How do I create a tanky Barbarian in Baldur's Gate 3?
Creating a tanky Barbarian in Baldur's Gate 3 involves focusing on maximizing survivability while maintaining the ability to deal significant damage. Barbarians are naturally durable due to their high hit points and damage resistance, but with the right build, you can make them nearly unkillable. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.
First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics. Barbarians are a martial class that excels in melee combat. They have a feature called Rage, which grants them resistance to physical damage (bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing) and increases their damage output. This makes them inherently tanky. Additionally, Barbarians have a high hit point pool, starting with a d12 hit die, which is the largest in the game. To further enhance their tankiness, youÔÇÖll want to focus on Constitution for more hit points, Strength for better melee attacks, and Dexterity for higher Armor Class (AC).
When creating your Barbarian, choose a race that complements your tanky build. Half-Orcs are an excellent choice because they have the Relentless Endurance feature, which allows them to drop to 1 HP instead of 0 once per long rest. This can be a lifesaver in tough battles. Githyanki are another good option due to their natural armor proficiency, which can help increase your AC without needing to wear heavy armor.
For ability scores, prioritize Strength and Constitution. Strength is your primary attack stat, and Constitution increases your hit points and AC if youÔÇÖre not wearing heavy armor. Dexterity is also important for AC, but you can afford to have it slightly lower if you plan to use medium armor. Wisdom is useful for saving throws, but Intelligence and Charisma can be dumped if youÔÇÖre focusing purely on combat.
At level 1, youÔÇÖll start with Rage, which is your core ability. Use Rage in every combat encounter to gain resistance to physical damage and a bonus to your melee damage. YouÔÇÖll also have Unarmored Defense, which allows you to calculate your AC as 10 + Dexterity modifier + Constitution modifier if youÔÇÖre not wearing armor. This can be very effective if you have high Dexterity and Constitution.
At level 2, you gain Reckless Attack, which allows you to attack with advantage but gives enemies advantage on attacks against you until your next turn. This is a double-edged sword, but as a tank, you want enemies to focus on you, so this can be useful. You also gain Danger Sense, which gives you advantage on Dexterity saving throws against effects you can see, such as traps and spells.
At level 3, youÔÇÖll choose a Primal Path. For a tanky build, the Path of the Totem Warrior is the best choice. At level 3, you can choose the Bear Totem, which grants you resistance to all damage except psychic while raging. This makes you incredibly durable, as youÔÇÖll resist not just physical damage but also elemental damage like fire, cold, and lightning.
At level 4, youÔÇÖll get an Ability Score Improvement (ASI). Use this to increase your Strength or Constitution. Alternatively, you can take a feat like Tough, which increases your hit points by 2 per level, or Sentinel, which allows you to make opportunity attacks even if the enemy disengages, helping you control the battlefield.
At level 5, you gain Extra Attack, allowing you to make two attacks per turn. This significantly increases your damage output. You also gain Fast Movement, which increases your speed by 10 feet, helping you close the gap to enemies quickly.
At level 6, if you chose the Path of the Totem Warrior, you can choose another totem spirit. The Bear Totem at this level allows you to carry more weight and gives you advantage on Strength checks, which is useful but not essential for a tanky build.
At level 7, you gain Feral Instinct, which gives you advantage on initiative rolls and allows you to act normally if youÔÇÖre surprised. This helps you get into the fight quickly and start tanking damage.
At level 8, you get another ASI. Again, focus on increasing your Strength or Constitution, or take a feat like Great Weapon Master, which allows you to deal massive damage with heavy weapons, or Shield Master, which improves your survivability by allowing you to add your shieldÔÇÖs AC bonus to Dexterity saving throws.
At level 9, you gain Brutal Critical, which allows you to roll an additional damage die when you score a critical hit. This increases your damage output, making you a threat that enemies canÔÇÖt ignore.
At level 10, if you chose the Path of the Totem Warrior, you can choose another totem spirit. The Eagle Totem at this level allows you to dash as a bonus action, which can be useful for positioning.
At level 11, you gain Relentless Rage, which allows you to keep fighting even if you drop to 0 HP, as long as you succeed on a Constitution saving throw. This makes you even harder to kill.
At level 12, you get your final ASI. By now, you should have maximized your Strength and Constitution, so consider taking a feat like Lucky, which allows you to reroll attack rolls, ability checks, or saving throws, or Resilient, which gives you proficiency in a saving throw of your choice.
In combat, your role as a tanky Barbarian is to draw enemy attention and soak up damage. Use Reckless Attack to ensure enemies focus on you, and position yourself to protect your more vulnerable allies. Use your Rage and Bear Totem to resist damage, and donÔÇÖt be afraid to charge into the thick of battle. Your high hit points and resistances will keep you alive, and your damage output will ensure enemies canÔÇÖt ignore you.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting your Dexterity, which can leave you vulnerable to attacks, and forgetting to use Rage, which is your primary defensive tool. Also, be mindful of your positioning; while you want to draw enemy fire, you donÔÇÖt want to get surrounded and cut off from your allies.
Advanced techniques include using your environment to your advantage. For example, you can shove enemies off cliffs or into hazards, or use your high mobility to flank enemies and gain advantage on attacks. You can also use items like potions of healing or resistance to further enhance your survivability.
In terms of D&D rules, BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3 closely follows the 5th Edition ruleset, so many of the mechanics and strategies from tabletop D&D apply. However, the game does make some adjustments for balance and gameplay, so be sure to familiarize yourself with any differences.
In summary, creating a tanky Barbarian in Baldur's Gate 3 involves focusing on Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity, choosing the Path of the Totem Warrior with the Bear Totem, and using Rage and Reckless Attack to draw enemy attention and resist damage. With the right build and tactics, you can create a nearly unkillable character that dominates the battlefield.
First, letÔÇÖs talk about the mechanics. Barbarians are a martial class that excels in melee combat. They have a feature called Rage, which grants them resistance to physical damage (bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing) and increases their damage output. This makes them inherently tanky. Additionally, Barbarians have a high hit point pool, starting with a d12 hit die, which is the largest in the game. To further enhance their tankiness, youÔÇÖll want to focus on Constitution for more hit points, Strength for better melee attacks, and Dexterity for higher Armor Class (AC).
When creating your Barbarian, choose a race that complements your tanky build. Half-Orcs are an excellent choice because they have the Relentless Endurance feature, which allows them to drop to 1 HP instead of 0 once per long rest. This can be a lifesaver in tough battles. Githyanki are another good option due to their natural armor proficiency, which can help increase your AC without needing to wear heavy armor.
For ability scores, prioritize Strength and Constitution. Strength is your primary attack stat, and Constitution increases your hit points and AC if youÔÇÖre not wearing heavy armor. Dexterity is also important for AC, but you can afford to have it slightly lower if you plan to use medium armor. Wisdom is useful for saving throws, but Intelligence and Charisma can be dumped if youÔÇÖre focusing purely on combat.
At level 1, youÔÇÖll start with Rage, which is your core ability. Use Rage in every combat encounter to gain resistance to physical damage and a bonus to your melee damage. YouÔÇÖll also have Unarmored Defense, which allows you to calculate your AC as 10 + Dexterity modifier + Constitution modifier if youÔÇÖre not wearing armor. This can be very effective if you have high Dexterity and Constitution.
At level 2, you gain Reckless Attack, which allows you to attack with advantage but gives enemies advantage on attacks against you until your next turn. This is a double-edged sword, but as a tank, you want enemies to focus on you, so this can be useful. You also gain Danger Sense, which gives you advantage on Dexterity saving throws against effects you can see, such as traps and spells.
At level 3, youÔÇÖll choose a Primal Path. For a tanky build, the Path of the Totem Warrior is the best choice. At level 3, you can choose the Bear Totem, which grants you resistance to all damage except psychic while raging. This makes you incredibly durable, as youÔÇÖll resist not just physical damage but also elemental damage like fire, cold, and lightning.
At level 4, youÔÇÖll get an Ability Score Improvement (ASI). Use this to increase your Strength or Constitution. Alternatively, you can take a feat like Tough, which increases your hit points by 2 per level, or Sentinel, which allows you to make opportunity attacks even if the enemy disengages, helping you control the battlefield.
At level 5, you gain Extra Attack, allowing you to make two attacks per turn. This significantly increases your damage output. You also gain Fast Movement, which increases your speed by 10 feet, helping you close the gap to enemies quickly.
At level 6, if you chose the Path of the Totem Warrior, you can choose another totem spirit. The Bear Totem at this level allows you to carry more weight and gives you advantage on Strength checks, which is useful but not essential for a tanky build.
At level 7, you gain Feral Instinct, which gives you advantage on initiative rolls and allows you to act normally if youÔÇÖre surprised. This helps you get into the fight quickly and start tanking damage.
At level 8, you get another ASI. Again, focus on increasing your Strength or Constitution, or take a feat like Great Weapon Master, which allows you to deal massive damage with heavy weapons, or Shield Master, which improves your survivability by allowing you to add your shieldÔÇÖs AC bonus to Dexterity saving throws.
At level 9, you gain Brutal Critical, which allows you to roll an additional damage die when you score a critical hit. This increases your damage output, making you a threat that enemies canÔÇÖt ignore.
At level 10, if you chose the Path of the Totem Warrior, you can choose another totem spirit. The Eagle Totem at this level allows you to dash as a bonus action, which can be useful for positioning.
At level 11, you gain Relentless Rage, which allows you to keep fighting even if you drop to 0 HP, as long as you succeed on a Constitution saving throw. This makes you even harder to kill.
At level 12, you get your final ASI. By now, you should have maximized your Strength and Constitution, so consider taking a feat like Lucky, which allows you to reroll attack rolls, ability checks, or saving throws, or Resilient, which gives you proficiency in a saving throw of your choice.
In combat, your role as a tanky Barbarian is to draw enemy attention and soak up damage. Use Reckless Attack to ensure enemies focus on you, and position yourself to protect your more vulnerable allies. Use your Rage and Bear Totem to resist damage, and donÔÇÖt be afraid to charge into the thick of battle. Your high hit points and resistances will keep you alive, and your damage output will ensure enemies canÔÇÖt ignore you.
Common mistakes to avoid include neglecting your Dexterity, which can leave you vulnerable to attacks, and forgetting to use Rage, which is your primary defensive tool. Also, be mindful of your positioning; while you want to draw enemy fire, you donÔÇÖt want to get surrounded and cut off from your allies.
Advanced techniques include using your environment to your advantage. For example, you can shove enemies off cliffs or into hazards, or use your high mobility to flank enemies and gain advantage on attacks. You can also use items like potions of healing or resistance to further enhance your survivability.
In terms of D&D rules, BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3 closely follows the 5th Edition ruleset, so many of the mechanics and strategies from tabletop D&D apply. However, the game does make some adjustments for balance and gameplay, so be sure to familiarize yourself with any differences.
In summary, creating a tanky Barbarian in Baldur's Gate 3 involves focusing on Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity, choosing the Path of the Totem Warrior with the Bear Totem, and using Rage and Reckless Attack to draw enemy attention and resist damage. With the right build and tactics, you can create a nearly unkillable character that dominates the battlefield.