure the Hag badly without killing her, she will negotiate for her life. You can get a buff from her that increases one stat for one character by 2 IIRC.

[steelcoresoviet]

You want that 6th level of barbarian for the Elk feature. It makes every fight easier for you and your entire party.

Also, soldier is wasted on Half-Orc until they fix double skills. Outlander might be better.

[BigJ]

What someone said above me, looks great but you either want to commit to throw ♥♥♥♥ barbarian with thief and tavern brawler or you go bear which is extremely durable and have a bulwark.

Or you could go 1 lvl into wild magic sorcerer for the lols.