Path of the Crimson Hunger

Barbarian Subclass

Most barbarians enter a rage to protect, to conquer, or to survive. But there are those who rage for another reason entirely: the craving.

Whether blessed by a forgotten war god, possessed by an ancient predator spirit, or simply broken by too much violence, barbarians who walk the Path of the Crimson Hunger do not just shed blood—they revel in it. In the throes of rage, they drift into a battlefield trance where every strike becomes a sacred offering, every kill a choir note in a hymn of carnage.

Their enemies don’t just fall.
They rupture.

Pressure Points

3rd-level Path of the Crimson Hunger feature

Your rage is not a scream—it’s a rhythm, a boiling tempo of pain. You strike to weaken, to wear down, to erupt.

Open Wounds.
When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack while raging, it begins to hemorrhage. At the start of each of its turns, it takes damage equal to ½ Barbarian level (rounded up). 
At the end of each of its turns, it must make a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier). On a success, the effect ends.
A creature can only suffer one instance of this effect at a time.

Eyes of the Predator.
When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack while raging, the target must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier) or become frightened of you for until the start of your next turn. 

Dreamlike Calm.
You have advantage on saving throws against the frightened condition.

Invitation to Violence

6th-level Path of the Crimson Hunger feature

Violence isn't just a tool—it’s your language. You learn to draw it in.

As a bonus action while raging, you can mark one creature you can see within 30 feet. Until the start of your next turn:

• The marked creature has disadvantage on attack rolls against any creature other than you.

• The first time it hits another creature with an attack, you can use your reaction to move up to 10 feet toward it and make a melee weapon attack with advantage.

You can use this feature a number of times per short rest equal to your Proficiency Bonus.

Offering of Ruin

10th-level Path of the Crimson Hunger feature

You’ve learned how to rupture your victims at the peak of violence. The moment they fall, you offer them to your craving.

When you reduce a creature to 0 hit points while raging, you can cause its body to burst in a 5-foot radius spray of force and viscera.

• Each creature of your choice within range must make a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier).

  • On a failed save, it takes 2d8 force damage and is blinded until the end of its next turn.

  • On a successful save, it takes half damage and suffers no other effects.

You can trigger this eruption once per turn while raging.

Revel in the Collapse

14th-level Path of the Crimson Hunger feature

Your trance grows so deep that death itself becomes an instrument. When you trigger your Offering of Ruin, you may call upon your full hunger and initiate a chain of collapse.

• If any creature is reduced to 0 HP by your Offering of Ruin, they immediately explode in the same manner, following the same rules.

• These chained eruptions continue as long as each explosion reduces another creature to 0 HP.

• Each creature may only erupt this way once per instance of this ability.

You can use this chain effect once per rage.