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Is the Barbarian overpowered?
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<blockquote data-quote="TwoSix" data-source="post: 7560462" data-attributes="member: 205"><p>A Dex barbarian is fantastically tanky at high level, but you're missing a lot of context. Which is totally understandable, because as you've stated, you're pretty new to 5e.</p><p></p><p>1) Assuming point buy or standard array (which is important for considerations of inter-class balance), a level 1 Dex Barbarian will have an 18 AC unarmored (+3 Dex +3 Con +2 shield). Any heavy armor martial will be comparable at level 1 (16 AC chain +2 shield) and even higher if they go for Defense fighting style.</p><p></p><p>2) While a level 16 barbarian (4 ASIs total, raising Con to 20 and Dex to 20) will hit a 22 AC, heavy armor martials will be hitting a 21 AC as soon they can afford plate, which will usually be in the mid single digit levels. The martials are ahead in AC for the bulk of the game. The heavy armor characters also have a greater chance of gaining magic items that affect their defense, assuming a game where magic items are randomly determined.</p><p></p><p>3) A Dex barbarian is also only going to be doing 2 attacks at 1d8+5, which might seem good initially but is actually pretty poor damage in the overall context of 5e. They're missing out on the extra rage damage from using Strength attacks, and the accuracy bonus of Reckless Attack. Not to mention they can't use the bulk of the best of the damaging feats, like Great Weapon Master and Polearm Master. A tank fighter will have a 3rd attack, and a tank paladin will have Improved Divine Smite plus spells. </p><p></p><p>This isn't to say a Dex barbarian is bad! As you noted, it is extremely survivable; all those benefits you listed are real and powerful. But they're making a serious dent into their offensive power to do so, compared to a Str barbarian or any of the martial classes. Honestly, if I was putting together a Dex barbarian build, I'd probably favor Barbarian 5/Rogue X, assuming you're allowing multiclass. Then you're getting Sneak Attack plus Uncanny Dodge on top of the benefits of Rage and Unarmored Defense.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="TwoSix, post: 7560462, member: 205"] A Dex barbarian is fantastically tanky at high level, but you're missing a lot of context. Which is totally understandable, because as you've stated, you're pretty new to 5e. 1) Assuming point buy or standard array (which is important for considerations of inter-class balance), a level 1 Dex Barbarian will have an 18 AC unarmored (+3 Dex +3 Con +2 shield). Any heavy armor martial will be comparable at level 1 (16 AC chain +2 shield) and even higher if they go for Defense fighting style. 2) While a level 16 barbarian (4 ASIs total, raising Con to 20 and Dex to 20) will hit a 22 AC, heavy armor martials will be hitting a 21 AC as soon they can afford plate, which will usually be in the mid single digit levels. The martials are ahead in AC for the bulk of the game. The heavy armor characters also have a greater chance of gaining magic items that affect their defense, assuming a game where magic items are randomly determined. 3) A Dex barbarian is also only going to be doing 2 attacks at 1d8+5, which might seem good initially but is actually pretty poor damage in the overall context of 5e. They're missing out on the extra rage damage from using Strength attacks, and the accuracy bonus of Reckless Attack. Not to mention they can't use the bulk of the best of the damaging feats, like Great Weapon Master and Polearm Master. A tank fighter will have a 3rd attack, and a tank paladin will have Improved Divine Smite plus spells. This isn't to say a Dex barbarian is bad! As you noted, it is extremely survivable; all those benefits you listed are real and powerful. But they're making a serious dent into their offensive power to do so, compared to a Str barbarian or any of the martial classes. Honestly, if I was putting together a Dex barbarian build, I'd probably favor Barbarian 5/Rogue X, assuming you're allowing multiclass. Then you're getting Sneak Attack plus Uncanny Dodge on top of the benefits of Rage and Unarmored Defense. [/QUOTE]
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Is the Barbarian overpowered?
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