Ultimate Guide to the Most Powerful Giant Barbarian Build

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Path of the Giants is an exciting new subclass for the Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3, introduced in the game’s patch 8. This subclass emphasizes raw strength and the ability to toss both enemies and weapons, enabling you to inflict significant damage.

When you build your Giant Barbarian correctly in Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll have the power to fling small to medium foes across the battlefield or even send them plummeting to their deaths with just a button press.

Do keep in mind, however, that this subclass experiences diminishing returns at levels 11 and 12. To maximize your potential, we’ll guide you in creating an exceptional multiclass Giant Barbarian build that incorporates the Fighter class, providing you with multiple bonus actions each turn.

Starting Selections for Your Giant Barbarian Build

Level 1 is primarily the character creation phase. Your subclass won’t be available until you reach level 3. For your initial choices, we recommend the following setup:

Origin: Custom

Race: Half-Elf

Subrace: Drow Half-Elf

Class: Barbarian

Choosing Barbarian grants you access to the class action known as Rage.

Rage: Inflicts 2 additional damage with melee and improvised weapons, as well as throws. Since our build revolves around throwing weapons, this action is crucial.

Ability Points: Strength (14+2), Dexterity (14), Constitution (15+1), Intelligence (8), Wisdom (10), Charisma (10).

With these selections, you’ll gain the following proficiencies:

Weapons: Simple weapons, Martial Weapons, Spears, Pikes, Halberds, and Glaives.

Armor: Light Armor, Medium Armor, and Shields.

Skills: Athletics, Medicine, Perception, and Intimidation.

Level 2 Options for Your Giant Barbarian Build

Upon reaching level 2, your HP will increase to 25 from 15. You’ll also gain an additional class action!

Danger Sense: You enjoy an advantage against traps, spells, and hazardous surfaces.

Another bonus action becomes available at this level:

Reckless Attack: Deals 2d6 + 19 slashing damage while negating enemies’ resistance. Both you and your opponents will have an advantage on attack rolls until your next turn.

Level 3 Options for Your Giant Barbarian Build

Subclass: Giants

This grants you access to a special feature called Vaprak’s Greed.

Vaprak’s Greed: Enhances your carrying capacity by 25%.

You will also gain a new bonus action called Giant’s Rage.

Giant’s Rage: This allows you to rage and grow in size, doubling the damage of your throw attacks.

Cantrip: Thaumaturgy: This gives you an advantage for Intimidation and Performance checks.

Level 4 Selections for Your Giant Barbarian Build

At level 4, your HP increases to 45. This level unlocks your first feat slot.

Feat: Ability Improvement. Allocate both points toward Strength, enhancing it to 18.

Level 5 Options for Your Giant Barbarian Build

Upon reaching level 5, your HP will bump up to 55. A few class features are unlocked:

Extra Attack: This enables you to make an additional attack when you carry out an unarmed strike or melee attack.

Fast Movement: Your movement speed increases by 3 meters if you’re not in heavy armor.

You’ll also gain a new bonus action:

Boot of the Giants: This inflicts 9 damage as you attempt to kick your opponent away, relying on your Athletics skill and whether you’re hidden.

Level 6 Options for Your Giant Barbarian Build

At level 6, your HP will rise to 65. You unlock an impressive new feature:

Elemental Cleaver: For the duration of your rage, your weapon inflicts additional elemental damage. It also acquires a Thrown property, returning to your hand after being thrown.

Level 7 Options for Your Giant Barbarian Build

Upon reaching level 7, your HP will increase to 75, and you’ll earn an additional class feature:

Feral Instinct: You gain a +3 bonus to initiative rolls and can’t be caught by surprise.

Level 8 Options for Your Giant Barbarian Build

Once you hit level 8, your HP will climb to 85, and you’ll unlock your second feat slot.

Feat: Tavern Brawler. With unarmed strikes, throws, or improvised weapons, your Strength modifier is added twice to both Attack and Damage rolls. Assign the remaining skill point to Constitution.

Level 9 Options for Your Giant Barbarian Build

Your HP will then rise to 95. At this level, you’ll receive a new class feature:

Brutal Critical: When landing a critical hit, you roll another damage die in addition to the normal critical die.

Level 10 Options for Your Giant Barbarian Build

At level 10, your HP will grow to 105. A new bonus action will also be unlocked:

Mighty Impel: This action allows you to throw a creature that is medium-sized or smaller.

Level 11 Options for Your Giant Barbarian Build

Upon reaching level 11, you’ll multiclass into the Fighter Class to gain access to Action Surge.

Your HP will now be 114, and you should choose Great Weapon Fighting as your Fighting Style.

Great Weapon Fighting: If you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die with a two-handed melee weapon, you reroll that die.

Level 12 Options for Your Giant Barbarian Build

At level 12, you’ll be a level 2 Fighter in addition to being a level 10 Giant Barbarian. Your HP increases to 123, and another bonus action becomes available:

Action Surge: You can immediately gain an extra action to use during this turn.

Recommended Gear and Accessories for the Giant Barbarian Build

Head: Bonespike Helmet: When you rage, foes within a 3-meter radius must make a Wisdom Saving Throw or suffer 2-8 Psychic damage each turn, halved if they succeed. This helmet also grants a +2 bonus on Intimidation checks.

Cloak: Cloak of Protection: Provides a +1 bonus to your Armor Class and Saving Throws.

Armor: Bonespike Garb: Grants you 15 temporary hit points when you rage and reduces all incoming damage by 2. Additionally, attackers take 6 piercing damage upon a melee hit.

Gloves: Bonespike Gloves: Your attacks bypass the enemy’s resistance to slashing, piercing, and bludgeoning damage.

Boots: Bonespike Boots: You gain a +1 bonus to your Armor Class and Saving Throws if you’re not wearing armor or carrying a shield, along with an increase in jump distance by 1.5 meters.

Rings: Use the Snowburst Ring (creates a 4.5-meter circle of ice around enemies upon ice damage) and the Ring of Protection (increases Armor Class and Saving Throws by 1).

Amulet: Amulet of Greater Health, which boosts your Constitution to 23.

Top Weapons for the Giant Barbarian Build in BG3

For the Giant Barbarian build in Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll want to equip the Baldur’s Giantslayer. This legendary weapon has impressive attributes:

Deals 2d6 + 11 slashing damage plus an additional 8 slashing damage.
Includes a +3 weapon enchantment.
Provides a Giant Form bonus action.
On a hit, it doubles your damage from the Strength modifier.
Grants an advantage on attack rolls against giants, large creatures, and gargantuan foes.

For ranged attacks, opt for the Hellrider Bow, which features the following properties: