Dungeons and dragons is defined by its immense history, and the 2024 Player's Handbook is another chapter of content and updates for both new and experienced players to enjoy. While much of the content will be familiar to fifth edition players, there are some entirely new subclasses thrown into the mix for players to understand and test.
One of these new subclasses in the 2024 Player's Handbook is the World Tree Path subclass for barbarians. It introduces a different gameplay path for Barbarians in 2024, focusing on a tankier, movement-based build instead of a pure damage dealer that can tank. It might seem a little strange and unconventional at first, but just like any subclass in D&D , there's the potential to create a well-defined character that wasn't there before.
Features of the World Tree Path class
Each subclass in D&D enhances how a class grows to its final form, giving players unique upgrades during specific level increases. These subclass features are introduced for Barbarians at level three (when subclass is selected), level six, level ten and finally level fourteen.
Here's a rundown of each World Tree Path ability, what they do, and how they might synergize with other Barbarian abilities.
Characteristic |
Level |
Description |
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Vitality of the tree |
3 |
Get both Increased vitality AND Life-giving force characteristics. The first, Vitality Surge, allows you to give yourself temporary HP when in rage equal to your barbarian level. The second feature also allows you to provide some temporary HP to nearby allies while enraged, equal to your Fury Damage bonus dice added together. If temporary HP remains when your rage ends, they disappear. |
Tree Branches |
6 |
This feature allows you to use your Reaction to force a single nearby enemy to make a Strength saving throw at the start of your turn, with a DC of 8 plus your Strength modifier and your proficiency bonus. If they fail, they are teleported within 5 feet of youand you can choose to negate the rest of its speed for its turn. |
Beating roots |
10 |
This feature increases your melee range by 10 feet on your turn if you have a heavy or versatile weapon. It also allows power weapon attacks to push, knock over, or perform other weapon mastery benefits with the attack. |
Journey along the tree |
14 |
Once per turn, while raging, this feature allows you to do so teleport 60 feet as a bonus action. Also, once for Fury, that teleporter can be boosted to 150 feet and can also teleport up to six willing creatures within 10 feet of you during your journey. |
The best skill scores for the world path tree barbarian
With all of the benefits listed above offered by the World Tree barbarian, there are a few different focuses when building the barbarian's character sheet.
Force |
THE most crucial skill score for the World Tree Path subclass is Strength againlike almost all barbarian builds. The most useful trait in skill-dependent combat is Tree Branches, which mostly scales with your Strength modifier. Considering how Strength affects damage and how it works with Battering Roots to deal tons of melee damage with a 10 foot range, it is necessary for this build. |
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Constitution |
Health is fundamental to building a barbarian and the World Tree Path subclass only extends the high HP value. Thanks to Vitality of the Tree, this barbarian build offers temporary HP, so it can be even harder to kill if your HP score is high from your Constitution stat. |
Dexterity |
This can be useful with this Barbarian build, as a versatile weapon that gains the benefits of Beating Roots combined with a shield and Unarmored Defense can make a barbarian with high ACwhich is normally not too common. |
The best starting gear for a World Tree Barbarian route
Barbarians are best with a limited set of gear, but they are the ones that will stand the test of time and see a lot of use. With the Path of the World Tree, both armor and unarmored work, but having a heavy or versatile weapon is key to victory in combat.
Big axe |
Probably the signature element for the barbarian, the Greatax remains excellent for World Tree barbarians thanks to its Heavy nature and high damage output. |
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Greatsword |
Another great choice for barbarians is the greatsword, another heavy weapon but not that heavy swap one large damage die for two smaller ones. |
Shield |
If you use one-handed weapons like regular axes or swords, a shield works great as a way to increase your armor class without the potential to interfere with your unarmored defense. Even if you are not using Unarmored Defense, a shield can help build a barbarian from the world tree in a more cistern construction. |
War hammer |
Of all the Versatile weapons to choose from for a barbarian, the War hammer it is amazing due to its good damage and ability to deal bludgeoning damage, which is common for barbarians. |
Half flat |
If you choose armor for your barbarian build, Half Plate is the best medium armor on the market. It offers a high base of 15 AC, which is only increased by your Dexterity bonus. Add to that a shield and you can have a barbarian with almost 20 AC quicker than you might think. |
Best feats for a world path tree barbarian
Barbarians are known for their damage output, but some of the best feats for a World Tree Path barbarian focus more on keeping enemies from escaping.
Sentinel |
Sentinel works similarly to Branches of the Tree, as it slows enemies to 0 feet of movement speed if you hit them with an attack of opportunity. Since you can use your reaction to force enemies to make that save and potentially slow them down, this one delivers instead a way to stop them in their tracks if they hit other allies nearby or try to escape. |
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Mage Slayer |
This can always be useful for barbarians, as their toughest challenge in combat is usually a wizard. Mage Slayer makes it so that when you attack mages, they have disadvantage on the Constitution saving throw they must make to maintain their concentration on spellcasting. This, combined with Branches of the Tree's teleportation, can imprison the magicians forcing them into your melee range and making it harder for them to fight you up close with magic. |
Difficult |
Duro is one of the best focused on health businesses in the manual. Increases your health by double your character's level when you first gain the feat, then increases each HP level-up bonus by two extra points. This, combined with the temporary HP Vitality of the Tree offerings and Rage resistances, and you have one of the hardest to wound barbarians around. |
Oil mill |
Crusher is awesome harm-focused enterprise for barbarians, and it surprisingly works to make one-handed weapons just as useful as two-handed ones if you want to build a more versatile build with Battering Roots. |
With regard to background optionsthey include some of the most thematic options suited to a World Tree barbarian Farmer and guide.
The best species for the World Tree Barbarian's Path
When choosing your race for a World Tree Path barbarian, the key thing to focus on is how the race's characteristics mix with both the normal barbarian and the World Tree subclass. Thankfully, races that prioritize Strength or Constitution still work well with this subclass.
Species |
Because it works |
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Ogre |
Orcs are known for one thing: pure durability. They have the ability to dash with a bonus action and at the same time gain temporary HP a limited number of times per long rest. Add to that the ability to stay alive after reaching zero health once per Long Rest, and this combines well with the World Tree Path. |
Human |
Humans have the ability to add an origin feat to their build, as well as gain proficiency in a skill of their choice. Add to that a single Heroic Inspiration for Long Rest and you have an all-round construction. |
Elf (Wood) |
Elves might seem like an odd choice for a barbarian, but the Wood Elf has an increased movement speed of 35 feet, which can work wonders with the World Tree subclass's teleportation. Add this advantage against charm effects and you have a remarkably durable barbarian. |
Goliath |
But if you want to be a complete destroyerGoliath might be the best class for this. High base movement speed of 35, the ability to increase size and increase Strength saves and movement speed, and customization choices in the avenue of Giant Ancestry, and you've got a combat-ready barbarian at level three. |