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Dungeons & Dragonsis defined by its immense history, and the 2024 Players Handbook is another chapter of content and updates for both new and experienced players to enjoy. While a lot of the content is familiar to recent fifth edition players, there are some entirely new subclasses thrown in the mix for players to understand and test out.
One of these new subclasses in the 2024 Players Handbook is the Path of the World Tree subclass for barbarians. It introduces a different avenue of gameplay forbarbarians in 2024, focusing on a more tanky and movement-based build instead of a pure damage dealer that can tank.It might seem a bit weird and unconventional at first, but just like any subclass in D&D, there is potential to make a well-fleshed out character that wasn’t there before.
Path Of The World Tree Class Features
Every subclass in D&D enhances how a class grows into its final form, giving players unique buffs during specific level ups. For barbarians, those subclass features are introducedat level three(when the subclass is selected),level six, level ten, and lastly level fourteen.
Here is a rundown of each of the Path of the World Tree abilities, what they do, and how they could synergize with other barbarian abilities.
Vitality Of The Tree
3
You gain both theVitality SurgeandLife-Giving Forcefeatures. The first, Vitality Surge, allows you to give yourself temporary HP when you Rage equal to your barbarian level. The second feature allows you to also give some temp HP out to nearby allies while Raging, equal to your Rage damage bonus dice added together. If the temp HP remains when your Rage ends, they disappear.
Branches Of The Tree
6
This feature allows you to use your Reaction to forcea single nearby enemyto make a Strength saving throwon the start of their turn, with a DC equal to 8 plus your Strength modifier and proficiency bonus. If they fail,they are teleported within 5 feet of you, and you’re able to choose to negate the rest of their speed for their turn.
Battering Roots
10
This featureincreases your melee range by 10 feeton your turn if you have a heavy or versatile weapon. It also allows attacks with the enhanced weaponto Push, Topple, or perform other weapon mastery benefitswith the attack.
Travel Along The Tree
14
Once per turn, while Raging, this feature allows you toteleport 60 feet as a Bonus Action.Also, once per Rage, that teleport can beboosted to 150 feetand can also teleport up to six willing creatures who are within 10 feet of you along for the trip.
Best Ability Scores For Path Of The World Tree Barbarian
With all the benefits listed above that the World Tree barbarian offers, there are some different focuses when building the barbarian character sheet.
Strength
Themost crucial ability scorefor the Path of the World Tree subclass isstill Strength, like almost all barbarian builds. The most useful feature in combat that is skill-dependent is Branches of the Tree, which scales mainly off of your Strength modifier. Considering how Strength factors into damage and how it works with Battering Roots to deal tons of melee damage with a 10-foot reach, it is needed for this build.
Constitution
Health is keyto building a barbarian, and the Path of the World Tree subclass only extends the value of high HP. Thanks to Vitality of the Tree, this barbarian build offers temporary HP, so you can be even harder to kill if your HP score is high fromyour Constitution stat.
Dexterity
This one can be useful with this barbarian build, as a versatile weapon that gains the benefit from Battering Roots combined with a shield and Unarmoured Defense can makea high AC barbarian, which normally isn’t too common.
Best Starting Equipment For A Path Of The World Tree Barbarian
Barbarians are best with a limited set of gear, but ones that will stand the test of time and see a lot of use. With the Path of the World Tree, both armor and armorless builds work, but having a heavy or versatile weapon is key to victory in combat.
Greataxe
Arguablythe signature itemfor the barbarian, the Greataxe remains great for World Tree barbarians due to its Heavy nature and high damage output.
Greatsword
Another great choice for barbarians is the greatsword, another Heavy weapon but one thattrades off one big damage die for two smaller ones.
Shield
If you are using one-handed weapons like regular handaxes or swords, a shield works great as a way to boost your Armor Class without the potential of interfering with your Unarmored Defense. Even if you aren’t using Unarmored Defense,a Shieldcan help builda World Tree barbarian intoa tankier build.
Warhammer
Out of all theVersatile weaponsto choose from for a barbarian, theWarhammeris amazing due to its good damage output and ability to put out Bludgeoning damage, which is common for barbarians.
Half Plate
If you do choose armor for your barbarian build,Half Plate is the best medium armoron the market. It offers a high base of 15 AC, which only gets boosted by your dexterity bonus. Add onto that a shield, and you can have a barbarian with close to 20 AC faster than people realize.
Best Feats For A Path Of The World Tree Barbarian
Barbarians are known for their damage output, but some of the best feats for a Path of the World Tree barbarian focus more on preventing enemies from running away.
Sentinel
Sentinel works similarly to how Branches of the Tree does, as it slows down enemies to 0 feet of movement speed if you hit them with an opportunity attack. Since you can use your reaction to force enemies to make that save and potentially slow them down, this one instead offersa way of stopping them in their tracksif they hit other allies nearby or try to run away.
Mage Slayer
This can always be useful for barbarians, as their toughest challenge in combat is usually a mage. Mage Slayer makes it so when you attack mages, they have disadvantage for their constitution saving throw they need to make to keep concentration on casting spells. This, combined with the teleport from Branches of the Tree, canlock down magesby forcing them into your melee range and making it harder for them to fight you up close with magic.
Tough
Tough is one of the besthealth-focusedfeats in the handbook. It increases your health equal to double your character level when you first obtain the feat, then increases each level up bonus of HP by an extra two points. That, combined with the temporary HP Vitality of the Tree offers and the resistances from Rage, and you have one of the toughest to hurt barbarians around.
Crusher
Crusher is a greatdamage-focused featfor barbarians, and it works amazingly to make one-handed weapons feel just as useful as two-handed ones if you want to build a more versatile build with Battering Roots.
As forbackground options, some of the more thematic options that suit a World Tree barbarian includeFarmer and Guide.
Best Species For Path Of The World Tree Barbarian
When choosing your race for a Path of the World Tree barbarian, the key things to focus on is how the race’s features mix with both the regular barbarian and the World Tree subclass. Thankfully, races that prioritize Strength or Constitution still work well with this subclass.
Why It Works
Orc
Orcs are known for one thing:pure durability. They have an ability to Dash on a Bonus Action, while also gaining temporary HP a limited number of times per Long Rest. Add onto that the ability to stay alive after going down past zero health one time per Long Rest, and this combines well with the Path of the World Tree.
Human
Humans have the ability to add an Origin Feat to their build, while also getting proficiency in one skill of their choosing. Add onto that a single Heroic Inspiration per Long Rest, and you havea well-rounded build.
Elf (Wood)
Elves might seem like a weird choice for a barbarian, but the Wood Elf has a boosted movement speed of 35 feet, which can work wonders with the teleportation of the World Tree subclass. Add onto that advantage against charm effects, and you havea uniquely durable barbarian.
Goliath
Though, if you want to bea complete destroyer, the Goliath might be the best class for it. High base movement speed of 35, the ability to increase in size and boost Strength saves and movement speed, and customization choices in the avenue of Giant Ancestry, and you have a combat-ready barbarian at level three.
