Baldur’s Gate 3 Barbarian build guide

Would you like to rage? Our Baldur’s Gate 3 Barbarian guide can help you do exactly that. Tap into the primal fury within you to help mow through your enemies and keep your allies safe as you seek a cure for the Mind Flayer parasite burrowing its way into your brain.

Barbarians are one of the most straightforward classes in Baldur’s Gate 3, but they still have several class features that might seem counter-intuitive to players unfamiliar with the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition ruleset the game uses. Here is our breakdown of the Barbarian key features and the best choices to make as you level up.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Barbarian Best Build

Though they get some useful abilities outside of combat, Baldur’s Gate 3 Barbarians are heavily focused on dealing out damage in combat. They are powerful frontline fighters that wield heavy weapons that can hit multiple enemies in one sweeping blow. They are the only class to roll a d12 for their hit points at each level, making them the sturdiest class in the game.

Things to keep in mind when building your Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3:

• Make Strength and Constitution your highest stats. Your next highest should either be Dexterity or Wisdom, depending on the subclass you want to take.
• Your Unarmoured Defense gives you a boost to your Armour Class equal to your Constitution modifier provided that you’re not wearing any armour. This makes Barbarians one of the few classes to benefit from fighting without any armour.
• Your best skills to pick for your proficiencies are Athletics and Nature. Intimidation is also a good choice if you want to have a social skill to rely upon.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Barbarian Rage

The main combat ability for Barbarians in Baldur’s Gate 3 is their Rage. It allows them to hit harder, take less damage, and unlocks most of their other useful abilities. Starting a Rage is a Bonus Action that lasts for 10 rounds and unlocks the following abilities:

• Damage Resistance – Barbarians take half damage from non-magical attacks while raging, meaning that their already impressive hit point total goes even further.
• Bonus Damage – While Rage is active, Barbarians +2 damage on each attack. 
• Reckless Attack – Starting at Level 2, this ability allows Barbarians to make each strike with advantage (rolling twice and taking the better result), making them more likely to hit. Enemies also get advantage against you while this is active, making this the perfect high-risk strategy.

Keep in mind that you will drop out of a Rage if you don’t attack an enemy or take damage in a round. Also, you can’t enter a Rage while wearing Heavy Armour, further limiting your armour options in the game.

Best Race for Barbarians in Baldur’s Gate 3

While most of the races in Baldur’s Gate 3 lend themselves to any class, the clear standout for Barbarians is Half-Orc. Their Relentless Endurance feature allows them to stay on their feet when an attack would otherwise knock them out, which is perfect for a Barbarian’s unarmoured approach to combat.

Additionally, the Half-Orc’s Savage Attack feature gives them a 3x critical multiplier. When paired with a weapon like a Great Axe, this means that Barbarians can deal monstrous damage on a critical hit.

Best Equipment for Barbarians in Baldur’s Gate 3

Armour and Barbarians don’t mix. Not only does it negate your Unarmoured Defense but it also prevents them from entering a Rage. As such, you won’t need to invest much gold into armour. Instead, focus on buying up powerful weapons. You’ll find two-handed weapons like great axes, great clubs, and great swords to be your friends. Replace any starting weapons with magical ones as soon as you can.

Any additional equipment slots should be filled with items that boost your Strength and Constitution ability scores. Otherwise, having something that can cast Haste on yourself will make you faster and more dynamic in battle.

Barbarian Subclasses

Like most classes in Baldur’s Gate 3, there are three subclasses to choose from once your barbarian reaches Level 3. These subclasses are:

• Wildheart – This subclass allows you to tap into your primal instincts. You gain the Speak with Animals spell and can choose from one of 5 Bestial Heart features that modify your Rage ability.
• Berserker – If you just want to deal more damage, Berserker is the subclass to choose. Your Rage becomes Frenzy, which unlocks a second attack per round as a Bonus Action and the ability to throw items or creatures for extra damage.
• Wild Magic – This subclass grants you a touch of chaos. Entering a Rage triggers a random magical effect and nearby allies get a bonus to their Saving Throws versus spells.

Of these three subclasses, Berserker is the most straightforward to play. Wild Magic Barbarians are unpredictable but the bonus to Saving Throws can be a game-changer when fighting spellcasters. The most complicated is the Wildheart subclass, but it gives some powerful – if situational – bonus abilities.

That’s everything you need to know about Barbarians in Baldur’s Gate 3. Our Baldur’s Gate 3 class and subclass guide can give you more general details of the different options in the game. If you’re new to the series or it has just been a while since you played it, our Baldur’s Gate lore guide can get you up to speed on all things Faerun.