BG3 Salami Barbarian: The Craziest Powerhouse Build

In Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3), being creative with character builds can make your gameplay more fun and give you endless possibilities.

One of the most crazy but surprisingly effective builds is the “Giant Salami Barbarian Build.” Made by Yur, this unique build is all about using a salami—a comical item—as the main weapon.

Even though it started as a joke, the build combines serious game mechanics, abilities, and strategy to create a truly enjoyable experience.

This guide explains all the details of the Giant Salami Build—covering race, class, abilities, equipment, and combat strategies.

What is the Giant Salami Build?

The main idea of the Giant Salami Build is a barbarian that focuses on throwing the salami as a weapon.

While the salami might seem like a silly choice, Yur’s careful planning makes sure that it’s both useful and powerful, using abilities, subclasses, and elixirs to make the most damage possible.

The build stands out because of its unique use of equipment and bonuses, as well as how well the barbarian base and monk multiclassing work together.

Race Selection: Half-Orc for Flavor

The race chosen for this build is a Half-Orc, but players can choose a different race if they want. The Half-Orc was picked mostly for flavor, as the idea of a big, strong character attacking enemies with salami fits both in a funny and themed way.

Half-Orc Racial Features:

Darkvision (40 feet): Allows the character to work well in low light or darkness.
Relentless Endurance: If the character’s health drops to zero, they automatically regain one hit point instead of passing out. This basically gives an extra chance to survive during tough fights.
Savage Attacks: When getting a critical hit with a melee weapon, the extra weapon damage die given makes the damage output even higher. While it doesn’t affect throwing damage, this feature is helpful if you switch between melee and ranged combat.

Class Selection: Barbarian With Monk Multiclass

The Barbarian is the main class, picked because it works well with salami throwing tactics and does a lot of damage.

Key Barbarian Features:

Rage: Gives bonus damage during melee or throwing attacks, as well as resistance to physical damage (slashing, piercing, and bludgeoning). Rage is what lets the barbarian outlast enemies and do the most damage possible.
Unarmored Defense: The build’s Armor Class is figured out using Constitution and Dexterity modifiers instead of normal armor. This allows for freedom in equipment choices while still being able to survive.
Reckless Attack: Lets the player attack with advantage while making them open to attacks by enemies. This is very helpful when attacking or throwing the salami, as getting the highest chance to hit can be a priority.
Danger Sense: Gives advantage on Dexterity saving throws against area effects, such as fireballs or traps.

At level 9, when you’ve reached the highest point of your barbarian progression, the build switches to the Monk class. The Monk works well with Dexterity-based mechanics, makes you more mobile, and gives extra offense.

Reasons for Monk Multiclassing:

Armor Class Bonus: The unarmored defense feature from Monk gives an extra boost to Armor Class based on Wisdom. Combined with Constitution and Dexterity, this makes the salami barbarian surprisingly hard to hit.
Flurry of Blows: A Monk-only ability that increases attacks per turn, especially helpful for small damage or when closing gaps in combat.
Martial Arts Upgrades: Monk weapons, including unarmed strikes, get better with Monk levels, allowing techniques like salami throws to do more damage over time.

Background & Ability Scores

For the background, Guild Artisan is chosen because it gives bonuses to Insight and Persuasion skills. These traits are useful and help with out-of-combat gameplay, especially when talking to NPCs or finding information.

Ability Score Distribution:

Dexterity (17): This main stat boosts armor class, initiative, and throwing accuracy. It makes sure the character is quick and agile, benefiting from precision and survivability.
Constitution (15): Adds to total hit points and helps with Armor Class through unarmored defense mechanics. It also supports resistance during rage.
Wisdom (14): Activates the extra Armor Class bonus through Monk’s unarmored defense and improves awareness in encounters.
Charisma (12): Moderate investment in Charisma helps in dialogue-heavy parts of the game where persuasion can be important.
Strength (Dump stat): Surprisingly left out of the initial investment since the build relies on +Strength elixirs for high damage output.

The Giant Salami Build: Progression and Equipment

Character Progression by Level

The Giant Salami Build evolves over 12 levels, focusing on Barbarian as the primary class and Monk as the secondary. Here’s how the character develops:

Level 1-9: Barbarian Levels

Level 1: Gain Rage and Unarmored Defense, establishing high durability and consistent damage bonuses.
Level 2: Unlock Reckless Attack and Danger Sense to improve accuracy and survive environmental hazards.
Level 3: Choose the Berserker Subclass, gaining Rage: Throwing Bonus to increase damage from thrown weapons like the salami. Add the Taumaturgy Cantrip to enhance social checks for intimidation or performance.
Level 4: Select the first feat, Ability Score Increase (+2 Dexterity), raising Dexterity from 17 to 19, improving Armor Class and attack efficiency.
Level 5: Unlock Extra Attack and Fast Movement, giving a speed bonus and more actions in combat.
Level 6: Gain Elemental Cleaver, a subclass power that infuses your weapon with elemental damage and returns it to your hand after being thrown.
Level 7: Obtain Feral Instinct, preventing surprise and boosting initiative rolls (+3).
Level 8: Choose the Tavern Brawler Feat, doubling Strength modifiers for damage rolls and throwing accuracy. Increase Constitution score by one for survivability.
Level 9: Unlock Brutal Critical, enhancing critical hits with extra damage dice.

Level 10-12: Monk Levels

Level 10: Keep Monk’s defensive bonus (+Wisdom to Armor Class) and gain Flurry of Blows, increasing offensive versatility during combat.
Level 11: Learn Patient Defense (disadvantage against attackers) and Dash, improving movement speed while staying hard to hit.
Level 12: Select the Way of the Open Hand Subclass, optimizing unarmed strikes with effects like staggering opponents and pushing enemies.

Equipment Choices

To maximize the Giant Salami Build’s potential, carefully choose items and gear that synergize with its mechanics:

Weapon: The Salami

The build’s signature weapon—surprisingly effective when combined with Tavern Brawler and Elemental Cleaver. When enhanced with the Oil of Sharpness, the salami deals consistent damage, improving into Act 3.

Headgear Options

Horns of the Berserker: Grants +2 to attack rolls against injured foes.
Assassin of Bhaal Mask: Adds +2 to initiative, 10 feet of darkvision, and invisibility detection.
Mask of Soul Perception: Improves attack rolls and perception checks, valuable for exploration.

Armor Choices

Bone Spike Garb: Adds 15 temporary hit points when raging, reduces damage taken, and returns damage to melee attackers.
Enraging Garb: Provides Constitution +2 for survivability.
Blood Guzzler Garb: Builds wrath mechanics that bolster melee damage over time.

Glove Choices

Gloves of Uninhibited Kushigo: Add 1d4 bonus damage to throwing attacks, making them crucial for this build.

Shield

Adamantine Shield: Prevent critical hits and impose crowd-control effects (like Prone) on melee attackers that miss.

Boots

Boots of Uninhibited Kushigo: Grant bonus damage to unarmed attacks, synergizing with Monk abilities.
Evasive Shoes: Adds acrobatics points and +1 Armor Class.
Cerus Shoes: Boost jumping distance by 5 feet.

Rings

Ring of Flinging: Adds 1d4 to throwing damage.
Ring of Free Action: Prevents restraint or paralysis statuses during combat.

Amulet

The Sentient Amulet restores Ki points, ensuring Monk abilities remain active without running out of resources during extended fights.

Combat Showcase: Strategy in Action

The Giant Salami Build shines brightest during combat. Here’s how it works:

Pre-Fight Preparation:Drink the Cloud Giant Strength Elixir, setting Strength to 27 for maximum damage output. Activate Elemental Cleaver, binding the salami to your inventory, allowing repeated throws without having to pick up the weapon.
Initiate Combat:Trigger Rage and choose your elemental damage type (acid, cold, fire, thunder). Throw the salami using Reckless Attack or standard attacks, consistently dealing high damage while making use of Tavern Brawler bonuses, gloves, and rings.
Adaptability:Use Monk’s Flurry of Blows or Boot of the Giant Kick when enemies get too close.
Key Advantage:Your salami always comes back after throwing. Combined with rage, elemental bonuses make every attack even stronger.

Concluding Lines

The Giant Salami Barbarian build perfectly balances fun and effectiveness in Baldur’s Gate 3.

It turns an unusual weapon into a powerhouse, making gameplay more exciting through smart gear choices, Monk multiclassing, and optimized mechanics. The build mixes humor with practicality, ensuring memorable encounters in every session.

Whether you’re crushing enemies with acid-infused salami or throwing them off cliffs, this build ensures that every interaction is as entertaining as it is effective.

Jump into the world of Baldur’s Gate 3 and try out the weird but brilliant Giant Salami Build—it’s sure to spice up your gameplay experience like nothing you’ve expected!