Summary
The latest playtest ofOne DnDfeatured further tweaks to the game’s core classes, with the Barbarian getting a handful of changes. The class’ Rage feature was buffed to last as long as 10 minutes instead of a measly 60 seconds, plus it’s a lot easier to keep their character enraged. There are different ways to keep a Barbarian in this crazed state: making attack rolls, pushing enemies to do a saving throw, or making a bonus action. Apart from these,One DnD’s Barbarian also received the following modifications and additions:
One DnDis set to release in 2024, with the developers using the latest playtests to polish and adjust the game before it hits the shelves. The DM guide and character creation elements all received changes, but the core gameplay is backward compatible withD&D 5th Editionsourcebooks. As such, players won’t have to unlearn old rules and get used to new ones. However, fans of the Barbarian and most of the classes inDnDmay have to adjust their combat and roleplaying strategies according to the recent reworks previewed in theOne D&D’s seventh playtest.
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What the New Weapon Mastery Feature Means for One D&D’s Barbarian
The Barbarian andFighter were granted Weapon Masteryas a feature. At level 1, the Barbarian can utilize two kinds of Martial and Simple weapons to their fullest potential, giving them access to additional combat effects. For example, if the player masters the Battleaxe, they get the Topple Mastery. This forces an enemy to make a saving throw on a hit, and if they fail, they get knocked prone. This is great for giving the party advantage in future attack rolls against that creature.
Another great Weapon Mastery ability is Slow, which can be accessed using a javelin or whip. This reduces the hit creature’s speed by 10 feet until the player’s next turn. The number of weapons that this class can master increases as they reach certain levels, with the maximum being four. This feature is perfect for classes like the Barbarian, which are known more for their brute force and shear strength rather than their finesse and speed. Thebest Barbarian builds inDungeons and Dragonswill likely have Weapons with Mastery properties like Topple and Slow help keep enemies at bay during fights, while Cleave and Graze give the Barbarian more opportunities to damage enemies.
Path of the World Tree and Changes to Barbarian’s Existing Subclasses in One D&D
One D&D’s designers took a page from the Edda and other Norse folklore references to create the Barbarian’s new subclass: Path of the World Tree. Barbarians who take this path believe that their rage is fueled by their link to themythological Yggrdrasil, an ash tree with cosmic connections to other universes. Some of its remarkable features include:
Vitality of the Tree (Level 3)
The Barbarian regains HP equal to their level when they activate their Rage. Players can also choose creatures to give temporary hit points to at the start of every turn that they’re enraged. The additional HP goes away when the Barbarian’s Rage ends.
Battering Roots (Level 10)
The appendages of the World Tree extend from theBarbarian’s melee weapons, giving the player an extra 10 feet of range. When they get a hit with their Battering Roots-empowered weapon, they can activate either the Push or Topple Mastery even if they have another property assigned to that item.
Existing subclasses like the Path of the Wild Heart also received significant revisions to tone down overpowered features like Rage of the Wilds and buff weaker ones like Power of the Wilds. A new feature, Instinctive Pounce, gives the Barbarian the ability to move at half their speed during their Rage activation. The additional subclass and new abilities make the Barbarian more well-rounded, with even greater access to support and mobility options centered around their signature Rage ability.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
