I really like the idea of a barbarian who's been granted the "Gift of the Ever-Living Ones" invocation. Sadly, the Path of Zealot (2014) ability to be easily resurrected is no longer in the 2024 rules. So I figured being easily healed up might be the next best thing for a nearly un-killable barbarian. I love the idea of a character who just won't go down, especially when paired with a Life cleric in the party.
Though we're playing 2024 edition, my DM allows older content. But I'm not sure the best way to approach building a barbarian/warlock in the current rules. So I thought I'd turn to this forum for advice. Is a barbarian/warlock a viable multi-class build, even if not optimal? How might you build a character around the "Gift of the Ever-Living Ones" invocation – what synergies might exist? Alternately, how might you approach making the "unkillable" barbarian?
I was thinking barbarian 5 / warlock 3.
Origin feats: Tough, Lucky (if human)
Primary Stats: Str, Con, Chr
Barbarian subclass: Path of the Wild Hearts
Feat: Great weapon master, or Durable
Invocations: Pact of the Chain, Gift of the Ever-Living One's, Otherworldly Leap
Warlock subclass: Fiend Patron
Key Spells: Armor of Agathys
I'm open to ideas on how improve or better synergize abilities. Again, I'm assume there would be a healer in the party.
Are you only going to level 8 max? There is an interesting thing you can do if you get as far as character level 14. An Aasimar Wildheart Barbarian 3/Fiend Warlock 11 can actualy have resistance to every single damage type. Aasimar gives you Necrotic/Radiant, Wildheart's Bear Rage gives you Bludgeoning/Piercing/Slashing/Fire/Cold/Lightning/Thunder/Poison/Acid, at Fiend Warlock 10 you pick Psychic for your Fiendish Resistance, and finally at level 11 you take Tasha's Bubbling Cauldron for your Mystic Arcarnum to make Potion of Force Resistance. You are now resistant to all damage types, and can make great use of Armor of Agathys to dish out a ton of Cold damage back at your attackers. On top of that, you get 3 attacks with your Pact Weapon (still using strength to attack so you can get your bonus Rage damage).
Please help me understand how you mix warlock and Barbarian? If you are raging you can't cast spells or concentrate. Is the warlock just there to provide buff spells?
correct, spells would just be usable before you rage. And most likely for this build, Chr would be only 13 or 14 — so taking offensive spells wouldn’t be as useful either.
I should note you won’t able to pull off what you are looking for on D&DBeyond without taking the 2014 Warlock with whichever year Barbarian. Mixing years in a class or party is usually frowned upon, but you do you.
I agree, d&d beyond is problematic for using older content. I really just want to access the "Gift of the Ever-Living Ones" invocation. But the DM is cool with using the old invocation with the new warlock class so long as I take the Pact of the Chain invocation as well.
No, I’m not limited in class level, but plan to play most levels — so I’m trying to avoid multiple classes that don’t really come online until much later.
Cool idea on going Aasimar. Im still not sure if it makes sense to go primarily warlock or barbarian? I guess you give up different things for each other
I should note you won’t able to pull off what you are looking for on D&DBeyond without taking the 2014 Warlock with whichever year Barbarian. Mixing years in a class or party is usually frowned upon, but you do you.
A good way to access the older invocations that don't show up in the new class on the DndBeyond character builder is to just leave an invocation blank, then in your character sheet you can manually add the Eldritch Adept feat to your character and select the old invocation of your choice. It's not a perfect solution, but at least it makes the ability show up on your character sheet.
I really like the idea of a barbarian who's been granted the "Gift of the Ever-Living Ones" invocation. Sadly, the Path of Zealot (2014) ability to be easily resurrected is no longer in the 2024 rules. So I figured being easily healed up might be the next best thing for a nearly un-killable barbarian. I love the idea of a character who just won't go down, especially when paired with a Life cleric in the party.
Though we're playing 2024 edition, my DM allows older content. But I'm not sure the best way to approach building a barbarian/warlock in the current rules. So I thought I'd turn to this forum for advice. Is a barbarian/warlock a viable multi-class build, even if not optimal? How might you build a character around the "Gift of the Ever-Living Ones" invocation – what synergies might exist? Alternately, how might you approach making the "unkillable" barbarian?
I was thinking barbarian 5 / warlock 3.
I'm open to ideas on how improve or better synergize abilities. Again, I'm assume there would be a healer in the party.
Are you only going to level 8 max? There is an interesting thing you can do if you get as far as character level 14. An Aasimar Wildheart Barbarian 3/Fiend Warlock 11 can actualy have resistance to every single damage type. Aasimar gives you Necrotic/Radiant, Wildheart's Bear Rage gives you Bludgeoning/Piercing/Slashing/Fire/Cold/Lightning/Thunder/Poison/Acid, at Fiend Warlock 10 you pick Psychic for your Fiendish Resistance, and finally at level 11 you take Tasha's Bubbling Cauldron for your Mystic Arcarnum to make Potion of Force Resistance. You are now resistant to all damage types, and can make great use of Armor of Agathys to dish out a ton of Cold damage back at your attackers. On top of that, you get 3 attacks with your Pact Weapon (still using strength to attack so you can get your bonus Rage damage).
Please help me understand how you mix warlock and Barbarian? If you are raging you can't cast spells or concentrate. Is the warlock just there to provide buff spells?
correct, spells would just be usable before you rage. And most likely for this build, Chr would be only 13 or 14 — so taking offensive spells wouldn’t be as useful either.
Humm, would Path or the Zealot be better, or Path of the Wild Heart?
I also wonder if it is better to go mainly warlock, or mainly barbarian?
If you are mixing the two, then as you mentioned use the warlock to buff works out much better due to the rage/spell limitations.
If you have just a dip into barbarian, how useful is the low level attribute of rage if you have t0 use high level spells and/or concentration.
If you want primarily a warlock, then either dip into fighter or ranger as they do not have those spell limitations.
Dungeon Dudes go over a similar build, although if I recall they don’t get into eldritch invocation: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gGkm3QaD6pw
I should note you won’t able to pull off what you are looking for on D&DBeyond without taking the 2014 Warlock with whichever year Barbarian. Mixing years in a class or party is usually frowned upon, but you do you.
I agree, d&d beyond is problematic for using older content. I really just want to access the "Gift of the Ever-Living Ones" invocation. But the DM is cool with using the old invocation with the new warlock class so long as I take the Pact of the Chain invocation as well.
No, I’m not limited in class level, but plan to play most levels — so I’m trying to avoid multiple classes that don’t really come online until much later.
Cool idea on going Aasimar. Im still not sure if it makes sense to go primarily warlock or barbarian? I guess you give up different things for each other
Thanks @actionsparda, I’ll check out the video.
You are most welcome. :)
A good way to access the older invocations that don't show up in the new class on the DndBeyond character builder is to just leave an invocation blank, then in your character sheet you can manually add the Eldritch Adept feat to your character and select the old invocation of your choice. It's not a perfect solution, but at least it makes the ability show up on your character sheet.
Makes total sense, thanks.