The Warriors of the Wild

Guide to Barbarian Enhancements

By Darkgolem

Barbarians are a more complex class than they appear.  Without heavy armor, and strengths and weakness that are quite distinct, they both can be deadly combatants or (if made poorly) failed characters.  Part of planning for a powerful barbarian is planning your enhancements carefully.  While feats and ability scores are important, enhancements are a key portion of making your barbarian correctly too.

The Basics

A quick summary for those unfamiliar with the way enhancements work for DDO is in order.  First, you get 4 action points every level.  They are earned gradually as you work your way to your next level. You use these action points to purchase enhancements.  You much qualify for an enhancement to purchase it.  Enhancements require a certain amount of action points to already have been spent, less powerful similar enhancements and sometimes for you to have a feat, before you can purchase them.  Because of the requirements for various enhancements, you should plan on how you wish to spend your action points when you begin character creation.

Choosing Your Role

Barbarians all focus on durability and damage delivery to some extent, but there is a lot of variety found in various builds on which facet of a barbarians strengths are excelled at.  A barbarian can be designed to do as much damage as possible, or take as much damage as possible, or even be designed to take down lots of foes of middling danger while allowing allies to concentrate on specific, dangerous enemies.

The Destroyer

The destroyer's focus is only upon damaging opponents.   Sure, hit points and such are important, but key is doing the most with ones weapons as one can.

• Barbarian Damage Class Boost – This is made for a barbarian destroyer.
• Barbarian Critical Rage – Along with improved critical and power critical, this is made for the Destroyer role.
• Barbarian Extra Rage – Combats usually won't last for a full rage a barbarian triggers, but having lots of rages to use is good for the destroyer.
• Barbarian Power Rage – having lots of strength is very important for the destroyer.

The Brawler

The Brawler's focus is on surviving damage.  Able to absorb many, many hits, the brawler keeps opponents attention upon his or herself while the brawler's allies defeat opponents one by one.

• Barbarian Damage Reduction Class Boost – This is very handy for those times when your facing particularly dangerous enemies.
• Barbarian Extra Action Boost – While seemingly a poor investment, this is useful for using with the damage reduction class boost enhancement.
• Barbarian Intimidate – Shaken opponents are must less likely to hit a Brawler, which is quite handy.
• Barbarian Hardy Rage – The extra constitution found in the hardy rage boosts hit points substantially, making the brawler even more durable.
• Barbarian Will Power Rage – this is pretty important.  Barbarians in general and the brawler in specific are particularly vulnerable to will attacks.
• Barbarian Desert Lore – Fire is the most common and damaging of attacks, this helps mitigate this damage somewhat.
• Barbarian Intimidation – this is useful to pull enemies attention away from ones allies and toward you.
• Barbarian Constitution – Again, this focuses upon making the barbarian last longer and helps by making the barbarians rage last longer.
• Barbarian Toughness – Anything to make a barbarian last longer in combat with mobs of opponents.

The Goon-Smasher

While not the role that gets the most glory, the goon smasher is a role that is probably most useful for a barbarian to have in working with a party.  Most combats have lots of opponents, who, relative to party level, are not as dangerous as a few key opponents.  But these secondary opponents don't get nearly enough attention relative to the damage they can do over time.  The goon smasher aims toward bringing these foes down quickly while the “glory hounds” work on the more powerful enemies.

• Barbarian Sprint Class Boost – with multiple opponents to fight, spring action boost helps the goon-smasher get to them quickly.
• Barbarian Extended Rage – with the need to fight a lot of opponents, one will need a little extra time to do so successfully.
• Barbarian Power Attack – With opponents who are not quite hard to hit, the Goon Smasher can focus upon damaging them with power attack.
• Barbarian Improved Trap Sense – too often the types of opponents a goon smasher combats are hiding behind traps and obstacles.  This helps getting to them.
• Barbarian Jump – not perhaps the most critical of enhancements, it helps to be able to approach opponents who are hard to reach.

The Enhancements

Enhancement Name	Cost	Progression	Requirements	Benefit
Barbarian Damage Boost 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1	Activate this ability to receive a +2 bonus to weapon damage for 20 seconds.
Barbarian Damage Boost 2	2	1	Barbarian Level 4, Barbarian Damage Boost 1	Activate this ability to receive a +3 bonus to weapon damage for 20 seconds.
Barbarian Damage Boost 3	3	21	Barbarian Level 7, Barbarian Damage Boost 2	Activate this ability to receive a +4 bonus to weapon damage for 20 seconds.
Barbarian Damage Boost 4	4	32	Barbarian Level 10, Barbarian Damage Boost 3	Activate this ability to receive a +5 bonus to weapon damage for 20 seconds.
Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1	Activate this ability to receive dr 6/-  for 20 seconds.  This affect does not stack with any inherant barbarian DR.
Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost 2	2	10	Barbarian Level 4, Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost 1	Activate this ability to receive dr 9/-  for 20 seconds.  This affect does not stack with any inherant barbarian DR.
Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost 3	3	21	Barbarian Level 7, Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost 2	Activate this ability to receive dr 12/-  for 20 seconds.  This affect does not stack with any inherant barbarian DR.
Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost 4	4	32	Barbarian Level 10, Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost 3	Activate this ability to receive dr 15/-  for 20 seconds.  This affect does not stack with any inherant barbarian DR.
Barbarian Extra Action Boost I	2	38	Barbarian Level 11, Barbarian Damage Reduction Boost 4, Barbarian Damage Boost 4, Barbarian Sprint Boost 4	You can use each of your Barbarian action boosts an additional time between resting.
Barbarian Sprint Boost 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1, Barbarian Sprint Boost 1	Activate this ability to receive a running bonus for 20 seconds.
Barbarian Sprint Boost 2	2	10	Barbarian Level 4, Barbarian Sprint Boost 1	Activate this ability to receive a running bonus for 20 seconds.
Barbarian Sprint Boost 3	3	21	Barbarian Level 7, Barbarian Sprint Boost 1	Activate this ability to receive a running bonus for 20 seconds.
Barbarian Sprint Boost 4	4	32	Barbarian Level 10, Barbarian Sprint Boost 1	Activate this ability to receive a running bonus for 20 seconds.
Barbarian Intimidation	2	44	12	Intimidated Targets are shaken
Barbarian Critical Rage 1	2	38	Barbarian Level 11	Increase your threat range by 1 when raging,  regardless of your weapon.
Barbarian Improved Damage Reduction 1	2	6	Barbarian Level 3	You gain damage reduction 1/-, or improved your existing damage reduction by 1/-.
Barbarian Improved Damage Reduction 2	4	20	Barbarian Level 7, Barbarian Improved Damage Reduction I	You gain damage reduction 2/-, or improved your existing damage reduction by 2/-.
Barbarian Extended Rage 1	1	3	Barbarian Level 2	Your rage lasts 25% longer.
Barbarian Extended Rage 2	2	14	Barbarian Level 5, Barbarian Extended Rage 1	Your rage lasts 50% longer.
Barbarian Extended Rage 3	3	25	Barbarian Level 8, Barbarian Extended Rage 2	Your rage lasts 75% longer.
Barbarian Extended Rage 4	4	36	Barbarian Level 11, Barbarian Extended Rage 3	Your rage lasts 100% longer.
Barbarian Extra Rage 1	1	3	Barbarian Level 2	You can rage one additional time between resting.
Barbarian Extra Rage 2	2	18	Barbarian Level 6, Barbarian Extra Rage 1	You can rage two additional times between resting.
Barbarian Extra Rage 3	3	33	Barbarian Level 10, Barbarian Extra Rage 2	You can rage three additional times between resting.
Barbarian Hardy Rage I	1	7	Barbarian Level 3	You gain an additional +1 Constitution when raging.
Barbarian Hardy Rage II	2	18	Barbarian Level 6, Barbarian Hardy Rage I	You gain an additional +2 Constitution when raging.
Barbarian Hardy Rage III	3	29	Barbarian Level 9, Barbarian Hardy Rage 2	You gain an additional +3 Constitution when raging.
Barbarian Intimidation	2	42	Barbarian Level 12, Barbarian Intimidate 4	Intimidated Targets are shaken.
Barbarian Power Attack 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1	Power Attack does additional +1 bonus damage a -1 to hit.
Barbarian Power Attack 2	2	14	Barbarian Level 5, Barbarian Power Attack 1	Power Attack does additional +1 bonus damage a -1 to hit.
Barbarian Power Attack 3	3	29	Barbarian Level 9, Barbarian Power Attack 2	Power Attack does additional +1 bonus damage a -1 to hit.
Barbarian Power Rage I	1	7	Barbarian Level 3	You gain an additional +1 Stregnth when raging.
Barbarian Power Rage II	2	18	Barbarian Level 6, Barbarian Power Rage I	You gain an additional +2 Stregnth when raging.
Barbarian Power Rage III	3	29	Barbarian Level 9, Barbarian Power Rage 2	You gain an additional +3 Stregnth when raging.
Barbarian Power Rage III	4	40	Barbarian Level 12, Barbarian Power Rage 4	You gain an additional +4 Stregnth when raging.
Barbarian Willpower 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1	You gain an additional +1 bonus to will saves when raging.
Barbarian Willpower 2	2	10	Barbarian Level 4, Barbarian Willpower 2	You gain an additional +2 bonus to will saves when raging.
Barbarian Willpower 3	3	21	Barbarian Level 7, Barbarian Willpower 2	You gain an additional +3 bonus to will saves when raging.
Barbarian Swamp Lore 1	1	3	Barbarian Level 2	You gain energy resistance of 2 versus acid, or improve your existing resistance by 2.
Barbarian Swamp Lore 2	2	18	Barbarian Level 6, Barbarian Swamp Lore 1	You gain energy resistance of 4 versus acid, or improve your existing resistance by 4.
Barbarian Swamp Lore 3	3	33	Barbarian Level 10, Barbarian Swamp Lore 2	You gain energy resistance of 6 versus acid, or improve your existing resistance by 6.
Barbarian Tundra Lore 1	1	3	Barbarian Level 2	You gain energy resistance of 2 versus cold, or improve your existing resistance by 2.
Barbarian Tundra Lore 2	2	18	Barbarian Level 6, Barbarian Tundra Lore 1	You gain energy resistance of 4 versus cold, or improve your existing resistance by 4.
Barbarian Tundra Lore 3	3	33	Barbarian Level 10, Barbarian Tundra Lore 2	You gain energy resistance of 6 versus cold, or improve your existing resistance by 6.
Barbarian Desert Lore 1	1	3	Barbarian Level 2	You gain energy resistance of 2 versus fire, or improve your existing resistance by 2.
Barbarian Desert Lore 2	2	18	Barbarian Level 6, Barbarian Desert Lore 1	You gain energy resistance of 4 versus fire, or improve your existing resistance by 4.
Barbarian Desert Lore 3	3	33	Barbarian Level 10, Barbarian Tundra Lore 2	You gain energy resistance of 6 versus fire, or improve your existing resistance by 6.
Barbarian Resist Disease 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1	Grants a +1 bonus on saving throws against disease.
Barbarian Resist Disease 2	2	14	Barbarian Level 5, Barbarian Resist Disease 1	Grants a +2 bonus on saving throws against disease.
Barbarian Resist Disease 3	3	29	Barbarian Level 9, Barbarian Resist Disease 2	Grants a +3 bonus on saving throws against disease.
Barbarian Resist Poison 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1	Grants a +1 bonus on saving throws against poison.
Barbarian Resist Poison 2	2	14	Barbarian Level 5, Barbarian Resist Poison 1	Grants a +2 bonus on saving throws against poison.
Barbarian Resist Poison 3	3	29	Barbarian Level 9, Barbarian Resist Poison 2	Grants a +3 bonus on saving throws against poison.
Barbarian Intimidate 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1	Grants +1 bonus to Intimidate skill.
Barbarian Intimidate 2	2	10	Barbarian Level 4, Barbarian Intimidate 1	Grants +2 bonus to Intimidate skill.
Barbarian Intimidate 3	3	25	Barbarian Level 8, Barbarian Intimidate 2	Grants +3 bonus to Intimidate skill.
Barbarian Intimidate 4	4	40	Barbarian Level 12 Barbarian Intimidate 3	Grants +4 bonus to Intimidate skill.
Barbarian Jump 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1	Grants +1 bonus to Jump skill.
Barbarian Jump 2	2	10	Barbarian Level 4, Barbarian Jump 1	Grants +2 bonus to Jump skill.
Barbarian Jump 3	3	25	Barbarian Level 8, Barbarian Jump 2	Grants +3 bonus to Jump skill.
Barbarian Jump 4	4	40	Barbarian Level 12, Barbarian Jump 3	Grants +4 bonus to Jump skill.
Barbarian Listen 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1	Grants +1 bonus to Listen skill.
Barbarian Listen 2	2	10	Barbarian Level 4, Barbarian Listen 1	Grants +2 bonus to Listen skill.
Barbarian Listen 3	3	25	Barbarian Level 8, Barbarian Listen 2	Grants +3 bonus to Listen skill.
Barbarian Listen 4	4	40	Barbarian Level 12, Barbarian Listen 3	Grants +4 bonus to Listen skill.
Barbarian Swim I	1	0	Barbarian Level 1	Grants +1 bonus to Swim skill.
Barbarian Swim 2	2	10	Barbarian Level 4, Barbarian Swim 1	Grants +2 bonus to Swim skill.
Barbarian Swim 3	3	25	Barbarian Level 8, Barbarian Swim 2	Grants +3 bonus to Swim skill.
Barbarian Swim 4	4	40	Barbarian Level 12, Barbarian Swim 3	Grants +4 bonus to Swim skill.
Barbarian Constitution 1	2	2	Barbarian Level 2	Grants a +1 increase to Constitution score.
Barbarian Constitution 2	4	16	Barbarian Level 6, Barbarian Constitution 1	Grants a +2 increase to Constitution score.
Barbarian Constitution 3	6	30	Barbarian Level 10, Barbarian Constitution 2	Grants a +3 increase to Constitution score.
Barbarian Toughness 1	1	0	Barbarian Level 1, Toughness	Increases the total benefit you receive from the toughness feat by 5.
Barbarian Toughness 2	2	10	Barbarian Level 4, Barbarian Toughness 1	Increases the total benefit you receive from the toughness feat by 10.
Barbarian Toughness 3	3	21	Barbarian Level 7, Barbarian Toughness 2	Increases the total benefit you receive from the toughness feat by 15.
Barbarian Toughness 4	4	32	Barbarian Level 10, Barbarian Toughness 3	Increases the total benefit you receive from the toughness feat by 20.
Barbarian Improved Trap Sense 1	1	3	Barbarian Level 2	Grants an extra +1 bonus on saving throws against traps.
Barbarian Improved Trap Sense 2	2	14	Barbarian Level 5, Barbarian Improved Trap Sense 1	Grants an extra +2 bonus on saving throws against traps.
Barbarian Improved Trap Sense 3	3	25	Barbarian Level 8, Barbarian Improved Trap Sense 2	Grants an extra +3 bonus on saving throws against traps.
Barbarian Improved Trap Sense 4	4	36	Barbarian Level 11, Barbarian Improved Trap Sense 3	Grants an extra +4 bonus on saving throws against traps.

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