Unleashing the fury of a Barbarian in *Baldur’s Gate 3* (*BG3*) can turn you into a formidable force on the battlefield. Barbarians are renowned for their raw power and resilience, making them a thrilling class to master. In *BG3*, selecting the right feats can amplify your Barbarian's effectiveness, turning you into an unstoppable juggernaut. While Barbarians might not have access to as many feats as other classes, the ones they do have can significantly enhance their performance. Here's a rundown of the top 10 Barbarian feats in *Baldur’s Gate 3* that you should consider as you progress through the game.
10 – Durable
How to Unlock | Description |
Available at Level 4 | Your Constitution increases by 1, to a maximum of 20. |
You regain full hit points each time you take a Short Rest. |
Barbarians are already tough to take down, but with the Durable feat, you'll be even harder to kill. This feat not only boosts your Constitution by 1, which is always beneficial, but also allows you to regain full health during a Short Rest. This can be a game-changer, especially on higher difficulty levels, making Durable an excellent choice for any Barbarian build in Baldur’s Gate 3.
9 – Lucky
How to Unlock | Description |
Available at Level 4 | You gain 3 Luck points, which you can use to gain Advantage on Attack Rolls, Ability Checks, or Saving Throws, or to make an enemy reroll their attack. |
The Lucky feat provides you with three luck points to use after each long rest. These points can be spent to gain Advantage on your Attack Rolls, Ability Checks, or Saving Throws, or even to force an enemy to reroll their attack. This versatility makes Lucky a powerful asset for any Barbarian, regardless of their build, enhancing their overall performance in Baldur’s Gate 3.
8 – Mage Slayer
How to Unlock | Description |
Available at Level 4 | When a creature casts a spell within melee range of you, you have Advantage on any Saving Throw against it, and you can use a reaction to immediately make an attack against the caster. |
Enemies you hit have Disadvantage on Concentration Saving Throws. |
Barbarians often clash with enemy mages, and the Mage Slayer feat is perfect for these encounters. It grants you Advantage on Saving Throws against spells cast within your melee range and allows you to counterattack the caster using your reaction. Additionally, hitting an enemy with this feat gives them Disadvantage on Concentration Saving Throws, making Mage Slayer a crucial choice for any Barbarian build in Baldur’s Gate 3 aiming to neutralize spellcasters.
7 – Athlete
How to Unlock | Description |
Available at Level 4 | Your Strength or Dexterity increases by 1, to a maximum of 20. |
When you are Prone, standing up uses significantly less movement. Your Jump distance also increases by 50%. |
If you find yourself frequently knocked down or enjoy navigating the game world by jumping, the Athlete feat is ideal. It increases your Strength or Dexterity by 1 and makes standing up from a Prone position easier by requiring less movement. Additionally, it boosts your jump distance by 50%, making it a versatile choice for exploration and multiclassing in Baldur’s Gate 3.
6 – Savage Attacker
How to Unlock | Description |
Available at Level 4 | When making melee weapon attacks, you roll your damage dice twice and use the highest result. |
As a Barbarian, dealing substantial damage is key, and the Savage Attacker feat enhances this aspect. It allows you to roll your damage dice twice for each melee attack and use the higher result, ensuring your attacks remain potent and befitting a Barbarian's ferocity in Baldur’s Gate 3.
5 – Charger
How to Unlock | Description |
Available at Level 4 | Deal more damage: charge forward and slam your weapon into the first enemy in your way. |
Doesn’t provoke Opportunity Attacks. |
The Charger feat embodies the Barbarian's love for charging into battle. It allows you to move up to 9 meters and attack the first enemy you encounter without provoking Opportunity Attacks. This makes it an invaluable tool for quickly closing the distance to your foes and initiating combat effectively in Baldur’s Gate 3.
4 – Tough
How to Unlock | Description |
Available at Level 4 | Your hit point maximum increases by 2 for every level you have gained. |
Gives hit points retroactively. |
As a frontline combatant, your Barbarian needs to withstand significant punishment. The Tough feat increases your hit point maximum by 2 per level, effectively adding extra hit points retroactively. At the level cap of 12, this translates to a substantial boost in durability, making it an excellent choice for any Barbarian build in Baldur’s Gate 3.
3 – Sentinel
How to Unlock | Description |
Available at Level 4 | When an enemy within melee range attacks an ally, you can use a reaction to make a weapon attack against that enemy. Target ally must not have the Sentinel Feat. |
You gain Advantage on Opportunity Attacks, and when you hit a creature with an Opportunity Attack, it can no longer move for the rest of its turn. |
Sentinel is a standout feat for Barbarians, enhancing their role as a tank. It allows you to make Opportunity Attacks even if the enemy uses Disengage, and hitting them with such an attack prevents them from moving further. This effectively keeps enemies focused on you, leveraging your Barbarian's resilience in Baldur’s Gate 3.
RELATED: Best Races and Ability Scores for Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3
2 – Polearm Master
How to Unlock | Description |
Available at Level 4 | When attacking with a glaive, halberd, quarterstaff, or spear, you can use a bonus action to attack with the butt of your weapon. |
You can also make an Opportunity Attack when a target comes within range. |
Polearm Master is a surprisingly effective choice for Barbarians in Baldur’s Gate 3. It grants an additional attack as a bonus action with the butt of your weapon and allows you to make Opportunity Attacks when enemies enter your reach. Combined with feats like Sentinel, this can create a formidable defensive perimeter, making it an ideal choice for maximizing control and damage.
1 – Great Weapon Master
How to Unlock | Description |
Available at Level 4 | When you land a Critical Hit or kill a target with a melee weapon attack, you can make another melee weapon attack as a bonus action that turn. |
Attacks with Heavy melee weapons you are Proficient with can deal an additional 10 damage at the cost of a -5 Attack Roll penalty. |
Great Weapon Master is the quintessential feat for any Barbarian wielding heavy two-handed weapons in Baldur’s Gate 3. It allows you to make an additional attack as a bonus action upon scoring a Critical Hit or killing an enemy. Additionally, you can opt for a -5 penalty on Attack Rolls to deal an extra 10 damage with Heavy melee weapons. This trade-off embodies the Barbarian's risk-reward playstyle, making it a top choice for unleashing devastating blows.
These are the top 10 best feats for the Barbarian class in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3). Each offers unique benefits that can significantly enhance your Barbarian's prowess. I highly recommend starting with Great Weapon Master for an early boost in power.
For more insights on Baldur’s Gate 3, explore our guides on crafting the Elixir of Arcane Cultivation and dyeing armor. If you're new to the game, don't miss Destructoid's comprehensive beginner's guide to Baldur’s Gate 3.
UPDATE: This article was updated on 03/23/24 by Jason Coles to include new list entries and images. It was further updated on 1/27/25 by Liam Nolan to enhance readability and provide more detailed information.