D&D 5E Beware the barbarian in the chainmail bikini! Or, check out the max Barbarian AC!

[Quartz]

You're assuming a 20th level fighter wouldn't have magical plate and shield. +3 is the highest that's been hinted at (as legendary items). A level 20 PC probably has run across those at some point. So that 20th level figher would have AC 26.

But then you could give the barbarian a Shield +3 for an AC of 27. And as in 3E the fighter is still dependent upon magic gear. And the fighter has Disadvantage on Stealth checks.

Nah, you were sort of right; the berserker subclass can "frenzy" for an extra attack each round (as a bonus attack) while raging, but that makes them take a level of exhaustion, so you have to be careful with it.

Ah right.

Also, remember that a lot of people won't have maxed Dex, Strength AND Con even by level 20;

I agree, but ISTM that a barbarian going for L20 would max Con and Dex over Str. If you end up with Str 22 instead of Str 24, that's still badass. If you end up with Dex 18 instead of Dex 20, that's only a loss of 1 point of AC and still badass.

there are quite a few feats you can take that are probably worth more than a bump to your AC and dex saves. For example, let's say you use three feat slots to go from 16 to 20 Dex and 18 to 20 Con; you could instead take +1 dex/+1 con, then Resilient (dex), then Durable, and you'd end up with the same Con, more hp, and much better Dex saves, and only one less AC.

I haven't analysed the feats particularly thoroughly yet.

 

[ArmoredSaint]

But then you could give the barbarian a Shield +3 for an AC of 27. And as in 3E the fighter is still dependent upon magic gear. And the fighter has Disadvantage on Stealth checks.

A Fighter who was that concerned with maximizing his AC will probably also have Defensive Fighting Style, matching your Barbarian's AC of 27. And the Barbarian is also dependent upon a magic shield to achieve that.

 

[Sacrosanct]

A Fighter who was that concerned with maximizing his AC will probably also have Defensive Fighting Style, matching your Barbarian's AC of 27. And the Barbarian is also dependent upon a magic shield to achieve that.

And why would a 20th level fighter in plate mail and a shield worry about disadvantage on a stealth check lol.

 

[Quartz]

To sneak past the CR 30 Tarrasque, of course.

 

[pming]

Hiya.

A level 20 Barbarian with maxxed Dex (20) and Con (24 thanks to Primal Champion) doesn't need armour: she has a base AC of 22 and can still use a shield for a final AC of 24 or Bracers of Defence for AC 25. That's better than Plate & Shield (20). And she takes half damage from many attacks when raging. ...

With the Bracers of Defense, I see 25. But not with a Shield, as Shield counts as 'armor', I believe. Of course, if you run with Shield not being armor...off ya go!

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Also, remember that a lot of people won't have maxed Dex, Strength AND Con even by level 20; there are quite a few feats you can take that are probably worth more than a bump to your AC and dex saves.

Not every game is going to use feats. The barbarian can continue pumping all three of these stats, and gain a significant bonus at each step.

 

[Kai Lord]

A level 20 Barbarian with maxxed Dex (20) and Con (24 thanks to Primal Champion) doesn't need armour: she has a base AC of 22 and can still use a shield for a final AC of 24 or Bracers of Defence for AC 25. That's better than Plate & Shield (20). And she takes half damage from many attacks when raging.

Of course, a fighter gets 4 attacks to the barbarian's 2 (3 when she's raging) and has a better critical range, but the fighter has fewer HP, a worse AC, doesn't get damage resistance.

Hmmm... I can see Clerics taking a 1 or 2 level dip into Barbarian for this class feature.

I love it. Even if a fighter can still match or slightly best that with fully enchanted plate armor it doesn't change the fact that the Barbarian can hold his/her own while being virtually naked. That's bad ass.

 

[fanboy2000]

Barbarians only get 10 points of ability score improvements. I don't think it's mathematically possible to bump STR, DEX, and CON to 20 by 20th level if you use point buy or the standard array.

 

[Quartz]

You only need to bump Dex and Con. Start with Str 14, Dex 16, Con 16 (after racial mods) and you end up with Str 20, Dex 20, Con 24.

 

[ExploderWizard]

You can also use Gauntlets of Ogre Power or a belt of giant strength and start your barbarian off with low strength

The inclusion of magical items and the availability of certain items are optional so I'm not sure that is the smartest plan.