Defender of the World Tree

Barbarians who follow the Path of the World Tree believe that their Rage links them to the cosmic ash tree Yggdrasil. This “world tree” grows among the Outer Planes, connecting them to each other and to the many worlds of the Material Plane, and the greatest plants on every world are said to be distant descendants of mighty Yggdrasil. These Barbarians draw on their connection to the world tree as a source of vitality and as a means of travel across the multiverse.

With the new Path of the World Tree subclass, a Barbarian can pull from the ancient and powerful branches that tie the very multiverse together. This subclass allows you to mix a little bit of support in with your Barbarian, while still boosting the martial prowess that makes them a terrifying force to be reckoned with. It also allows them to tap into the World Tree’s power to traverse the battlefield in a heartbeat.

Level 3: Vitality of the World Tree

Vitality Surge: When you activate your Rage, you gain a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to your Barbarian level.

Life-Giving Force: At the start of each of your turns while your Rage is active, you can choose another creature within 10 feet of yourself to gain Temporary Hit Points. To determine the number of Temporary Hit Points, roll a number of d6s equal to your Rage Damage bonus, and add them together. If any of these Temporary Hit Points remain when your Rage ends, they vanish.

Level 6: Branches of the Tree

While your Rage is active, whenever a creature you can see starts its turn within 30 feet of you, you can use your Reaction to summon spectral branches of the World Tree around it. The target must succeed on a Strength saving throw (DC equal to 8 plus your Proficiency Bonus plus your Strength modifier) or be teleported to an unoccupied space you can see within 5 feet of yourself or in the nearest unoccupied space you can see. The space the target teleports to must be on a surface or liquid that can support it; otherwise, the target doesn’t teleport. After the target teleports, you can reduce its Speed to 0 until the end of the current turn. Notably, in the 2024 Player’s Handbook a rule will stat that any creature can voluntarily fail any saving throw.

Level 10: Battering Roots

Tendrils of the World Tree extend from your Melee weapons. During your turn, while you wield a Melee weapon with the Heavy or Versatile property, your reach with that weapon increases by 10 feet. 

Level 14: Travel Along the Tree

You can briefly travel along the World Tree. When you activate your Rage and as a Bonus Action while it’s active, you can teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. In addition, when you teleport using this feature, you can bring up to six willing creatures who are within 10 feet of yourself, and the range you can teleport increases to 150 feet. Each creature teleports to an unoccupied space of your choice within 10 feet of your destination space. You can teleport other creatures with you only once per Rage. instead of Rage.