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Is This the New Best Barbarian Subclass? Path of the Giant Build Guide for D&D 5e

Original Video:



*This article is an edited version of the script for this video


Race: Custom Lineage, Variant Human could work as well

Feat: Polearm Master


Ability Scores(point buy):

Str: 14(+2)

Dex: 14

Con: 14

Int: 8

Wis: 9

Cha: 13


Ability Score Priorities(if rolling):

#1: Str

#2: Con

#3: Dex

#4: At least 13 Cha for multiclassing


Ideal Equipment:

-Glaive or Halberd

-Half Plate

-Javelins(for levels 1-5)


Level 1: Barbarian 1

-Rage

-Unarmored Defense


Level 2: Barbarian 2

-Reckless Attack

-Danger Sense


Level 3: Barbarian 3

-Primal Path: Path of the Giant

—Giant’s Havoc: Increased reach and size. We can add our rage bonus to thrown weapons


Level 4: Barbarian 4

-ASI or Feat: Great Weapon Master


Level 5: Barbarian 5

-Extra Attack

-Fast Movement


Level 6: Barbarian 6

-Elemental Cleaver, 1d6 extra damage per hit and we can give our polearm the thrown property


Level 7: Barbarian 7

-Feral Instinct, advantage on initiative and basically can’t be surprised

-Instinctive Pounce, additional movement is always great on a melee character


Level 8: Barbarian 8

-ASI or Feat: Crusher, +1 Str. A forced movement option we can use for free on most turns. Right now this only works with our bonus action polearm master attack but we’ll get another way to use it next level


Level 9: Warlock 1

-Otherworldly Patron: Genie(Dao)

—Genie’s Wrath: Additional bludgeoning damage which is another way to trigger the Crusher feat we just picked up.

-Spells: Armor of Agathys


Level 10: Barbarian 9

-Brutal Critical, one of the worst features in the game but the Path of the Giant features we’re going to get will make it worth it. Which is very rare for a Barbarian subclass


Level 11: Barbarian 10

-Mighty Impel: Throw other creatures up to 30 feet on a failed strength save. This can be used to throw enemies into harmful effects, to throw enemies into the air to make them take damage and fall prone, or to move allies out of harms way. A very versatile feature and the main reason we’re putting this character into a party based on forced movement.


Levels 12-15: Barbarian 11-14

-Relentless Rage, an ok defensive feature

-ASI or Feat: Resilient: Wis

-Demiurgic Colossus: Everything from Elemental Cleaver scales, which is great.


Levels 16-18: Fighter 1-3

-Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting

-Action Surge

-Martial Archetype: Battle Master

—Maneuvers: Pushing Attack, Precision Attack, Menacing Attack


Levels 19-20: Barbarian 15-16

-ASI or Feat: Slasher, +1 Str. Any Str half feat could work


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-A feat

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