Gnome Barbarian Build Guide

Gnome Barbarian Build Guide

Harness your inner fury with the surprisingly resilient Gnome Barbarian, a tiny terror in the thick of battle!

3/10 Synergy Striker Role Medium Difficulty

Why Gnome Barbarian?

While not the most obvious pairing, a Gnome Barbarian offers a unique take on the classic rage-fueled warrior. Your small size might seem counterintuitive for a frontline fighter, but your inherent Gnomish Cunning trait gives you a significant edge. This means you're more likely to shrug off nasty spells and mental tricks that would fell other Barbarians, keeping you in the fight longer. Plus, with a robust 14 Constitution, you'll have plenty of hit points to soak up damage, especially with your d12 Hit Die, the best in the game!

Your focus will be on Strength, aiming for a 15 to hit harder. While a 13 Dexterity helps with armor, don't neglect your 12 Wisdom for those occasional, but crucial, mental saves. Your 8 Charisma means you won't be the party's diplomat, but who needs smooth talk when you can smash things? With Darkvision, you're also ready for subterranean adventures, scouting ahead or fighting in the gloom where others falter.

Recommended Ability Scores

Strength★
15(+2)
Dexterity
13(+1)
Constitution
14(+2)
Intelligence
10(+0)
Wisdom
12(+1)
Charisma
8(-1)
HP (Lv1)
14
AC
11
Initiative
+1
Passive Per.
11
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Gnome Traits That Benefit Barbarian

Gnomish Cunning

Extra saving throw advantages protect against debilitating spells and effects.

Darkvision

Gnome Darkvision helps Barbarians scout ahead and fight in darkness without needing a torch.

Combat Effectiveness

Level HP Melee DPR Ranged DPR
Level 5 50 7.8 6.05
Level 11 104 7.15 5.5
Level 17 158 7.15 5.5

DPR = Damage Per Round (average, assuming standard combat conditions).

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

  • ♦ High hit points for frontline durability
  • ♦ Highest possible hit die (d12)
  • ♦ Darkvision for dungeon exploration
  • ♦ Strong melee damage output
  • ♦ Rage provides damage resistance and bonus damage

Weaknesses

  • ♦ Low Charisma limits social interactions
  • ♦ Limited ranged and magical options without multiclassing
  • ♦ Small size limits heavy weapon usage

Pro Tips

1

Use Gnomish Cunning to resist charm and fear effects, staying enraged longer.

2

Your Darkvision lets you scout dark tunnels or surprise enemies in dim light.

3

Focus on Strength-based weapons that don't have the 'heavy' property, like handaxes.

4

Embrace the chaos! Your small size and big rage can be hilariously effective.

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Barbarian Subclass Builds

Explore specialized builds for each Barbarian subclass:

Gnome Path of the Berserker Barbarian Striker Gnome Path of the Wild Heart Barbarian Striker Gnome Path of the World Tree Barbarian Support Gnome Path of the Zealot Barbarian Striker

Related Builds

Other Gnome Builds

Gnome Wizard 8/10 Controller Gnome Sorcerer 6/10 Blaster Gnome Warlock 5/10 Blaster Gnome Bard 4/10 Support Gnome Cleric 4/10 Support Gnome Ranger 4/10 Striker

Other Barbarian Builds

Goliath Barbarian 10/10 Striker Dragonborn Barbarian 9/10 Striker Dwarf Barbarian 9/10 Striker Orc Barbarian 8/10 Striker Aasimar Barbarian 7/10 Striker Tiefling Barbarian 6/10 Striker

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gnome a good race for Barbarian?
Gnome Barbarians have a Synergy Rating of 3/10. While not a top-tier combination, Gnomish Cunning provides valuable resistance against debilitating effects, and Darkvision aids in exploration. It's a playable, if unconventional, choice for players who enjoy the trope of a small creature with immense fury.
What stats should a Gnome Barbarian prioritize?
Prioritize Strength (aim for 15) for your attack and damage. Follow this with Constitution (14) for maximum hit points and durability. Dexterity (13) is good for armor class, and a 12 Wisdom helps with saving throws. Dump Charisma (8) as it's your least important stat.
What party role does this build fill?
The Gnome Barbarian fills the Striker role. As a martial build, this combination excels in direct combat and physical challenges.

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