Should Barbs Just Forget About AC? - Barbarian - Class Forums - D&D Beyond Forums (2024)

I likes me some Barbs. It's one of the more cathartic classes IMHO. There is very little to compare to the Barb Raging into battle (literally), Reckless Attacking their way through the BBEG's meat sack with Great Weapon Master. It's sort of like the first time a Wizard says 'I cast Fireball!'

However, one of the issues with the Barbarian is the AC. If the Barb uses Reckless Attack in order to improve their hit chance, they pretty much throw their AC out the window. The Barb AC is based on their Unarmored Defense and is similar to the Monk version of the same trait (and just about as effective). This makes them a bit MAD because the Barb AC is based on Dex and Con but their bonus damage and many of their bonuses come from a high Str.

Barbs can use Shields for a nice AC boost but that means no heavy weapons, something that many consider to be a cornerstone of the class. I've also dabbled into other AC bonuses other than outside help from an ally (which I don't like to rely on). The Beasthide Shifters have a flat +1 AC when shifted. Warforged also have a similar trait with Integrated Protection. Many races grant a higher base AC (Lizard Folk start with 13 AC but this is only modified by Dex) but this is normally capped in some way. Regardless of how you slice it, for most of their career, the Barbarian will have an AC south of 18 unless they're using a shield. If they decide to use Reckless Attack, a cornerstone of the class, they might as well forget about their own AC. This is why the class has its Resistance feature.

All of this boils down to the topic of the original post: Should a Barbarian even worry about their AC? I'm not saying they should dump their Dex but should a Barb player worry about chasing AC at all?

It depends on your preferances. My barbarian once got +1 half-plate, and it bumped me up to 18 AC. But, then he wasn't as stealthy thanks to disadvantage. Half-elves can start with 16 AC, even as a STR build. I think it's fairly adequate while allowing you the option to go around steathily.

I try to go for 16 AC, at the very least. Even if I can't start with 16 AC, like say if I built a half-orc instead, then I'll start out with 17 STR, 15 DEX, and 16 CON. At 4, i'll increase both dex and str, then i'll have 16 AC.

Overall, I wouldn't worry much beyond that point, because a barbarian's power comes from their rage resistances and their offensive capabilities. It's also important to keep reckless usage in mind, as it's not simply a capslock feature.It's up to you to best gauge reckless attack usage, you gotta know when to hold them-- you gotta know when to fold them.

"It's also important to keep reckless usage in mind, as it's not simply a capslock feature.It's up to you to best gauge reckless attack usage, you gotta know when to hold them-- you gotta know when to fold them."

This is one of the best descriptions of this idea I've ever heard. 'Capslock feature' is a wonderful phrase!

AC is a secondary concern for a normal strength based barb. Because they lack ranged options, it can be pretty easy for them to drop out of rage if they aren't getting wailed on and the enemy stays out of range for an attack.

So it isn't a primary concern, but nothing to totally dump.

I'd say the deciding factor is how your DM intents to play your enemies; if they attack at random, or by proximity, or by narrative threat (loudest and most obvious enemy gets the focus) thenit matters a lot less if you do something that mightdiscourageenemies from attacking you mechanically.

However, if your DM plays enemies as seeking to optimise attacks in the same way that players do, a high AC can actually be a deterrent to enemies fighting you, as high AC means more misses. If you're playing your Barbarian as a classic tank, then you actively want enemies to attack you, not only so you don't have to go to them and keep them away from allies, but also because as Kroznpantz says, in turns where you can't attack taking damage can still maintain Rage (so a lot of the timeit's actually better to take ahit than waste a Rage use). That said, if you do have a high AC you can offset it with Reckless Attack, so optimising enemies still attack you due to the advantage, while youput out more damage (more hits, more chance to crit).

In general though you canaim forAC 15 or 16 early on; with points buy you can get +3 STR, +2 DEX and +3 CON fairly easily, it really depends whether you'redesperate to get a few points into INT/WIS/CHA. If you do want to/have to go a bit lower on DEX and/or CON then medium armour will be fine short term, as a Barbarian probably isn't super concerned about stealth.

Quote from Haravikk >>

I'd say the deciding factor is how your DM intents to play your enemies; if they attack at random, or by proximity, or by narrative threat (loudest and most obvious enemy gets the focus) thenit matters a lot less if you do something that mightdiscourageenemies from attacking you.

However, if your DM plays enemies as seeking to optimise attacks in the same way that players do, a high AC can actually be a deterrent to enemies fighting you, as high AC means more misses. If you're playing your Barbarian as a classic tank, then you actively want enemies to attack you, not only so you don't have to go to them, but also because as Kroznpantz says, in turns where you can't attack taking damage can still maintain Rage (so a lot of the itme it's actually better to take ahit than waste a Rage use). That said, if you do have a high AC you can offset it with Reckless Attack, so optimising enemies still attack you due to the advantage, and you can put out more damage of your own (more hits, more chance to crit).

In general though you should aim forAC 15 or 16 early on; with points buy you can get +3 STR, +2 DEX and +3 CON fairly easily, it really depends whether you'redesperate to get a few points into INT/WIS/CHA. If you do want to/have to go a bit lower on DEX and/or CON then medium armour will be fine short term, as a Barbarian probably isn't super concerned about stealth.

I agree and several of the new subclasses strive to make the Barb a better tank in ways other than just making him the damage-output threat. Ancestral Guardian is great for this.

One thing to note though because of your comment about taking damage to maintain rage. A Barb doesn't have to HIT a target to maintain Rage they just have to Attack something. All of my Barbs carry a brace of hand axes for throwing at people. 'It's at max range so you're at Disadvantage.' 'That's okay...I never intended to HIT them, I just need to attack SOMETHING!'

Quote from Ausicanodarkblade >>

Alright I have a few things to say. I think to get a classic tank barbarian than you should put almost no thought into ac but I really like to do things unconventionally and the barbarian rogue is one of my very favorite multiclass options. I also notice that with no magic items barbarians have the highest max ac at 22 with a shield. I think there are many upsides to a dex based barbarian or just one with a high dex. The dm will be so annoyed when they try to make a boss fight and your ancestral barbarian with 20-22 ac causes everything to have disadvantage against everything but you. If you multiclass as a rogue you can also get uncanny dodge and evasion and if you pick up shield master you are the invincible assasin! I understand this character doesn't do much for the team but I think It's still really cool and does some damage for sure

Imposing disadvantage on big threats, having a strong enough reaction attack to make enemies think twice about going past you, and being hard to kill all serve the party. Even more so if you are using cover rules to make your character a walking palisade for your squishier teammates.

Quote from Ausicanodarkblade >>

Alright I have a few things to say. I think to get a classic tank barbarian than you should put almost no thought into ac but I really like to do things unconventionally and the barbarian rogue is one of my very favorite multiclass options. I also notice that with no magic items barbarians have the highest max ac at 22 with a shield. I think there are many upsides to a dex based barbarian or just one with a high dex. The dm will be so annoyed when they try to make a boss fight and your ancestral barbarian with 20-22 ac causes everything to have disadvantage against everything but you. If you multiclass as a rogue you can also get uncanny dodge and evasion and if you pick up shield master you are the invincible assasin! I understand this character doesn't do much for the team but I think It's still really cool and does some damage for sure

My group would love to have a tank this good! We have an Ancestral Guardian Barb now and our usual schtick is to let him run into the middle of the enemy, we buff the Barb, we have two other Fighters (one dual-wielder and a PAM) and a Paladin to help secure the ling, the Druid does his spell thing while my Artificer rides around the perimeter on his Steel Defender taking shots with his Infused crossbow and the Rogue throws spirit knives at anyone who looks particularly scary. It's a great tactic and it's nice have so many front-liners.

Also. it's been touched on in this thread. But I want to say it outright anyway.

When it comes to a Barbarian and their AC. Don't just focus on Unarmored Defense. That is far from the only option they have for AC. Many People get Caught up in this Idea that Barbarians shouldn't wear Armor and that they HAVE to be using Unarmored Defense for their armor even if they have no dex and only a 3 or 4 modifier from Con at that time. But this is absolutely not True. Even People that Helped to Originate the Idea of the Angry Naked Barbarian didn't always actually go without Armor. Conan is a primary example. He's known for Fits of Anger where he strikes something with the axe, many first think of Arnold wearing nothing but the headband and the Loin Cloth. But they forget that against some Threats he was actually wearing things like Chainmail and a Helmet and at certain times even a shield. So Don't be Afraid to put on that Medium Armor or that Shield for AC if you need to. Having a Giant Sword and your Hairy Chest on Display is not always the answer. it May cost you a bit of money to pick up, and you may have to take interest in some of the magical sets when they come up as loot drops. But they can be worth it.

Quote from Fateless >>

Also. it's been touched on in this thread. But I want to say it outright anyway.

When it comes to a Barbarian and their AC. Don't just focus on Unarmored Defense. That is far from the only option they have for AC. Many People get Caught up in this Idea that Barbarians shouldn't wear Armor and that they HAVE to be using Unarmored Defense for their armor even if they have no dex and only a 3 or 4 modifier from Con at that time. But this is absolutely not True. Even People that Helped to Originate the Idea of the Angry Naked Barbarian didn't always actually go without Armor. Conan is a primary example. He's known for Fits of Anger where he strikes something with the axe, many first think of Arnold wearing nothing but the headband and the Loin Cloth. But they forget that against some Threats he was actually wearing things like Chainmail and a Helmet and at certain times even a shield. So Don't be Afraid to put on that Medium Armor or that Shield for AC if you need to. Having a Giant Sword and your Hairy Chest on Display is not always the answer. it May cost you a bit of money to pick up, and you may have to take interest in some of the magical sets when they come up as loot drops. But they can be worth it.

In one of the later original Conan series, he was nearly assassinated by three men. One stabbed him in the side because they'd surprised him and he hadn't had time to fasten the sides of the maile shirt. When the doctors were tending to the wound, he lamented that he hadn't had time to fasten it completely.

Yes, Conan wore armor and carried a shield on occasion. This is why I often try to build Barbs without the great big ax just to see how they'll do.

Quote from Lostwhilefishing >>

Seconding the "don't fixate on unarmoured defence but do focus at least a bit on AC". Medium armour is good enough to get you what you need and it means you don't have to focus as much on Dex. As a side note, since AC in 5E is rather fixed, if you want to tank it's often better to go for Big HP instead of Big AC.

I'm putting together a Barb with Medium Armor Master so he can still Stealth plus a shield. If I can get his Dex to 16 that's AC 20 with half-plate and a shield. Pretty hefty even if he does do Reckless Attack.

Quote from 6thLyranGuard >>

Conan going shirtless was more prominent a thing in the comic book series than in the original Robert E Howard stories.

Because pictures!

Quote from Darkaiser >>

Quote from 6thLyranGuard >>

Conan going shirtless was more prominent a thing in the comic book series than in the original Robert E Howard stories.

Because pictures!

Because thews!