In *Baldur’s Gate 3* (*BG3*), Barbarian feats can transform your character into an unstoppable force, embodying the essence of fury and strength. Barbarians are an exhilarating class to explore in *BG3*, offering simplicity in playstyle with the potential for devastating impact. While they may not have as many feat options as other classes, the right choices can significantly enhance your gameplay. Here's a detailed look at the top 10 Barbarian feats you should consider as you progress through *Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)*.
10 – Durable
| How to Unlock | Description |
| Available at Level 4 | Your Constitution increases by 1, to a maximum of 20. |
| You regain full hit points each time you take a Short Rest. |
Barbarians are already tough to take down, but the Durable feat amplifies this resilience in Baldur’s Gate 3. Not only does it boost your Constitution by 1, which is beneficial for any build, but it also allows you to regain full health during Short Rests. This can be a game-changer on higher difficulties, making Durable an excellent choice.
9 – Lucky
| How to Unlock | Description |
| Available at Level 4 | You gain 3 Luck points, which you can use to gain Advantage on Attack Rolls, Ability Checks, or Saving Throws, or to make an enemy reroll their attack. |
The Lucky feat grants you three Luck points to use per Long Rest, offering flexibility and power. You can use these points to gain Advantage on your own checks or force enemies to reroll their attacks. This versatility makes Lucky a valuable asset for any Barbarian build in Baldur’s Gate 3.
8 – Mage Slayer
| How to Unlock | Description |
| Available at Level 4 | When a creature casts a spell within melee range of you, you have Advantage on any Saving Throw against it, and you can use a reaction to immediately make an attack against the caster. |
| Enemies you hit have Disadvantage on Concentration Saving Throws. |
Barbarians often find themselves facing off against enemy mages, and the Mage Slayer feat is perfectly tailored for this challenge. It grants you Advantage on Saving Throws against spells cast in melee range and allows you to counterattack the caster. Additionally, hitting an enemy gives them Disadvantage on Concentration Saving Throws, making Mage Slayer an excellent choice for neutralizing casters in Baldur’s Gate 3.
7 – Athlete
| How to Unlock | Description |
| Available at Level 4 | Your Strength or Dexterity increases by 1, to a maximum of 20. |
| When you are Prone, standing up uses significantly less movement. Your Jump distance also increases by 50%. |
If you're often knocked down or enjoy leaping across the battlefield, the Athlete feat is ideal. It not only increases your Strength or Dexterity by 1 but also reduces the movement cost of standing up from Prone and boosts your Jump distance by 50%. This makes Athlete a versatile choice for exploration and combat in Baldur’s Gate 3.
6 – Savage Attacker
| How to Unlock | Description |
| Available at Level 4 | When making melee weapon attacks, you roll your damage dice twice and use the highest result. |
As a Barbarian, maximizing damage is crucial, and Savage Attacker delivers on this front. It allows you to roll your damage dice twice for melee attacks and take the higher result, ensuring your strikes are as brutal as your rage. This feat embodies the Barbarian's relentless nature in Baldur’s Gate 3.
5 – Charger
| How to Unlock | Description |
| Available at Level 4 | Deal more damage: charge forward and slam your weapon into the first enemy in your way. |
| Doesn’t provoke Opportunity Attacks. |
The Charger feat is both thematic and practical for Barbarians. It enables you to charge up to 9m and strike the first enemy you encounter, without provoking Opportunity Attacks. This feat is perfect for quickly closing the distance and engaging in melee combat in Baldur’s Gate 3.
4 – Tough
| How to Unlock | Description |
| Available at Level 4 | Your hit point maximum increases by 2 for every level you have gained. |
| Gives hit points retroactively. |
As a frontline fighter, a Barbarian needs to withstand significant damage. The Tough feat adds 2 hit points per level, effectively increasing your durability as if you had extra Constitution points. Since it applies retroactively, you can take it later in the game when you need the boost. It's an excellent choice for any Barbarian build in Baldur’s Gate 3.
3 – Sentinel
| How to Unlock | Description |
| Available at Level 4 | When an enemy within melee range attacks an ally, you can use a reaction to make a weapon attack against that enemy. Target ally must not have the Sentinel Feat. |
| You gain Advantage on Opportunity Attacks, and when you hit a creature with an Opportunity Attack, it can no longer move for the rest of its turn. |
Sentinel is a standout feat for Barbarians, enhancing their role as a tank. It allows you to make Opportunity Attacks even if enemies use Disengage, and hitting them with an Opportunity Attack stops their movement. This forces enemies to focus on you, which is exactly where a Barbarian wants them in Baldur’s Gate 3.
RELATED: Best Races and Ability Scores for Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3
2 – Polearm Master
| How to Unlock | Description |
| Available at Level 4 | When attacking with a glaive, halberd, quarterstaff, or spear, you can use a bonus action to attack with the butt of your weapon. |
| You can also make an Opportunity Attack when a target comes within range. |
Polearms are a surprisingly effective choice for Barbarians in Baldur’s Gate 3. The Polearm Master feat grants an additional attack as a bonus action and allows you to make Opportunity Attacks when enemies enter your reach. Combined with Sentinel, this can make it nearly impossible for foes to bypass you, making it a strategic choice for close combat.
1 – Great Weapon Master
| How to Unlock | Description |
| Available at Level 4 | When you land a Critical Hit or kill a target with a melee weapon attack, you can make another melee weapon attack as a bonus action that turn. |
| Attacks with Heavy melee weapons you are Proficient with can deal an additional 10 damage at the cost of a -5 Attack Roll penalty. |
Great Weapon Master is my top pick for Barbarians in Baldur’s Gate 3. It allows you to make an additional attack after a Critical Hit or kill, and you can trade a -5 penalty on Attack Rolls for +10 damage on hits. This trade-off embodies the Barbarian's ethos of swinging massive weapons for devastating impact, making it an ideal choice for early-game power.
These are the top 10 best feats for the Barbarian class in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3). Each is incredibly strong and useful, but I recommend starting with Great Weapon Master for its immediate impact on your combat effectiveness.
For more on Baldur’s Gate 3, explore our guides on crafting Elixir of Arcane Cultivation and dyeing armor. If you're new to the game, don't miss Destructoid’s comprehensive beginner's guide to Baldur’s Gate 3.
UPDATE: The above article was updated on 03/23/24 by Jason Coles to add new list entries and images. It was further updated on 1/27/25 by Liam Nolan to enhance readability and detail.
