Barbarians are one of the best classes for newcomers to Baldur’s Gate 3 and knowing how they work can lead to memorable playthroughs.
Baldur’s Gate 3 has a variety of classes to choose from, giving players dozens of different playthrough possibilities. A player’s class choice is important because it determines the playstyle, roleplaying, and character-building of the player. Savages are an RPG staple; Heavy hitters who excel on the frontlines are the type of class any player wants in their party. The tabletop game Baldur’s Gate 3 is based on Dungeons & Dragons, which has long featured barbarians.
Barbarians are a popular class to play thanks to their simplicity, and are a great choice for newcomers to Baldur’s Gate 3, as the learning curve for combat and leveling isn’t as steep as it is for other classes. Is. Barbarians also get some fun dialogue choices thanks to their savage nature, so they’re a great class to play some interesting roles.
In BG3, what is the Barbarian Class?
Warriors in Their Most Pure Form
The barbarians are a class of warriors who draw their strength from their inner rage and their connection to the world around them. Some barbarians rely purely on their rage, some are attuned to nature, while others have an affinity for magic. No matter the type, all barbarians are passionate warriors who look formidable on the battlefield. Barbarians use Rage to increase their damage output and gain damage resistance, at the cost of not being able to cast spells or focus. They also gain an advantage on Strength checks and saving throws while ragging.
The Distinction Between Fighters and Barbarians
Barbarians are similar to warriors in that they are both fighter-focused classes, but warriors are more disciplined and mean to regulate their emotions in battle than barbarians. Get formal training. That said, the two classes complement each other well, and it is highly recommended that barbarian characters take some levels in the Fighter class as well.
The way the Barbarian subclasses harness their Rage varies. At Level 1, all Barbarians gain Rage, and at Level 3, they are able to select a subclass.
- Berserker: Berserkers channel their anger to make additional attacks, deal more damage, and gain immunity from mind-altering effects that can distract from their Rage.
- Wildheart: Wildheart Barbarians are attuned with nature, can cast Speak With Animals, and their Rage abilities mimic that of an animal, the type of which can be changed each time the Barbarian levels up.
- Wild Magic: Wild Magic Barbarians tap into magic that is very similar to the Wild Magic Sorcerer, in that their magic is unpredictable. Their Rage gives off an unpredictable and random Wild Magic surge that benefits the Barbarian and their allies.
Building a Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3
Taking up the role of a Barbarian
One of the best builds to get a BG3 Barbarian into a multiclass is to get Action Surge and Second Wind at least two levels into the Fighter, although the Fighter subclasses are useful for Barbarian multiclass builds as well. Since both Barbarians and Fighters can use Strength as their primary skill, both classes work well as multi classes. And, while the Barbarian excels especially at lower levels, it gets outclassed by most of the other classes at higher levels, so it benefits from investing in other class levels.
Barbarian Skills
A barbarian’s primary stat is Strength, followed by Constitution, then Dexterity. Barbarians don’t have much use for other stats, especially if they’re just multiclassing in a fighter.
- Strength: 17
- Constitution: 17
- Dexterity: 15
Playing as a Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3
Acting out a Barbarian
Not known for having the highest intelligence scores among the brute players, they prefer to solve a problem with brute force. Lauren Studios knows this and wrote the dialogue options for Barbarian accordingly. RPGs are all about choice and Baldur’s Gate 3 gives the player more freedom than most CRPGs to play their characters as they like, but in general barbarian playthroughs are more rewarding when they’re straightforward. are played. Lean into the tropes, play them strong and a little dumb thanks to that low intelligence stat, and enjoy the chaos of throwing enemies at each other.
Be Ready for Situations Other Than Battle
While barbarians are masters of the battlefield, much of Baldur’s Gate 3 takes place away from it, and barbarians need to be equipped to deal with the world beyond swords and axes. Barbarians may not excel at Intelligence or Charisma checks, but mastering them at Intimidation is good for both and opens the door for some great role-playing moments outside of combat.
Combat as a Barbarian
A savage’s primary ability is Rage. How this manifests depends on the barbarian’s subclass, but barbarians are primarily distinguished from warriors by their reckless fighting style, which includes throwing enemies to leave them prone. Unlike warriors, barbarians only specialize in light and medium weapons, which allows them to use their fury ability and move quickly and unencumbered. Savages are natural warriors and have honed their instincts through self-taught, informal experience rather than the disciplined style of a fighter.
Consequences of a Barbarian’s Fury
A barbarian’s rage has many benefits, but one drawback is that a barbarian cannot cast spells or focus while raging. This means that any multiclassing in any spellcasting class, such as Eldritch Knight or Paladin Oath of Devotion, is going to be wasted on the Barbarian. The only magic a barbarian can tap into is granted by Wild Magic, which provides a level of unpredictability on the battlefield.