D&D (2024) Tier List. Barbarian Review and Ratings.

Zardnaar

Legend
So it's a new edition and I thought it's tier list time. The lists are my subjective opinion assuming a reasonable degree of optimization. It is not most damage or specific build tier list. Damage is important espicially on the "strikers" but a class can still get a high rating. S tier is the best followed by A,B,C, and D. B is a good rating btw. The tier lists compare the archetypes against each other not class vs class.

I also evaluate lower level abilities ahead of higher level ones for obvious reasons. Level 1-7 I value the most level 13 is approaching theoretical territory, 15+ is definitely in theoretical territory. 70% of games level 1-7, 10% above level 10, 1% 15+ according to wizards. A high level tier list would look different feel free to do one.

Barbarians are fairly easy to rate. Melee and something cool while raging. More damage is always important but as long as the something cool while raging is competitive with more damage they can still score a high rating. With changes to the base class rage is almost an at will or every combat ability espicially since it now recharges on a short rest.

My ratings are influenced by the youtubers Treantmonk and Dungeon Dudes, Reddit, my own opinions and powergamers whose opinions I respect. Treantmonk is more white room, Dungeon Dudes put more value on higher level abilities I lean towards more practical levels.

Overall the base Barbarian is well designed at its niche and is almost B tier all by itself. Unlike some of the other classes there's not to much variation in the archetype power levels. I wouldn't argue to hard if all of them were rated A tier. Great job here WotC. Might be the best designed class (and I'm not the biggest fan conceptually of the Barbarian).

Tier Ratings

Berzerker A tier
Wild heart B+
World Tree S tier.
Zealot A tier.

Conclusion

By level 14 all of the Barbarians are great and the gap between them is marginal. I could rate all of them A tier.The base class is also very strong. The worst Barbarian is still a Barbarian. Wildheart is the weakest due to comparatively mediocre level 6 and 10 abilities.
 
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Zardnaar

Legend
Berzerker and Wild Heart

Berzerker
The Barbarians Barbarian. Formerly a D tier archetype the new one has been fixed. Very good yardstick out of the gate.

Frenzy.
Extra damage 2d6-4d6 at levels people actually play at. Stacks with existing rage damage bonus. More attacks you make more chance you have of triggering it. New Barbarian I'd already leaning towards dual wielding but the traditional great weapon+cleave combo also looks nice. No it's or buts it's a lot if danage early on married to a very good base class and easy to trigger. Gloomstalker cries in the corner. Already in S tier striker range.

Mindless Rage Level 6. Immune to charmed and frightened. If you're already under the influence they end. Situationally great when it's relevant but it's not going to come up that often. Other archetypes have better options.

Retaliation Level 10.
At will Battlemaster riposte ability. This ones going to trigger a lot. Very simple more damage and frequent. Thumbs up.

Intimidating Presence level 14.
Fear ability save negates. Decent but weaker than the other archetypes.

Very simple archetype. More damage at levels you care about and it's a generous amount. S tier for that but A overall as it's other abilities are comparatively lacking. Massive improvement over 2014 stinkbox.

Wildheart.

The wild heart barbarian gives up the Bezerker extra danage for utility. In a way it got nerfed as it lost its resistance to everything except psychic damage ability. Now it can pick what ability they want to use at level 3 via Rage of the Wilds. You basically have the choice of less damage, more movement or granting advantage to yor allies.

At level 6 you can gain a climb or swim speed or dark vision. All a bit situational so in effect sometimes you get not ability at level 6.

At level 10 you gain nature speaker. More utility. Unfortunately by now you have had around 7 levels of not a lot at levels people mostly play.

Power of the Wilds Level 14.

Finally you gain a great ability. You can fly, knock opponents prone or n effect dark your opponents. You can also choose what ability to use.

Overall the wild heart has great abilities at level 3 and 14. The base Barbarian class is very good. Overall a B+ climbing to A- or an A at 14.
 
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Zardnaar

Legend
World Tree

The World Tree adds a touch of support and control while raging. So it gets a big thumbs up in terms of something cool while raging.

Level 3 Vitality of the tree.

You Gan temport hit pits equal to your barbarian level. Additionally an ally gains report hit points (generally 2d6-4d6). Fairly simple not as good as more damage but you effect yourself and someone else.

Level 6 Branches of the Tree.
The crowning achievement of this archetype. At first glance you can teleport a creature beside you if they fail a saving throw. In effect this potentially gives ou an extra 30' of reach. This ability also works on allies as well. If a barbarian can't get into melee their damage tends to drop dramatically.

However you can also drop the opponent off a cliff, into a zone effect or pit trap. A flying barbarian can also drop the opponent which knocks them prone, 0 movement rate and then you can swoop in gaining advantage. Only real downside is it's a strength saving throw and it uses your reaction. This ability is great and potentially encount dominating depending on terrain, species and encounter design. It's great. Mortal Kombat get over here.

Level 10 Battering Roots. In effect you gain two more weapon masteries. Push or Topple and whatever ability your weapon has. Can combine with branches of the tree. Dual wielding light weapon barbarian?

14. Travel along the tree.
Bonus action rage plus long range misty step. That you can combine with your level 6 and 10 abilities. And you can keep using it every round. By now rage is more or less every encounter.

Well derp. Overall a great package married to a very strong base class. Utility and control with a very high power level. I'm going to give it an S tier. It's a great subclass top to bottom.

Zealot
The previous Barbarions add a touch of stiker, utility, and control to each archetype. The zealot gets a little bit of striker and support.

Divine Fury. Level 3
Nominally similar to the berzerker but averages out around half the berzerkers bonus damage. Necrotic ad espicially radiant may have other uses eg Zombies or Vampires. Strictly inferior but you also get.....

Warrior of the God's. Level 3
You gain some extra d12s to heal with. Starts off at 4 bit you don't get very many and they're long rest. Kind of pitiful compared with second wind. At low levels though it's very good relative to your hit point total. A level 3 barbarian might have around 30 ho and you have around 26 more available. Scaes poorly but decent when you need them the most.

Fanatical Focus level 6.
Reroll a save with a +2-4 bonus level 1-11. Less situational than the other barbarians ability except World Tree. Nice but still situational. Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Level 10 Zealous Presence.
Advantage for you allies refreshes on a long rest pr if you sacrifice a rage. With 4 rages available when you get it and refresh one per short rest you have a few to go around. Nice alternative to rage as well eg a ranged encounter.

Rage of the God's level 14.

You gain flight. Weaker than say the wild heart. 3/4 Barbarians gain a massive mobility upgrade at this level. Great ability.


Overall the zealot gains a lot of good abilities and none of them are mediocre except maybe the level 6 one. 3/4 Barbarians are in the same boat. Overall I'm going to give it an A.
 
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FrogReaver

As long as i get to be the frog
IMO.

I think zealot is the best barbarian, with beserker right on it's heels.

I think World Tree will be the most fun and offers the most unique playstyles as it will play most like a tank/support. In a party that utilizes alot of zone effects it can even surpass the others at damage.

I don't find wild heart that good in comparison anymore.
 

Zardnaar

Legend
IMO.

I think zealot is the best barbarian, with beserker right on it's heels.

I think World Tree will be the most fun and offers the most unique playstyles as it will play most like a tank/support. In a party that utilizes alot of zone effects it can even surpass the others at damage.

I don't find wild heart that good in comparison anymore.

They're all fairly good imho. Wild heart is no longer S tier though.

You're more or less right about the Zealot.
 
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Ancalagon

Dusty Dragon
IMO.

I think zealot is the best barbarian, with beserker right on it's heels.

I think World Tree will be the most fun and offers the most unique playstyles as it will play most like a tank/support. In a party that utilizes alot of zone effects it can even surpass the others at damage.

I don't find wild heart that good in comparison anymore.
Wild heart gets rather good when you notice that you can teleport people straight up in the sky... splat
 



Ashrym

Legend
Wild heart gets rather good when you notice that you can teleport people straight up in the sky... splat

That's world tree. Guess what one I'm rating the highest;)

You mean world tree. I though you had to teleport them beside you?

Are you referring to this?

Level 6: Branches of the Tree​

Whenever a creature you can see starts its turn within 30 feet of you while your Rage is active, you can take a Reaction to summon spectral branches of the World Tree around it. The target must succeed on a Strength saving throw (DC 8 plus your Strength modifier and Proficiency Bonus) or be teleported to an unoccupied space you can see within 5 feet of yourself or in the nearest unoccupied space you can see. After the target teleports, you can reduce its Speed to 0 until the end of the current turn.
 


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