Dungeons & Dragons released the updated 2024 Players Handbook in September 2024, with updates everywhere throughout the book that the fifth edition of the game made popular. Each class has received its own changes, small or large, in this update for new players, which might lead to some new discoveries when making a new character either online or on paper.

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One of the simpler classes in D&D is barbarian, and even with what the new PHB introduces, the class remains one of the tankiest and most aggressive builds that a player can create. Overall, in the 2024 Players Handbook, the barbarian only got stronger, so learning these changes can lead to a stronger barbarian.

Differences Between 5e Barbarian And 2024 PHB Barbarian

Path of the Berserker art from the 2024 Players Handbook, by Nathaniel Himawan.

For avid players of D&D, the barbarian class is one of the classes that received fewer changes in the 2024 Players Handbook. The basics of a barbarian stay the same, from the focus on the Strength and Constitution stats and a d12 hit die to the ability to Rage in combat to cut through foes.

However, Rage has two minor changes in comparison to its 2014 version. Previously, barbarians had to either attack a foe or get hit to keep their Rage going, but this 2024 version now allows players to use their Bonus Action specifically to maintain their Rage. Also, whereas before, players had Rages that they could only regain when they took a Long Rest, now barbarians get one Rage back on a Short Rest.

Weapon Mastery is improved at level two, now offering two weapon mastery slots that can be swapped every morning (like spells for specific spellcasters). Plus, another barbarian-specific ability Danger Sense no longer needs the player to see or hear the effects of the Dexterity saving throw to get advantage on the save.

If you're an avid barbarian player, Reckless Attacks are crucial to your build, and the 2024 PHB only makes it better, now allowing the advantage on attacks to last until the start of your next turn. That means that Opportunity Attacks are also at advantage, instead of the advantageous attacks ending when your turn does.

Lots of later abilities also got changes, from Primal Knowledge offering the ability for players to use Strength to make some non-Strength ability checkswhile Raging, to swapping Brutal Critical to Brutal Strike, which can remove the advantage from Reckless Attacks but instead can offer more damage and debuffs on your foes.

Lastly, for true high level ability changes, Persistent Rage now returns all Rage charges when initiative is rolled. Add onto that the new Epic Boon feature at level 19 and the increased stat limits for Strength and Constitution to 25 at level 20, and you have an even scarier max-level barbarian character.

New And Updated Barbarian Subclasses

Of course, subclasses were also updated, each giving a slightly updated version of previous subclasses. The subclasses are:

  • Path of the Berserker: Frenzy does extra damage instead of attacks and no longer gives the player Exhaustion.
  • Path of the Wild Heart: More choices are offered, with the ability to swap between them every Long Rest.
  • Path of the World Tree: A newsubclass tied to the legendary Yggdrasil tree.
  • Path of the Zealot: Now focuses on staying alive longer instead of being easier to revive.

How To Build A Barbarian With 2024 PHB Rules

Art by Marcela Medeiros.

Thankfully, even with all those changes listed above, building a 2024 barbarian isn't much different than before. Almost all the barbarian changes introduced in the 2024 PHB revolve around improving previously existing abilities, not restructuring them so heavily that players need to make the character differently.

How To Build For Barbarian Subclasses In 2024

Art of an armored tiefling from Dungeons and Dragons, by Jodie Muir.

In fact, the only new addition that would even mildly change how you build a new barbarian character is the new subclass.

As many players know, building a character with the subclass in mind could lead to differences in how the character plays in the end, like playing a tank cleric or a ranged damage and heal-focused cleric.

Aside from that, the barbarian remains straightforward when choosing their stats: Strength and Constitution as the highest, Dexterity third, and the rest in whatever order you see fit. Thanks to the d12 hit die remaining the same, health and damage will never be a true worry like for Wizards and Sorcerers.

However, for subclasses like Path of the World Tree and Path of the Wild Heart, you could also build Constitution over Strength to make the ultimate tank for your team. Either way, Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity are your three top stats.

Gameplay for the barbarian remains mostly the same as well, with a focus on Raging as soon as combat begins, taking hits thanks to the Rage resistance to physical damage, and scaring your foes. Now, with the new changes, players have more flexibility, thanks to gaining one Rage back on a Short Rest and being able to swap weapons thanks to Weapon Mastery.

Best Backgrounds For A Barbarian In 2024

Art for the Guard background in Dungeons and Dragons, by Noor Rahman.

In D&D, each character can choose a unique background that gives them not only a hint to their backstory, but some added abilities and skills. Barbarians are no different, and here are some of the best ones for a barbarian build.

  • Entertainer: If you are looking for a current or former gladiator, fighting for fun as well as for competition, this is a good one and can offer some Charisma proficiencies.
  • Farmer: For a connection to nature, and an easy explanation for why you're so durable, Farmer works.
  • Guard: For the benefits of Perception and boosted Initiative, Guard is for the perceptive barbarians.
  • Solider: The most aesthetically fitting for a melee fighter, the Soldier background gives the barbarian a reason for their build and the training to make it work.

Starting Weapons For A Barbarian In 2024

Art of the Solider background in Dungeons and Dragons, by Fabiá Sans.

Speaking of weapons, the barbarian is a close-range fighter, so greatswords and great axes are the best options outside unique magical weapons that barbarians can use.

There are ranged options too, like javelins, but melee is where barbarians should try to be at all times.

Out of all the starting equipment, the greataxe is the signature item for a barbarian, and for good reason. Thanks to Rage, the need for a high Armor Class isn't as high, and two-handing a weapon to deal massive amounts of damage can make barbarians scary at early levels.

Armor can be handy, and barbarians should be best with the strongest medium armor possible. Barbarians are proficient with light and medium armor, and while Unarmored Defense can be useful, it is tough to replicate the AC that half-plate armor gives with your stats alone.

Keep in mind that a shield stacks with armor, but you would have to use one of your two hands to hold the shield.

How To Multiclass As A Barbarian In 2024

Art of a party in the 2024 Players Handbook, by Dmitry Burmak.

For barbarians, multiclassing is an option that could add some flavor and uniqueness to a regular Barbarian playthrough. However, not all classes work well with barbarian, and the key to a good multiclass is seeing the potential synergy.

Some of the more common examples are classes that share a common goal and common good stats, like barbarian/fighter or barbarian/paladin. However, like many other multiclass options and by design, pulling off a good multiclass revolves around having great stats outside of the two that your original class focuses on.

For example, if you roll well and can have good Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity, monk could be a good multiclass option. Or, if you get Charisma as the third-highest stat, paladin can work.

But, to be specific, there are other key reasons those multiclasses above work. For barbarian/fighter, you can combine Reckless Attacks with Action Surge to create a barbarian that hits heavy but also hits a lot in one turn, while also having Second Wind to guarantee a form of self-healing.

For barbarian/monk, you can effectively create a brawler that can stun thier foes and guarantee future attacks for themself and their allies while focusing on Dexterity and giving yourself a natural AC that's hard to beat. That doesn't even mention the bonus action abilities monks have that a barbarian could appreciate, like Patient Defense or Flurry of Blows.

Lastly, for barbarian/paladin, the only thing that needs to be pointed out is the absurd amount of pure damage output that a smited greataxe attack could do on a critical hit. Add to that better saving throws and potential proficiency in heavy armor, and you can make an extremely tanky unit that can also explode enemies into dust.

Best Barbarian Feats In 2024

Path of the Wild Heart art from the 2024 Players Handbook, by Alditha Siregar.

Last but not least, feats are added abilities that you can pick up, usually when you first build a character or when you level up. Some of the best options for barbarians revolve either around health or damage, which can improve their gameplay significantly.

Feat

Description

Value

Athlete

Boosts Strength or Dexterity by 1, improves your climb speed to match your move speed, and you can move easier both off the Prone condition and can Jump easier.

This feat makes your barbarian a lot harder to slow down, and also makes him a much better climber.

Crusher

Boosts Strength or Constitution by 1, can move opponents five feet once per turn after dealing Bludgeoning damage, critical hits doing Bludgeoning damage weaken opponents and give yourself and your allies advantage on attacks against them until the start of your next turn.

If you stick to a greataxe for your main weapon, and keep picking bludgeoning weapons in the future, Crusher just makes every attack better.

Durable

Boosts Constitution by 1, gives advantage on death saving throws, bonus action self-heal off a single hit dice.

The ultimate tank feat, Durable makes you a lot harder to kill and offers a self-heal.

Great Weapon Master

Boosts Strength by 1, heavy weapons deal extra damage equal to your Proficiency bonus, critical hits or defeating enemies allow a free bonus action attack with the same weapon.

Extra damage, plus crits or kills offering a free attack, are both right down the barbarian path.

Mage Slayer

Boosts Strength or Dexterity by 1, dealing damage to enemies concentrating gives them disadvantage to keep concentration, once per long rest auto-success on an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw.

Mages can be the most annoying things in combat as a barbarian, so this feat makes it a lot harder for them to debuff you or your allies.

Sentinel

Boosts Strength or Dexterity by 1, can make Opportunity Attacks on disengaging enemies within five feet or when an enemy hits another target within five feet, hitting an Opportunity Attack slows enemies' speed to zero.

Sentinel effectively forces enemies near you to focus you while also killing their movement speed.

Weapon Master

Boosts Strength or Dexterity by 1, gain mastery of one simple or martial weapon that you have proficiency with, swappable once per Long Rest.

More weapon masteries means less chance someone disarming you becomes an issue, as well as more flexibility in combat.

As you level up the barbarian, the key things to remember are to keep yourself tanky through health or your natural armor, to keep your damage output high, and to keep your weapons useful.

You don't need to worry about spells outside of ones that could hit you, and you don't have a lot of resources to keep track of outside of your Rages and your weaponry.

Keep all of that in mind, and playing barbarian will be just as fun as the previous 2014 variation.

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