In a game as rule-heavy as Dungeons & Dragons, Barbarians are the perfect class for those players who just want to keep things simple and turn into a giant angry rage monster that can smash stuff. This article will take you through the best weapons, items and armour to take your Barbarian to the next level. Whether you’re looking for stat boosts to help fight high-level monsters, or just looking to make your combat moves a bit more exciting, we’ve got you covered.
20. Cloak of Protection, Mantle of Spell Resistance, Ring of Psychic Assistance
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Rings and trinkets aplenty, stacking Small equipable items can make all the difference to a players stats in Dungeons & Dragons.
Rarity: Varied Cost: Varied Whilst not as fun or flashy as other items on this list, these magical items help alleviate some of the general vulnerabilities faced by Barbarians. These items are grouped because of their similarity. They either help players reduce magic damage during combat, or try to make up for the fact that most Barbarians are simply too stupid to resist mind control.
Why are they good for Barbarians:
Barbarians usually have poor wisdom and mental stats, making them vulnerable to charm effects and mind control. The cloak of protection gives a +1 to saving throws, so players are less likely to roll poorly and try to kill their friends.
The Mantle of spell resistance reduces Barbarian's vulnerability to magic by giving players an advantage on saving throws against spell effects.
The ring of psychic resistance helps protect Barbarians from their vulnerability to psychic damage whilst in the Rage condition.
19. Adamantine Armor (Medium)
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This fairly early-game armor set has a decent looking design and helps take the edge off combat for new players still learning the ropes of playing Barbarian.
Rarity: Uncommon Cost: 101-500 Gold Barbarian players choose to avoid wearing armour altogether, instead opting to rely on their Unarmored Defense and high constitution for protection during battle. However, armour sets such as Adamantine Armor is a good option for players looking for a little extra damage resistance.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
This armour boosts the player's Armor Class by 13-15, without needing the high dexterity and constitution scores required to make Unarmored Defense worthwhile for Barbarians.
Additionally, the armour protects players against critical hits.
18. winged boots
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Brown boots with tiny wings for flying. We can't vouch for the comfortablity, but the utility of these boots sure makes up for it.
Rarity: Rare Cost: 101 – 500 Gold Winged boots are an uncommon magical item that provides players with the gift of flight for four hours. The boots only allow players to fly at their normal walking speed, however, this still gives players more freedom to move around the battlefield.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
The boots provide an aerial advantage over enemies, helping barbarians reach those pesky flying enemies lying just out of range.
The extra level of traversal also makes it easier to explore the in-game world, find treasures and solve puzzles.
17. Berserker Axe
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Don't be deceived, whilst this axe looks cool, it harbours an ancient curse.
Rarity: Rare Cost: 2400 gold Axes suit the Barbarian’s play style perfectly, and help players cause an incredible amount of damage whilst on the battlefield. The Berserker Axe is no exception, but it does come with a magical curse that can compel players to attack their party. Not ideal for those looking to keep friends.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
Players are given a +1 to any attack or damage rolls they make whilst using the axe. This makes it easier for players to hit their enemies and do more damage
Once attuned to the axe, players hit point maximum goes up by 1 every time they gain another level. This is great for Barbarians, who rely on high constitution when taking damage.
However, the curse binds the axe to the player and forces them to attack anyone close by whenever they take damage, even if they’re a member of the player’s party.
16. Magical Tattoos
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Above shows a Half-Orc tattooing an Elf. Sure, the process doesn't look too pleasant, but the design looks great.
Rarity: Varied Cost: 2000 - 15000 gold Magical Tattoos don’t take up inventory slots like usual equipable items but still offer players lots of fun abilities. They also give players an incentive to get their Barbarians tatted up before battle, which is definitely a plus.
Why are they good for Barbarians:
Barrier Tattoos boost the players armor class based on the rarity of the tattoo. They are also made with ink that resembles liquid metal, which is pretty rad.
Blood Fury Tattoos allow players to deal Necrotic damage and regain HP using Bloodthirsty strikes, which basically means every time you hit something you drink its blood (also rad).
Eldritch Claw Tattoos turn unarmed strikes into magical attacks that can reach enemies 15 feet away by shooting inky tendrils out of your body towards the target (which is gross, but still mostly rad).
15. Belt of Dwarvenkind
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This belt has a giant Dwarf face carved into the front in bronze. Hopefully that's enough to make up for the belts interesting side effects.
Rarity: Rare Cost: 5000 Gold Despite its name, this belt is actually more tailored for Barbarians who aren’t dwarves than those who are. So, if you’re looking for a piece of magical armor that will boost some of your Barbarians key stats, whilst providing some (slightly odd) Dwarven character benefits – look no further.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
Wearing this belt boosts players' constitution by two, giving players more health and boosting class abilities such as unarmored defense.
Non-dwarf Barbarians will gain Darkvision, a resistance to poison and the ability to read, write and speak Dwarvish.
Non-dwarf Barbarians will also gain a 50% chance of growing a big, thick, bushy beard every morning. Again, some of the benefits were odd.
14. Javelin of lightning
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A magical spear with lightning bolts on either end. Great for damaging multiple enemies at once.
Rarity: Uncommon Cost: 1500 Gold Players who choose to play a Barbarian will already start with Javelins in their inventory, which helps give some range to a class that specializes in up-close-and-personal combat. The Javelin of Lightning just makes the process of throwing a long metal pole with a knife on the end at your enemies a bit more shocking.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
Once thrown, this spear can transform into a bolt of lightning that is 5 feet wide and extends from the player's Barbarian to any target within 120 feet. Any creature hit by the lightning bolt takes 4d6 lightning damage on a failed DC 13 Dexterity saving throw (and half if they succeed).
The lightning bolt then shifts back into its javelin form when it hits the target and, if the player is able to successfully land a ranged weapon attack, inflicts damage from the javelin AND the lightning bolt at the same time.
This allows players to fry any enemy standing between them and their target, whilst potentially dealing massive damage to the target facing the sharp end of the Javelin.
13. Gauntlets of Ogre power
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Adorned with silver and gold, these gauntlets pack a real punch (pun intended).
Rarity: Uncommon Cost: 4000 Gold Barbarians excel in constitution and strength. These Gauntlets change a player's strength stat to 19, making them a great fit for players looking to do some smashing.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
The high strength score offered by these gloves is ideal for lower-level Barbarians wanting to improve their strength score quickly or players looking to invest in their Constitution or Dexterity scores whilst keeping their strength high.
Players who find these Gauntlets should hold on to them! The Gauntlets of Ogre power and the Belt of Giant Strength are both needed to use the Hammer of Thunderbolts.
12. Animated shield
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A shield made of wonderful, blue light. Magic isn't just for spellcasters, it can be a great tool for muscle-bound murderers too.
Rarity: Very rare Cost: 6000 Gold The Animated Shield is another great addition for players looking to boost their Armor Class. Whilst in use, players can command this shield to leap out of their hands and hover in place, acting like a regular shield whilst freeing up their other hand to cause trouble.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
This shield boosts the player's Armor Class by 2 without interrupting the benefits they receive from Unarmored Defense.
The Animated shield also hovers for 1 minute, giving the player 10 rounds of protection in combat to unleash chaos on their enemies.
11. Dancing Sword
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A silver and blue sword with tiny wings that pairs as a weapon and a wonderful companion.
Rarity: Very Rare Cost: 1500 – 2000 Gold On a bonus action, players can throw this blade into the air and command it to fly over and attack any enemy within 30 feet. This helps players account for the Barbarian’s lack of range and gives them a fun sword-buddy to go on adventures with! The Dancing Sword is here to help with all of the players' problems, as long as those problems can be solved with violence.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
The Dancing Sword only requires a bonus action to be used, giving players a full attack action before putting their new pointy pal to work.
The 30-foot attack range applies in any direction, making it ideal if players find themselves surrounded.
The sword attacks four times before returning to the player's hand, so players don’t have to worry about retrieving the blade during combat.
10. Cloak of displacement
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This cloak is made from the skin of a displacer beast. This is gross, but the designs not too bad considering.
Rarity: Rare Cost: 8800 gold Without taking up an armour slot, the cloak of displacement helps players dodge attacks by projecting an illusion of them near their location. Bedazzled by the sudden appearance of another muscle-bound murder machine, creatures in combat have to roll with a disadvantage on all their attacks.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
This cloak is another great match for players looking to specialize in Unarmored Defense as it does not affect the class feature.
The disadvantage on attack rolls also pairs well with items that boost the player's armour class (see bracers of defence) as it gives the player an even higher chance of not taking any damage.
This cloak is also a good option for players who prioritized levelling up their strength and hit points and now can’t catch a break with taking damage in combat encounters.
9. Periapt of wound closure
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Whilst necklaces might not seem like common garb for Barbarians, this little piece of red and gold jewelry is a great addition.
Rarity: Uncommon Cost: 150 Gold Death is an unavoidable risk when playing a class that specializes in putting themselves in harm’s way. The Periapt of Wound Closure helps by giving players a second chance at life if they fall during combat, so they can go back to doing the exact same thing that got them killed in the first place.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
If players go down during combat, they will stabilize at the start of their next turn and will not need to do death-saving throws.
Players also gain double hit points when they roll hit die to restore health. This is massive for Barbarians, who take a lot of damage and usually rely on their high health score during combat.
8. Axe of the Dwarvish Lords
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A gold axe absolutely covered in Jewels. Exactly what you would expect from an axe made by people who spend all their time mining.
Rarity: Rare Cost: 8800 gold This axe offers an amazing combination of great strength buffs and powerful magical effects. However, it comes with its own curse that slowly turns the player into a dwarf. A great option for players willing to shrink a foot or two in exchange for great facial hair and an awesome weapon.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
The Axe gives players a +3 to attack and damage rolls, making it a powerful offensive weapon.
Players are also able to use the Axe to summon an Earth Elemental, and teleport to any location after pressing the axe against a piece of dwarven stonework.
However, the Axe also comes with 2 random detrimental properties, and can’t be recommended for players who want to keep their Barbarian un-dwarfed.
7. Bracers of Defense
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These bracers have a simplistic design and a simplistic purpose: helping players not get murdered.
Rarity: Rare Cost: 6000 Gold Let’s face it, most players don’t choose to play a Barbarian class so they could spend all their time comparing bracers to breastplates to get the best armour class score. That’s for nerds. They choose the Barbarian class so they can run around with their shirts off smashing stuff. The bracers of defence help players do this without being too squishy.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
The bracers of defence boost the player's Armor Class by 2 without interfering with the Armor Class they get from Unarmored Defense.
These bracers pair well with the “Amulet of Health,” for high-level builds, so expect to hold onto this magical item for a while.
6. Amulet of Health
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This amulet is an excellent extra trinket for players to take into battle, as more health is always a good thing!
Rarity: Rare Cost: 4000 – 36000 gold This classic magical item provides a considerable boost to the player's hit points and is a staple of most Barbarian builds. For players looking to go without armour and channel their inner Conan the Barbarian, this item is a must-have.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
The Amulet of Health boosts the player's constitution to 19. This not only raises their hit points, but also boosts their defense if they are using the Unarmored defense class feature.
The amulet has no effect if the player's constitution is 19 or higher. Whilst this makes the item less useful for high level builds, early-game players will still benefit massively.
The constitution boost offered by this item lets players focus on improving other ability scores, such as strength and dexterity.
5. Belt of Giant strength
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This belt boost players stomping power substantially, and deffinetly comes with some style points.
Rarity: Rare - Legendary Cost: 16000 – 36000 Gold There are 6 variations of this belt to match the 6 types of Giants found in-game: Hill Giant, Stone/Frost giant, Fire Giant, Cloud Giant and Storm Giant. These belts are ordered by rarity and offer high-level strength scores which scale with their rarity.
Get your hands on a legendary belt, like the Cloud or Storm Giant belt, and you’ll do serious damage against the terrifying endgame monsters in DND that make you question how people working at Wizards of the Coast sleep at night.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
The highest strength score (without class buffs or magical items) which players can reach is 20. Depending on rarity, the Belt of Giant strength can grant players a strength score ranging from 21 to 29. This allows Barbarian players to max out one of their key abilities before heading into high-level combat.
The Belt of Giant strength and Gauntlet of Ogre power allows players to use the Hammer of Thunderbolts.
Each belt has a unique visual design, giving players more style options even as they head towards the endgame.
4. Hammer of Thunderbolts
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Fitted with two very angry faces, this Hammer is the ultimate weapon for players looking to do more smashing than slashing
Rarity: Legendary Cost: 20000 Gold Only usable by players who have the Gauntlets of Ogre Power and a Belt of Giant strength equipped, this weapon is one of the best weapons a Barbarian can use. The strength score boost, paired with this weapon’s ranged attack, makes the Hammer of Thunderbolts a force to be reckoned with.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
The hammer boosts a player's strength score by 4 and allows players to reach the highest possible Strength score of 30.
Players can throw the hammer at their enemy, launching a devastating thunderclap which can stun every creature within 30 feet of the target. This ability only has 5 charges but is excellent for crowds of enemies.
Rolling a natural 20 with this weapon against a Giant allows the player to kill it in one hit, regardless of the amount of health the Giant has.
3. Flame Tongue
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This blazing sword not only looks neat, it also comes with a fiery disposition.
Rarity: Rare Cost: 5000 Gold It’s a flaming sword. There are plenty of other reasons this magic item deserves to be on this list, but look at it! It's a sword. That sets on fire. What’s not to love!
Why is it good for Barbarians:
Once ignited, this blade grants players an additional 2d6 fire damage against their target.
Flame Tongue’s blaze also illuminates the area within a 40-foot radius of the player, making it ideal for spelunking dark dungeons and forgotten caverns.
The flame effect lasts until the command word is spoken or the blade is dropped, making this magic weapon a reliable option during long combat sessions.
2. Vorpal Sword
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The above image showrs the black and red Vorpal sword doing what it does best - taking heads.
Rarity: Legendary Cost: 50000+ Gold Arguably one of the best swords in DnD, the Vorpal Sword allows players to decapitate their target if they manage to roll a natural 20. Collecting the heads of one’s enemies in battle is pretty metal, and very on-brand for Barbarians.
Why is it good for Barbarians:
The Vorpal Sword provides a +3 to attack and damage rolls, ignores any resistance to slashing damage and doesn’t come with any curses or drawbacks like the Axe of the Dwarvish Lords
On a natural 20, if the creature’s size, or lack of head, make it unsuitable for decapitation, players are still able to deal a massive 6d8 slashing damage to try and finish them off.
1. Horn of Valhalla
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This simple horn might not look like a big deal, but just wait to see what it can do.
Rarity: Varied Cost: 50000+ Gold Sitting on top of this list, on account of it being very powerful and spectacularly cool, is the Horn of Valhalla. Blowing into this horn summons the undead spirits of Berserker warriors to fight by the player's side and dominate the battlefield.
To arms my brothers, Valhalla awaits!
Why is it good for Barbarians:
There are 4 types of horn, which can summon more spirits depending on their rarity. The rarer Horns of Valhalla require proficiency with small weapons, medium armor and martial weapons. The Barbarian has all of these proficiencies, making it the perfect class for this item.
Once summoned, these spirit warriors use berserker statistics and follow the players commands for 1 hour. Blow the horn and charge into battle like Aragon in Return of the King.
The legendary version of the Horn of Valhalla allows players to summon 25 spirits, with lesser versions allowing players to summon 10+. Even with a long cooldown, this magic item can turn your adventuring party into a machine of war.
With a love for videogames and a thirst for adventure, my favorite things are my backpack, the outdoors and subjecting strangers on the internet to passionate ramblings about my favorite games.
Gamer Since:
2005
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Into the Breach
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Borderlands 2, Star Wars: Battlefront, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
