Best Barbarian build in Baldur’s Gate 3: Race, skills, subclass & more
Larian StudiosHaving the best Barbarian build in Baldur’s Gate 3 can help you cause some series devastation on the battlefield. Here’s how you can create the best build in the RPG for the class including what subclasses, races, and skills to use.
To many, the Barbarian may feel like a simplistic class in Baldur’s Gate 3 but as both veteran D&D and Baldur’s Gate 3 players know, a lot of effort needs to go into a build like this if you want to stay alive long enough to reach max level and dominate the battlefield throughout.
You have to know where to put your Ability points, how often you should rage, how to use the different attacks or movements to your advantage, and of course the ideal race and subclass to pick. So, to ensure you can take those attacks like they’re nothing and eliminate an enemy with ease, here’s the best Barbarian build in Baldur’s Gate 3 along with the best race, subclass, skills, and more.
Contents
- Best race to choose
- Best subclass
- Best skills
- Best Ability Score spread
- Best Illithid powers
- Best multiclass options
- Best build
Best race to choose for a Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3
There are three great races for the Barbarian, each providing great features to help you in battle and exploration:
- Shield Dwarf
- Gold Dwarf
- Half-Orc
We recommend using the Half-Orc due to its Darkvision, Relentless Endurance, and Savage Attacks features.
Best subclass for a Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian StudiosThere are three subclasses available for the Barbarian, Berserker, Wildheart, and Wild Magic. We suggest choosing Berserker for your Barbarian build.
This subclass will grant you access to Frenzied Rage, Frenzied Strike, and Enraged Throw, dealing more damage and giving you more attacks, which is imperative for this class.
Best skills for a Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3
With Strength being the primary stat for the Barbarian, you’ll want to prioritize these skills:
- Athletics
- Intimidation
- Survival
- Perception
- Insight
It’s best to pick a background that gives you proficiency in some of these skills, as that’ll make it easier down the line, like Soldier, for proficiency in Athletics and Intimidation.
Best Ability Score spread for a Barbarian
Larian StudiosThe best Ability Score spread for the game’s Barbarian focuses on three stats. You can opt for the recommended spread, or you can choose these:
- Strength: 17
- Dexterity: 15
- Constitution: 16
- Wisdom: 8
- Intelligence: 8
- Charisma: 8
The primary stats for a Barbarian are Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution, so those are the stats you should be putting all your points in. Strength will increase your damage, Dexterity your AC, and Constitution your health, all imperative aspects for this class.
Best Illithid powers for a Barbarian
Force Tunnel
If you can’t get to a certain boss or key enemy, then Force Tunnel is the power for you. It’ll push all objects and creatures 4m away from your character without provoking opportunity attacks and just screams Barbarian.
Cull the Weak
Sure, this depends on the amount of Illithid powers you have, but if you’re planning on getting a few, you should definitely get Cull the Weak. Essentially, if you bring a creature lower than your number of powers, it’ll die and deal damage to all those nearby.
Psionic Dominance
There’s nothing more annoying than being afflicted by certain spells as a Barbarian. All you want to do is smash things, not be restrained or dominated. So, that’s where Psionic Dominance comes in, instantly nullifying certain spells.
Best multiclass options for the Barbarian
Rogue / Barbarian
Combining the Berserker’s Frenzy from the Barbarian with the Rogues extra attack can be fantastically powerful, essentially allowing you to deal insane damage twice in one go. Add that sneak damage and you’ve got potential one-hit kills even at a lower level.
We recommend going for eight levels in Rogue and the rest in Barbarian, but the order you choose to do this is up to you. Although it’s best to level until you get Berserker’s Frenzy then going to Rogue until you get the extra attack.
Fighter / Barbarian
Barbarians are often classed as the tank of the party. They have a ton of hitpoints and can take most you throw at them. Then there’s the Fighter. They usually have an impressive AC and deal some devastating attacks using cunning and simple hacks and slashes.
So, combine the two and you have a tank with tons of HP, a good AC, and enough damage to become a deadly force. This is a classic combination and one that works in any fight.
Best build for a Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3
Larian StudiosRace: Half-Orc
Background: Soldier
Skills: Perception, Insight, Survival
Ability order from highest to lowest: Strength, Consitution, Dexterity, Wisdom, Charisma, Intelligence
Best Barbarian build:
| Level | Feature |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rage |
| 2 | Reckless Attack — Danger Sense |
| 3 | Subclass: Berserker |
| 4 | Ability Improvement: Stength |
| 5 | Extra Attack — Fast Movement |
| 6 | Additional Rage Charge |
| 7 | Feral Instinct |
| 8 | Feat: Great Weapon Master |
| 9 | Brutal Critical |
| 10 | — |
| 11 | Additional Rage Charge |
| 12 | Feat: Mobile |
Check out more Baldur’s Gate 3 guides:
Best Sorcerer build | Best Bard build | Best Rogue build | Best Ranger build | Best Wizard build | Baldur’s Gate 3: What’s the max level cap? | Best Baldur’s Gate 3 classes tier list | How to revive characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 | Can you multiclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 | Baldur’s Gate 3 Soul Coins: How to get them & what they are | Baldur’s Gate 3: Fastest ways to get XP & level up | Baldur’s Gate 3: How to respec your character | Baldur’s Gate 3 Karmic Dice: What are they?
