Barbarians from Dungeons & Dragons are an interesting sort. Leveraging overwhelming strength and power over control and social aptitude, these physical combatants are a great addition to a party. Powerful, tanky, and capable of physical destruction, they can also be great in standalone campaigns where they have to work alone or with a smaller adventuring party.
There are a variety of options for the best Barbarian build using the 5e rules, and beyond the traditional melee combat roles, Barbarians can also be defenders and healers. For some areas, there are a lot of options to mix and match benefits. For others, there are only one or two options depending on the player’s preference. For those looking for the best and brutish way to go about fighting in a campaign, here are some tips for creating an overpowered Barbarian character.
Updated on March 15, 2023, by Kristy Ambrose: Most players who want a simple leveling process with a melee role create Fighters and miss the wild fun of the Barbarian class. Only about eight percent of players roll and level a Barbarian even though it's one of the easiest and most customizable classes. That puts it on the median level with it comes to popularity among parties and players. The class has a lot going for it when it comes to unique ideas for roleplay, skills, and gear, so players keep returning to the class to try something new and interesting. The homebrew options for the class have also expanded, meaning you can get more creative with multi-class options, too. The Dungeons & Dragons world continues to grow, and there are a few more ways to get that Barbarian to an overpowered level in D&D 5e.
17 The Strength Stat
Strength is the number one ability to spec into, no questions asked, so depending on what method you're using for character creation, make this your highest stat. Since Barbarians rely on close combat and physical weapons to deal damage, Strength is your signature ability in any overpowered Barbarian D&D build.
Half of the Barbarian’s class abilities rely on Strength. Ideally, if you want to maximize Strength and build an overpowered Barbarian, you shouldn't start with anything lower than a score of 15. You build this up at later stages in the creation process using Strength bonuses from races, Feats, Skills, and other aspects of character creation.
16 Consider Constitution
Barbarians need to have their physical abilities emphasized. Strength is a no-brainer, but the other essential ability to have as a Barbarian is Constitution. This class doesn't wear a lot of armor and a high level of hit points helps to compensate for the lack of AC. Multi-classing is another way to get around this vulnerability, but that takes place much later in the ideal barbarian build.
A character's Constitution stat will allow the player to serve not only as a heavy damage dealer, but a tank for the team. Barbarians also need to roll for a lot of HP to be an efficient tank, which is why this class usually sticks with melee damage.
15 Other Stats
Dexterity would be the third most important stat for a Barbarian; AC boosts are always welcome. You have the weapon abilities but that doesn't make you good at them. Some extra Dexterity helps the Barbarian in this regard.
Having a decent amount of Wisdom is good for saves and three of the class abilities, especially if you plan on multiclassing later into a class that would benefit from this stat, like a Cleric. It also avoids the Barbarian character from being completely dumb since they lack Intelligence, or at least most of them do, and some points in Wisdom make them less repulsive.
14 An Axe To Grind
An axe should be the Barbarian’s primary weapon. It's the best Barbarian weapon in 5e with no exceptions. Most Barbarian builds always have some sort of axe or similar weapon equipped but don't let that limit your character. Halberds and other two-handed weapons can also be ideal for the Barbarian as long as you have the skills for them.
The Greataxe is the only weapon that yields the best damage output for a Barbarian. It pairs well with Brutal Critical. According to the D&D Player Handbook, “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.” The Barbarian in the party should bolster their critical hit damage as much as possible.
13 Axe Of The Furyborn
What's an overpowered build without an overpowered weapon? As long as we're talking about axes, the most recent edition of the Player's Handbook introduces us to the Axe of the Furyborn, the ideal weapon for a Barbarian.
It looks crude, reflecting its mysterious origins among the wild Furyborn Tribe, but it has a cutting edge made of sharpened obsidian and gives you a choice of attack bonuses. This can be an artifact that comes from the Barbarian's own power if you RP as one of the Furyborn or an item that you pick up depending on your DM's campaign plans.
12 Javelin Of Lightning
Who says Barbarians only have to be melee fighters? These days, there are plenty of options for ranged weapons that go well beyond slings or spears. A javelin would be one example and an OP javelin would turn into a bolt of lightning. That's an actual thing, and as one of the best Barbarian weapons in 5e, it can make your character into the D&D version of Thor.
The Javelin of Lightning is a magical weapon, first and foremost, so make sure your Barbarian has the stats to use it. The wielder speaks a command word that turns the javelin into a bolt of lightning with a range of 120 feet. This isn't just any bolt of lightning, but one that's five feet wide, so good luck on that saving throw for your opponent.
11 The Right Skills
Unlike some other aspects of the Barbarian, there are multiple avenues when it comes to Skills.
- Athletics is a must-have since it’s a Strength skill. This includes all the physical stuff a player can do: lifting, sprinting, jumping. Make sure to have proficiency here, too.
- Acrobatics as a second skill can complement Athletics, helping you become even better in physical ability. Intimidation would be fitting for a Barbarian if the Charisma stat wasn’t lacking.
- Stealth is good for those who want to sneak in and plunge a Greataxe into someone’s head.
10 Player's Handbook Races: Orcs, Dragonborn, And Humans
Here is another area that might be a little overwhelming: picking a race. There are a lot of options available, whether it's personal preference or those sweet, sweet stat bonuses. The best races for an overpowered Barbarian from the D&D Player's Handbook would be Half-Orc, Dragonborn, and Human Variant.
Half-Orcs, Humans, and Dragonborn offer a +2 Strength bonus, with other varying stat bonuses depending on the build, and their useful abilities vary. Human Variants offers a free skill proficiency, awesome feats like Duel Wielder and Savage Attacker, and a chance to draw from the real-world inspiration that Hipsters & Dragons use as their sources.
9 Other Races: Goliaths, Leonin, Minotaurs
There are various other modules and sources you can use when choosing the ideal race for a Barbarian. Their use might be restricted depending on the exact module your group is using, so check with your Dungeon Master first.
Find the elusive Goliath Barbarian build in the Elemental Evil Player's Companion for a bonus to your most important stats along with some unique roleplay ideas. The Leonin, and yes that race is part lion, is an option from the Mystic Odysseus of Theros module and gets bonuses to both Strength and Constitution. The Guildmaster's Guild to Ravnica contains more information about the Minotaur, which has bonuses to both Strength and Consitution along with savage melee powers like Goring Rush.
8 More Ideal Races
Other alternatives for Barbarian races are Earth Genasi, Bugbear, Centaur, and Githyanki. While not as powerful as the four races mentioned above, they all have their special perks and roleplay intrigue. For those thinking of multi-classing in the future, stepping outside of the usual Barbarian sandbox might be viable.
Not all of them are available in every module, but it's the Dungeon Master's call whether you can use these races or not. The Centaur, for example, is exclusive to The Mystic Odysseys of Theros, and the Bugbear is from Volo's Guide To Monsters. It's also important to think about future multiclass options, and it's easier to role play a magic-using class of Barbarian if you have more charismatic racial traits to back you up and you don't want to play a Human.
7 OP RP
Several races have bonuses to character stats like Wisdom or Intelligence, so even if it's not a traditional character build you can still have a creative backstory. Some of the newer races that can be found in video games or even other mediums like books or movies can inspire a character. Consider Backgrounds, Skills, and Feats in this regard as well.
An example might be a Barbarian Githyanki who would have spent their life traversing other dimensions while perfecting the art of hack and slash. They might even know some basic defensive or healing spells depending on the build, or maybe they can read scrolls in addition to their Barbarian powers. Remember that some spellcasters use intuition and natural ability as opposed to Intelligence, so your rough Barbarian doesn't need to be smart to heal or do ranged damage.
6 Dual Wielding
Your character has the best Barbarian weapons in 5e, but what's the optimal way to use them? Dual Wielding and using two-handed weapons both have their pros and cons. Two-handed weapons are good at the beginning of a campaign to potentially stomp low-level targets or chunk down enemy damage. Great Weapon Master and Relentless Attack are a nasty combination.
When you starts getting to higher levels, it’s time to start Dual Wielding. Not only do you get +1 to your AC, but you don’t have to use Great Weapon Master and worry about any penalties. Hell, you won’t have to use Relentless Attack as much, either. As long as the dice are in your favor, Dual Wielding is the way to go.
5 Barbarian Paths
There are several options for a Barbarian Path. For the best Barbarian build in 5e, it’s narrowed down to a few Paths for the OP build.
- Zealot — Do you want a good mix of offensive, defensive, and utility moves, like a Zealot, or do you want a utilitarian and support approach to combat? In a solo campaign, you might opt for Zealot to help with various situations, especially with moves like Zealous Presence and Rage Beyond Death.
- Totem — If you're in a party, the Totem Warrior Path would be more beneficial because it has more defensive options. The best options are either Wolf, granting advantage, or Bear, which is more of a tank build.
- Ancestral Guardian — With a nice balance between melee damage and defense, this is a good choice for Barbarians that also want to be defenders. The one disadvantage here is the relatively low damage output, so make sure other party members are prepared to compensate.
- Beast — More damage output and increased durability are the main features of this melee damage build, which includes abilities like Bite, Claws, and Tail. All of these skills include an improvement to AC and damage output.
4 Homebrew Subclasses For Spellcasters
Even the best Barbarian builds in 5e have some glaring weaknesses, and that's not just about their AC. Barbarians have certain magical abilities but they're not a spellcasting class, and if a ranged caster gets the first hit, it's relatively difficult for a Barbarian to gain any leverage on them. Creative players have put together some interesting homebrew options for those who want to fill this gap in a Barbarian's skill set.
Path of the Scourge, as the name implies, gives an already intimidating warrior an otherworldly guide that they can choose from the list of Warlock patrons. The trick is that these spells are Charisma-based, which tends to be a dump stat for the scruffy Barbarian. If you'd rather consume magical energy than expend it, consider the Spell Muncher, a subclass that combines Hemocraft with Rage Abilities and magical knowledge.
3 About Feats
Barbarians do not have optimal feats like some other classes, but there are plenty of great options. Some of these options depend on whether you intend on a tank, utility, or completely offensive route with your Barbarian builds.
- Savage Attacker — Gives the Barbarian a chance to improve their damage output once per turn.
- Great Weapon Master — Improves your options with two-handed weapons even more by giving your Barbarian an extra attack per turn.
- Grappler — Improves your skill and prowess at unarmed, close-quarters combat. Maybe not for every build but still makes a lot of sense for a Barbarian.
- Shield Master — Another good one, and the name gives it away, but it's specifically for the tank builds.
Feats like Savage Attacker, Great Weapon Master, and Grappler are the go-to feats to have for maximizing damage output and getting as many attacks out of a turn as possible.
2 The Best Backgrounds
- Soldier is the best Background for a Barbarian build in 5e since it gives bonuses to skills like Athletics and Intimidation. Typically, Intimidation would be avoided due to mediocre Charisma stats with Barbarians, but this helps mediate it.
- Pirate and Sailor both provide an improvement to athletics Athletics, and Perception, and give your character free ship passage.
- Outlander is a common background used for Barbarians, granting Athletics and Survival. It serves more as a roleplaying element than a battle-oriented element. It means your character is skilled in an instrument and they know an extra language.
- Folk Hero is perhaps for a Barbarian who was a hero of their own tribe and went out into the world to make their fortune. They would become proficient in certain modes of travel and maybe even certain artistic endeavors, like storytelling.
1 Barbarian Multiclasses
- Fighter is the best choice for optimal power if your Fighter also has a Strength-based build. When it comes to the Fighter in general, the abilities offer several amazing moves like Action Surge, Dueling, and Two-Weapon Fighting. Going just a couple of levels into Barbarian also gives your character Rage. The Champion subclass offers Improved Critical, an ability that gives a character more opportunities to use a related skill, Brutal Critical.
- Battle Master can be another good route for Barbarians, thanks to talents that act as spontaneous casting abilities with a short recharge time. Turning the tables on the multiclass equation, here's a Barbarian-based class with a more specific plan, namely as part of a party as a tank or healer. With this multiclass combination, the Barbarian would be at level 14, with the Cleric at level 6, and a Wisdom score of 13 is required.
- Cleric. Give your Barbarian a few healing spells or the ability to wear heavier armor by crossing them with a Cleric. Monasteries or missionaries end up in all kinds of isolated and wild places, so it's not even that weird from a lore viewpoint. Your Barbarian will need a Wisdom score of at least 13 to multiclass as a Cleric.
- Druid. This combination makes so much sense, it might be a bit redundant as far as abilities, but it blends nicely with Paths like Totem or Beast. This could either be a healer or DPS build, or a mix of both.
This class is not only an effective protector of their party while giving them valuable bonuses to both attack and defense, but enemies also get retaliatory damage based on how much damage the Barbarian prevents. A popular class in groups, despite the low Charisma, this class is everyone's best friend despite being overpowered.