# Alternate Barbarian
*Source: Alternate Barbarian*
> [!tldr] Class and Feature Progression
>
> <table class="class-progression">
> <thead>
> <tr><th colspan='7'></th></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><th class"level">Level</th><th class"pb">PB</th><th class"feature">Features</th><th class="value">Rages</th><th class="value"><a href="/3-Mechanics/CLI/lists/list-optfeaturetype-ll-se.md">Exploits Known</a></th><th class="value">Exploit Die</th><th class="value">Exploit Dice</th></tr>
> </thead><tbody>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">1st</td><td class"pb">+2</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Rage (Level 1)' class='internal-link'>Rage</a>, <a href='#Unarmored Defense (Level 1)' class='internal-link'>Unarmored Defense</a></td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">2nd</td><td class"pb">+2</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Reckless Attack (Level 2)' class='internal-link'>Reckless Attack</a>, <a href='#Savage Exploits (Level 2)' class='internal-link'>Savage Exploits</a></td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">1d4</td><td class="value">2</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">3rd</td><td class"pb">+2</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Primal Path (Level 3)' class='internal-link'>Primal Path</a></td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">1d4</td><td class="value">2</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">4th</td><td class"pb">+2</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Ability Score Improvement (Level 4)' class='internal-link'>Ability Score Improvement</a></td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">1d4</td><td class="value">2</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">5th</td><td class"pb">+3</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Extra Attack (Level 5)' class='internal-link'>Extra Attack</a>, <a href='#Danger Sense (Level 5)' class='internal-link'>Danger Sense</a></td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">1d6</td><td class="value">3</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">6th</td><td class"pb">+3</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Primal Path (Level 6)' class='internal-link'>Primal Path</a></td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">1d6</td><td class="value">3</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">7th</td><td class"pb">+3</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Feral Instinct (Level 7)' class='internal-link'>Feral Instinct</a></td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">1d6</td><td class="value">3</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">8th</td><td class"pb">+3</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Ability Score Improvement (Level 8)' class='internal-link'>Ability Score Improvement</a></td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">1d6</td><td class="value">3</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">9th</td><td class"pb">+4</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Improved Critical (Level 9)' class='internal-link'>Improved Critical</a></td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">5</td><td class="value">1d8</td><td class="value">3</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">10th</td><td class"pb">+4</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Primal Path (Level 10)' class='internal-link'>Primal Path</a></td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">5</td><td class="value">1d8</td><td class="value">3</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">11th</td><td class"pb">+4</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Critical Strike (Level 11)' class='internal-link'>Critical Strike</a>, <a href='#Unstoppable (Level 11)' class='internal-link'>Unstoppable</a></td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">6</td><td class="value">1d8</td><td class="value">4</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">12th</td><td class"pb">+4</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Ability Score Improvement (Level 12)' class='internal-link'>Ability Score Improvement</a></td><td class="value">5</td><td class="value">6</td><td class="value">1d8</td><td class="value">4</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">13th</td><td class"pb">+5</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">5</td><td class="value">7</td><td class="value">1d10</td><td class="value">4</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">14th</td><td class"pb">+5</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Primal Path (Level 14)' class='internal-link'>Primal Path</a></td><td class="value">5</td><td class="value">7</td><td class="value">1d10</td><td class="value">4</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">15th</td><td class"pb">+5</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Persistent Rage (Level 15)' class='internal-link'>Persistent Rage</a></td><td class="value">5</td><td class="value">7</td><td class="value">1d10</td><td class="value">4</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">16th</td><td class"pb">+5</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Ability Score Improvement (Level 16)' class='internal-link'>Ability Score Improvement</a></td><td class="value">5</td><td class="value">7</td><td class="value">1d10</td><td class="value">4</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">17th</td><td class"pb">+6</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">6</td><td class="value">8</td><td class="value">1d12</td><td class="value">5</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">18th</td><td class"pb">+6</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Indomitable Might (Level 18)' class='internal-link'>Indomitable Might</a></td><td class="value">6</td><td class="value">8</td><td class="value">1d12</td><td class="value">5</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">19th</td><td class"pb">+6</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Ability Score Improvement (Level 19)' class='internal-link'>Ability Score Improvement</a></td><td class="value">6</td><td class="value">8</td><td class="value">1d12</td><td class="value">5</td></tr>
> <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">20th</td><td class"pb">+6</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Primal Champion (Level 20)' class='internal-link'>Primal Champion</a></td><td class="value">Unlimited</td><td class="value">8</td><td class="value">1d12</td><td class="value">5</td></tr>
> </tbody></table>
^class-progression
## Hit Points
- **Hit Dice**: 1d12 per Alternate Barbarian level
- **Hit Points at First Level:** 12 + CON
- **Hit Points at Higher Levels:** add 7 OR 1d12 + CON (minimum of 1)
## Starting Alternate Barbarian
- **Saving Throw Proficiencies**: Constitution, Strength
- **Skill Proficiencies**: *Choose 2:* Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, or Survival
- **Weapon Proficiencies**: Simple weapons and Martial weapons
- **Armor Training**: Light armor, Medium armor, and Shields
**Starting Equipment:** You start with the following items, plus anything provided by your background.
- (a) a greataxe, (b) greatsword, or a (c) maul
- (a) two handaxes or (b) any simple weapon
- hide armor, an explorer's pack, and four javelins
Alternatively, you may start with 2d4 × 10 gp to buy your own equipment.
## Multiclassing Alternate Barbarian
**Ability Score Minimum:** Strength 13
When you gain a level in a class other than your first, you gain only some of that class's starting proficiencies.
- **Weapon Proficiencies**: Simple weapons, Martial weapons
- **Armor Training**: Shields
## Barbarian
The massive half-orc let out a bloodcurdling battle cry as he leaped from the roof onto the back of the gargantuan blue dragon. As the great foe flew into the sky, he gripped the dragon's spines with a nearsupernatural level of strength. No matter how much it twisted and turned, the dragon could not shake the warrior from his back. As the monster tired, the half-orc drew his greatsword and plunged it into the neck of the beast. After the dust cleared, the warrior emerged victorious from the crumpled heap of blue scales that had once terrorized the kingdom.
As the goblins began to come over the ramparts, the young warrior emptied her mind and gave herself over to the bloodlust of battle. Her massive axe severed the head of the first goblin to climb the wall, and before its head hit the ground she had another goblin by the throat. As her foe begged for his puny life she let out a guttural roar and threw him from the top of the walls. Minutes later, she would come to her senses surrounded by the fallen bodies of those who had dared to assault the citadel of her ancestors.
A rag-tag group of adventurers fled the collapsing tomb, a hulking white dragonborn leading the way. He could see the exit ahead, but his instincts told him that he was the only one fast enough to make it out before the roof caved in. Drawing upon the ancestral draconic fury in his blood, he shouldered the stone mantle of the doorway. When his final companion made it safely through, he let out a roar of triumph and the weight of the entire front wall of the temple fell behind him.
The three characters described above are examples of the primal warriors known as barbarians. Drawing upon primal instinct and the fury of their Rage, they become unstoppable forces of destruction when they take to the battlefield.
### Primal Instincts
Not all warriors learn to fight from expert soldiers or formal schools of war. Those known as barbarians are born with a lust for battle in their blood. They are able to wield weapons of war with deadly force based on pure instinct. What they lack in technique, these wild warriors make up for with pure brute force. Like an animal backed into a corner, a barbarian will fight with near-supernatural strength and ferocity.
### Unbridled Rage
The source of every barbarian's prowess in battle is the white hot Rage deep within their soul. How this Rage manifests is different for each primal warrior. For some barbarians, it is an irresistible lust for blood that only subsides when each of their foes lays slain at their feet. For others, their Rage is an emotionless trance that allows them to ignore any emotions, loyalties, or injuries that would interfere with their fight.
No matter how this primal Rage manifests itself, it grants all barbarians near-supernatural levels of might and allows them to shrug off blows that would fell a lesser warrior. The wild fury of Rage drives a barbarian to be the first to engage their foe, no matter how deadly. Many barbarians spend their lives seeking ever-greater foes to test the limits of their Rage, only satisfied when facing one who can match their strength.
### Creating Your Barbarian
When creating a barbarian, the most important thing for you to consider is how they first awakened their Rage. Did a lust for blood overtake you when your farm village was raided by bandits? Is your Rage fueled by a burning desire for revenge against a monster that killed someone you loved? Or, is your Rage a desire for someone who can match your strength?
Also, consider how your barbarian's Rage manifests itself in battle. Is it a frothing bestial fury that causes you to lose your sense of self? Is it an ancient trance passed down from the elders of your tribe so that you may defend your people? Or, does it manifest as a supernatural instinct in battle that allows you to predict the weak points of your enemies and shrug off deadly blows that would slay any other mortal?
> [!note] Multiclassing and the Barbarian
>
> If your group uses the optional <span title="Player's Handbook">multiclassing</span> rule, here's what you need to know when you choose to take your first level in the barbarian class.
^multiclassing-and-the-barbarian
## Class Features
### Rage (Level 1)
You fight with an unchecked primal ferocity in battle. Starting at 1st level, if you are not wearing heavy armor, you can use a bonus action on your turn to enter a Rage. While your Rage lasts, you gain the benefits and drawbacks listed below:
- You have advantage on ability checks and saving throws that use your Strength or Constitution.
- Whenever you hit with a weapon attack that uses your Strength, you deal a bonus 1d4 damage. At certain levels in this class, this bonus damage increases to match the Exploit Die column on the Barbarian table above.
- You resist all bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.
- You cannot cast spells or concentrate on spells or effects.
Your Rage lasts until the end of your next turn, but it ends instantly if you are Unconscious. You extend your Rage to the end of your next turn if you attack a hostile creature, take any damage, make a Strength check, or use your bonus action to extend it. You can maintain your Rage for 10 minutes.
You Rage the number of times shown in the Rages column of the Barbarian table for your level. You regain one expended use of your Rage whenever you finish a short rest and all uses of your Rage when you finish a long rest.
### Unarmored Defense (Level 1)
Also at 1st level, so long as you aren't wearing armor, your Armor Class is equal to 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier. You can use a shield with this feature.
### Reckless Attack (Level 2)
Starting at 2nd level, whenever you make an attack on your turn using your Strength, you can make a Reckless Attack by throwing caution to the wind. If you do, you have advantage on Strength-based attacks until the beginning of your next turn, but every attack targeting you is also made with advantage until the start of your next turn.
### Savage Exploits (Level 2)
Also at 2nd level, your lust for battle unlocks savage abilities that enhance your martial skill, both on and off the battlefield.
### Exploit Dice (Level 2)
The Barbarian table shows how many Exploit Dice you have to perform any Exploits you know. Most Exploits require you to expend these Dice in order to use them. You can only use one Exploit per attack, ability check, or saving throw, and you regain all Exploit Dice when you finish a short or long rest.
Your Exploit Dice begin as d4s and increase in size as you gain levels in this class, as indicated in the Barbarian table.
### Savage Skill (Level 2)
Primal instinct sharpens your skills. Whenever you make an ability check with a skill from the Barbarian skill list, you can expend an Exploit Die and add it to your roll. You can do so after you roll, but before you know if you succeed or fail.
#### Exploits Known
At 2nd level, you learn two Savage Exploits from the list at the end of this class. The Exploits Known column of the Barbarian table shows when you learn additional Exploits. To learn an Exploit you must meet any prerequisites that it may have, like a minimum ability score or Barbarian level.
Each time you gain a Barbarian level, you can replace one of the Savage Exploits you know with another Exploit of your choice, so long as you meet that Exploit's prerequisites.
#### Saving Throws
If one of your Exploits requires a creature to make a saving throw, the Exploit saving throw DC is calculated as follows:
<span class='abilityDc'>**Exploit save DC save DC**: Strength or Dexterity + Proficiency Bonus</span>
### Primal Path (Level 3)
At 3rd level, you choose the Primal Path that best represents how your Rage manifests: Path of the Berserker, Path of the Brute, Path of the Champion, or Path of the Beast Heart.
Your Primal Path grants you features at 3rd level, and again when you reach 6th, 10th, and 14th level in this class.
#### Path Exploits
Each Primal Path includes a list of Primal Exploits that each warrior of that Path learns at the barbarian levels noted in its description. These Exploits do not count against your total number of Exploits Known, and they can't be replaced when you gain a level in this class. If you don't meet one of your Primal Exploit's prerequisites, you learn it regardless.
### Ability Score Improvement (Level 4)
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 two ability scores by 1. As normal, you can't increase one of your ability scores above 20 using this feature.
### Extra Attack (Level 5)
Beginning at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn. Moreover, if you use your action to Dash or Disengage while Raging, you can make one weapon attack as a bonus action.
### Danger Sense (Level 5)
The fury within your blood alerts you to dangers. Starting at 5th level, you have advantage on initiative rolls, and whenever you roll initiative, you can choose to Rage.
Moreover, if you are surprised when you roll initiative, you can act normally during the first round of combat so long as you Rage as part of rolling initiative.
### Primal Path (Level 6)
At 6th level, you gain a feature from your Primal Path.
### Feral Instinct (Level 7)
Primal instinct has honed your senses. Beginning at 7th level, when you make a Dexterity saving throw against an effect you can see (such as a trap or a spell), you have advantage on your roll. You do not gain this benefit if you are Blinded, Deafened, or Incapacitated when you make the saving throw.
Moreover, your Rage always lasts for its maximum duration unless you become Unconscious or you choose to end it.
### Ability Score Improvement (Level 8)
When you reach 8th level you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or two ability scores by 1. As normal, you can't increase one of your ability scores above 20 using this feature.
### Improved Critical (Level 9)
Primal fury increases the power of your strikes. Beginning at 9th level, attack rolls for your Strength-based weapon attacks score a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20.
At certain Barbarian levels your critical hit range increases: at 13th level you score a critical hit on a roll of 18-20, and at 17th level you score a critical hit on a roll of 17-20.
### Primal Path (Level 10)
At 10th level, you gain a feature from your Primal Path.
### Critical Strike (Level 11)
You ruthlessly exploit the weakness of your foes. Starting at 11th level, when you score a critical hit with a weapon attack while you are Raging, you can use a Savage Exploit you know as part of that attack without expending an Exploit Die.
### Unstoppable (Level 11)
The white hot intensity of your Rage burns ever brighter. Also at 11th level, if you drop to 0 hit points while you are Raging, but you are not killed outright, you can choose to end your Rage to drop to 1 hit point instead.
Also, if you make an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma saving throw while you are Raging, you gain a bonus to your roll equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum of +1).
### Ability Score Improvement (Level 12)
When you reach 12th level you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or two ability scores by 1. As normal, you can't increase one of your ability scores above 20 using this feature.
### Primal Path (Level 14)
At 14th level, you gain a feature from your Primal Path.
### Persistent Rage (Level 15)
Your Rage is a smoldering fire that never goes out. Beginning at 15th level, the duration of your Rage increases to 1 hour.
### Ability Score Improvement (Level 16)
When you reach 16th level you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or two ability scores by 1. As normal, you can't increase one of your ability scores above 20 using this feature.
### Indomitable Might (Level 18)
Your legendary might and endurance rival the heroes of myth. Starting at 18th level, if you make a Strength or Constitution check and the result of your roll is lower than your Strength score, you can use your Strength score in place of the result.
### Ability Score Improvement (Level 19)
When you reach 19th level you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or two ability scores by 1. As normal, you can't increase one of your ability scores above 20 using this feature.
### Primal Champion (Level 20)
You embody the raw power of the primal wilderness, and have exceeded the physical limits of normal mortals. At 20th level, both your Strength and Constitution scores increase by 4, and your maximum for both of those scores is now 24.
## Optional Features
> [!example]- Optional Features: Savage Exploit
> 
^list-optfeature-ll-se