Those who choose the Path of the Battlerager, also known as Kuldjargh ("Axe Idiot") in dwarvish, specialize in a dwarven form of combat where an individual utilizes a set spiked armor. These barbarians are infamous in battle, known for completely immersing themselves in the thrill of a fight, they solely rely on their instincts and aggression while they relentlessly peruse their adversaries.

Creator's Note: The intention of this homebrew is to improve upon the shortcomings of the official "Path of the Battlerager" barbarian subclass while maintaining the fantasy of playing a relentless barbarian in spiked armor. If you have any questions about how I came to my conclusions for certain features just ask, and I'll gladly give my reasoning.

Battlerager Armor

3rd-level Path of the Battlerager feature

Taught how to use spiked armor at its full potential, you gain the ability to use spiked armor as a weapon. During a long rest you can modify a set of armor that you are proficiency with, turning it into a set of spiked armor. Modifying armor in this manner prevents others from using the armor safely, as your modifications are specifically tailored to your use of spiked armor. You can remove this modification during a long rest.

While you are wearing spiked armor and are raging, you can use a bonus action to make one melee weapon attack with your armor spikes against a target within 5 feet of you. If the attack hits, the spikes deal 1d4 piercing damage. You use your Strength modifier for the attack and damage rolls. The damage die increases when you reach certain levels in this class, increasing to 1d6 at 5th level, 1d8 at 11th level, and 1d10 at 17th level.

Additionally, when you successfully grapple a creature or a creature within 5 feet of you hits you with a melee attack, the target piercing damage equal to your proficiency bonus, if you aren’t incapacitated, and are wearing spiked armor.

Combat Instincts

3rd-level Path of the Battlerager feature

Always on the ready for a fight, you add your proficiency bonus to your initiative rolls, and have advantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks to determine if a creature is becoming hostile, or readying themselves take hostile actions against you, or your companions.

Reckless Abandon

6th-level Path of the Battlerager feature

Your blood lust allows you to shrug off your opponents attacks. When you use Reckless Attack while raging, you gain temporary hit points equal to half your barbarian level. When your rages ends, any remaining temporary hit points are removed.

In addition, when you deal damage with your spiked armor, it counts as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to non-magical attacks and damage.

Battlerager's Charge

10th-level Path of the Battlerager feature

Driven to always be in the heart of combat, you can use the Dash action as a bonus action. If you're raging when you take the Dash, you can make a single melee weapon attack with your spiked armor as part of the Dash action.

Reckless Fury

15th-level Path of the Battlerager feature

You overwhelm your foes by the ruthlessness of your attacks. When you use Reckless Attack while raging, and don't have disadvantage on the attack rolls, you can reroll one of the attack dice once.