NEW Giant Barbarian Build Guide for Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3’s Patch 8 has introduced an exciting new subclass for the Barbarian: the Giant Barbarian.

This build combines extreme crowd control capabilities with devastating single-target damage, making it a flexible and potent choice for players looking to dominate the battlefield.

Character Creation and Early Levels:

When creating your Giant Barbarian, the race choice is flexible, but for this build, a Wood Half-Elf is recommended for the extra movement speed. For background, choose Outlander to gain proficiency in Athletics and Survival. For skill proficiencies, select Perception and Intimidation.

Start with high Strength (17) and distribute the remaining points based on your playstyle. You can either maximize Constitution for higher HP and AC when unarmored, or focus on Dexterity if you plan to use medium armor. Intelligence and Charisma can be kept low, while maintaining a neutral Wisdom score.

At level 1, the Barbarian’s Rage ability is your bread and butter. Use it at the start of combat to gain extra damage, resistance to physical damage, and advantage on Strength checks and saving throws.

At level 2, you gain Reckless Attack, allowing you to gain advantage on your attacks at the cost of giving enemies advantage against you.

The Giant Barbarian Subclass:

At level 3, you can choose the Giant subclass. This grants you increased carrying capacity, the Thaumaturgy cantrip, advantage on Intimidation checks, and most importantly, the Giant Rage ability.

Giant Rage increases your size and doubles your rage damage bonus on throwing attacks.

Key Abilities and Playstyle:

At level 5, you gain the Boots of the Giant ability. This powerful kick attack does consistent damage (9 damage at base, 11 when raging) and can push enemies away. Combined with your increased size from Giant Rage, this allows you to control the battlefield effectively.

The build truly comes into its own at level 6 with the Elemental Cleaver ability. This allows you to imbue any weapon with elemental damage and throw it, with the weapon instantly returning to your hand.

This versatility means you’re not locked into using specific throwing weapons and can adapt to enemy weaknesses.

Feat Selection:

At level 4, take the Tavern Brawler feat. This adds your Strength modifier twice to damage and attack rolls when making unarmed attacks or using improvised weapons.

This synergizes well with your Boots of the Giant ability and improves your overall damage output.

Multiclassing:

After reaching Barbarian level 6, consider taking three levels in Rogue, choosing the Thief subclass at Rogue level 3.

This grants you the ability to use Dash, Disengage, or Hide as a bonus action, and gives you an additional bonus action each turn. This additional mobility and action economy greatly enhances your battlefield control.

Equipment:

Early game:

1. Ring of Flinging (purchased from Auntie Ethel in Druid Grove)
2. Returning Pike (found in the Goblin Camp)
3. Haste Helm (found in a locked chest in Blighted Village)

Mid to late game:

1. Any powerful melee weapon (great axes or pikes with reach are recommended)
2. Flint and Tinder Gloves (crafted using Infernal Iron)
3. Marksman’s Crest (purchased from Roah Moonglow in Moonrise Towers)

For the ultimate endgame weapon, seek out the Balduran’s Giant Slayer, which adds your Strength to attack rolls.

Combat Strategy:

1. Start combat by activating Giant Rage.
2. Use Boots of the Giant to kick enemies into disadvantageous positions.
3. Use Elemental Cleaver to imbue your weapon with the most effective element against your current enemy.
4. Throw your weapon for high damage, then use your extra attack to either throw again or make a melee attack.
5. Use your Rogue bonus actions to reposition or set up advantageous situations.
6. When enemies try to flee, use opportunity attacks to keep them locked down.

Build Progression:

• Levels 1-6: Barbarian (Giant subclass)
• Levels 7-9: Rogue (Thief subclass)
• Levels 10-12: Barbarian

For the final three levels, you have two options:

1. Continue with Barbarian to gain Feral Instinct (advantage on initiative rolls) and an additional Ability Score Improvement or feat.
2. Take one more level in Rogue for an additional Ability Score Improvement or feat, then finish with two more Barbarian levels.

If you choose to focus more on melee combat and battlefield control, consider taking the Sentinel feat. This allows you to stop enemies from moving away when you hit them with opportunity attacks.

However, if you prefer to maximize your throwing potential, taking the Ability Score Improvement to increase your Strength to 20 is recommended.

Strengths of the Build:

1. Versatility: The Giant Barbarian can excel in both melee and ranged combat, adapting to various situations.
2. Battlefield Control: With increased size, Boots of the Giant, and potentially the Sentinel feat, you can dictate enemy positioning.
3. Consistent Damage: The combination of Rage bonuses, Tavern Brawler, and Elemental Cleaver ensures high damage output.
4. Durability: High HP, damage resistances, and potentially high AC make this build hard to take down.
5. Action Economy: With the Rogue multiclass, you have more options each turn than a typical Barbarian.

Weaknesses:

1. Reliance on Rage: Like all Barbarians, many of your abilities are tied to your Rage, which has limited uses per long rest.
2. MAD (Multiple Ability Dependent): Depending on your armor choice, you may need to spread your ability scores between Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity.
3. Limited Spellcasting: As a primarily martial class, you have few options against enemies with high physical resistances.

Conclusion:

The Giant Barbarian subclass introduced in Baldur’s Gate 3’s Patch 8 offers a fresh and powerful way to play the Barbarian class.

By combining the raw strength and durability of the Barbarian with the versatility of thrown weapons and battlefield control, this build creates a character that can adapt to various combat situations while still delivering devastating damage.

The multiclass dip into Rogue further enhances the build’s versatility, allowing for greater mobility and action economy.

Whether you’re throwing enemies around with Mighty Impel, throwing your weapon with Elemental Cleaver, or locking down your opponents in melee combat, the Giant Barbarian offers a dynamic and enjoyable playstyle that can significantly impact any adventuring party.