The 2024 Barbarian is a martial powerhouse that uses extreme emotion (usually rage) to push their physical abilities to supernatural heights. The class is simple yet extremely effective in a fight, and the 2024 Player’s Handbook gives plenty of major reasons to return to the class. This guide explains the 2024 Dungeons and Dragons Barbarian class for anyone curious.
If you want to build a Barbarian from scratch, STOP reading here. Our Barbarian 5e guide has all the information you need – this is simply a changelog of changes between the two versions of fifth edition.
Level one
- Rage – Barbarians can no longer cast spells while Raging
- Rage – Taking damage no longer extends the duration of Rage. Instead, Barbarians can use a bonus action to do so if they aren’t able to attack or force a creature to make a saving throw.
- Rage – Being incapacitated or donning heavy armor now ends Rage, but falling unconscious no longer seems to.
- Weapon Mastery – An entirely new feature.
Level two
- Danger Sense – Can now be used when blinded or deafened.
- Reckless Attack – Applies to all Strength-based attacks rather than only melee Strength attacks.
Level three
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the World Tree) – A completely new subclass.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Berserker) – Frenzy has been re-designed so it’s essentially a brand-new feature.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Wild Heart) – Animal Speaker was renamed, and now specifies that Wisdom is your spellcasting modifier.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Wild Heart) – Rage of the Wilds renamed and has three options rather than five.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Wild Heart) – Rage of the Wilds’ Bear option no longer makes you resistant to necrotic, psychic, or radiant damage. Eagle has been redesigned to be entirely new.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Zealot) – Divine Fury now lets you choose its damage type every time you make an attack, and it can apply to unarmed strikes as well as weapon attacks.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Zealot) – Warrior of the Gods has been re-designed so that it’s an entirely new feature.
- Primal Knowledge – Now lets you use your Strength stat for certain skill checks while Rage is active.
Level six
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Berserker) – Mindless Rage now permanently ends the frightened or exhausted condition when you Rage rather than only ending it for the duration of the Rage.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Wild Heart) – Aspect of the Wilds renamed and has three options rather than five. All of these options are entirely new.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Zealot) – Fanatical Focus now gives saving throws re-rolled with said feature a bonus equal to your Rage Damage bonus.
Level seven
- Feral Instinct – Rules that interact with surprise have been removed as the surprise rules themselves were reworked.
Level nine
- Brutal Strike – An entirely new feature that replaces Brutal Critical.
Level 10
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Berserker) – Retaliation has been moved to level 10 from level 14 and can now be used to make unarmed strikes as well as weapon attacks.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Wild Heart) – Nature Speaker was renamed and now specifies that Wisdom is your spellcasting modifier.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Zealot) – You can now spend a use of Rage to replenish your use of Zealous Presence.
Level 11
- Relentless Rage – After passing the required Constitution save, your restored HP now equals twice your Barbarian level rather than one HP.
Level 13
- Improved Brutal Strike – An entirely new feature that replaces the Brutal Critical upgrade.
Level 14
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Berserker) – Intimidating Presence has been moved to level 14, uses your Strength modifier rather than Charisma, and can be replenished by spending a use of Rage. It also inflicts the frightened condition for one minute rather than until the end of your next turn.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Wild Heart) – Power of the Wilds renamed and has three options rather than five.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Wild Heart) – Power of the Wilds’ Falcon option resembles the old Eagle option, but it no longer has a duration and doesn’t work while wearing heavy armor. Lion is the same as the old Bear options but without the immunity caveats. Ram is the same as the old Wolf option, but it now a free action rather than a bonus action.
- Barbarian Subclass (Path of the Zealot) – Rage of the Gods, an entirely new feature, replaces the Rage Beyond Death feature.
Level 15
- Persistent Rage – Has been completely redesigned, so it’s essentially an entirely new feature.
Level 17
- Improved Brutal Strike – An entirely new feature that replaces the Brutal Critical upgrade.
Level 19
- Epic Boon – An entirely new feature.
Level 20
- Primal Champion – The maximum is 25 rather than 24.
For more advice on building a character, head to our guides on DnD classes and DnD races. We can also explain each of the new DnD 2024 backgrounds.