Path of the Full Moon

Not all barbarians find a source of strength or a force of nature to channel: sometimes that power finds them. For barbarians of the Path of the Full Moon, that power is the ancient curse of lycanthropy.

Whether they were cast out after succumbing to a werewolf’s bite or they were born naturally with the beast blood, these barbarians seek to master the curse coursing through their veins. For many who try, the power of the full moon and rising calls for bloodshed simply prove too much to bear and they descend into a life of animalistic violence. Of the determined few who retain their humanity, many live alone in the wilds, in packs with their kin, or on the fringes of civilization. Even with intense self-control and a watchful eye on the moon, these barbarians know one slip is all it takes to lose themselves in the carnage.

Note: The features of this subclass are intended to replace the rules of Lycanthropy within the Monster Manual for characters of this Path.

Blood of the Beast

3rd-level Path of the Full Moon feature

When you choose this path, the lycanthropic curse pumping through your veins begins to change you. Your skin begins to grow thick fur and you occasionally develop a thirst for blood.

When you rage, your form shifts into a beast-humanoid hybrid of your lycanthropy. You choose whether your equipment falls to the ground in your space or is worn by your new form. For the duration of your rage, you gain the following benefits:

• Your hands develop razor-sharp claws, which deal 1d12 slashing damage on a hit. You may only attack with a claw if that hand is empty.
• Your mouth grows into a bestial jaw, which deals 1d10 piercing damage on a hit and scores a critical hit if the number on the d20 is 19 or 20.
• Your claws and bite are natural weapons, count as simple melee weapons for you with which you are proficient, and you add your Strength modifier to the attack and damage rolls when you attack with them.

When your rage ends, you lose all of these traits until you rage again, and you return to your true form. 

Feral Strikes

6th-level Path of the Full Moon feature

Your ability to shred your foes improves. Your unarmed strikes and natural weapons count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

Predator's Focus

6th-level Path of the Full Moon feature

You develop a resistance to magical influence due to your bestial blood. You gain proficiency in Wisdom saving throws.

Dread Howl

10th-level Path of the Full Moon feature

You learn to unleash a piercing howl to terrify your foes. While raging, as a bonus action you can release a howl, forcing each creature of your choice within 20 feet of you that can hear you to make a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier). On a failed save, a target becomes frightened of you until your rage ends. A frightened target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

You have two uses of this ability, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Pack Leader

14th-level Path of the Full Moon feature

Your lycanthropic abilities now rival those of only the most fearsome pack leaders. While raging, when you hit a creature no more than one size larger than you with a natural weapon attack, you can use your reaction to force that creature to make a Strength saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier). On a failed save, that creature is knocked prone.