Barbarian with Mobile and GWM Feats: as cool as it seems?

[jgsugden]

It is a bit like buying a $500,000 sports car and only using it to pick up dogs to take to a pet washing service. It'll work, and be awesome at it - but it isn't what the car was intended to do and you're wasting a lot of benefits.

The Barby soaks up damage. I had a high level fighter/barbarian with a good con and I pretty much ignored taking damage. I marked it off, but taking damage rarely factored into my decision making process. I tackled enemies off a cliff. I dove into a Purple Worm (years before Drax did it in GotG 2). I stood in a Wall of Fire so that I could great in a good position to attack an enemy.

Investing a feat to try to avoid damage is possible, but you're wasting that hp pool.

 

[Dausuul]

A barbarian is a fairly hardened target (decent AC, lots of hit points, and damage resistance while raging). Redirecting attacks away from you and onto squishier PCs is not a good thing.

I would consider this sort of build if a) there was another hardened PC in the party who would be taking on a more traditional tanking role, or b) the entire party was built around high mobility and evading the enemy. In the latter case especially, this could be very cool. But if you're the only one in the group who can play tank, your Mobility will be largely wasted.

The other thing to consider is the opportunity cost of taking Mobile instead of +2 Strength. Unless you're rolling for stats, losing that +1 to hit and damage is going to add up. I'm not saying don't do it, but be aware that the penalty is not insignificant. My hexblade traded her first Charisma boost to complete Polearm Master/Sentinel, and I don't regret it, but I sure do look forward to 8th level and 18 Cha.

 

[BookBarbarian]

I did something similar with a Gloomstalker/Barb with GWM and Mobile. With Gloomstlakers extra movement in the first round of combat I could get out of range of most foes. The extra attack in the first round combined with Mobile helped make sure I didn't take any AoOs.

If I need more movement Longstrider helped. A very fun skirmisher.

You could also go Eagle Totem to dash as a bonus action.

 

[CTurbo]

I really like Mobile on Barbs, but not to run away as it's not a very barbarian-like thing to do.


I agree with not wanting "just" a 16 Str so late also

 

[Gwarok]

Well this merely provides an option for the Barbarian to do this, they don't have to. If the situation calls for the barbarian to be up front taking hits they can still do that just as well. But now they have the option of doing otherwise. So being one of the party tanks is no reason to not do this. More options is more options, which is good, not a directive to use that tactic exclusively just because they can.

 

[jaelis]

Well this merely provides an option for the Barbarian to do this, they don't have to. If the situation calls for the barbarian to be up front taking hits they can still do that just as well. But now they have the option of doing otherwise. So being one of the party tanks is no reason to not do this. More options is more options, which is good, not a directive to use that tactic exclusively just because they can.

This is a good argument for not turning down the Mobility feat if your DM offers it to you for free. But if you don't plan to use it very often, you might not want to sacrifice a Str boost or an alternative feat to get it.

 

[Gwarok]

I've always liked the mobility feat, especially since they've removed charge as an option unless you have a feat, and who's got that one. I've been really surprised how useful an extra 10ft of movement is in a tactical fight. You hit someone, walk 40ft away. They now have to spend move plus action to close. Frankly with Polearm Mastery and 10ft reach its a bit OP some common situations.

 

[Guest 6801328]

It is a bit like buying a $500,000 sports car and only using it to pick up dogs to take to a pet washing service. It'll work, and be awesome at it - but it isn't what the car was intended to do and you're wasting a lot of benefits.

Actually, it's like buying a supertanker and using it to go fishing. Wait, no, it's like taking over the galaxy with an armada of interstellar battleships so that you don't have to use Uber. Oh, no, I got it: it's like....








I get your point, but your example is a little hyperbolic.

 

[jgsugden]

Actually, it's like buying a supertanker and using it to go fishing. Wait, no, it's like taking over the galaxy with an armada of interstellar battleships so that you don't have to use Uber. Oh, no, I got it: it's like....

I get your point, but your example is a little hyperbolic.

I'm sure that everyone reading this thread would like to thank you for clarifying that I was exaggerating for dramatic effect. It was incredibly subtle and definitely needed to be explained as many readers were probably wondering where the automobile driving abilities of the barbarian were located.

 

[Guest 6801328]

I'm sure that everyone reading this thread would like to thank you for clarifying that I was exaggerating for dramatic effect. It was incredibly subtle and definitely needed to be explained as many readers were probably wondering where the automobile driving abilities of the barbarian were located.

No, I'm sorry, but I don't think that's a fair response. Exaggerating for dramatic effect is fine, but in this case it's misleading. It's true that Barbarians are good at soaking damage, and that if some of the time I'm running in and out of range then I'm not optimizing that ability for the good of the party.

But your analogy made it sound like I was ripping the guts out of the class, and not utilizing their main asset. Perhaps if I were playing a Rogue who was not going to use a finesse weapon (and thus never get Sneak Attack) or a Wizard who was only going to cast rituals, then the "$500k sports car for errands" analogy would be appropriate.