Baldur's Gate 3 builds typically favour Thunder, Cold, and Lightning builds, but the Wrath build flies under the radar of many players due to its less flashy nature. But for those of you looking for simple builds that prioritize bonk over boom, the Wrath Barbarian might be a good fit for you.
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PostsThis unique build favors slow but steady build-up while tanking damage. It is the perfect frontline melee unit, and no team will want to be without this meat-shield Barbarian who has a bone to pick with those who think spellcasting is the only viable method of damage. After all, sometimes it's better to speak softly and carry a giant stick.
What Is A Wrath Build, And How Does It Work?
Wrath builds are not the most intricate or popular build by far. On its surface, it is very simple:
Wrath build-up equals +1 damage for every turn of Wrath remaining.
So, if you have three turns of Wrath in your status bar, you deal +3 damagewith your melee weapon attacks. This can only stack up to +7, but the raw damage output can be a huge bonus.
Due to the mechanics of Wrath, the best builds will be melee fighters on the front lines, but the only way to gain Wrath is through the use of specific armour pieces:
Cap of Wrath
When the wearer is below 50% health, gain 2 stacks of Wrath.
Bloodguzzler Garb
When an enemy strikes and damages the wearer, the wearer gains 2 stacks of Wrath.
Enraging Heart Garb
When raging, gain 2 stacks of Wrath.
Linebreaker Boots
Generate 3 turns of Wrath after using Dash.
For this build, however, we will only be using two of these items:
- The Bloodguzzler Garb
- The Linebreaker Boots
Best Wrath Build Starting Race And Background
The best race for this will certainly be the Half-Orc, allowing you to take advantage of Savage Attacks.
Savage Attacks - When you land a Critical Hit with a melee weapon attack, your damage dice are tripled instead of doubled.
This will allow you to pour as much raw damage as you can into this build. Otherwise, alternatively good but not as optimized races for this build might include:
- Wood Elf (or Half-Elf: Wood) - Extra movement speed.
- Tiefling - Resistant to Fire damage.
- Githyanki - Access to Misty Step and Enhance Jump.
The best background for a Wrath Build will likely be any that ties in with Strength. Soldier is the best Background for this build, but Outlander is equally beneficial. However, Backgrounds aren't so important with this build as it isn't very good at anything except combat.
Best Wrath Build Ability Scores
Ability
Base Score
Goal Scores
Method Achieved
Strength
17
24
Araj Oblodra's Potion +2, Ability Score modifier +2, Auntie Ethel's Hair +1, Mirror of Loss +2
Dexterity
16
16
--
Constitution
14
23
"Reclass" and set stat to 10 after gaining the Amulet of Greater Health.
Intelligence
8
8
--
Wisdom
10
14
"Reclass" and set stat to 14 after gaining the Amulet of Greater Health
Charisma
8
8
--
Strength is the primary concern for this build. Everything will be poured into it, including:
- The Everlasting Vigor potion from Araj Oblodra in Act 2
- Auntie Ethel's Hair
- The trade for the Necromancy of Thay knowledge at the Mirror of Loss
- Level 8 Ability Score Modifier increase
Dexterity is the second-highest to account for going as early in a turn as possible and to avoid slipping on dangerous surfaces. Intelligence and Charisma are dump stats.
Constitution is a bit complicated. It should be your third-highest stat if starting this build from the beginning of the game. However, once you have your paws on the Amulet of Greater Health in Act Three, you'll want to change your stats.
Talk to Withers after you equip the amulet, swapping your Constitution and Wisdom stats.
Best Wrath Build Class And Feat Progression
For this particular Wrath build, we'll follow the Barbarian: Wild Heart path and take a two-level dip into Rogue for access to its Bonus Action features (very important).
There are alternative methods of making a successful Wrath build. So long as you're working with a melee fighter, you can get a semi-decent build off the ground with almost any melee class.
The exception to this appears to be Monk. In our testing attempts with several types of classes, Monk suffered the most as Unarmed Attacks do not receive Wrath damage bonuses.
We've broken down the progression for this Barbarian class for you:
Level
Class
Feats
Reason of Importance
1
Barbarian
- Unarmoured Defense
- Rage
Unarmoured Defense will allow you to have a decent AC despite the Clothing status of our chosen gear.
2
- Danger Sense
- Reckless Attack
Danger Sense increases survivability on the frontlines while Reckless Attack will act as an emergency Advantage when needing to make an important hit.
3
Subclass Choice: Wildheart - Tiger
This will allow access to the Tiger's Bloodlust attack, granting you a 3-target attack that causes Bleeding.
4
Feat Choice: Great Weapon Master
Allows you to increase your damage with a penalty to your Hit rate (which will be fixed soon) and gain a new bonus action attack after a Critical Hit.
5
- Extra Attack
- Fast Movement
Increase your mobility and your number of attacks per round.
6
Aspect of the Beast: Tiger
Doubles your Strength modifier on Attack Rolls to Hit against enemies Bleeding or Poisoned, allowing you to completely undo the deficit of Great Weapon Master.
7
Feral Instinct
Gives you +3 to Initiative and immunity to Surprised, allowing greater Turn-Order dominance.
8
Feat Choice: Ability Score Modifier - Strength
Increase your Strength further, increasing damage and Hit chance.
9
Rogue
- Sneak Attack
- Expertise
Only Expertise is important, allowing you to double your Athletics proficiency. Sneak Attack isn't important for this build.
10
Bonus Action
You can now Dash as a Bonus Action, allowing you to freely stack Wrath buffs.
11
Barbarian
Brutal Critical
Additional damage on Critical Hits
12
Aspect of the Beast: Wolverine
You can Maim Bleeding targets now, Reducing movement to 0. If a target is also knocked Prone, they will be unable to stand on their next turn.
Additional Feats To Take
There are other permanent feats gained through quests you might want to take for this build:
- Loviatar's Love - Gain +2 to Attack Rolls and Wisdom saves if your HP is less than 30 percent. Requires being whipped ('gently') by the priest of Loviatar in the Shattered Sanctum.
- BOOOAL's Benediction - Gain Advantage when attacking Bleeding creatures. Requires sacrificing a companion to BOOOAL.
These are optional, however, and if you aren't a fan of BDSM or human sacrifice, you can skip over these feats without issue.
Best Wrath Build Equipment
Equipment Type
Equipment Piece
Act Available
Effect
Method Obtained
Helm
Horns of the Berserker
3
Gain +2 to Attack Rolls against creatures that have already taken damage, and deal an additional 2 Necrotic damage with each attack so long as you are not at full health. If you have not taken any damage in a turn, you are dealt 1d4 Necrotic damage.
Sold by Entharl Danthelon at Danthelon's Dancing Axe (the Harper's Hideout) in Wyrm's Crossing.
Armour
Bloodguzzler's Garb
1
After taking damage from a melee attack, the wearer gains 2 stacks of Wrath.
Reward for defeating the Bulette in the Underdark.
Gauntlets
Bonespike Gloves
3
Ignore resistances against Piercing, Slashing, and Bludgeoning damage with weapon attacks.
Dropped by Strangler Luke in the Undercity Ruins. Requires defeating him first before Farslayer Ghislev.
Boots
Linebreaker Boots
1
After Dashing, the wearer gains 3 stacks of Wrath.
Dropped by Beastmaster Zurk in the Shattered Sanctum Worg Pens (where Halsin is held).
Cape (Option A)
Fleshmelter Cloak
2
When attacked by a melee attack, the attacking creature is dealt 1d4 Acid damage.
Found inside House of Healing chest.
Cape (Option B)
Shade-Slayer Cloak
3
Reduce Critical Hit requirement by 1 (effect is stackable).
Sold by Sticky Dondo at the Guild Hall, Lower City Sewers.
Amulet
Amulet of Greater Health
3
Increases Constitution of wearer to 23 and gain Advantage on Constitution saves.
Found within the Archives inside the House of Hope.
Ring #1
Caustic Band
1
Deal 2 Acid damage with each weapon attack you make.
Sold by Derryth at the Myconid Colony.
Ring #2
Ring of Regeneration
3
Heal 1d4HP at the start of each turn.
Sold by Rolan or Lorroakan's astral projection in Sorcerous Sundries until Lorroakan is challenge. If Lorroakan is killed, it must be pickpocketed from Rolan.
Melee Weapon
Balduran's Giantslayer
3
Double the damage added by your Strength modifier on attacks with this weapon and gain Advantage on Large, Huge, or Gargantuan creatures. You also gain the ability to Enlarge yourself, deal an extra 1d6 damage, gaining Advantage on Strength-related Saving Throws, and increase your health by 27HP.
A reward found at the exit of Ansur's lair. Requires defeating Ansur first.
Ranged Weapon
The Dead Shot
3
1d8 + 2 Piercing damage. Lower required Critical Hit by 1 (stacking effect). Double proficiency bonus when attacking with this weapon unless you have Disadvantage. +2 weapon.
Sold by Fytz the Firecracker in Lower City.
read moreThe main center of this build is the Bloodguzzler and Linebreaker combo. Without these two pieces, there could be no effective Wrath build.
You could attempt this build with only the Linebreaker if you are willing to use Bonus Actions more frequently in return for other pieces of equipment. If you are not a fan of the Blooguzzler Garb, you can try the Bonespike Garb for extra temporary hit points, reduced incoming damage, and dealing 2 Piercing damage against all melee attackers with each hit.
The Caustic Band is an extra way to deal some damage with each weapon attack, working with the Horns of the Berserker helm which gives a similar bonus.
Dead Shot lowers your Critical Hit DC by one and also provides a way to do Sneak Attack damage if the opportunity presents itself. With Dead Shot in hand, you'll have two options for your cloak:
- Stack another Critical Hit bonus with the Shade-Slayer Cloak for the opportunity to hit Critical Hits at 18, 19, and 20.
- Depend on enemies to damage themselves consistently with the Fleshmelter Cloak.
Balduran's Giantslayer is the icing on the cake with its showy Giant form and additional Strength damage. You'll deal +14 damage to any weapon attack you make with this sword.
With the Bonespike Gloves, that extra damage will ignore any resistances your enemies may have.
We recommend adding additional Healing Potions and/or Speed Potions to this character's inventory. Haste will double the amount of attacks you can do while Healing Potions will ensure your Barbarian doesn't become too penalized for their Barbarian ways.
How To Use A Wrath Build - Battle Tips, Strategy, And Analysis
Ability Scores
Strength
Dexterity
Constitution
Intelligence
Wisdom
Charisma
24 (+7)
16 (+3)
23 (+6)
8 (-1)
10 (0)
8 (-1)
Health
157 (184 in Giant form)
AC
19
Save DC
11
Feats
Darkvision, Relentless Endurance, Savage Attacks, Danger Sense, Extra Attack, Fast Movement, Feral Instinct, Brutal Critical, Tiger Heart and Aspect of the Tiger, Land's Stride: Difficult Terrain, Aspect of the Wolverine, Great Weapon Master
This build is thankfully relatively simple. There are only three actions you'll need to make to set this up:
- Dash once to build Wrath charges.
- Rage.
- Use Tiger's Bloodlust to inflict Bleeding.
You can also use your sword's Lacerate to inflict the same status on a single target.
You'll want to send your Barbarian into the heat of combat. The more hits you take, the more damage you'll dish out due to the Bloodguzzler's Garb unique feat. With your Ring of Regeneration, you'll be able to offset some of the damage you take.
When you need to, use your Bonus Action to Dash and replenish any Wrath charges you may need. Otherwise, you can continue striking your opponents until they're defeated with little strategizing or further great effort on your part.
Do as the Barbarian does: BONK.
Synergy: You can use Topple the Big Folk to cause Large or greater creatures to be knocked Prone. Other teammates that can cause the Prone condition are useful here as it synergizes with this character's Maim condition. With Prone and Maim, enemies will not be able to stand on their next turn.
NextBaldur's Gate 3: Best War Domain Cleric Build
War. What is it good for? Clerics, that's who.
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