Barbarians and Rapiers: D&D 5e Character Concept

Featured art by raikoart. Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License

I harbor affection for character concepts that defy class expectations and norms, especially concepts that utilize fringe game mechanics. This affinity brings me to the Barbarian class. I’m going to describe what I call the Barbarian Duelist character concept.

Barbarian with a Finesse Weapon

Barbarians are known for swinging massive weapons, but I envision a Barbarian character wielding a rapier to attack forcefully and precisely while deftly defending against attacks with that same finesse weapon, a shield, and medium armor.

Barbarians gain bonus damage while Raging and attacking with their Strength. Finesse weapons, like rapiers, can use either Strength or Dexterity for attacking. If a Barbarian wields a rapier, the Barbarian can take advantage of abilities that use finesse weapons while still attacking with overwhelming brawn. This kind of focused power also allows for improved defense. Attacking with a one-handed weapon will enable options for defense and grappling. This Barbarian can also focus on feats that differ from the usual Barbarian build.

In other words, this concept should freshen up your love of Barbarians without feeling like your a meat bag swinging a massive axe for every round of combat. Let me break down how a Barbarian can effectively use a finesse weapon to deal grievous damage while putting up an impressive defense! I’m effectively combining Fezzik (Andre) the Giant with Inigo Montoya…

Rage Damage

Rapiers use 1d8 for damage, which means you give up some damage potential while wielding one instead of a heavy weapon with 1d12 or 2d6. But you can’t deal damage if you’re dead, so it’s important to defend yourself as I described a moment ago. It’s important to remember that Barbarians will gain bonus damage while raging, and you can still use your Strength as required for Rage damage while you attack with a finesse weapon. Since I’m of the opinion that heavy weapons aren’t much better than one-handed weapons without augmentations from feats or class features, there isn’t much of a damage loss for a Barbarian slashing with a rapier.

You can also forego the effective options I describe below in order to be a dual wielder Barbarian. Your offhand attacks can benefit from Rage damage just as much as your regular attacks. You can use Scimitars in this way without needing any fighting styles or feats to enable you to do so effectively.

Defense

The Barbarian class has proficiency with medium armor, incentivizing them at character creation to have exactly a fourteen for Dexterity in order to gain +2 AC from medium armor. Barbarians also can use shields to bolster their AC by +2. With half plate armor, a shield, and a Dexterity score of fourteen, a Barbarian can secure an armor class of nineteen.

Alternatively, a Barbarian can utilize their Unarmored Defense class feature to augment armor class with Constitution. To match the AC of half plate armor, a Barbarian will need to attain a Constitution stat of twenty, or a Dexterity stat of sixteen or higher.

The main defense mechanism that I’m leading up to is the Defensive Duelist feat. While wielding a rapier, a Barbarian with a prerequisite Dexterity stat of thirteen can use a reaction each round to add her proficiency bonus to her armor class to defend against a single attack. This could boost a Barbarian’s armor class to twenty-one at low levels and twenty-five at higher levels. It only works against a single attack each round, but that may be all that’s needed to vastly improve a character’s survivability, particularly against isolated juggernaut foes. It’s also noteworthy that this type of defensive build will mean you’re not so out of luck if you don’t choose to be a Totem Barbarian with the bear option at level three. You’ll still be durable while mixing up your Barbarian subclass.

Remember these principles so you can learn how to play real defense, just like the Mighty Ducks learned in movie three.

Shielding

Wielding a one-handed weapon will open you up to use a shield. You won’t need the Great Weapon Master feat, freeing up your bonus actions for other things. I recommend choosing the Shield Master feat so you can use your bonus action to shove creatures to be prone between your attacks from Extra Attack. Knocking an opponent prone will enable you to forego your Reckless Attack features so your high armor class isn’t wasted while still gaining advantage to attack a prone enemy in melee.

Don’t forget the defensive perks of the Shield Master feat as well! Barbarians gain advantage on many regularly occurring Dexterity saving throws, so the benefit of potentially taking no damage as a reaction or potentially avoid harmful spells when you’re targeted.

Grappling

While you’ll want to have your shield donned, you may quickly sheathe your rapier in order to free up one hand for grappling. You’re so strong while raging that you might as well consider grappling as a viable option to hinder slippery foes. Sometimes keeping an enemy in one place will be better than dealing damage with a few attacks. You’ll still have your shield donned for +2 AC, or you can keep your shield doffed during a grapple while you hold your rapier and use your reaction for Defensive Duelist.

If you’re having a hard time picturing it, you can make an attack with your rapier with the attack action; after the first attack, you can use a free action to sheathe your rapier to free up your hand, then use your second attack (assuming you have Extra Attack already) to attempt a grapple. As mentioned earlier, you can also take the Shield Master feat in order to additionally knock an enemy prone.

Mounted Combat

Before I get into this one, I will admit that there is not rule that says you need to have a free hand to ride a horse or other creature; it just makes sense to me that it’d be difficult to do without having one hand on the reins of the creature (for staying on and for controlling the mount’s movements). You can review rules for mounted combat on p.198 of the PHB. With that caveat out of the way, let’s talk about mounts…

Barbarians are big dudes and dudettes, but they’re not as bulky as a warhorse! It’s time to saddle up. While wielding a one-handed weapon, you’ll have an option for a free hand to hold the reins of a horse so you can charge in and out of combat without tumbling to the ground from horseback. If you want to learn more about how mounted combat can benefit you, I recommend reading my horseback Rogue concept article. Mounts are especially effective for Ancestral Guardian Barbarians who can hinder a foe that doesn’t attack the Barbarian, while getting distance between the Barbarian and the foe between turns. You can find the Ancestral Guardian subclass in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything.

Conclusion

Barbarians specializing in a finesse weapon like the rapier will have more options for defense while only slightly sacrificing average damage per round. When you defend yourself properly, it’s almost like you’re your own healer! Use both of your hands for a variety of options instead of gluing them to a heavy weapon together. Each Barbarian subclass can uniquely apply this concept, though I recommend Berserker Barbarians to stick with two-handed weapons.

Cast Message in the comments to let me know if you’ve tried this concept. How did it go? If you haven’t tried it, are you excited to give it a go? I sure am. Good luck with your next adventure, and happy looting to you and your party!

You might enjoy my Barbarian class guide on YouTube before you go: