I am currently playing a level 7 Tiefling wild magic barbarian (str=15 Dex=16 CON=16 INT=9 WIS=8 CHA=10) and I have a +1 Halberd as a weapon and I am wondering next time I level up if I should take more strength or sentinel. My DM likes to have a lot of clever enemies that know to go for backlines, so I really want to get something to protect our cleric and bard, so I think sentinel would be a good choice, but my stats feel a bit low so I am worried that the feat wont matter because I am not gonna hit anything anyway. I am also considering the slasher feat to get a sort of similar effect, but get my stength up.
I agree on the Slasher Feat. A Barbarian with lower STR than DEX just feels wrong to me. Slasher does a decent job of slowing down enemies enough to provide some protection for your back line. I honestly wouldn't take Sentinel until you get your STR at least to 18.
Your STR is pretty low imo, but really only a point or so low. I think you needed some of that Tasha's customized build stuff to make a tiefling barbarian work better. ;) A 16 STR would do you a world of good imo. I dislike slasher feat, though. It seems pretty mediocre. Only thing going for it is the +1 to STR. I'd rather have Skill Expert, than Slasher and still get a +1 to STR.
Are you a polearm master? Hoping you went PAM at level 4, if you are using a halberd. PAM and Sentinel is a strong combo, the synergy is strong. Sentinel will stop them a whole lot better than Slasher ever will.
I went for the infernal constitution at 4 because I like the flavor of it with my backstory. I only got the halberd recently so I didn't really have a chance to get polearm because I was using a Maul before that. I am not really in favor of taking up heavy armor because I like the idea of running around without armor. Skill expert seems cool to get expertise in athletics, but I don't know if it really helps with protecting the backline.
I'd go with skill expert to grab +1 STR and expertise in athletics.
This build, as is, doesn't make the cut for being a striker. +2 STR mod, no PAM, no GWM. Still salvageable though, so we're good! But our options are limited, so we'll have to go with grappler/battlefield control style. Sentinel would somewhat fit the bill, but as you noted, it'll be harder to land those hits with a +2 STR mod. Even if you had higher STR, sentinel's ability is limited to your reaction. If there's a whole horde of enemies, your DM can just as well send them all to your squishies, and one target less might not make a whole lot of difference as opposed to shoving two targets prone, and grappling is better in the case of one large, stationary target. Slasher, same deal-- only once per turn.
I am currently playing a level 7 Tiefling wild magic barbarian (str=15 Dex=16 CON=16 INT=9 WIS=8 CHA=10) and I have a +1 Halberd as a weapon and I am wondering next time I level up if I should take more strength or sentinel. My DM likes to have a lot of clever enemies that know to go for backlines, so I really want to get something to protect our cleric and bard, so I think sentinel would be a good choice, but my stats feel a bit low so I am worried that the feat wont matter because I am not gonna hit anything anyway. I am also considering the slasher feat to get a sort of similar effect, but get my stength up.
I agree on the Slasher Feat. A Barbarian with lower STR than DEX just feels wrong to me. Slasher does a decent job of slowing down enemies enough to provide some protection for your back line. I honestly wouldn't take Sentinel until you get your STR at least to 18.
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Your STR is pretty low imo, but really only a point or so low. I think you needed some of that Tasha's customized build stuff to make a tiefling barbarian work better. ;) A 16 STR would do you a world of good imo. I dislike slasher feat, though. It seems pretty mediocre. Only thing going for it is the +1 to STR. I'd rather have Skill Expert, than Slasher and still get a +1 to STR.
Are you a polearm master? Hoping you went PAM at level 4, if you are using a halberd. PAM and Sentinel is a strong combo, the synergy is strong. Sentinel will stop them a whole lot better than Slasher ever will.
I went for the infernal constitution at 4 because I like the flavor of it with my backstory. I only got the halberd recently so I didn't really have a chance to get polearm because I was using a Maul before that. I am not really in favor of taking up heavy armor because I like the idea of running around without armor. Skill expert seems cool to get expertise in athletics, but I don't know if it really helps with protecting the backline.
I'd go with skill expert to grab +1 STR and expertise in athletics.
This build, as is, doesn't make the cut for being a striker. +2 STR mod, no PAM, no GWM. Still salvageable though, so we're good! But our options are limited, so we'll have to go with grappler/battlefield control style. Sentinel would somewhat fit the bill, but as you noted, it'll be harder to land those hits with a +2 STR mod. Even if you had higher STR, sentinel's ability is limited to your reaction. If there's a whole horde of enemies, your DM can just as well send them all to your squishies, and one target less might not make a whole lot of difference as opposed to shoving two targets prone, and grappling is better in the case of one large, stationary target. Slasher, same deal-- only once per turn.
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If your group can create localised hazzards such as with Cloud of Daggers, Crusher could be a useful and thematic option for a maul wielder.