Path of the Thunderbound

Barbarians who follow the Path of the Thunderbound learn to force supernatural energy through their bodies until movement itself becomes violent.

Rather than casting spells, a Thunderbound warrior channels an internal reserve of power known as Battle Mana through the muscles, nerves, and weapon. This power manifests as lightning, thunderous impacts, and explosive acceleration.

A Thunderbound warrior does not command storms from afar. They become the storm.

Battle Mana surges through the body, sharpening reflexes and forcing muscles to contract with impossible speed. A weapon carried by a Thunderbound warrior becomes the final point of release, discharging accumulated energy into a target in a flash of steel and lightning.

This power is dangerous even to its wielder. Thunderbound warriors train relentlessly so their bodies can survive the strain of accelerating faster, striking harder, and channeling more energy than an ordinary warrior could endure.

Some Thunderbound warriors appear almost motionless before they attack. Then, in an instant, the battlefield erupts with thunder and they are already standing where their enemy once thought itself safe.

Thunderbound features are magical effects, but they aren't spells. They require no spell components or Concentration and can be used while raging unless a feature states otherwise.

Thunderbound abilities are magical in nature, but they are not spells. They require no spell components or Concentration and can be used while raging unless a feature states otherwise.

Battle Mana

Your Rage awakens a reserve of supernatural power called Battle Mana.

You have a number of Battle Mana points equal to twice your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended Battle Mana when you finish a Long Rest.

You can expend Battle Mana only while your Rage is active unless a Thunderbound feature specifically states otherwise.

Your Battle Mana techniques are magical effects, but they are not spells. They require no material, somatic, or verbal components, require no Concentration, and can be used while raging.

If one of your Thunderbound features requires a saving throw, the save DC equals:

8 + your Proficiency Bonus + your Strength modifier

When you gain this feature, you also learn Lightning-Charged Blow and Thunderclap Strike.

Storm-Forged Body

Your body has adapted to the violent energy coursing through it.

While your Rage is active, you have Resistance to Lightning damage.

In addition, when you take damage while raging, you can use your Reaction and expend 1 Battle Mana to reduce that damage by 1d12 + your Constitution modifier. Apply this reduction before applying any Resistance you have to the damage.

Finally, while raging, when you fail a saving throw to avoid or end the Frightened condition, you can expend 1 Battle Mana to succeed instead.

Lightning Step

You have learned to channel Battle Mana through your entire body, accelerating yourself with explosive bursts of supernatural speed.

Once on each of your turns when you expend Battle Mana, you can move up to half your Speed immediately before or immediately after the attack or effect that expended it. This movement doesn't provoke Opportunity Attacks.

During this movement, you can move across liquids and along vertical surfaces without falling during the move, but you must end this movement on a surface that can support you.

In addition, when you roll Initiative and have no Battle Mana remaining, you regain 2 Battle Mana.

Thunder God's Descent

Once during each Rage, when you use Thunderclap Strike, you can expend 3 Battle Mana instead of 2 to transform the technique into Thunder God's Descent.

Before making the attack, you can move up to your Speed. This movement doesn't provoke Opportunity Attacks, and during it you can move through the spaces of hostile creatures, across liquids, and along vertical surfaces. You must end this movement in an unoccupied space that can support you.

You then make the attack as normal for Thunderclap Strike.

On a hit, the attack deals its normal weapon damage plus 6d12 Lightning damage.

The target must succeed on a Strength saving throw against your Thunderbound save DC or be pushed up to 15 feet away from you and have the Prone condition.

Each other creature of your choice within 10 feet of the target takes 2d8 Thunder damage.

After resolving the attack, your Speed becomes 0 until the end of the current turn, and you suffer the normal defensive drawbacks of Thunderclap Strike.

In addition, the first time during each Rage that your Relentless Rage feature prevents you from dropping to 0 Hit Points, you regain 1 expended Battle Mana.