The Barbarian Reimagined

Discover a new way to bring ferocity to your foes as an unstoppable force of nature.
With a new subclass, the unnatural Path of the Soulless.

Created By
Gethin Pearce
Barbarian: Reimagined
powers of beast spirits to enhance their strength and
skill. A handful are known to pull upon an emptiness
inside them, and internal void which terrifies their foes.
The Barbarian: Reimagined Force of Nature
Proficiency To a barbarian castles, walls, and barricades are an
Level Bonus Features Rages insult to their strength and drive. While civilisation
1st +2 Rage, Unarmored Defense 2 seeks to barricade and block out nature, a barbarian
2nd +2 Reckless Attack, Implacable 2 embodies the destructive force of the wild made
Advance manifest. They revel in their primal nature, being
3rd +2 Primal Path, Dominant 3 resilient where the cushy cilivized folk would break
Strength apart. As enduring as the mountains, as ferocious as the
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement 3 hurricane, as unstoppable as the tsunami. Barbarians
5th +3 Extra Attack, Crippling Blow 3 struggle to set in one place, their souls restless and ever
6th +3 Path Feature 4 looking for move on, more comfortable roving the
7th +3 Brutal Critical 4 dangerous wilderness.
8th +3 Ability Score Improvement 4 Barbarians thrive in the cries of battle. Entering into a
9th +4 Fortitude 4 bloodthirst, letting their anger take them to greater
10th +4 Path Feature 4 heights of ferocity, allowing them to endure the worst
11th +4 Improved Critical, Perpetual 4 wounds, and break foes beneath their boots. This
Rage process is exhausting and even the most experienced
12th +4 Ability Score Improvement 5 barbarians can only manage to enter this state a few
13th +5 Furious Charge 5 times before requiring a rest. Usually their foes are long
14th
15th
+5
+5
Path Feature
Colossal Strikes
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5
defeated before that moment.
16th +5 Ability Score Improvement 5 A Warriors Calling
17th +6 Seismic Wave 6 Not all clanfolk and tribesmen are barbarians,
18th +6 Rampaging Onslaught 6 regardless what terminology the educated people use.
19th +6 Ability Score Improvement 6 Barbarians among their people stand as their greatest
20th +6 Primal Champion Unlimited warriors, honed to a brutal edge to be the strength of
the tribe when they need to be called upon. Protectors
of their family, they will stand against a rampaging giant
horde if it means their people are saved. Shaped and
Powering through the knee deep muck, a burly half-orc focused by life in the wilds, facing rival tribes, natural
draped in cured leathers, thick broadsword held in both disasters, and slavering monstrosities, Barbarians
hands, advances toward the den of the hydra that has charge toward the danger so
been terrorising their village. others don’t have to.
A bare chested dwarf bellows ancient curses at the Their willingness to
advancing horde of gnolls, striking his axes against the stride toward the monster
stone, prepared to dive head forward into the frothing makes barbarians the
horde and defend his people. ideal adventurer. Their
The flame wreathed genasi hefts her obsidian maul wanderlust and desire to
into the sky issuing roars of war, driving her tribe to move onwards naturally
heights of fury as the war horns sound and she breaks fit into the exploration
into a run over the broken battlefield. that adventuring
Barbarians come in many forms, yet all can be parties must endure.
defined by their unbridled fury. Their ferocity drives Rarely tied down, or with
them forward in battle, when the bloodlust takes them settled roots, a barbarian is
they are a force of nature, breaking foes like branches in ever willing to find out what
a hurricane. Unrelenting, unquenchable, unstoppable, to is over the next hill. Many
face a barbarian is to stare an avatar of war and death in barbarians crave the
the face. close bonds of fellowship
These warriors channel their rage from a variety of and family that they grew up
sources. Some call upon great ancestors, their heroic with in their tribes; such
deeds of old driving them onwards. Others channel the bonds are easily found in the
life of an adventurer.
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 Creating a Barbarian
When creating your barbarian character, think about
their origin, what culture they came from, and how they
fit into the wider world. Speak to your DM about what is
best for your barbarian, and the world you are playing
in. Are you from a wandering tribe who roam the lands
not calling anywhere home? Or are you from a settled
clan who are known for their presence in the nearby
area?
What led to you answering the call to adventure?
Were you exiled from your clan for breaking their laws
and customs, now seeking a new place to call home?
Did a prophetic vision tell you to step into civilized
society to discover new experiences? Or instead was
your clan captured and forced to fight in gladitorial
arenas for the baying crowd and now you seek freedom?
There are so many stories to be told as a barbarian,
common themes include tribes, anger at the world, and
a love of battle, but you should not feel limited by these.
Quick Build
You can make a barbarian quickly by following these
suggestions. First, put your highest ability scores in
Strength, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the
outlander background.
Class Features
As a barbarian you gain the following class features.
Hit Points
1d12 per barbarian level
Hit Dice:
12 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points at 1st Level:
Hit Points at Higher Levels:1d12 (or 7) + your
Constitution modifier per barbarian level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
Tools: None
Saving Throws: Strength, Constitution
Skills: Choose three from Animal Handling, Athletics,
Intimidation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, and
Survival
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to
the equipment granted by your background:
(a) a greataxe or (b) any martial weapon
(a) two handaxes or (b) any simple weapon
An explorer’s pack and four javelins
Rage
In battle you fight with primal ferocity. 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:
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When you make an attack using Strength, you gain a
bonus to damage rolls equal to your Proficiency
Bonus.
You have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing damage.
When you reduce a creature to 0 hit points with a
melee attack on your turn, you can use a bonus
action to move up to half your speed.
If you are able to cast spells, you can’t cast them or
concentrate on them while raging.
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 choose to end your
rage at any time.
You can enter a rage a number of times equal to the
number shown in the Rage column of the Barbarian
table, regaining all expended uses when you finish a
long rest.
Unarmored Defense
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.
Reckless Attack
Starting at 2nd level, you can throw aside all concern
for defense to attack with greater ferocity. When you
take the Attack action, you can decide to attack
recklessly. Doing so gives you advantage on all attack
rolls using Strength until the start of your next turn, but
melee attack rolls against you have advantage until the
start of your next turn.
Implacable Advance
From 2nd level, your progression toward your foes
cannot be stopped. Your movement speed increases by
10 feet while you are not wearing heavy armor.
Additionally, while you are raging your movement is
not slowed by difficult terrain, and when a creature no
more than one size larger than you is grappling you and
you hit them with an attack you can use a bonus action
to escape the grapple.
Primal Path
At 3rd level, you choose a path that shapes the nature of
your rage. Choose one of the Paths available in official
publications, alternatively choose the Reimagined Path
of the Beserker or the Path of the Soulless presented at
the end of this class description. Your choice grants you
features at 3rd level and again at 6th, 10th, and 14th
levels.
Dominant Strength
At 3rd level, your strength is unmatched among your
peers. You have advantage on all Strength checks and
Strength saving throws, and carrying or dragging a
creature of your size or smaller does not decrease your
movement speed.
Ability Score Improvement
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.
Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking this
feature to take a feat of your choice instead.
Extra Attack
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of
once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Crippling Blow
Beginning at 5th level, your blows leave enemies dazed
and reeling.
Once on each of your turns, when you hit a creature
with a melee weapon attack, you can make them roll a
Constitution saving throw (DC equal to 8 + your
proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier). On a
failure the creature suffers one of the following effects
of your choice, until the end of your next turn.
The creature cannot take reactions.
On its turn the creature can use either an action or a
bonus action, not both.
The creature’s movement speed is halved.
Brutal Critical
Beginning at 7th level, you can roll one additional
weapon damage die when determining the extra
damage for a critical hit from a melee or thrown weapon
attack.
This increases to two additional dice at 12th level,
and three additional dice at 17th level.
Fortitude
Starting from 9th level, you are capable of enduring the
most painful effects, such as the heat of a volcano, or a
blight spell. When you are subjected to an effect that
allows you to make a Constitution saving throw to take
only half damage, you instead take no damage if you
succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if
you fail.
Improved Critical
Starting at 11th level, your melee weapon attacks score
a critical hit on a roll of a 19 or 20.
Additionally, on a critical hit the additional damage
from your rage is doubled.
Perpetual Rage
Starting at 11th level, your rage can keep you fighting
despite greivous 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.
Additionally, you rage only ends if you fall
unconscious, or if you choose to end it.
Furious Charge
From 13th level you can use your bonus action to begin
a rampaging charge as you churn the ground with your
steps. As part of this charge, you can move up to your
maximum speed in a straight line, including through
hostile creature spaces. All creatures you pass through
must make a Strength saving through (DC equal to 8 +
your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier) or be
knocked prone.
Additionally, each space you enter as part of this
movement becomes difficult terrain.
Once you have use this feature, you cannot use it
again until you complete a short or long rest.
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 Colossal Strikes
Starting at 15th level your greatest blows are so
powerful they wound nearby creatures. When you get a
critical hit on a melee weapon attack, each creature
other than the target of the attack within 5 feet of you
takes damage equal to your Strength modifier.
Seismic Wave
From 17th level, you are capable of sundering the earth
you stand upon. As an action you can break the ground
with a thunderous blow, each creature within 20 feet of
you must make a Dexterity saving throw (DC equal to 8
+ your proficiency bonus + your Strength modifier). On
a failure a creature takes 6d12 bludgeoning damage and
falls prone. On a success, it takes half as much damage
and don’t fall prone.
Once you have used this feature you cannot use it
again until you complete a short or long rest.
Rampaging Onslaught
At 18th level, your blood frenzy reaches its peak. When
you take the attack action while raging you can choose
to make a number of attacks equal to your Strength
modifier. At the end of your turn your rage ends and
your movement speed becomes 0 until the end of your
next turn.
Once you have used this feature, you cannot use it
again until you complete a long rest.
Primal Champion
At 20th level, you become an unstoppable force of
nature. Your Strength and Constitution scores
increase by 4. Your maximum for those scores is now
24.

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Primal Paths
The majority of the Primal Paths presented in official
D&D publications will be suitable for this class. A
couple of features in the Totem Warrior Path require
minor tweaks to maintain their effectiveness. Those
changes are presented below.
Additionally, the Path of the Beserker has long been
in need of a rewrite, and so a subtle Reimagined version
of the Path of the Beserker is also available.
Finally, the brand new subclass the Path of the
Soulless is found at the end of this section, a subclass to
answer the question “What is the exact opposite of a
wizard?”.
Path of the Totem Warrior
Aspect of the Beast (Bear)
You gain the might of a bear. Your carrying capacity
(including maximum load and maximum lift) is doubled,
and you can use two-weapon fighting even when the
one-handed melee weapons you are wielding aren’t
light.
Totemic Attunement (Elk)
While raging your Furious Charge deals 2d12
bludgeoning damage on a failed save, and half as much
on a success in addition to any other effect.
Additionally you can use Furious Charge twice before
needing to complete a short or long rest.
Path of the Beserker
For some barbarians, the heat of battle is their
susteance, the screams of battle their air. The Path of
the Berserker is a path of the purest rage, adorned in
blood. Entering a beserker rage, the world around you
becomes nothing, the only thing that matters is the next
to fall beneath your blade.
Frenzy
Starting when you choose this path at 3rd level, you can
go into a frenzy when you rage. If you do so, for the
duration of your rage you can make a single melee
weapon attack as a bonus action on each of your turns
after this one.
Additionally, while raging when you reduce a creature
to 0 hit points your next attack deals an additional 1d6
damage.
Mindless Rage
Beginning at 6th level, you can’t be charmed or
frightened while raging. If you are charmed or
frightened when you enter your rage this effect ends.
Intimidating Presence
Beginning at 10th level, you can use your action to
frighten enemies with your menacing presence. When
you do so, choose a number of creatures equal to your
proficiency bonus that you can see within 30 feet of you.
If the creature can see or hear you, it must succeed on a
Wisdom saving throw (DC equal to 8 + your proficiency
bonus + your Strength modifier) or be frightened of you.
A creature can repeat the save if the creature ends its
turn out of line of sight or more than 60 feet away from
you, ending the effect on a success.
If the creature succeeds on its saving throw, you can’t
use this feature on that creature again for 24 hours.
Retaliation
Starting at 14th level, when you take damage from a
creature, you can use your reaction to make a melee
weapon attack against that creature, or move up to half
your movement speed toward them.
Path of the Soulless
In a world full of magic, and the lucky few who can
wield it, there exists an even rarer group, Nulls. Nulls
exist as the living embodiment of antimagic, also known
as the Soulless, Blanks, and Pariahs, they are so
unnatural that even the non-magical are unsettled by
their presence.
While some barbarians channel their rage in an
aggressive way, those pariahs who follow the Path of
the Soulless turn it inwards, a quiet anger reflecting
their internal void. Some who have encountered them
swear the way they coldly dispatch their enemies is
more terrifying than the bellowing roars of the greatest
beserkers.
Anathema
When you select this path at 3rd level you unlock your
potential as a Null. Your very presence is unnatural and
makes others uncomfortable around you, even to the
point their mind attempts to ignore your existence.
Your rage damage is considered psychic damage for
the purposes of overcoming resistances and immunities.
Additionally, as an action you can impose
disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks based on
sight to percieve you. At 10th level, you permamently
impose disadvantage on these checks.
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 Dread Fighter
At 3rd level, while raging your pervasive wrongness is
enough to trigger a flight response in your enemies.
Once per turn while you are raging, when you hit a
creature with a melee attack, you can make them roll a
Wisdom saving throw (DC equal to 8 + your proficiency
bonus + your Constitution modifier) on a failure it must
immediately use its reaction, if available, to move as far
as its speed allows away from you.
Quiet Mind
At 6th level, you are immune to any effect that would
sense your emotions or read your thoughts.
Additionally, while raging you have advantage on
saving throws against spells and magical effects.
Painful Presence
Starting at 10th level, while you are raging, your
anathematic soul reaches out to inflict pain on the
minds of others, creatures you choose within 10 ft. of
you have disadvantage on ability checks.
Additionally, any creature of your choice that is
frightened of you, attuned to a magical item, or
concentrating on a spell, that is within 10 ft. of you takes
1d12 psychic damage at the start of its turn.
Bane of Magic
Starting from 14th level, you no longer need to be
raging to have advantage on saving throws against
spells or magical effects.
Additionally, while you are raging, when a creature
within 15 ft. of you attempts to cast a spell, or use a
magic item, you can use your reaction to force them to
make a concentration check (DC equal 8 + your
proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier). On a
failure it takes 4d12 psychic damage and cannot cast
spells or use magic items until the start of their next
turn. On a success it takes half damage, and suffers no
additional effects. You can use this feature a number of
times equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of
1), regaining all expended uses when you finish a long
rest.

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Credits & Thanks Design Notes