Path of the Exalted Forge

The Path of the Exalted Forge is followed by warriors chosen by Vulkris, the God of the Forge. These barbarians wield weapons imbued with divine fire, lightning, frost, necrotic energy, or psychic might, each strike shaped by the primordial essence of creation itself. Through their rage, they can unleash powerful area-of-effect attacks, protect and enhance allies, and manipulate the battlefield with elemental fury.

Each weapon drawn is more than a tool—it is an extension of Vulkris’ will, granting mastery over both damage and form. Those who follow this path can channel the forge’s elemental power, swap the damage type of their exalted weapons, and rain devastation upon foes while shielding allies from harm. The Exalted Forge transforms the barbarian into a living embodiment of the god’s creation and wrath, blending martial prowess with divine elemental might.

Exalted Armament & Rage

3rd Level — Exalted Armament

When you choose this path at 3rd level, Vulkris grants you the knowledge to bind yourself to a forge-born weapon.

You gain access to one Exalted Weapon of your choice from the list below. This weapon is considered magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity.

You can summon or dismiss your Exalted Weapon as a bonus action. If lost or destroyed, it reforms during your next long rest.

Exalted Weapons (Choose One)

Cinderbrand (Greatsword)
Damage: 1d10 Fire
Properties: Heavy, Two-Handed
Forge Aspect: The First Spark

Stormbound (Warhammer)
Damage: 1d10 Thunder
Properties: Versatile (1d12)
Forge Aspect: The Bound Storm

Rimepiercer (Trident)
Damage: 1d8 Cold
Properties: Thrown (20/60), Versatile (1d10)
Forge Aspect: The Frozen Wake

Soulcleaver (Scythe)
Damage: 1d10 Necrotic
Properties: Heavy, Two-Handed, Reach
Forge Aspect: The Soul Harvest

Worldrend (Glaive)
Damage: 1d10 Force
Properties: Heavy, Two-Handed, Reach
Forge Aspect: The Sundering Edge

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3rd Level — Exalted Rage

While raging and wielding your Exalted Weapon, your strikes release forge-born force. Once per turn when you hit a creature, you may trigger one of the following effects. No action required.

Exalted Boom (Radial Shockwave)

When you hit a creature with a melee attack, you unleash a concussive burst centered on the target.

• Each creature of your choice within a 10-foot radius of the target (excluding the target itself) takes damage equal to your rage damage bonus.

• The damage type matches your Exalted Weapon’s damage type.

• Affected creatures can make a Dexterity saving throw
  (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier), taking no damage on a success.

This effect represents the weapon discharging excess forge energy outward.

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Exalted Wave (Linear Cleave)

When you hit a creature with a melee attack, you may release a cutting wave of force.

• Choose a 15-foot-long, 5-foot-wide line extending from the target in a direction you choose.

• Each creature in the line must make a Strength saving throw
  (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier).

• On a failed save, a creature takes damage equal to your rage damage bonus and is pushed 10 feet away from the origin of the wave.

• On a successful save, the creature takes no damage and is not pushed.

This represents the weapon carving through the battlefield in a single decisive arc.

Cinderbrand

Weapon: Greatsword
Damage: 1d10 Fire
Properties: Heavy, Two-Handed
Forge Aspect: The First Spark

Steel ignited by Vulkris’ original flame, still burning with creative fury.

Rimepiercer

Rimepiercer (Trident)
Damage: 1d8 Cold
Properties: Thrown (20/60), Versatile (1d10)
Forge Aspect: The Frozen Wake

Rimepiercer was quenched in glacial waters, its edge leaving frost in its path and freezing momentum into every strike.

 

Soulcleaver

Soulcleaver (Scythe)
Damage: 1d10 Necrotic
Properties: Heavy, Two-Handed, Reach
Forge Aspect: The Soul Harvest

Soulcleaver drinks the remnants of fallen foes, its blade darkened by countless spirits reforged into power

Stormbound

Stormbound (Warhammer)
Damage: 1d10 Thunder
Properties: Versatile (1d12)
Forge Aspect: The Bound Storm

Forged beneath a sealed sky, Stormbound carries thunder chained into steel, each impact releasing the echo of Vulkris’ hammerfall.

Worldrend

Worldrend (Glaive)
Damage: 1d10 Force
Properties: Heavy, Two-Handed, Reach
Forge Aspect: The Sundering Edge

Worldrend was forged to test the limits of reality itself, its strikes tearing through space with impossible force.

Forge Resilience

6th Level — Forge Resilience

Your body hardens under Vulkris’ influence.

• You gain resistance to the damage type of your Exalted Weapon while raging.

• Once per rage, when you fail a saving throw, you can reroll it and take the new result.

Forge Aspect Shift

10th Level — Forge Aspect Shift

Through Vulkris’ forge-fire, you learn to reshape the destructive nature of your Exalted Weapon.

As a bonus action while raging, you may alter your Exalted Weapon’s damage type, drawing upon the latent forge-aspects of the Exalted Weapons you did not select.

Until your rage ends, your weapon’s damage type changes to one of the following options:

• Fire (Cinder Brand – The First Spark)

• Lightning (Stormbound – The Roaring Sky)

• Cold (Rimepiercer – The Frozen Forge)

• Necrotic (Soulcleaver – The Last Ember)

• Force (Worldrend – The Shattered Anvil)

You may only choose a damage type associated with an Exalted Weapon you do not currently wield.

You can use this feature once per short or long rest, or again by activating it during a new rage.

Forge's Wrath

14th Level — Forge’s Wrath

You channel the primal fire and fury of Vulkris’ forge, turning your rage into a devastating battlefield force.

While raging, you may use Forge’s Wrath once per long rest. For 1 minute:

• All Exalted Boom and Exalted Wave effects you trigger increase in radius to 20 ft.

• Your melee weapon attacks score critical hits on a 19–20.

• When you hit a creature with a melee attack, you may choose to deal an additional 1d6 damage of the weapon’s current damage type to all other enemies within 5 ft (similar to a mini-cleave).

• You may change your Exalted Weapon’s damage type once per turn as part of your attack to one of the types of the Exalted Weapons you did not select (combining with Forge Aspect Shift).

Visual Flavor: Your weapon blazes with molten energy, leaving streaks of elemental force in your wake. Sparks fly, metal bends, and the battlefield trembles under your rage.