The Path of the Accelerator

Anger does not always come in the form of burning wrath. Some barbarians instead take on a cold, sharp focus, striking down foes with calculated fury and impossible speed. These barbarians go into a state known as Overdrive, instead of taking the brutal strength of Rage. While this phenomenon was first observed in Warforged, whose mechanical nature was suited to the emotional clarity required for this state, other beings found the ability to focus their minds to a similar state of focus.

 

This subclass was created as part of the Subclasseptember 2022 challenge!

Overdrive

At 3rd level, you gain the ability to fall into a state of deep focus. As a bonus action, you can expend a use of your Rage feature to go into Overdrive, rather than raging.

While in Overdrive, you gain the following benefits:

• When you make a melee weapon attack, you gain a +2 bonus to the attack roll. This bonus increases as you gain levels as a barbarian, as shown in the Rage Damage column of the Barbarian table.
• You gain a +2 bonus to your AC. This bonus increases as you gain levels as a barbarian, as shown in the Rage Damage column of the Barbarian table.
• Your walking speed increases by 10 feet. When you move, attacks made against you have disadvantage until you stop moving.

If you are able to cast spells, you can’t cast them or concentrate on them while in Overdrive.

Your Overdrive lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are knocked unconscious or if your turn ends and you haven’t attacked a hostile creature since your last turn or taken damage since then. You can also end your Overdrive on your turn as a bonus action.

You can use Overdrive instead of raging for features such as Feral Instinct, Relentless Rage, Persistent Rage, and Instinctive Pounce.

Zantetsuken

Also at 3rd level, when you move at least 10 feet in a straight line immediately before making an attack, you can perform a cleaving attack in place of a normal attack. Make a single melee weapon attack against any number of creatures that were within your reach at any time during your movement. You use the same attack and damage roll for each creature, and you deal 1d10 additional damage of your weapon’s damage type to each creature you hit with this attack.

You must move at least 10 feet in a straight line before using this technique again.

Deep Breathing

With a single breath, you can steady the world around yourself. At 6th level, while in Overdrive, you add your Rage Damage bonus to any saving throw you make.

Instant Transmission

At 10th level, your speed is such that enemies can be too dazzled to react. When you would be the target of an attack or spell, you can use your reaction to move up to your movement speed. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. When you do so, the attacker must make a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency + your Constitution modifier). On a failed save, it loses the attack or spell. On a successful save, it can choose a new target within range.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Overspeed

At 14th level, you gain the ability to go beyond your body’s limits for a brief moment. When you move on your turn in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the turn. When you do so, your Zantetsuken attacks deal 2d10 additional damage.

Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.