Path of the Symbiote

Some barbarians derive their power from a source originally alien to their body, which gradually becomes a part of them. Their rage isn’t truly a reflection of any kind of primal anger, or hatred of the world; rather, it is them controlling the power of the parasite that lives inside of their body.

There are many beings which could grant a barbarian such powers, either through their anatomy alone or from some sort of magical abilities. Some examples include an oblex that was too weak to fully devour the body, a mind flayer tadpole that was unable to reach the brain, or some sort of demonic mutation that gained a faint bit of sapience.

Symbiotic Bond

You have a symbiote, which is bound to your physical form. It isn’t a separate creature, even though it relies on you to survive. The symbiote can perceive its surroundings using all of your senses, and speaks to you telepathically. Due to its symbiotic nature, your symbiote grants you proficiency in one skill of your choice.

Any other factors of the symbiote’s character (such as any personality traits or flaws) are determined by you and your Dungeon Master, and your DM plays your symbiote as if it were a nonplayer character.

Symbiotic Weapons

While you are raging and you make an unarmed strike, you gain the following benefits:

• You can have the damage type of the unarmed strike be either bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing (your choice).

• The reach of your unarmed strikes increases by 5 feet. This increase changes to 10 feet at 10th level.

• When you take the Attack action and make an unarmed strike while not wielding a shield, you can use your Bonus Action to make an unarmed strike. You can also make one unarmed strike as part of the Bonus Action you take to enter a rage.

Symbiotic Shield

When you are hit by an attack while you are raging, you can use your reaction to interpose a piece of your symbiote between the attack. Until the start of your next turn, you have a bonus to your AC, including against the triggering attack, which is equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of +1).

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

Alien Strikes

The otherworldly nature of your symbiote makes your unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming damage resistance and immunity.

While raging, your unarmed strikes deal 1d10 damage. This changes to 2d6 at 10th level.

Vengeful Symbiote

When you are hit with an attack, you can use your reaction to enter your rage. You are considered raging after the attack hits, but before you take any damage or effects of the attack.

Apex Predator

While you are raging, you gain the following benefits:

• If you are smaller than Large, you grow to Large size, and anything you are wearing or carrying merges into your Large form. If you lack the room to become Large, your size doesn’t change.

• At the start of each of your turns, you regain hit points equal to your Constitution modifier (a minimum of 1). You don’t gain this benefit if you have 0 hit points.

• When using the Reckless Attack barbarian class feature, creatures that choose to attack you no longer benefit from advantage.