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Barbarian of the Berserker Path

Tier A

Barbarian · Berserker · Half-Orc · levels [1,21)

AOE melee damage tank: Reckless Attack + Frenzy + Brutal Critical 1d12 (4 attacks) at level 17.

Why this tier

Reckless Attack + Brutal Critical + Half-Orc relentless endurance = never dying, but rage is short.

Estimated single-target DPR

78/100 — Loremaster estimate, not measured in play

Feat progression

  1. L4Great Weapon Master — -5 attack, +10 damage; bonus action on crit/kill
  2. L8Sentinel — Speed 0 on reaction attack
  3. L12Tough — +2 HP per level

Loremaster’s notes

The Berserker is the simplest, highest-burst Barbarian in SRD. Reckless Attack (advantage on STR attacks, grants advantage to attackers — the tradeoff is fine for a 18+ AC tank) is the engine. Frenzy (level 3) gives a bonus-action attack for 1 minute per rage. Mindless Rage (level 6) is your "I can't be charmed or frightened while raging." Race: Half-Orc for Relentless Endurance (1/long-rest drop to 1 HP instead of 0) and Savage Attacks (one extra damage die on a critical hit). At level 17, the synergy: 4 attacks per Attack action (action surge? no — Brutal Critical 1d12 rolled on each hit, plus a 5% crit chance per hit = 4 chances per turn). Feats: Great Weapon Master at level 4 (or 8 — pick a level 1 ASI for +2 STR instead if starting STR isn't 18). Sentinel at 8. Tough at 12.

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