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

[FrogReaver]

It moves an enemy away from a target you don't want them attacking and puts them next to a target that can take it. That's both control and tanking. Combining the two increases the utility of both.

That's tanking. Forcing an enemy to attack you instead of an ally is tanking.

 

[MarkB]

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.

Worth noting, if you can get your barbarian to Large size, through enlarge person or other means, they don't need to be flying - you can teleport an enemy to a spot that is diagonally above you, still adjacent to you but ten feet off the ground, sufficient to trigger falling damage and leave them prone with 0 movement speed.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

other means

Being a Goliath .

 

[Mort]

Worth noting, if you can get your barbarian to Large size, through enlarge person or other means, they don't need to be flying - you can teleport an enemy to a spot that is diagonally above you, still adjacent to you but ten feet off the ground, sufficient to trigger falling damage and leave them prone with 0 movement speed.

And if you can get the Barbarian to large size, their MELEE range can increase to 30ft reach which is both effective and hilarious.

 

[Mort]

That's tanking. Forcing an enemy to attack you instead of an ally is tanking.

Tanking is already a form of control. The ability to stop when movement to force it, just reinforces that.

 

[Ancalagon]

The subclasses really fall into rolls. Berserker is DPS, World Tree is Tank, wild heart is utility, and zealot is middle of the road.

I think that's a good take on it. And if the wild heart has a bit of an idea "what's coming" and selects the good options for that day, they can be quite effective in combat - advantage to allies, flight etc, it's all good.

 

[Ancalagon]

[*]the temp hp aren't given on the first turn you rage
.

I do agree with you that the temp hp feature is not amazing, in part because well, there are a lot of temp hp source, and a world tree barbarian won't contribute as much in a party with a better temp hp giver.

That being said, temp hp ARE given on the first turn - given to the barbarian. It's only 1/level, but since you have damage resistance, those few temp HP are effectively doubled.

 

[Zardnaar]

I agree it's a good one but... when it happens, ok, fantastic. But often is that going to be? Maybe 1/3 battles? And the barbarian won't be targeted/fail their save in every battle, so it's going to be relevant in say, 1/4 battles...

The World Tree ability is relevant every fight - I wouldn't say every found, but saying 1/2 of rounds seems quite likely. So even though it's not quite so dramatic/clutch... it can be. Bamfing a friend out of a very dangerous situation - that too will happen rarely, perhaps even more so than the shrugging off a charm/fear, but it sill be just as impactful.

So you have the same "big clutch" potential, but also a "useful almost all the time" (in combat) side to it, and a small utility one too (climb up on a roof, bamf up the rest of the party up).

So based on frequency and potentcy, the World Tree level 6 ability is better.



It's not just tanking -it's tanking and control

This.

 

[Zardnaar]

Worth noting, if you can get your barbarian to Large size, through enlarge person or other means, they don't need to be flying - you can teleport an enemy to a spot that is diagonally above you, still adjacent to you but ten feet off the ground, sufficient to trigger falling damage and leave them prone with 0 movement speed.

Point.

Downside is it targets strength saves. Since it triggers every round your probably hit it often enough.

 

[Zardnaar]

Zealot rated as an A. Conclusion added to OP. Very strong base class that comes online early. World Tree goes above and beyond with a comparatively great level 6 ability along with everything else.

Next up Bard.