. In fact, it’s often called an overpowered feat because of the extra damage output (two extra attacks per round in optimal conditions). Simple weapons; Martial weapons; Best Weapons for the Paladin in 5e 15. This article is for the 2014 DnD 5e rules. Apr 22, 2019 · BARBARIAN 5E CLASS GUIDE FOR DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS The Power of Swole Every problem is a nail if you've got a big enough hammer, and barbarians are the rage-fueled muscle class needed to bring that hammer down in dnd 5e. Sep 16, 2022 · The best weapon for a Barbarian depends on what your priorities are; the classic combo is greataxe and the Great Weapon Master feat, since with Reckless Attacks you can counteract the -5 hit penalty for +10 damage to put out some really solid damage if that's all you really care about. Polearm Master lets a character taking the Attack action spend their Bonus Action on a low damage bonus attack. Recently released in Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants, the Path of the Giant Barbarian initially left me feeling a bit underwhelmed, though I still thought it was easily in the upper half of Barbarian subclasses. Polearm Master on the other hand is a bit contentious. Simply put, the combination of GWM and Polearm Master has a filthily high damage output, as you get a bonus action attack, and can use GWM on it too. He basically has 2 chance to hit, and if they both hit it's 4D6 damage. 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. You can reference the table from the PHB and read my commentary below. Let's do some (rough) fun math! Assume that you're fighting an endless mob of ac 15 critters. Jan 9, 2023 · The Beast Barbarian is unique to other Barbarians because its number of attacks can match or exceed the Polearm Master feat norm. Aug 15, 2019 · I'm building an 8th level Zealot Barbarian for an ongoing campaign and I'm thinking about taking the Polearm Master and Sentinel feats because it's a pretty nice combo to protect your party and to apply rage bonus damage. Oct 19, 2023 · For pure damage output, claws cannot rival GWM/Polearm Master. Dec 23, 2022 · A glaive is a long reach weapon that consists of a blade at the end of a polearm. For a Fighter, the Crossbow Expert/Sharpshooter is the "optimal" fighter build. unlike the javelin, these polearms are made with melee as their primary use. These are the 5e Barbarian class features you gain and their levels. Fighting Style: Protection/Defense. Shield Master is a defensive choice, letting you try and knock enemies prone, which the Barbarian is excellent at, gaining Advantage to the check whenever they’re raging. Sometimes, all a sharp-eyed rogue needs is a well-placed dagger. Is a spear versatile? A Bugbear with polearm master, and let's say a spear. May 2, 2017 · Mine is a Half-Elf Barbarian 2/Champion 5/Rogue 13. Whether you’re looking to soar through the skies or unleash your fury in Feb 8, 2018 · The relevant reach for the opportunity attack on an approaching enemy is the reach of your polearm, because the rules have changed. Improvised Weapons. This table does not include the optional 5e Barbarian class features that were added in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. Aug 2, 2023 · It’s RAW! A Giant Barbarian Build for 5e. I’m still of the opinion that Polearm Master is worth it, especially because its There are more occasions where there can be restrictions on melee attacks. Giant’s Power. 3rd-Level Path of the Giant Feature. This guide is meant as a deep dive into the DnD 5e barbarian. Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Fifth Edition (5e) Equipment, Gear, & Items - Halberd - Proficiency with a halberd allows you to add your proficiency bonus t May 9, 2018 · Polearm Master says in part: While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, or quarterstaff, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach. Now it's the enemies turn, when the enemy approaches to 5 feet the bugbear gets an attack of opportunity, since an enemy enters his range of 5 feet with a spear. Here’s why: The Bonus Action Attack. If we are fighting a melee-exclusive enemy that has no ranged attacks (for example, a troll) then we should position in such a way as to force the creature to have to Dash towards us instead of taking an offensive action – in such cases, throw a javelin at the enemy. Polearm master's bludgeon strike, barbarian (using rage is a bonus action), triggering tunnel fighter, all use your bonus action. Some polearms are versatile and can be wielded with one hand. a typical range of 30 feet allows you to hit most enemies at a more extended range. Mar 28, 2023 · Best Feats for Wild Magic Barbarian 5e. The best way I can think to use this is for critical hit fishing with a war pick or a pike. Warforged – Leaning defense rather than attack, Warforged have a passive +1 to AC, a strong bonus that’s hard to find anywhere else and makes the character significantly tougher, as well as Jan 12, 2024 · Welcome to our Aarakocra Barbarian Guide for Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition! In this guide, we will delve into the unique combination of the Aarakocra race and the Barbarian class, providing you with tips and strategies to create a powerful and thrilling character. Apr 19, 2018 · MONSTERS OF DRAKKENHEIM is 300+ pages of eldritch horror inspired monsters for 5e by the Dungeon Dudes! Coming to Kickstarter March 26th, 2024: https://www. Put the barbarian class and the fighter class together and you have a warrior of both skill and brutality Mar 27, 2023 · Best Feats for Battlerager Barbarian 5e. 5/Pathfinder where you can either accidentally or intentionally make a bad character. Its features, like those of most other barbarian subclasses, take effect as you make an attack or enter a rage. Nov 20, 2023 · Mechanically identical to the Glaive. The benefits are great, but the exhaustion level after use is very scary. Hulk smash your way through your enemies and let out a Published; Legend; AI: Acquisitions Incorporated: BG:DA: Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus: BOMT: The Book of Many Things: BP:GOG: Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants Aug 2, 2023 · The Path of the Giant Barbarian Path offers a Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition berserker with some long-ranged options. First, you'll fight not only undead, there will belots of other monsters -- without disclosing anything about the campaign, for Dracula-style gothic horror think wolves, bats May 26, 2024 · Barbarian Class Features D&D 5e. Source: Bigby Presents - Glory of the Giants. 10K views 1 year ago #dnd5e #dnd #dungeonsanddragons. At ninth level, Paladin 8th, we’ll take an ASI for +2 Charisma. Mar 12, 2022 · Crusher 5e FAQs What's the best weapon to use with Crusher? Different weapons will shine in different scenarios. Take both of these feats at levels 4 and 8, then boost strength from there. Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Fifth Edition (5e) Equipment, Gear, & Items - Lance - Proficiency with a lance allows you to add your proficiency bonus to th Apr 13, 2019 · You can also get a benefit from bonus action attacks. 3 chances to hit with a bonus action. This build has a different twist on that approach once we reach level four. Feb 14, 2022 · Polearm Master in a nut shell: The polearm master feat is a strong feat in 5E that allows a PC using a glaive, halberd, pike, or quarterstaff to take an opportunity attack every time an enemy moves into their range, as well as giving the option of using a bonus action to get a second melee attack with the weapon using a d4 die to represent the Jun 4, 2021 · The real problem is that another barbarian with an halberd and Polearm Master can basically do the same thing as the subclass main privilege. Apr 29, 2022 · The Barbarian is most effectively built as a high-output melee damage build. The Reckless Attack offsets the -5 for GWM. 1% chance of scoring a critical on any attack. A character needs to use both hands to swing this weapon. Polearms are among the most advantageous weapon types in D&D, and the Barbarian is ideally suited to using glaives and halberds. Apr 20, 2022 · A 5e Dungeons & Dragons Guide to Barbarian / Fighter Multiclassing Barbarians are warriors of rage and power who crush their foes while shrugging off lethal injuries. I am wondering if someone could shine some light on the most optimal build alternative for a Fighter with the Polearm Master feat. Sticking with melee combat, one of the most potent battlefield control feats is Polearm Master. They don’t use magic weapons as much, but the volume of attacks and freedom to choose other feats can be freeing. The description of the Reach weapon property says: The Barbarian capstone is so good, that you might want to just stay Barb. When a barbarian who follows this path rages, the barbarian contacts the spirit world and calls on these guardian spirits for aid. Polearm Master/Great Weapon Master (ASAP): These two feats form the core of our main attacking strategy. The 5e barbarian has some deceptive nuance to build and run, even if you do end up wielding it as a blunt instrument. Whack, whack, Bonus Action whack, and away without having to worry about AoO from that goblin fighter. A glaive, for example, has a heavy steel blade. DND 5e Character Builds. Their rage grants them superior strength, durability, and speed. Also, with the combos you are thinking of, you are building up on bonus actions. This wiki hosts DND 5e content that is setting-specific, play-test content, or unofficial 'homebrew' content. Rogues are the best example of this because their Sneak Attack usually nets huge damage and can only be used once per turn. Currently lvl 2, rebuild is possible at lvl 3. This is the best ranged character for Barbarian, which is hilarious, and also provides some intense area control. The Polearm Master feat then allows you to make an additional attack using your bonus action. When Raging, a D&D 5e barbarian cannot cast or concentrate on spells. And there you have it, adventurers – our comprehensive dive into some of the best D&D 5e character builds. In battle, your totem spirit fills you with supernatural might, adding magical fuel to your barbarian rage. Most barbarian tribes consider a totem animal to be kin to a particular clan. It's very understandable that this question got brought up. Good choices include Great Weapon Master and Polearm Master, which revolve around having the biggest weapon you can carry, then attacking more often with it. The Path of the Zealot is the best D&D 5e barbarian subclass for most damage-focused builds. Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields Weapons: Simple weapons Jun 18, 2024 · The number of mastery properties you can learn is specified in your class's version of the Weapon Mastery feature. When using point buy, the character can invest 7 points in Constitution to start with a 16, 9 points in I am creating a level 8 barbarian to join a campaign and made a shifter totem warrior barbarian. 8. of a target. May 20, 2024 · The Beast Barbarian is unique to other Barbarians because its number of attacks can match or exceed the Polearm Master feat norm. If he takes Polearm Master as a feat, at level 5 he will do 2D10+1D4 damage assuming every hit hits. Bugbears have the Long-Limbed trait: When you make a melee attack on your turn, your reach for it is 5 feet greater than normal. The only difference is you have to take that attack with the Polearm immediately. The main problem with Polearm Master is the use of the Bonus action, as Rage and other subclass features are activated using a Bonus action, meaning you won’t use Polearm Master’s Jan 22, 2023 · Can You Dual-Wield Polearms in 5e? No. The +1 Wis helps ensure this, as well, bolstering a fairly commonly attacked save. Nov 10, 2023 · Polearm Master is a game-changing feat for a Zealot barbarian build in D&D 5e. Source: Player's Handbook. Its free radiant or necrotic damage on one hit per turn stacks with Rage, Divine Smite, and other features to make a vicious hard-hitter. 58K subscribers. If you go polearm master, you'll get a bonus 1d4+str attack but will lose +1 dam a hit and will hit 5% less often. These tribes teach that the warriors of the past linger in the world as mighty spirits, who can guide and protect the living. Aug 17, 2024 · Polearm Master PHB: Druids generally don’t use weapons, but polearm master works with quarterstaffs, and you can use Shillelagh with a quarterstaff, so Polearm Master isn’t a totally terrible idea for a Circle of Spores druid. It Dec 17, 2023 · Fighting Style is an important feature for some martial classes, offering a meaningful boost which supports your preferred weaponry. while the javelin does not count as a polearm, there are many ways that they are more versatile. Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links that add gold to our coffers. Sep 19, 2023 · Increased opportunity attack range (since most polearms are longer than 5ft) helps Barbarians punish enemies around them for charging their party members. The color code below has been implemented to help you identify, at a glance, how good that option will be for your barbarian. Gather your party and venture forth! The new UA Path of the Giant barbarian makes for some truly mind boggling reach builds. Since you can’t exactly pull off Two-Weapon Fighting with a polearm, the only way to unlock this ability is by taking the Polearm Master feat. Character optimization guide for the DnD 5e Circle of Spores Druid Aug 22, 2023 · Polearm Master – Three of the specified weapons for polearm master, the glaive, halberd, and pike, all have the heavy property as well as the reach property. It can deal more damage, rally allies to improve their performance, and ignore mortal Feb 29, 2024 · the Stick-and-Board Champion isn’t a new concept, as it builds off of a concept that has been popular since the beginning of 5E: arming a fighter with a quarterstaff and shield, then taking advantage of the Dueling fighting style and the the polearm master feat. I would take variant Human for one of the Feats but lose some ability points. You gain the following benefits: When you take the Attack action and attack with only a glaive, halberd, quarterstaff, or spear, you can use a bonus action to make a melee attack with the opposite end of the weapon. Jul 20, 2023 · Warlock covers a ton of problems Barbarian faces in just two or three levels. Oct 23, 2023 · Paladin Weapon Proficiency. With a reach of 20-25 feet in combat and the ability to throw allies and opponents like a sack of potatoes, our Path of the Giant Bugbear Barbarian is going Jan 15, 2024 · Not every adventurer is a buff barbarian swinging a two-handed greataxe. It offers one extra way to deal damage, and then spins off into a pseudo-support role. It’s not an easy build to go for! But, you’ll be rewarded with massive AC and not a huge decrease in damage. Feb 29, 2024 · Versatile weapons in D&D 5e offer a unique combination of flexibility and power, making them a valuable choice for adventurers who value the ability to adapt to changing combat scenarios. Polearm Master/Great Weapon Master (ASAP): So you may have noticed that both Polearm Master and our Spike Armor allow us to make a d4 bonus action attack, so why do we even care about taking the feat? Well, it’s pretty simple. And 5e is NOT 3. However, since Shillelagh also consumes your Bonus Action you’ll want to cast it ahead of time to make sure that Feb 21, 2024 · The best Barbarian feats in DnD 5e are those that complement their playstyle and base class features well. Proficiencies. Aug 17, 2024 · Barbarian: As much as I would love to put Reckless Attack on a paladin, the Barbarian’s class features often don’t function in heavy armor and going for light or medium armor means that your paladin suddenly needs four high ability scores, which is simply unattainable in DnD 5e. Barbarians' staple class feature is Rage, which gives advantage on Strength Aug 17, 2024 · Barbarian subclasses make a significant difference in how your barbarian works. So, check out our Dex Barbarian 5E guide if you want to try something new. The Totem Warrior Barbarian is known as the most customizable path out of all the paths. But taking both it and Mobile is an incredibly strong combo that’s worth going over in much closer detail. Check with your DM to see if what you find here is a good fit for your table. You can reference those features below. Take Polearm Master at level 1, then GWM at level 4. Aug 24, 2023 · The Holy Marauder: Zealot Barbarian 5E. 8% chance of hitting vs polearm master's normal 60% chance. Go for Half-Orc Fighter (Champion) 3 or 4, then consider straight Barbarian after that for Reckless Attack and Brutal Critical. Because D&D 5e’s AC doesn’t scale with levels, taking a -5 to hit to get +10 damage is a no brainer at higher levels. Rogues, rangers, and paladins can only access two mastery properties at a time, whereas barbarians and fighters start with two and three, respectively, and eventually gain access to more mastery properties, as detailed in their Features table. Notably this option is the only one that allows for a shield, or the one-handed or heavy properties, which open up the options of using Fighting Sep 17, 2019 · Polearm Fighter Build: Everything You Need to Know The “polearm master” feat inevitably comes up whenever people discuss optimized fighter builds in Dungeons and Dragons. 5th Edition I'm quite new at level 3 on my first character and I'm trying to decide on what feat (or just stats) to take at level 4. The Player’s Handbook introduced the Path of the Totem Warrior Barbarian. I find that in 5e, even a "sub-optimal" character can contribute and have fun. Their Rage ability gives them additional damage to each strike, so more attacks will always be better. Early on, the World Tree Barbarian’s protection comes in the form of granting temporary hit points to an ally every round, a solid way to absorb the damage a fellow front-liner might take. Mar 12, 2022 · Barbarian: Polearm users are usually defensive, patient, and precise. +2 AC, and if you take the Dueling fighting style you would get +2 damage to your Aug 1, 2024 · Introduction The Path of the World Tree Barbarian is all about channeling the world tree, Yggdrasil, to keep your friends safe and your enemies close. Jul 13, 2022 · Polearm Master is a feat that allows the user to make an attack as a bonus action with the back end of a polearm type weapon listed in the feat’s text as long as the user has also made the attack action and used the primary attack of the polearm. This feat makes opportunity attacks with polearms much more common by allowing you to make them when creatures approach you before they even get within your weapon's normal reach. So if you have Extra Attack, for example, and can attack twice per Attack action, you must make both attacks with your polearm. Storm Aura: This is a really great class feature, but the effects scale with barbarian class level so unless you’re a single-class barbarian the effects will gradually become less and less appealing as you gain levels. When combat starts, we should evaluate the position of ourselves and our allies in relation to the enemy. Mar 6, 2022 · Great Weapon Master is widely considered to be the best feat to take for great weapon melee builds. (Spells, terrain, etc) In dnd-5e all character should be able to make ranged attacks (and all classes are able to do so while putting themselves at most at a small disadvantage compared to their "main" attack mode). Great Weapon Master applies to the Polearm attack, not the spiked armor attack. When the sentinel lands an opportunity attack in a polearm’s 10-foot reach, the creature’s speed becomes 0. Barbarian subclasses tend to be easy to play and kind to your action economy, and the Path of the Giant is no different. With six years of experience playing and mastering the 5th edition of the game, Paul is a seasoned veteran who has run multiple long-term campaigns each week. An improvised weapon includes any object you can wield in one or two hands, such as broken glass, a table leg, a frying pan, a wagon wheel, or a dead goblin. Cons: - Somewhat MAD, requiring 13 Str, Dex Ability Score Improvement. While these benefits are often simple, there is a lot of interesting mathematical nuance when comparing Fighting Styles, and understanding that nuance can help you get the most out of your character. It also means the Polearm Master is less likely to take an AoO on retreat. This would be overpowered enough for a barbarian to have such range on the battlefield; however, players can also choose the bear as their Totem Spirit with the Path of the Totem Warrior. Fighters are versatile masters of combat who wield superior techniques and countless weapons with highly refined skill. In 5th edition, a weapon with the 'polearm' designation gains one or more benefit from the Polearm Master feat. ” Aug 26, 2023 · Path of the Giant Barbarian Handbook: DnD 5e Subclass Guide Rocco Giusto August 26, 2023 Elemental fury given to flesh Raw strength on a level mere mortals cannot contest The embodiment of earth, wind, water, and fire Mar 12, 2022 · Barbarian 5e Guide; Bard 5e Guide; Cleric 5e Guide; Druid 5e Guide; If you happen to have a reach longer than 5ft (such as with a polearm type weapon), this will It’s hard to find a reason to not take Polearm Master and Great Weapon Master as a barbarian; more attacks mean more rage damage, and reckless attack means the -5/+10 is vastly better. Feb 3, 2022 · By default, the race offers a +2 to Constitution, useful for any character’s survival, and a +1 to any other stat of the player’s choice. Aug 18, 2020 · 2. Sure, every barbarian is going to get angry and hit stuff, but there’s much more to it than that and your choice of Primal Path will do a lot to define your barbarian. Baldur's Gate III is based on a modified version of the Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition (D&D 5e) tabletop RPG ruleset. Barbarians who follow the Path of the Storm Herald learn instead to transform their rage into a mantle of primal magic that swirls around them. Some DMs will even call it overpowered or broken. Add your Superiority Dice and use Maneuvers while you attack in a flurry of claws. The highest damage option it provides for us is the claws, which I’ll explain later, the bite is only useful in niche circumstances, and the tail is a mediocre defensive option that uses up our reaction, something I’d much rather use on an opportunity attack provided by May 26, 2024 · The Zealot Barbarian polearm build has an edge at early levels, but it’s not by much! At higher levels, the Beast Barbarian can outshine the Zealot in an adventuring day with few combat encounters (one or two). Polearm Master is already a strong feat. When in a fury, a barbarian of this path taps into nature to create powerful, magical effects. A damage and tanking-oriented D&D polearm Barbarian build is one obvious choice for a Warforged. Apr 4, 2024 · Storm Aura is too dependent on barbarian class level to make it viable for a multiclassed character. Whether you’re a front-line fighter seeking the balance between attack and defense or a tactical warrior looking to maximize your combat options, versatile Nov 6, 2023 · DnD 5e's Circle of Spores Druid is a complexsubclass with interesting features which maximize your action economy, but take effort to master. The original wording of the Polearm Master feat certainly did imply that "your reach" might apply to any weapon, not just your polearm. At fifth level, Paladin 4th, we’ll be learning to be a War Caster. A barbarian's Rage Damage Bonus encourages them to make as many attacks as possible. May 26, 2024 · D&D 5e Path of the Ancestral Guardian Barbarian featured image credit to Wizards of the Coast’s D&D 5e Xanathar’s Guide to Everything. Whom likes to reckless stab people in their weak points. If you’re not opposed to these two feats out of spite, grab polearm master as soon as you can, and then great weapon master; this will skyrocket your damage. Whether you want to become a tanky juggernaut that ignores damage and rampages through enemies, or if you want to become a powerful duelist who can quickly eliminate enemies, or even pick up a more supportive role that grants allies advantage, the Totem The Best Barbarian Magic Items In D&D 5e, Ranked. Maneuvers: Parry, Brace, Bait and Switch . 3/5 Frenzy. May 26, 2024 · D&D 5e Path of the Totem Barbarian featured image is a combination of Wizards of the Coast’s Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden and Simon Berger’s photography at Unsplash. I went with Polearm Master first for the extra bonus 1d4 bludgeon attack and the use of your reaction at 10' reach at 1st level For another option, Bugbear will add another 5ft of reach to this build due to their Long-Limbed ability. Only afterwards can you use your bonus action to make the Polearm Master attack. Grapple Build. k In this Barbarian DnD 5E guide, we’ll train you on your options as a Barbarian, as well as supportive choices you can make to build your character to achieve what you want. Polearm Master/Great Weapon Master (ASAP): So yes, some of the options on the table do give us bonus actions to use each turn, but it’s only 3/8, so you’ve got less than a coin flip (also only 2 of those 3 deal damage). The halberd+bugbear+lvl 14 (and raging), gives a total reach of 25'. Cost: 10 GP Damage: 1d12 Piercing Weight: 6 lbs Properties: Reach, Special (Special property, see below) Oct 26, 2015 · Combine that with a polearm for reach and barbarian durability, and you have a character that likely just won’t ever die. Polearm Master You gain the following benefits: When you take the Attack action and attack with only a glaive, halberd, quarterstaff, or spear, you can use a bonus action to make a melee attack with Meet Paul, our Editor-in-Chief and resident expert on all things Dungeons and Dragons. The maul is the go-to choice for great weapon builds because it deals 2d6 and has the heavy property, the quarterstaff can work with Polearm Master and doesn't require proficiency with martial weapons, the warhammer offers versatility between 1d8 and 1d10 depending on how you wield Jul 26, 2023 · The Path of the Giant Barbarian Compared to Other Barbarian Subclasses . Sentinel is another good feat you will eventually want. So if the fighter does close with the rogue from outside the rogue's reach, it would provoke an OP (from Polearm Master, not from the regular OA rules). Mar 28, 2023 · Best Feats for Berserker Barbarian 5e. Polearm List . If you’re wanting a new Barbarian, we can walk you through this weird class in our Giant Barbarian 5E Guide. The handle is usually between five and six feet in length, which allows you to keep enemies away from you while still being able to deliver punishing blows. Barbarians can put out more than enough damage to contribute meaningfully in the vast majority of games by utilizing a combination of the Polearm Master and Great Weapon Master feats. Aug 29, 2023 · Path of the Storm Herald Barbarian 5e – Features Unlike other Barbarians, the Storm Herald Barbarian doesn’t channel their rage into physical strength or powerful armor. Aug 23, 2023 · Pick a Fighter or Paladin for your class; something decidedly beefy that can dish and take damage for days – I suppose a Barbarian could also work too. I’m very happy with this result! I didn’t think we’d do this well against the Zealot’s DPR. Sep 18, 2020 · Full Polearm Fighter 5e Build Guide: https://www. For my main weapon, I want to use a greate-axe and mix it with great weapn master (took it as the level 4 ASI option) for some great damage. Dex Barbarian 5E Guide Jul 16, 2020 · Barbarian 5e Guide Rating Scheme. As a barbarian, you gain the following class features. For a quick overview of other 5e classes, check out our Guide to DnD 5e Classes. The same is true for a halberd or a pike. Welcome to this Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition wiki. Tail + Polearm + Great Weapon Master Aug 17, 2024 · Polearm Master PHB: The Barbarian has very few options which require you to be within 5 ft. Aug 8, 2019 · I'm going to play a half-orc Barbarian (with a STR modifier of +4) in a soon-to-begin, pure PHB D&D 5E campaign, starting at level 1, and I'm wondering what the best overall attacking style is, combined with the corresponding feat: one great weapon (d12) or two regular weapons (2d8)? Aug 5, 2021 · One of the best all-around melee builds in Dungeons & Dragons is a Variant Human, polearm-wielding, Totem Warrior Barbarian. Jun 27, 2023 · Add Extra Damage: Class features that add extra damage to your strikes, like the rogue’s Sneak Attack, barbarian’s Rage, or paladin’s Divine Smite, are all good ways to increase the potency of your opportunity attacks. This deals d4 bludgeoning damage. Some content found on this page may not be suitable for play at your table. Instead, they create a rage-filled mantle of pure primal magic to cover their entire body. Move the Dexterity increase into Constitution and consider moving the skill into something like Perception, but otherwise the Barbarian is a great fit for the Bugbear. + 27. A Zealot barbarian build with Polearm Master can use their bonus action for a lower-damage strike that will hit harder than many characters' standard attacks. 7 official and unofficial polearms. Great Weapon Master/Polearm Master* (ASAP): Obviously we are taking Great Weapon Master, I don’t feel like that needs much discussion. The Best Barbarian Magic Items In D&D 5e, Ranked. Barbarians are naturally tanky, high-risk, high-reward melee warriors who prefer to be in the thick of battle, dishing out pain while absorbing damage for their party. Both give good tactical fun in combat situations. In my real-life gaming, the discussion of who does the most 'damage-per-round' and who is the most 'optimized' has never come up. Dec 10, 2022 · At first level, we train diligently to Master the Polearm by taking Polearm Master. (And of course, you are attacking recklessly, to offset the downside of GWM). Whilst reading through this guide, you may find our articles on DnD terms and list of DnD books (and their common abbreviations) helpful. Jun 25, 2020 · First off, so no one branches too far out, the character I am making will be a human variant totem barbarian (bear all the way through). The best D&D 5e barbarian paladin multiclass builds make use of a quirk of Rage. You have mastered techniques to take advantage of every drop in any enemy's guard, gaining the following benefits. The blade is typically curved, making it perfect for broad slashing sweeps. You can totally use the Barbarian, but if you take the Berserker path and the Polearm Master feet, keep in mind that the Frenzy ability of that path will be sort of useless to you, as it grants you a separate melee attack as a bonus action, and so does Polearm Master. Large polearms require two hands to use properly. Dwarf: [+2 Con] This is a strong choice for a Barbarian but the weapon racial adders seem to be wasted. Nov 9, 2020 · Or, does it? One extremely uncommon inclination is a Dexterity-based Barbarian… admittedly, for good reason. skullsplitterdice. Mar 29, 2023 · Best Feats for Beast Barbarian 5e. Nov 21, 2023 · Barbarian. 5e cleaned up previous editions’ library of specific polearms because there wasn’t a way to distinguish them in 5e’s relatively simple mechanics when compared to previous editions, so it’s weird that WotC created two perfectly identical weapons that amount to “choppy blade on a long stick. Jan 22, 2023 · Feats: Polearm Master, Sentinel, Fighting Initiate . Frequently Asked Questions Is a spear a polearm? Yes, along with glaives, halberds, quarterstaffs, and pikes, a spear counts as a polearm in D&D 5e. The Berserker offers Retaliation, and the Totem Warrior has a couple options (Totem Spirit (Wolf) and Totemic Attunement (Bear)), but if you’re fine not relying on those options, a reach weapon and Polearm Master can be tempting. Aug 29, 2023 · Path of the Totem Warrior Barbarian 5e – Features. Polearm Master + Sentinel. Rating the Benefits of Polearm Master. Barbarian Mar 29, 2023 · Best Feats for Zealot Barbarian 5e. It’s the party protector with lots She is Bugbear (MPMM) Barbarian (Ancestral Guardian), 27 point buy stats (plus three house-ruled +1's at lvl 5,10,15). Feb 26, 2024 · Polearm Master - Opportunity Attacks. Stacking that, a polearm and the boost gained from Rage means that from level 3, a Bugbear Giant Barbarian has a truly absurd 20ft melee attack range. Or with GWM a 57. The d12s make it all worth it. I have crafted a Barbarian bugbear that uses a halberd weapon, and will take Polearm Mastery as a feat. An extra attack, even one that deals lower-than-average damage, is a big deal, especially when wielding a two-handed weapon. 344. Aug 17, 2024 · You could combine this with Polearm Master, but given the choice I would rather do Polearm Master+Sentinel. Is it? Should you play one? We’re going to dive deep into the concept and provide you with everything you need to know. Also, I will not take any more feats after the one I pick to start with so no Polearm Master/Sentinel comboing. \$\endgroup\$ – Jan 27, 2022 · Barbarian 5e Guide; Bard 5e Guide; Cleric 5e Guide; Druid 5e Guide Polearm Master is great for getting additional hits off with the melee Hexblades stacked Pact Mar 11, 2024 · The feat also lets the Polearm Barbarian take attacks of opportunity when an enemy enters their reach, which with the polearm will be 10 feet rather than five. 5 damage that'll hit 60% of the time. Aug 15, 2023 · So, if you’re building a polearm Giant barbarian and want to use Mighty Impel to toss enemies around and attack them while prone, you’ll have to close the distance to do it. Polearm Master and Mobile. by Prince Phantom. I've heard big praise for Polearm Master, but Great Weapon Master also caught my eye since it does affect glaives. Here is a build of a bugbear with a halberd; no fancy multiclassing, just pure barbarian. Using the Polearm Master feat with Extra Attack works very similarly to the dual-wielding rules we discussed earlier in this article. Pros: + Online by 6th level. Can attack a target in HIS turn at 10 feet, with the long arms. This subclass leaves my optimization trained brain confused. When you hit a creature with an opportunity attack, the creature's speed becomes 0 for the rest of the turn. When you reach 4th level, and again at 6th, 8th, 12th, 14th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. Aug 2, 2022 · Vanilla Barbarian with Polearm Master and GWM starts at net 10 damage, and averages about 30 net damage per round I think it is a trap to worry too much about bludgeoning. Sometimes characters don't have their weapons and have to attack with whatever is close at hand. This is because the Archery Fighting style gives the +2 which increases the odds of landing the -5/+10. Oct 28, 2022 · polearms in d&d are restricted to the glaive, halberd, quarterstaff, or spear. Only the glaive and halberd can be used for the first part of the feature which allows you to make a bonus attack with the blunt end, but all three can be used to make wider opportunity A Fighter at level 5 with a Greatsword does 4D6 damage with no bonus actions. Xanathar’s Guide to Everything introduced the Path of the Ancestral Guardian Barbarian. Nov 10, 2023 · The Path of the Zealot barbarian in D&D 5e has a wide net of features with a focus on combat excellence. So, actually Barbarian is the best class for a GWM/PAM build. ; Grab the Defense or Superior Technique Fighting Style; you’re going to be trying to put yourself in harm’s way as much as possible, so Defense can get your AC up even though your hands are too full to use a shield, or you can use your Apr 21, 2021 · So you must use the Attack action to attack with a polearm for all the attacks you get with your attack action. The Zealot is an incredibly interesting option for a Primal Path. If your table only ever does 1-2 encounters per day, I suppose frenzy is enough and you don’t need Polearm Master. This guide aims to delve into the world of simple weapons in 5e, offering insights into their mechanics, usage, and strategic importance in your adventures. (Thank you dual wielding!) + Deals competitive damage to a Polearm Master build. It would be great if there were more valid feat options for barbarians, but at least in current 5e, these two feats are superior to all the others out there. May 9, 2021 · Level 1 Strategy. Aug 26, 2023 · Have an incredible melee combat reach of 25 ft with a polearm; Utilize giant themed background and feats from Glory of the Giants Select Bugbear race to maximize our reach and surprise attack; control enemy movement for everyone in our 20-25 ft aura; This Path of the Giant Barbarian guide is aimed at levels 1 through 14. A barbarian with polearm master and sentinel also gets to reckless attack from 10 ft away, move back and stop the opponent getting close enough to use advantage attacks by hitting the advancing opponent on its turn and reducing its move to 0. "The primordial power of your rage intensifies. Benefit #1 – After attacking, a character armed with a polearm can use their bonus action to make a special attack. While polearm master only provides a measly d4 damage attack, the real punch comes from adding your Strength modifier (up to +5) and GWM (+10). So yes Polearm master adds an extra attack (although not on the first round when you rage), that's an extra 1d4+4+2 damage for an average of 8. Lance. Druids also are an interesting route to explore, mainly in terms of the Circle of the Moon. A community all about Baldur's Gate III, the role-playing video game by Larian Studios. Nov 19, 2023 · D&D 5e Path Of The Zealot Barbarian Build Guide. Surprise Attack is made considerably more reliable thanks to Reckless Attack, though you’ll still need to roll well on initiative. Apr 6, 2023 · Is Polearm Master 5e a Good Feat? Yes, Polearm Master is a good feat if you are a martial character — a Fighter, Paladin, or Barbarian, to be more specific. May 25, 2022 · Path of the Totem Warrior Barbarian Handbook: DnD 5e Subclass Guide – RPGBOT Rocco Giusto May 25, 2022 Outside on a winter’s night as the rain begins to fall There’s a chill in the air and the howl of a wolf while the rain beats at the door Seven kings will ride on the wind up towards the mountains high And the only sound that will break That brutal Barbarian trying to slice you to pieces? Yeah, that one'll spend the rest of his or her turn rooted to the spot and watching the fight go on without him or her. This doesn’t scream “barbarian,” but barbarians can still make great use of this feat. The barbarian who walks this path has survived such an encounter and has gained extraordinary abilities from the experience. The polearm master gains ways to trade bonus actions and reactions for extra attacks. Some barbarians hail from cultures that revere their ancestors. Level 12-20 Barbarian: You only need 13 Barbarian levels to get brutal critical 2, optional to exchange a level into fighter to get another ability score improvement instead of retaliation. CMCC Builds. Encounters with the terrors of the deep can break the minds of the weak-willed, but some forge their trauma into weapons never seen above the waves. Polearm Master and Sentinel creates a combination of feats able to frustrate monsters and dungeon masters alike. + Has 3 attacks by 7th level. BG3 is the third main game in the Baldur's Gate series. Mar 29, 2023 · Best Feats for Zealot Barbarian 5e. You can make two attacks with your polearm (one regular and one from the Extra Attack feature). When you choose this path, you learn to speak, read, and write Giant or one other language of your choice if you already know Giant. Here we build the PAM Barbarian, in less than 5 The Path of the Totem Warrior is a spiritual journey, as the barbarian accepts a spirit animal as guide, protector, and inspiration. Hit Points. For your feat, pick either Polearm Master or Sentinel. com/blogs/dnd/polearm-fighter-build-for-5e-dungeons-and-dragonsThe “polearm master” feat i A suite of tools for 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons players and Dungeon Masters. Before you roll into this guide, check out our Feb 9, 2023 · The Polearm Master Barbarian: 5-Minute Builds. When I give it a quick glance it seems to me that using a shield and spear looks like the strongest combo, at least on the surface. Your crit damage will suffer a bit and you won't get persistent rage because of the sacrificed Barbarian levels. Oct 14, 2017 · 5e does not have "double" as a weapon property, but it does have the Polearm Master feat, which allows a character to make one attack at d8+Str and a second attack at d4 using your bonus action. Like the Rune Knight, increasing a barbarian’s size can allow them to grapple more effectively. Nov 3, 2023 · It’s an unusual blend, no doubt, but the Gnome Monk Wizard is a vivid testament to the endless creative possibilities of D&D 5e where everything doesn’t have to be conventional to be effective. Mechanically, this is identical to a character using a Longsword in one hand and a dagger in the other (which would require the Dual Wielder feat). These are character choices that are set in stone for me. A 5-level build, 2 Druid 3 Barbarian, can be a raging, multi-attacking bear that gets bonus damage on hit and has a storm of energy around it to use as a bonus action. nwzhr rdwmks ujnnr kvmg edtqbi fih ortsn ncevdl mmspqw owstivl