BG3 best Barbarian subclass, feats, and build guide

Dive into the primal chaos of Baldur’s Gate 3 with our comprehensive guide to mastering the Barbarian class. Unleash your inner beast as you explore the intricacies of subclasses like Berserker, Wildheart, and Wild Magic, each offering unique abilities that redefine melee combat. Whether you prefer to rage against foes or embrace the wild magic of nature, this guide equips you with essential strategies for character creation, optimal builds, and tactical gameplay. Prepare to dominate the battlefield and become an unstoppable force in Faerûn!

When creating the perfect Barbarian in BG3, you need to choose the right race and origin. On this page, you will read which subclass to choose if you want to fully utilize the most important traits of this class, which are Rage and Unarmoured Defence. We suggest what armor the Barbarian should wear and what bonuses you get for not wearing armor. We also list the best class actions. At the end of the page you will find the best Barbarian build.

Best origin for a Barbarian

The best origin for a Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3 typically emphasizes races that enhance their core abilities, particularly Strength and Constitution. Among the top choices, Half-Orcs stand out due to their racial bonuses, which provide an extra edge in melee combat and resilience. Their “Savage Attacks” ability allows them to deal additional damage on critical hits, making them formidable opponents. Goliaths are also excellent candidates, offering increased hit points and a natural affinity for physical prowess, which aligns well with the Barbarian’s role as a frontline damage dealer. Additionally, Wood Elves can be considered for their Dexterity bonus and increased movement speed, allowing for agile combat styles. Ultimately, selecting an origin that complements the Barbarian’s innate strengths will significantly enhance gameplay effectiveness in Baldur’s Gate 3.

When choosing the Barbarian’s background, look for proficiency in skills related to Strength or Dexterity. The ideal backgrounds for this class are:

1. Urchin, granting proficiency in Sleight of Hand and Stealth.
2. Soldier, granting proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation.
3. Outlander, granting proficiency in Athletics and Survival.

Best race for a Barbarian

For players looking to create a powerful Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Half-Orc race stands out as the best choice. Half-Orcs receive a bonus to Strength and Constitution, which are crucial for maximizing damage output and survivability. Additionally, their racial traits, such as Savage Attacks, allow them to deal extra damage on critical hits, enhancing their already formidable melee capabilities. Other strong options include Goliaths, who benefit from increased hit points and natural athleticism, and Wood Elves, who offer enhanced Dexterity and mobility. Choosing the right race can significantly impact your Barbarian’s effectiveness in combat, making it essential to consider these attributes during character creation.

The main abilities of Barbarians are Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity, so the following races will work best:

1. Shield Dwarf with a 2 in Strength and Constitution.
2. Strongheart Halfling, with a 2 to Dexterity and 1 to Constitution.
3. Human with 1 to every ability.

Barbarian’s Ability Scores

Barbarians in Baldur’s Gate 3 are primarily defined by their Strength and Constitution ability scores, which are crucial for maximizing their combat effectiveness and survivability. Strength is essential for dealing damage with melee attacks, while Constitution boosts their hit points and enhances their durability in battle. At level 1, Barbarians gain the Unarmored Defense feature, allowing them to add their Constitution modifier to their Armor Class (AC) when not wearing armor, making a high Constitution score particularly beneficial. Additionally, the Rage ability, which grants increased damage output and resistance to physical damage, further emphasizes the importance of these ability scores in creating a powerful Barbarian build that excels in melee combat.

1. The most important attribute of the Barbarian is Strength, affecting attack rolls and inflicted damage.
2. The second most important ability for a Barbarian is Constitution. It affects the maximum amount of hit points and provides better protection if you are not wearing armor. The Barbarian’s Constitution should not be less than 14 points.
3. Dexterity affects armor class. Regardless of whether you want your Barbarian to wear armor or not, this ability should not be less than 14 points.

Should the Barbarian wear armor?

When considering whether a Barbarian should wear armor in Baldur’s Gate 3, several factors come into play. On one hand, armor can provide significant protection, particularly if your Barbarian has lower Constitution scores or lacks sufficient gear to maximize Unarmored Defense. Medium armor, in particular, offers good protection while still allowing you to utilize Unarmored Defense effectively. However, wearing medium armor means sacrificing some flexibility and utility, as Barbarians cannot Rage while donning heavy armor nor gain Fast Movement benefits. Ultimately, whether to wear armor depends on your character build and playstyle; those focusing heavily on melee combat might prefer using cloth or light armor to maintain the ability to Rage freely and deal maximum damage2.

Many of you probably imagine Barbarians as muscular warriors clad in leather scraps. If you plan to play BG3 as a typical Barbarian, below we have explained one of the most important features of this class – Unarmoured Defence.

Unarmoured Defence grants 10 base armor class points and adds your Constitution and Dexterity modifier to it when not wearing armor.

The Barbarian also comes with several features that makes them benefit from taking damage during combat. Rage is an additional class action that can last 10 turns. Rage ends early if your character has not attacked any creature or has not taken damage since the last turn. If, during your turn, you use an action to do something other than attack, without taking any damage, Rage will end. If your character will be wearing armor, the likelihood of receiving any damage significantly decreases. When creating a Barbarian who’s not to wear armor, you must therefore invest more points in Constitution and Dexterity.

If you give your Barbarian more Strength, you’ll have higher armor class wearing medium armor, which grants about 15 Armor Class plus your Dexterity modifier. However, you should remember that playing such a Barbarian may cause your Rage to drop more easily in combat.

Best Barbarian class actions

When playing a Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3, several key actions define their effectiveness in combat. First, the Barbarian’s primary abilities—Strength and Constitution—are crucial for delivering massive melee damage and maintaining high health pools. One of the Barbarian’s signature moves is the “Rage” ability, which can be activated multiple times per day, increasing melee damage dealt and granting resistance to various types of physical damage. Additionally, the “Reckless Attack” feature allows Barbarians to gain advantage on their melee attack rolls by accepting disadvantage on enemy attacks against them for a single round. Furthermore, Barbarians utilize “Unarmored Defense,” adding their Constitution modifier to their Armor Class (AC) unless wearing armor, enhancing their defensive capabilities. By leveraging these actions strategically, particularly in conjunction with their selected subclass (such as Berserker, Wildheart, or Wild Magic), Barbarians excel as formidable melee fighters capable of handling intense combat situations effectively.2

1. Rage – a bonus action available from Level 1 onwards. While Raging, the Barbarian deals 2 extra damage with melee weapons and when throwing items. They also receive damage resistance and advantage in Strength checks and saving throws. Rage ends prematurely if the Barbarian has not attacked anyone or has not taken any damage during their turn.
2. Danger Sense – available from Level 2 onwards. A feat that grants advantage on Dexterity saving throws against traps, spells, and surfaces.
3. Reckless Attack – a class action available from Level 2 onwards, giving advantage on attack rolls to both the Barbarian and all enemies attacking the Barbarian.

Best Barbarian subclass

The Berserker subclass stands out as the best choice for Barbarians in Baldur’s Gate 3 due to its straightforward yet powerful mechanics. This subclass allows players to enter a Frenzy, granting additional attacks and enhancing damage output significantly. Berserkers benefit from features like Enraged Throw, which provides tactical options in combat, and they gain resistance to physical damage while raging, making them formidable frontline fighters. Additionally, the Berserker’s ability to maintain high damage output with minimal complexity makes it an ideal choice for both new and experienced players looking to maximize their effectiveness in battle.

When your Barbarian reaches Level 3, you will be able to choose a subclass:

1. Berserker – has a bonus class action, which turns Rage into Frenzy. In this state, the Barbarian gains access to two new actions and can attack with an improvised weapon as a bonus action. One of the available bonus actions during a Frenzy is Enraged Throw, which lets you pick up an object or a creature and throw it at a target, dealing bludgeoning damage and knocking it prone.
2. Wildheart – lets you choose out of five different options based on animals:

Bear grants resistance to all damage except for psychic damage and gives you access to self-healing.

Eagle makes the character almost invincible, grants Diving Strike to attack an enemies on lower ground, and Dash as a bonus action.

Deer lets you charge when Raging, dealing 1d4 2 damage and knocking targets prone. The charge does not trigger opportunity attacks. Rage increases your maximum movement.

Tiger can deal damage to three enemies at once and inflict bleeding. Rage increases the range of the character’s jumps.

Wolf lets your allies move an additional 3 meters, while your Rage buffs them in combat.

Best Barbarian build

The best Barbarian build in Baldur’s Gate 3 focuses on the Berserker subclass, which maximizes damage output and combat effectiveness. This build capitalizes on the Barbarian’s unique abilities, such as Rage, which enhances melee damage and grants damage resistance, making it ideal for frontline engagements. Key attributes to prioritize are Strength for attack power and Constitution for survivability, as Barbarians can add their Constitution modifier to their Armor Class when unarmored. Recommended feats include Great Weapon Master for increased damage potential and Savage Attacker to maximize damage rolls. Additionally, selecting the Half-Orc race can provide an extra edge with racial bonuses that complement the Barbarian’s aggressive playstyle. Overall, this build is designed to deliver high damage while remaining resilient in battle, making it a formidable choice in any party composition.

If you prefer a stereotypical Barbarian who doesn’t wear armor, choose:

1. Race: Strongheart Halfling
2. Subclass: Berserker
3. Background: Urchin
4. Ability Scores: Strength 14, Dexterity 16, Constitution 15, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma around 10.
5. Weapon: Everburn Blade
6. Armor: Barbarian Clothes

If you prefer a more powerful armored Barbarian, choose:

1. Race: Shield Dwarf
2. Subclass: Wildheart
3. Background: Soldier
4. Ability Scores: Strength 17, Dexterity 14, Constitution 15, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma around 10.
5. Weapon: Blooded Greataxe
6. Armor: Robust Chain Shirt

What are the key differences between the Berserker, Wildheart, and Wild Magic subclasses

In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Barbarian class offers three distinct subclasses: Berserker, Wildheart, and Wild Magic, each with unique features and playstyles.

Key Differences

Subclass Features Overview

• Berserker:
  • At level 3, gains Frenzy, allowing an extra attack as a bonus action.
  • At level 6, Mindless Rage grants immunity to charm and fear.
  • At level 10, can instill fear in enemies with Intimidating Presence.
• Wildheart:
  • At level 3, players choose an animal spirit (e.g., bear, eagle) that provides specific bonuses and abilities.
  • At level 6, gains enhanced abilities based on chosen spirit.
  • At level 10, further enhances animal aspect abilities.
• Wild Magic:
  • At level 3, triggers random magical effects upon entering rage.
  • At level 6, gains Bolstering Magic for beneficial effects.
  • At level 10, can unleash Unstable Backlash for chaotic outcomes.

Overall, the choice of subclass significantly influences gameplay style, with Berserker excelling in straightforward damage dealing, Wildheart providing adaptability and support, and Wild Magic introducing an element of unpredictability.

Which subclass offers the most versatility in combat

The Wildheart subclass offers the most versatility in combat among the Barbarian subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3. This subclass allows players to channel the spirit of various animals, each providing unique abilities and enhancements that can adapt to different combat situations.

Key Features of Wildheart Versatility:

• Animal Spirits: At level 3, Wildheart Barbarians choose an animal spirit (e.g., bear, eagle, wolf), each granting distinct passive and active abilities. For instance, the bear spirit provides damage resistance, while the eagle enhances mobility and perception.
• Flexible Abilities: Wildheart Barbarians can switch between different animal abilities based on the situation, allowing them to support allies or deal damage effectively. This adaptability makes them suitable for both offensive and supportive roles in a party.
• Cosmetic and Tactical Changes: The aesthetic transformation during Rage adds a unique flair, while the tactical options from animal abilities can significantly influence combat strategies.

In contrast, while the Berserker excels in straightforward damage output with its Frenzy ability, it lacks the diverse tactical choices that Wildheart provides. The Wild Magic subclass introduces randomness but does not match the consistent versatility of Wildheart. Overall, the Wildheart subclass stands out for its ability to adapt to various combat scenarios effectively .