Few classes capture raw power like the Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3. Whether you crave unmatched fury, resilience against magic, or sheer dominance in melee combat, the right subclass and feat choices can turn your warrior into an unstoppable force on the battlefield.
There’s no single best class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and the game gives you as many opportunities for creative problem solving as it does for punching. Finding the best class really just boils down to how you want to play. Even when playing solo, you’ll still manage the rest of your party, so you’ll get to experiment with multiple classes at once.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Barbarian class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and learn all about the best Barbarian subclass, feats, and build.
Update (April 15): Added details of the new subclass introduced in Patch 8, which also adds cross-play support and a photo mode.
Is Barbarian the best class for you in BG3?
The Barbarian class is ideal for players who enjoy raw power, direct combat, and thriving in chaotic battles. It rewards aggressive playstyles, relying on brute strength, rage mechanics, and durability rather than tactical casting or stealth. If you prefer tearing through enemies up close, shrugging off damage, and focusing on simple yet devastating attacks, the Barbarian can be one of the most satisfying classes to master in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Barbarians are like Fighters in that they’re (almost) entirely melee-focused, so they’re a great choice when you’re first starting out. They’re the definition of tank – you don’t have to manage spells or even plan ahead, really. You just have to hit things. Hard. And repeatedly. During the Rage action, you’ll even get to ignore some damage while you’re doing it.
Barbarian class features
Barbarian class features center on raw power and survival. Rage fuels melee attacks with bonus damage, advantage on Strength checks, and resistance to physical harm. Unarmored Defense boosts AC and initiative using Constitution and Dexterity. Fast Movement increases speed by 10 feet, while Reckless Attack grants advantage on strikes at the cost of exposing yourself to enemy hits. Danger Sense provides advantage on Dexterity saves against visible effects, and Feral Instinct sharpens initiative rolls and standing from prone. Brutal Critical adds extra damage dice on critical hits, scaling with level.
Hit Points
- Hit Dice – 1d12 per Barbarian level
- Hit Points at 1st Level – 12 your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at higher levels – 7 your Constitution modifer per Barbarian level after 1st
Actions
Barbarians have the Rage action that increases their Strength, damage, and resistance to damage and also grants Advantage on Strength Checks and Saving Throws. They start with 1 charge of Rage per Long Rest.
Features
Barbarians gain Unarmored Defense that adds your Constitution modifier to your AC when not wearing armor.
Proficiencies
- Weapons – Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons, Battleaxes, Handaxes, Light Hammers, Warhammers
- Armor – Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields
- Skills – Athletics, Insight, Perception, Religion
- Saving Throws – Strength, Constitution
Barbarian subclasses
Barbarian subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 define how your character channels rage and strength in battle. Each offers unique playstyles and abilities, from the primal fury of the Berserker to the mystical resilience of the Wildheart. Berserkers excel at dealing relentless damage and grappling enemies, while Wildhearts gain flexibility through their chosen animal totem, enhancing both combat and survival skills. The Wild Magic path adds unpredictable bursts of magical chaos to your fury, giving combat a volatile twist that rewards aggressive risk-taking. Choosing the right subclass depends on whether you prefer raw physical power, tactical versatility, or unpredictable magic.
Barbarians have four subclasses available.
Wildheart
Wildheart Barbarians attune to nature and beasts. (This is the Path of the Totem Warrior in pen-and-paper D&D.) When you select your subclass at level 3, they gain the Speak with Animals spell and choose a Bestial Heart that affects your Rage:
- Bear Heart – gain Unrelenting Ferocity (1d8 2 healing), resistance to all damage except Psychic
- Eagle Heart – gain Diving Strike (knock foes prone), foes have disadvantage on opportunity attacks, and use Dash as a bonus action
- Elk Heart – gain Primal Stampede (charge forward 30 feet attacking any enemies in the way), movement speed increases by 15 feet
- Tiger Heart – gain Tiger’s Bloodlust (attack 3 enemies at once), jump distance increases by 15 feet
- Wolf Heart – gain Inciting Howl (allies gain 10 feet of movement on next turn), allies have Advantage on melee attack rolls within 7 feet of you
Berserker
Berserker Barbarians are all about the glory of combat. When you choose the Berserker subclass, your Rage becomes a Frenzy instead. You get Frenzied Strike (make a second melee attack as a bonus action once per turn) and Enraged Throw (throw an item or creature for damage and to knock it prone).
Wild Magic
Wild Magic Barbarians are infused with arcane power. Going into a Rage causes a random magical effect. You also gain Magical Awareness that allows anyone within 10 feet of you to add their Proficiency Bonus to Saving Throws against spells.
Path of Giants
Adding in April 2025’s Patch 8, this subclass goes all in with added strength. The headline is the Giant’s Rage passive, which increases strength and size to give Throw attacks a damage boost. There’s also another useful benefit available in the form of increased carry capacity.
Best Barbarian subclass and build in BG3
The Berserker subclass stands out as the strongest choice for Barbarians in Baldur’s Gate 3, offering unmatched physical power and aggressive playstyle through Frenzy and Enraged Throw. Pairing this with feats like Great Weapon Master and Savage Attacker maximizes damage output, while a high Strength and Constitution build ensures durability and raw impact in battle. Prioritizing two-handed weapons such as the Greataxe or Greatsword further enhances your critical potential, turning each strike into a devastating blow.
Baldur’s Gate 3 races don’t really have any direct impact on your class, but certain races and subraces come with features that play well with certain classes like extra movement or proficiency with certain weapons. For Barbarians, it’s best to focus on getting to enemies quickly and having access to the hardest-hitting weapons:
- Wood Elves and Wood Half-Elves have an extra 5 ft of movement
- Githyanki get proficiency with longswords and greatswords from Martial Prodigy
- Gold Dwarves‘ Dwarven Toughness gets you an extra hit point each level
- Half-Orcs get Relentless Endurance that gives you one free hit point when you’re downed (one time per long rest), and their Savage Attacks means you roll an extra damage die when you land a critical hit.
When you’re creating and leveling up your Barbarian, Strength (for hitting things) is your most important stat followed closely by Constitution (for getting hit by things). Make Strength your highest stat and Constitution your second highest. Constitution will give you extra HP at each level, but, more importantly, Barbarians’ Unarmored Defense feature means your Constitution increases translate into an increase to your AC as well.
At level 3, you’ll choose your Barbarian subclass. If you’re just starting out, Berserker is the best subclass for you. It’s the most straightforward and plays into a Barbarian’s strengths of, well, Strength.
Best Barbarian Feats in BG3
Barbarian feats amplify raw power and durability in Baldur’s Gate 3. Tavern Brawler turns improvised weapons into devastating tools, doubling your Strength modifier on unarmed strikes and grapples for crowd control dominance. Great Weapon Master adds massive damage dice at the cost of accuracy, perfect for reckless rage swings that cleave through foes. Ability Improvement pumps Strength or Constitution to push your limits further, while Sentinel locks down enemies, preventing escapes and punishing advances. Pick these to maximize melee havoc.
Every four levels, you’ll get the option to either increase your stats or choose a Feat. Feats are special talents that add features to your character. If you’re happy with your stats and start taking Feats, Barbarians can benefit from:
- Athlete. Your Strength or Dexterity increases by 1, to a maximum of 20. When you are Prone, standing up uses significantly less movement. Your Jump distance also increases by 50%.
- Charger. You gain Charger: Weapon Attack and Charger: Shove.
- Durable. Your Constitution increases by 1, to a maximum of 20. You regain full hit points each time you take a Short Rest.
- Great Weapon Master. When you land a Critical Hit or kill a target with a melee weapon attack, you can make another melee weapon attack as a bonus action that turn. Attacks with Heavy melee weapons you are Proficient with, can deal an additional 10 damage at the cost of a -5 Attack Roll Penalty. (You can toggle this on and off.)
- Mobile. Your movement speed increases, and difficult terrain doesn’t slow you down when you Dash. If you move after making a melee attack, you don’t provoke Opportunity Attacks from your target.
- Savage Attacker. When making weapon attacks, you roll your damage dice twice and use the highest result.
- Tough. Your hit point maximum increases by 2 for every level you have gained.
Which Barbarian subclass excels for solo play at level 12
Berserker excels as the top Barbarian subclass for solo play at level 12 in Baldur’s Gate 3, leveraging Frenzy for extra bonus action attacks during Rage to maximize single-character output.
Why Berserker Shines Solo
Frenzied Strike delivers an additional melee hit as a bonus action, stacking with Reckless Attack’s advantage for reliable damage against tough foes without party support. At level 12, Mindless Rage grants immunity to charm/fear and fire resistance, crucial for surviving solo against casters or mobs. Enraged Throw knocks enemies prone from range, controlling the battlefield independently.
Key Level 12 Features
Brutal Critical adds extra damage dice on crits (three at level 13, but level 9+ base helps), while Indomitable Might ensures minimum Strength rolls match your score. Four Rages per long rest sustain prolonged fights, with Relentless Rage (level 11) prevents dropping below 1 HP twice per rest.
Solo Build Tips
Pair with Tavern Brawler feat for thrown weapon dominance and Great Weapon Master for high-damage two-handers; Tavern Brawler at level 4, then Ability Improvement (Str 20+). Use Bear Heart multiclass dips if needed, but pure Berserker prioritizes solo nova; gear like Helldusk Armour boosts fire resist and flight. Wood Half-Elf race adds speed for positioning.
Which feats boost solo Barbarian survivability most
Tough and Resilient (Constitution) provide the strongest boosts to a solo Barbarian’s survivability by massively increasing hit points and saving throw reliability.
Top Survivability Feats
Tough grants 2 additional hit points per Barbarian level retroactively, doubling in value with Rage’s damage resistance for up to 144 extra effective HP at level 12. Resilient (Constitution) adds proficiency to Con saves, critical for resisting poisons, diseases, and exhaustion that threaten solo endurance. Alert ensures +5 initiative to act first, preventing ambushes, while ignoring surprise.
Why They Excel Solo
These feats counter solo threats like status effects and burst damage without party healing, synergizing with level 12 features like Relentless Rage. Tavern Brawler indirectly aids by enabling ranged throws to kite foes, preserving distance. Prioritize Tough at level 8 after Tavern Brawler, then Resilient if Con saves falter.
