Species for Barbarian (2024)?

What are folks' favorite species for Barbarians? (from any source)

Standouts to me:

1. Gnome: Advantage on mental saves; Darkvision; random utility spells out of combat; and the hilarity of a tiny Barbarian
2. Kalashtar: Advantage on the 2 key mental saves (WIS & CHA); Resistance to Psychic dmg; extra skill; telepathy; no Darkvision though
3. Shifter: Darkvision; extra skill; BA shift to form that allows: BA attack 1d6+STR (& Rage dmg) OR no enemies get Advantage vs. you. Latter fits so perfectly with a barb's Reckless Attack. Yes, BA first needed for rage, but hopefully can start rage before combat now that rages last 10 minutes.

Obviously anything flying is good, particular Aasimar or Dragonborn. Dunno. Thoughts?

Human, Half-Orc or Orc are my favorite species for Barbarian. 

The Shifter is a trap, because Shifting and Raging both uses your Bonus Action. So, once you're fully set up, most combats are already half over. A better way to deny advantage against you (from Reckless Attack) is either playing a Goblin, or just buying a Mount. Dash, Disengage, or Dodge for free every turn while attacking with advantage all the time. 
Other recommendations are Goliath for the Damage reduction and Large form, if you want to play a grappler. But the good news is, with the new rules and the origin feats, there are no bad species for barbarians (or any class) anymore really. Maybe you avoid relying on natural weapons, though, because they suck now (sorry, Minotaur!).

Quote from Bonerbarbados >>

The Shifter is a trap, because Shifting and Raging both uses your Bonus Action. So, once you're fully set up, most combats are already half over. A better way to deny advantage against you (from Reckless Attack) is either playing a Goblin, or just buying a Mount. Dash, Disengage, or Dodge for free every turn while attacking with advantage all the time. 
Other recommendations are Goliath for the Damage reduction and Large form, if you want to play a grappler. But the good news is, with the new rules and the origin feats, there are no bad species for barbarians (or any class) anymore really. Maybe you avoid relying on natural weapons, though, because they suck now (sorry, Minotaur!).

 Goliath is a solid pick, especially with the Fire, Hill, or Storm giant ancestry.

Fire Giant will let you add 1d10 fire damage to attacks Proficiency Bonus Times Per Day. More damage is always nice

Hill Giant lets you knock Large or smaller creatures Prone PBTPD with NO saving throw. Excellent.

Storm Giant is often overlooked. It lets you reduce the damage you take by 1d12 + Constitution Modifier PBTPD. This happens after the reduction by your rage's damage resistances, it's potency is effectively doubled while raging (assuming Bludeoning, Piercing, or Slashing damage).

Good thoughts. 

On Prone, hadn't thought that as useful for a Barbarian, who already has Advantage on enemies from Reckless? I guess can help allies if they are melee. Also if we're looking at subclasses, the World Tree at level 6 can already reduce an enemy's speed to 0 when they grab them w/ Branches of the Tree, and then gains the Topple Weapon Mastery at level 10. But most of the Goliaths options seem pretty strong.

On Shifter, yeah if most combats you can't rage ahead of time and it's turn 2 when you first get to shift, yeah it's not really worth it. But if you can rage in advance more often than not, you can shift in the first round. Also in one of my two groups, many tougher combats last closer to 5-6 levels or beyond. So maybe campaign/GM-dependent.

Don't forget that a Prone creature has disadvantage on its own attack rolls, which if you can also knock its Speed down to 0 will be maintained through its turn. Even if you can't, it'll apply to any opportunity attacks it makes before it gets a chance to stand up, potentially helping any nearby squishy allies escape from the target.

Quote from wagnarokkr >>

Don't forget that a Prone creature has disadvantage on its own attack rolls, which if you can also knock its Speed down to 0 will be maintained through its turn. Even if you can't, it'll apply to any opportunity attacks it makes before it gets a chance to stand up, potentially helping any nearby squishy allies escape from the target.

 Ohhhhh I always forget that about Prone. Good point.

Gnome. At level 2 advantage on all saves exept for CON saves when raging and all exept STR and CON when not raging is incredible

Quote from FlameOutsideOfStaff >>

Gnome. At level 2 advantage on all saves exept for CON saves when raging and all exept STR and CON when not raging is incredible

 Gnomes get adv on saves vs (wis, int, cha) spells, which isn’t the same as all saves. Especially in 5.5 where many monsters have powers that are not technically spells any more, even if they act like one.

But in general, you do make a good point.

Human. alert, tough, hello dead enimies.

Quote from Xalthu >>

Quote from FlameOutsideOfStaff >>

Gnome. At level 2 advantage on all saves exept for CON saves when raging and all exept STR and CON when not raging is incredible

 Gnomes get adv on saves vs (wis, int, cha) spells, which isn’t the same as all saves. Especially in 5.5 where many monsters have powers that are not technically spells any more, even if they act like one.

But in general, you do make a good point.

2024 (5.5) Gnomes' feature is: "Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws."

Quote from atomicgamer2012_13 >>

Human. alert, tough, hello dead enimies.

Always a good combo for a melee!