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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Weathercock" data-source="post: 6751007" data-attributes="member: 6802523">Mechanically speaking, if damage is the route you want to go as a Barbarian (or just about any other melee fighter), Polearm is simply far and above anything you'll ever do with any other weapon. The free, guaranteed bonus attack that functions with GWM's power attack, as well as the ability to get really easy attacks of opportunity just send it through the roof, and nothing else really competes with that.Barbarian raging, reckless attack DPR with great weapon masteryLevel 5  v AC 13: 39.2 (Str +4)  <-- 113.6 per 3 rounds, 270.4 per 7 rounds (Greatsword)Level 11 v AC 15: 42.9 (Str +5)  <-- 128.1 per 3 rounds, 299.7 per 7 rounds (Greataxe)Level 20 v AC 19: 50.6 (Str +7)  <-- 147.6 per 3 rounds, 350.0 per 7 rounds (Greataxe)Barbarian raging, reckless attack DPR with great weapon mastery (Halberd), polearm masteryLevel 5  v AC 13: 42.6 (Str +3)  <-- 112.9 per 3 rounds, 283.4 per 7 rounds (1 turn setup)Level 11 v AC 15: 48.1 (Str +4)  <-- 129.7 per 3 rounds, 322.1 per 7 rounds (1 turn setup)Level 20 v AC 19: 62.9 (Str +7)  <-- 169.8 per 3 rounds, 421.4 per 7 rounds (1 turn setup)Barbarian raging, reckless attack DPR with great weapon mastery (Halberd), polearm mastery, reaction includedLevel 5  v AC 13: 57.4 (Str +3)  <-- 159.3 per 3 rounds, 388.9 per 7 rounds (1 turn setup)Level 11 v AC 15: 64.9 (Str +4)  <-- 180.2 per 3 rounds, 439.8 per 7 rounds (1 turn setup)Level 20 v AC 19: 80.4 (Str +7)  <-- 219.3 per 3 rounds, 540.9 per 7 rounds (1 turn setup)The problem with multiclassing as a Barbarian is that no matter where you take it, what you're doing isn't exactly getting more damage output, but sacrificing your consistent damage potential (and rate of progression in Barbarian) in exchange for some burst damage. Overall, you'll never simply get "more" with multiclassing as a Barbarian, you'll always be making that tradeoff (and generally, not one that I'd really consider favourable). Speaking in the long (loooooooong) term, losing that capstone is huge. Keep in mind that the extra +2 strength modifier doesn't just increase the damage of your attacks by a bit, but also your accuracy. And when you want to be power attacking as much as possible, that +2 to hit is absolutely massive for your damage output.As a damage dealer, a Polearm Godmode Totem Warrior (or, as I noted above, my improved Berserker variant, which does present a more damage-oriented option that also presents the added benefit of not tying you down to a polearm) will end up doing less damage than what a fighter is going to be capable of. That's just how the class works, and there's not a lot of ways around that. But that doesn't mean that the damage Barbarian deals will be inconsequential either. You can still pump out some reasonably meaningful numbers while playing to the Barbarian's strengths.</blockquote>

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