I know that barbarian with a spell caster is a pretty bad multiclass. I’ve seen videos about how you can make a bladesinger with a dip of barbarian work, but what is the best spellcaster to dip into to diversify the barb? Thinking about just a 1-3 level dip to help with ranged damage, out of combat utility and class features that work with rage.
Think of the flavor of like ancestral guardian with fiend warlock to get extra hp and flavor your spirits as souls of the damned!
I like warlock for that as I think the short rest casting blends well with limited use rages, at level 3 you'd likely actually have more spells to cast than other full casters. And I think the fiends dark ones blessing works really well with rage. Though I prefer my dips the other direction normally. And the pacts all are pretty sweet. Blades ability to use charisma isn't great for a barbarian, but there is a coolness factor to being able to swap weapons on a whim. Tome will give you some low end rituals and cantrip versatility. And chain gives you a solid summon. And chain/blade do not conflict with rage.
Aside from the usual Barb problem of "can't cast while Ragin" you also have the problem of being a MAD class. You want high STR, CON, and DEX. Unless you rolled really well, you really can't invest much in other stats. So Druid or Cleric would sort of work since WIS is the worst non-physical stat to dump. IMO, focus on low level spells you can cast as a ritual or ones that don't require concentration, like Goodberry or Command. Since you will only have 1-3 levels in the caster class, any range attack cantrips won't scale well by level 5. You want to hit something far away? Throw a javelin or your party's dwarf.
The general idea behind it is to use spells out of combat and one or two before entering it, such as casting Armour of Agathys and then entering a rage and combining it with a Hexblades Curse ability, its is an idea for a level 4 barbarian / level 16 warlock and probably could do with a bit of tweaking since I last really thought about it.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
* Need a character idea? Search for "Rob76's Unused" in the Story and Lore section.
I know that barbarian with a spell caster is a pretty bad multiclass. I’ve seen videos about how you can make a bladesinger with a dip of barbarian work, but what is the best spellcaster to dip into to diversify the barb? Thinking about just a 1-3 level dip to help with ranged damage, out of combat utility and class features that work with rage.
Think of the flavor of like ancestral guardian with fiend warlock to get extra hp and flavor your spirits as souls of the damned!
What makes them a bad MC, outside of only Rage interfering with spell casting? There will be times for raging and not raging, just like there are for spell casting or not.
I know that barbarian with a spell caster is a pretty bad multiclass. I’ve seen videos about how you can make a bladesinger with a dip of barbarian work, but what is the best spellcaster to dip into to diversify the barb? Thinking about just a 1-3 level dip to help with ranged damage, out of combat utility and class features that work with rage.
Think of the flavor of like ancestral guardian with fiend warlock to get extra hp and flavor your spirits as souls of the damned!
What makes them a bad MC, outside of only Rage interfering with spell casting? There will be times for raging and not raging, just like there are for spell casting or not.
Following this train of thought, starting as a Barbarian then becoming a Warlock that is a "Hex Blade" type can compartmentalize the rage and spell use. I have recently found form other threads on the forum, that the Eldritch Invocations can be used when raging. Therefore, use spells for targets beyond 30 feet, then when they get close, use your Pact of the Blade to actually fight. By starting off at level 1 as a Barbarian, you get a better Concentration saves. So you do the spells with concentration at range (Witchbolt/Hunger of Hadar/Summon Fey or undead). Eldritch Blast avoids the use of needing a bow (so dex can be average). (5th level PC (Barb1-warlock4) Can have 2 attacks with Eldritch Blast at 1d6+CHA bonus. So if you have a 10 Dex and a 18 CHA, you are +7 attack and 1d6+4, compare that to a non magical Bow.
The Warcaster feat allows for the holding of a weapon/shield & doing the Somatic movements. Barbarian allows you to wear armor & shield. That can mitigate having to have that many high abilities. aka unarmored defense, is a red herring and should be ignored in the big picture.
FYI all these proposed MCs are worse than a straight classed character, so they are a complete waste of your time unless you are playing with a small party that crucially lacks something. In general to add utility & range to a barbarian you'd be better off investing in magic items and feats rather than MCing. Magic Initiate, Ritual Caster, Skill Expert, Fey Touched can all greatly expand the roles a Barbarian can fill without sacrificing their primary progression.
I know that barbarian with a spell caster is a pretty bad multiclass. I’ve seen videos about how you can make a bladesinger with a dip of barbarian work, but what is the best spellcaster to dip into to diversify the barb? Thinking about just a 1-3 level dip to help with ranged damage, out of combat utility and class features that work with rage.
Think of the flavor of like ancestral guardian with fiend warlock to get extra hp and flavor your spirits as souls of the damned!
Ranged damage - Warlock, though honestly you'd be better off putting points into DEX and using.a bow.
Out of Combat Utility - Druid or Wizard, Wizard for excellent ritual casting, Druid for Wildshape.
Class features that work with Rage - Druid (Wildshape, Dream Druid healing, Wild Fire druid companion, Storm druid aura, Starry Druid archer form), Warlock (Fiend healing, Tomb of Levistus, Fiendish Vigor, Otherworldly Leap), Bard (Bardic Inspiration, swords-bard Flourishes, whisper's bard mini-smite).
"Bearbarians" are actually pretty good. They don't give up a ton to fight in wildshape, and get some druid spells and general goodness.
Two levels of War Wizard gives you a reaction you can use while raging to either increase AC or saving throws.
I like warlock for that as I think the short rest casting blends well with limited use rages, at level 3 you'd likely actually have more spells to cast than other full casters. And I think the fiends dark ones blessing works really well with rage. Though I prefer my dips the other direction normally. And the pacts all are pretty sweet. Blades ability to use charisma isn't great for a barbarian, but there is a coolness factor to being able to swap weapons on a whim. Tome will give you some low end rituals and cantrip versatility. And chain gives you a solid summon. And chain/blade do not conflict with rage.
Aside from the usual Barb problem of "can't cast while Ragin" you also have the problem of being a MAD class. You want high STR, CON, and DEX. Unless you rolled really well, you really can't invest much in other stats. So Druid or Cleric would sort of work since WIS is the worst non-physical stat to dump. IMO, focus on low level spells you can cast as a ritual or ones that don't require concentration, like Goodberry or Command. Since you will only have 1-3 levels in the caster class, any range attack cantrips won't scale well by level 5. You want to hit something far away? Throw a javelin or your party's dwarf.
I'm a little late tot his one but I posted an idea for a build a while back for a barbarian warlock, link here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/dungeons-dragons-discussion/story-lore/180728-rob76s-unused-character-idea-11-barian-loch
The general idea behind it is to use spells out of combat and one or two before entering it, such as casting Armour of Agathys and then entering a rage and combining it with a Hexblades Curse ability, its is an idea for a level 4 barbarian / level 16 warlock and probably could do with a bit of tweaking since I last really thought about it.
What makes them a bad MC, outside of only Rage interfering with spell casting? There will be times for raging and not raging, just like there are for spell casting or not.
Following this train of thought, starting as a Barbarian then becoming a Warlock that is a "Hex Blade" type can compartmentalize the rage and spell use. I have recently found form other threads on the forum, that the Eldritch Invocations can be used when raging. Therefore, use spells for targets beyond 30 feet, then when they get close, use your Pact of the Blade to actually fight. By starting off at level 1 as a Barbarian, you get a better Concentration saves. So you do the spells with concentration at range (Witchbolt/Hunger of Hadar/Summon Fey or undead). Eldritch Blast avoids the use of needing a bow (so dex can be average). (5th level PC (Barb1-warlock4) Can have 2 attacks with Eldritch Blast at 1d6+CHA bonus. So if you have a 10 Dex and a 18 CHA, you are +7 attack and 1d6+4, compare that to a non magical Bow.
The Warcaster feat allows for the holding of a weapon/shield & doing the Somatic movements. Barbarian allows you to wear armor & shield. That can mitigate having to have that many high abilities. aka unarmored defense, is a red herring and should be ignored in the big picture.
FYI all these proposed MCs are worse than a straight classed character, so they are a complete waste of your time unless you are playing with a small party that crucially lacks something. In general to add utility & range to a barbarian you'd be better off investing in magic items and feats rather than MCing. Magic Initiate, Ritual Caster, Skill Expert, Fey Touched can all greatly expand the roles a Barbarian can fill without sacrificing their primary progression.