I know a lot of people look at "does it have str, dex, and/or con for stats?" which is obvious but what about racial traits that amplify the fun of barbarians? Also thematic that are cool? So lets do what are your top 3 races for barbarians each of the 3 slots will be under different categories.
1: (What is the best min/max race for barbarian?) 2: (what is the most fun and interesting thematic race for barbarian, example an air gensai storm herald becoming one with the wind and storms) 3: (What is your favorite odd ball barbarian choice? like the ever so famous halfling or goblin barbarian being a small bundle of angry death!)
All books welcome just want to hear peoples thoughts and ideas while we are all still dealing with quarantine lol
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
1) Mountain Dwarf, Half-Orc or Goliath. If you want to min/max a Barbarian you need Str and Con in spades, after all. Mountain Dwarf gives you the best stat bonuses, Half-Orc has a couple of racial abilities that complement the Barbarian really well, plus a skill that is fun for Barbs. Goliaths get a skill that every Barbarian should have, and Powerful Build is just so on-brand.
2) The Barbarian I played was a Scourge Aasimar and he was a lot of fun. He was Bear Totem, storywise he was a member of an outlander tribe who was born under unusual circumstances and left when his abilities caused unease within the tribe. I didn't get to explore his character development as much as I wanted to, I may try him again sometime. I like the OP's idea of a Genasi Storm Herald though, too. Very flavorful.
3) Definitely Stout Halfling. Do a full-on Scrappy Doo build :)
Maybe not the most optimized, but i like longtooth shifter for barbarian. Temp hp is essentially doubled due to rage resistance and you get a guaranteed bonus action attack in case you dont crit with gwm. Brutal critical makes that d6 respectable on occasion!
For a fun race, i like fallen aasimar as a zealot, using medium armor. An angel of wrath, too tainted for the heavens but not abandoned to the abyss.
For a wildcard, i would go shadar-kai barbarian for the offbrand elf themes. Being able to teleport without casting a spell can be clutch for a barbarian.
Maybe not the most optimized, but i like longtooth shifter for barbarian. Temp hp is essentially doubled due to rage resistance and you get a guaranteed bonus action attack in case you dont crit with gwm. Brutal critical makes that d6 respectable on occasion!
For a fun race, i like fallen aasimar as a zealot, using medium armor. An angel of wrath, too tainted for the heavens but not abandoned to the abyss.
For a wildcard, i would go shadar-kai barbarian for the offbrand elf themes. Being able to teleport without casting a spell can be clutch for a barbarian.
Any of the shifters could make a good barbarian. Each would focus on a different aspect of being a barbarian, so YMMV on any particular subrace. Having a short rest quasi rage is pretty sweet and it can stack with rage if you want to get really nasty.
I play a Firbolg Barbarian in one of my campaigns and ngl, it's a highly entertaining mental image. Gentle giant on the outside, raging beast on the inside. Not the best choice stat-wise obviously, but fun over function tends to be my motto. Hidden Step has its uses, too!
Thanks everyone i have decided a zandikar vampire path of the depths barbarian is a great combo for what I want lol.
A swashbuckling barbarian that survived the depths with a curse sounds super fun and thematic for my taste but you all gave a lot of great ideas for me!
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I know a lot of people look at "does it have str, dex, and/or con for stats?" which is obvious but what about racial traits that amplify the fun of barbarians? Also thematic that are cool? So lets do what are your top 3 races for barbarians each of the 3 slots will be under different categories.
1: (What is the best min/max race for barbarian?)
2: (what is the most fun and interesting thematic race for barbarian, example an air gensai storm herald becoming one with the wind and storms)
3: (What is your favorite odd ball barbarian choice? like the ever so famous halfling or goblin barbarian being a small bundle of angry death!)
All books welcome just want to hear peoples thoughts and ideas while we are all still dealing with quarantine lol
1) Mountain dwarf or half orc. Maybe Goliath
2) Wood elf path of the beast. Protector of the forest.
3) Stout halfling.
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1. M.Dwarf, H.Orc.
2. ???
3. Any of the small races. Yuan-Ti pureblood.
Gonna go with a Minotaur Juggarnaut barbarian
Grung.
Dex, Con bonus, Perception, and of course Poison !
Make a Grapple build. You ever try to grapply while you have disadvantage on all disability checks?
Just do not go into a desert
I really like Duergar as a barbarian race.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Goliath. Minotaur. Simic Hybrid. Warforged. Bugbear. EGW ravenite dragonborn.
-Anders
Halfling who enters rage whenever someone tells you bad things enters a rage
Bruh, get a Minotaur race with an "special" Flaw that could make him/her be in love with every bovine animal he/she sees..... hahaha.
Funny as hell, thousands of laughs guaranteed.
My Ready-to-rock&roll chars:
Dertinus Tristany // Amilcar Barca // Vicenç Sacrarius // Oriol Deulofeu // Grovtuk
1) Mountain Dwarf, Half-Orc or Goliath. If you want to min/max a Barbarian you need Str and Con in spades, after all. Mountain Dwarf gives you the best stat bonuses, Half-Orc has a couple of racial abilities that complement the Barbarian really well, plus a skill that is fun for Barbs. Goliaths get a skill that every Barbarian should have, and Powerful Build is just so on-brand.
2) The Barbarian I played was a Scourge Aasimar and he was a lot of fun. He was Bear Totem, storywise he was a member of an outlander tribe who was born under unusual circumstances and left when his abilities caused unease within the tribe. I didn't get to explore his character development as much as I wanted to, I may try him again sometime. I like the OP's idea of a Genasi Storm Herald though, too. Very flavorful.
3) Definitely Stout Halfling. Do a full-on Scrappy Doo build :)
Minotaur
I actually really like that Air Genasi example
Locathah. Instead of raging, they go Loco
Maybe not the most optimized, but i like longtooth shifter for barbarian. Temp hp is essentially doubled due to rage resistance and you get a guaranteed bonus action attack in case you dont crit with gwm. Brutal critical makes that d6 respectable on occasion!
For a fun race, i like fallen aasimar as a zealot, using medium armor. An angel of wrath, too tainted for the heavens but not abandoned to the abyss.
For a wildcard, i would go shadar-kai barbarian for the offbrand elf themes. Being able to teleport without casting a spell can be clutch for a barbarian.
which book is the shadar kai in?
Mordenkainen's Tome Of Foes
I believe Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Dex/Con
Any of the shifters could make a good barbarian. Each would focus on a different aspect of being a barbarian, so YMMV on any particular subrace. Having a short rest quasi rage is pretty sweet and it can stack with rage if you want to get really nasty.
Goblin
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I play a Firbolg Barbarian in one of my campaigns and ngl, it's a highly entertaining mental image. Gentle giant on the outside, raging beast on the inside. Not the best choice stat-wise obviously, but fun over function tends to be my motto. Hidden Step has its uses, too!
Vampire! (Zealot barb)
1) Rage and grapple some poor unfortunate soul
2) Use omnomnom racial attack for 1+2+2d6+(level/2)
3) Get healed for the full 2d6+(level/2) necrotic portion
4) Either get boosts to speed and saving throws (Ixalan) or create zombie follower (Zendikar)
5) Do all of the above in a fetching waistcoat because Unarmoured Defence
Thanks everyone i have decided a zandikar vampire path of the depths barbarian is a great combo for what I want lol.
A swashbuckling barbarian that survived the depths with a curse sounds super fun and thematic for my taste but you all gave a lot of great ideas for me!