For some, their rage springs from a communion with fierce animal spirits. Others draw from a roiling reservoir of anger at a world full of pain. For every barbarian, rage is a power that fuels not just a battle frenzy but also uncanny reflexes, resilience, and feats of strength.

People of towns and cities take pride in how their civilized ways set them apart from animals, as if denying one's own nature was a mark of superiority. To a barbarian, though, civilization is no virtue, but a sign of weakness. The strong embrace their animal nature- keen instincts, primaI physicality, and ferocious rage. Barbarians are uncomfortable when hedged in by walls and crowds. They thrive in the wilds of their homelands: the tundra, jungle, or grasslands where their tribes live and hunt.

Barbarians are the raw, unshackled force of nature, a tempest of muscle, rage, and primal instinct. When you take up the mantle of a barbarian, you are not just wielding power—you are becoming power. The source of a barbarian’s fury may vary, but the result is always the same: an unstoppable force capable of supernatural feats of strength and endurance. Their rage is more than mere anger; it is a transformative force that takes over body and mind, driving them forward even as their bodies break and bleed.

Whether this rage is a gift from animal spirits or born from a deep well of personal trauma, it pushes the barbarian into a state where pain and injury are mere afterthoughts, and only the final victory matters. This primal fury is a double-edged sword, both a blessing and a curse, granting unimaginable power at the cost of losing oneself to the beast within.

When creating a barbarian character, think about where your character comes from and his or her place in the world. Talk with your DM about an appropriate origin for your barbarian. Did you come from a distant land, making you a stranger in the area of the campaign?

Or is the campaign set in a rough-and-tumble frontier where barbarians are common? What led you to take up the adventuring life? Were you lured to settled lands by the promise of riches? Did you join forces with soldiers of those lands to face a shared threat? Did monsters or an invading horde drive you out of your homeland, making you a rootless refugee? Perhaps you were a prisoner of war, brought in chains to "civilized" lands and only now able to win your freedom. Or you might have been cast out from your people because of a crime you committed, a taboo you violated, or a coup that removed you from a position of authority.

Barbarians are not ones to burden themselves with unnecessary possessions, yet the few items they carry are often steeped in meaning and power. These personal totems are relics of mystical origins, tied to pivotal moments in their past or ominous harbingers of what lies ahead. These objects, whether they are remnants of a spirit animal or artifacts of another nature, are more than mere trinkets—they are symbols of the barbarian’s connection to the ancient forces that guide them.

Consider what personal totems your barbarian might carry. These objects could influence their decisions, whispering to them in moments of doubt, or reminding them of oaths long sworn.

Examples of Personal Totems
A tuft of fur from a solitary wolf you befriended during a hunt. The wolf’s spirit lingers, guiding your steps through the wild.
Three eagle feathers gifted by a wise shaman, said to play a crucial role in your destiny. Do they foretell triumph or tragedy?
A necklace of young cave bear claws, taken after you slew the beast as a child. The beast’s spirit watches over you, demanding more blood.
A small leather pouch holding three stones, representing your ancestors. Their spirits speak to you in the dead of night, offering guidance or curses.
A few small bones from the first beast you killed, tied together with colored wool. These bones rattle in the presence of danger, warning you of what lies unseen.
An egg-sized stone in the shape of your spirit animal that mysteriously appeared in your belt pouch one day. It hums with an unsettling energy, its purpose yet unknown.

Marks of the Beast

In many barbarian clans, the body is a canvas upon which the stories of battle and survival are etched. Tattoos, whether related to an animal spirit or not, represent significant moments in a barbarian’s life or their ancestors’. These marks are not mere decoration; they are symbols of power, identity, and a connection to the primeval forces that shape their world.

If your barbarian bears tattoos, consider their design and meaning. Are they warnings, reminders of past victories, or signs of something darker?

Examples of Tattoos
Wings of an eagle spread wide across your upper back, symbolizing freedom or a deadly descent upon your enemies.
The paws of a cave bear etched on the backs of your hands, granting you the beast’s strength in battle.
Viny patterns displaying the symbols of your clan winding along your arms, a reminder of your heritage and the blood ties that bind.
The antlers of an elk inked across your back, representing speed and the relentless pursuit of prey.
Images of your spirit animal tattooed along your weapon arm, guiding each strike with supernatural precision.
The eyes of a wolf marked on your back, to help you see the unseen and ward off the evil spirits that stalk the night.

Barbarians walk the line between the world of men and the world of spirits. Their understanding of life is often shaped by deeply held superstitions, passed down through generations or born from personal encounters with the unknown. Some barbarians trust in the gods and the spirits of nature, while others rely solely on their own strength and the steel in their hands. These beliefs can protect them from harm—or doom them to a fate worse than death.

If your barbarian harbors any superstitions, think about their origin. Were they instilled by family, or are they the result of a personal encounter with the supernatural?

Examples of Superstitions
Disturbing the bones of the dead will curse you with their burdens. The restless spirits will haunt you until you make amends.
Never trust a wizard—they are devils in disguise, especially the friendly ones. Their promises are but traps laid in the dark.
Dwarves have lost their spirits, making them akin to the undead. They dwell underground to hide from the light of truth.
Magical objects bring trouble. Never sleep with one within ten feet of you, lest it draws something dark to your side.
Wear silver when you walk through a graveyard, or a ghost may enter your body, using you as a vessel for its unfinished business.
An elf who looks you in the eyes is trying to read your thoughts. Beware, for they may steal them and leave you empty.

d6	I became a barbarian because...
1	My devotion to my people lifted me in battle, making me powerful and dangerous.
2	The spirits of my ancestors called on me to carry out a great task.
3	I lost control in battle one day, and it terrified me. I went to a shaman to learn how to control my rage.
4	I was struck by lightning and lived. Afterward, I found a new strength within me that let me push beyond my limits.
5	My anger needed to be channeled into battle, or I risked becoming an indiscriminate killer.
6	I’ve always been driven by a primal rage. My need for destruction never far from my mind.

You must have a Strength score of 13 or higher in order to multiclass in or out of this class.

• (A) Greataxe, 4 Handaxes, Explorer's Pack, and 15 GP;

• (B) 75 GP

To qualify for a new class, you must have a score of at least 13 in the primary ability of the new class and your current classes.

Barbarian Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Rages	Rage Damage	Weapon Mastery
1st	+2	Rage, Unarmored Defense, Weapon Mastery	2	+2	2
2nd	+2	Danger Sense, Reckless Attack	2	+2	2
3rd	+2	Barbarian Subclass, Primal Knowledge	3	+2	2
4th	+2	Ability Score Improvement	3	+2	3
5th	+3	Extra Attack, Fast Movement	3	+2	3
6th	+3	Subclass Feature	4	+2	3
7th	+3	Feral Instinct, Instinctive Pounce	4	+2	3
8th	+3	Ability Score Improvement	4	+2	3
9th	+4	Brutal Strike	4	+3	3
10th	+4	Subclass Feature	4	+3	4
11th	+4	Relentless Rage	4	+3	4
12th	+4	Ability Score Improvement	5	+3	4
13th	+5	Improved Brutal Strike	5	+3	4
14th	+5	Subclass Feature	5	+3	4
15th	+5	Persistent Rage	5	+3	4
16th	+5	Ability Score Improvement	5	+4	4
17th	+6	Improved Brutal Strike	6	+4	4
18th	+6	Indomitable Might	6	+4	4
19th	+6	Epic Boon	6	+4	4
20th	+6	Primal Champion	6	+4	4

You can imbue yourself with a primal power called Rage, a force that grants you extraordinary might and resilience. You can enter it as a Bonus Action if you aren't wearing Heavy armor.

You can enter your Rage the number of times shown for your Barbarian level in the Rages column of the Barbarian Features table. You regain one expended use when you finish a Short Rest, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

While active, your Rage follows the rules below.

You have Resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage.

When you make an attack using Strength—with either a weapon or an Unarmed Strike—and deal damage to the target, you gain a bonus to the damage that increases as you gain levels as a Barbarian, as shown in the Rage Damage column of the Barbarian Features table.

You have Advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws.

You can't maintain Concentration, and you can't cast spells.

The Rage lasts until the end of your next turn, and it ends early if you don Heavy armor or have the Incapacitated condition. If your Rage is still active on your next turn, you can extend the Rage for another round by doing one of the following:

• Make an attack roll against an enemy.

• Force an enemy to make a saving throw.

• Take a Bonus Action to extend your Rage.

Each time the Rage is extended, it lasts until the end of your next turn. You can maintain a Rage for up to 10 minutes.

While you aren't wearing any armor, your base Armor Class equals 10 plus your Dexterity and Constitution modifiers. You can use a Shield and still gain this benefit.

Your training with weapons allows you to use the mastery properties of two kinds of Simple or Martial Melee weapons of your choice, such as Greataxes and Handaxes. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can practice weapon drills and change one of those weapon choices.

When you reach certain Barbarian levels, you gain the ability to use the mastery properties of more kinds of weapons, as shown in the Weapon Mastery column of the Barbarian Features table.

You gain an uncanny sense of when things aren't as they should be, giving you an edge when you dodge perils. You have Advantage on Dexterity saving throws unless you have the Incapacitated condition.

You can throw aside all concern for defense to attack with increased ferocity. When you make your first attack roll on your turn, you can decide to attack recklessly. Doing so gives you Advantage on attack rolls using Strength until the start of your next turn, but attack rolls against you have Advantage during that time.

You gain a Barbarian subclass of your choice. A subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Barbarian levels. For the rest of your career, you gain each of your subclass's features that are of your Barbarian level or lower.

You gain proficiency in another skill of your choice from the skill list available to Barbarians at level 1.

In addition, while your Rage is active, you can channel primal power when you attempt certain tasks; whenever you make an ability check using one of the following skills, you can make it as a Strength check even if it normally uses a different ability: Acrobatics, Intimidation, Perception, Stealth, or Survival. When you use this ability, your Strength represents primal power coursing through you, honing your agility, bearing, and senses.

You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Barbarian levels 8, 12, and 16.

You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Your speed increases by 10 feet while you aren't wearing Heavy armor.

You gain a feature from your Barbarian subclass.

Your instincts are so honed that you have Advantage on Initiative rolls.

As part of the Bonus Action you take to enter [or maintain] your Rage, you can move up to half your Speed.

You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify.

If you use Reckless Attack, you can forgo any Advantage on one Strength-based attack roll of your choice on your turn. The chosen attack roll mustn't have Disadvantage. If the chosen attack roll hits, the target takes an extra 1d10 damage of the same type dealt by the weapon or Unarmed Strike, and you can cause one Brutal Strike effect of your choice. You have the following effect options.

• Forceful Blow.

  • The target is pushed 15 feet straight away from you. You can then move up to half your Speed straight toward the target without provoking Opportunity Attacks.

• Hamstring Blow.

  • The target's Speed is reduced by 15 feet until the start of your next turn. A target can be affected by only one Hamstring Blow at a time—the most recent one.

You gain a feature from your Barbarian subclass.

Your Rage can keep you fighting despite grievous wounds. If you drop to 0 Hit Points while your Rage is active and don't die outright, you can make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw. If you succeed, your Hit Points instead change to a number equal to twice your Barbarian level.

Each time you use this feature after the first, the DC increases by 5. When you finish a Short or Long Rest, the DC resets to 10.

You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify.

You have honed new ways to attack furiously. The following effects are now among your Brutal Strike options.

• Staggering Blow.

  • The target has Disadvantage on the next saving throw it makes, and it can't make Opportunity Attacks until the start of your next turn.

• Sundering Blow.

  • Before the start of your next turn, the next attack roll made by another creature against the target gains a +5 bonus to the roll. An attack roll can gain only one Sundering Blow bonus.

You gain a feature from your Barbarian subclass.

When you roll Initiative, you can regain all expended uses of Rage. After you regain uses of Rage in this way, you can't do so again until you finish a Long Rest.

In addition, your Rage is so fierce that it now lasts for 10 minutes without you needing to do anything to extend it from round to round. Your Rage ends early if you have the Unconscious condition (not just the Incapacitated condition) or don Heavy armor.

You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify.

The extra damage of your Brutal Strike increases to 2d10. In addition, you can use two different Brutal Strike effects whenever you use your Brutal Strike feature.

If your total for a Strength check or Strength saving throw is less than your Strength score, you can use that score in place of the total.

You gain an Epic Boon feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. Boon of Irresistible Offense is recommended.

You embody primal power. Your Strength and Constitution scores increase by 4, to a maximum of 25.

QUICK BUILD
You can make a barbarian quickly by following these suggestions. First, put your highest ability score in Strength, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the outlander background.

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Rages	Rage Damage
1st	+2	Rage, Unarmored Defense	2	+2
2nd	+2	Reckless Attack, Danger Sense	2	+2
3rd	+2	Primal Path, Primal Knowledge (Optional)	3	+2
4th	+2	Ability Score Improvement	3	+2
5th	+3	Extra Attack, Fast Movement	3	+2
6th	+3	Path feature	4	+2
7th	+3	Feral Instinct, Instinctive Pounce (Optional)	4	+2
8th	+3	Ability Score Improvement	4	+2
9th	+4	Brutal Critical (1 die)	4	+3
10th	+4	Path feature, Primal Knowledge (Optional)	4	+3
11th	+4	Relentless Rage	4	+3
12th	+4	Ability Score Improvement	5	+3
13th	+5	Brutal Critical (2 dice)	5	+3
14th	+5	Path feature	5	+3
15th	+5	Persistent Rage	5	+3
16th	+5	Ability Score Improvement	5	+4
17th	+6	Brutal Critical (3 dice)	6	+4
18th	+6	Indomitable Might	6	+4
19th	+6	Ability Score Improvement	6	+4
20th	+6	Primal Champion	Unlimited	+4

As a barbarian, you gain the following class features.

Hit Dice: $\color{DarkGoldenrod}1D12$ per barbarian level
Hit Points at 1st Level: $\color{DarkGoldenrod}12$ + your $\color{Jade}Constitution$ modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: $\color{DarkGoldenrod}1D12$ (or 7) + your $\color{Jade}Constitution$$ modifier per barbarian level after 1st

Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Skills: Choose two from Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, and Survival

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:

• (a) a greataxe or (b) any martial melee weapon
• (a) two handaxes or (b) any simple weapon
• An explorer's pack
• Four javelins

$Lvl$ $\color{gold}1$

In battle, a barbarian’s rage is not merely an emotion; it is a primal force that consumes them, turning them into a juggernaut of fury. As the rage takes hold, their muscles swell, and their skin flushes with a deep crimson, veins bulging as the blood within surges with unnatural vitality. Their eyes burn with an inner fire, and their mind narrows to a singular focus: the destruction of their enemies. This transformation is as much a curse as it is a blessing, for in the throes of rage, the barbarian teeters on the edge of losing themselves entirely to the beast within.

On your turn, you can enter a rage as a bonus action.

While raging, you gain the following benefits if you aren't wearing heavy armor:

• You have advantage on Strength checks and Strength saving throws.
• When you make a melee weapon attack using Strength, you gain a bonus to the damage roll that increases as you gain levels as a barbarian, as shown in the Rage Damage column of the Barbarian table.
• You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

However, your connection to the arcane is severed; you cannot cast or concentrate on spells while raging, if you are able to cast spells.

Your rage lasts for 1 minute. It ends early if you are knocked unconscious or if your turn ends and you haven't attacked a hostile creature since your last turn or taken damage since then. You can also end your rage on your turn as a bonus action.

Once you have raged the number of times shown for your barbarian level in the Rages column of the Barbarian table, you must finish a long rest before you can rage again.

$Lvl$ $\color{gold}1$

A barbarian’s body is a fortress, hardened by the rigors of survival. Even without armor, your body can absorb blows that would fell lesser warriors.

While you are not wearing any armor, your armor class equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier. You can use a shield and still gain this benefit.

$Lvl$ $\color{gold}2$

At 2nd level, you gain an uncanny sense of when things nearby aren't as they should be, giving you an edge when you dodge away from danger. You have advantage on Dexterity saving throws against effects that you can see, such as traps and spells. To gain this benefit, you can't be blinded, deafened, or incapacitated.

$Lvl$ $\color{gold}2$

Starting at 2nd level, you can throw aside all concern for defense to attack with fierce desperation. When you make your first attack on your turn, you can decide to attack recklessly. Doing so gives you advantage on melee weapon attack rolls using Strength during this turn, but attack rolls against you have advantage until your next turn.

$Lvls$ $\color{silver}3$ $\color{bronze}6$ $\color{brass}10$ $\color{gold}14$

When I stand amidst the bodies of the fallen, with their blood and entrails staining the earth, I know I am no longer fully human. The spirit of the wild has claimed me, and in my rage, I become something else—something ancient and terrible.

At 3rd level, you choose a path that shapes the nature of your rage. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 6th, 10th, and 14th levels.

The Primal Path you choose will guide your rage, giving it form and purpose, whether it is the unyielding ferocity of the Berserker, the mystical connection of the Totem Warrior, or the divine fervor of the Zealot.

Ancestral Guardian Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Battlerager Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
Beast Tasha's Cauldron of Everything
Berserker Player's Handbook
Storm Herald Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Totem Warrior Player's Handbook
Wild Magic Tasha's Cauldron of Everything
Zealot Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Lvl $\color{gold}3$ $\color{gold}10$

When you reach 3rd level and again at 10th level, you gain proficiency in one skill of your choice from the list of skills available to barbarians at 1st level.

$\color{SteelBlue}4$ $\color{Silver}8$ $\color{Brass}12$ $\color{Gold}16$ $\color{Goldenrod}19$

When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.

$Lvl$ $\color{Goldenrod}5$

Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

$Lvl$ $\color{Goldenrod}5$

Starting at 5th level, your speed increases by 10 feet while you aren't wearing heavy armor.

$Lvl$ $\color{Goldenrod}7$

By 7th level, your instincts are so honed that you have advantage on initiative rolls.

Additionally, if you are surprised at the beginning of combat and aren't incapacitated, you can act normally on your first turn, but only if you enter your rage before doing anything else on that turn.

$Lvl$ $\color{Goldenrod}7$

At 7th level, as part of the bonus action you take to enter your rage, you can move up to half your speed.

$Lvl$ $\color{Goldenrod}9$ $\color{SlateGray}13$ $\color{RosyBrown}17$

Beginning at 9th level, you can roll one additional weapon damage die when determining the extra damage for a critical hit with a melee attack.

This increases to two additional dice at 13th level and three additional dice at 17th level.

$Lvl$ $\color{Peru}11$

Starting at 11th level, your rage can keep you fighting despite grievous wounds. If you drop to 0 hit points while you're raging and don't die outright, you can make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw. If you succeed, you drop to 1 hit point instead.

Each time you use this feature after the first, the DC increases by 5. When you finish a short or long rest, the DC resets to 10.

$\color{tan}15$

Beginning at 15th level, your rage is so fierce that it ends early only if you fall unconscious or if you choose to end it.

$\color{Electric}18$

Beginning at 18th level, if your total for a Strength check is less than your Strength score, you can use that score in place of the total.

$\color{Gold}20$

At 20th level, you embody the power of the wilds. Your Strength and Constitution scores increase by 4. Your maximum for those scores is now 24.

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Doctor Bruce Banner, alias The Hulk, a physics-based barbarian of the Path of the Berserker

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