Okay so I spent all weekend building this Giant Barbarian in Baldur’s Gate 3 and dang it’s fun smashing stuff as a huge angry monster. Let me walk you through how I messed up at first then nailed it.
My Dumb Starting Point
First I just grabbed a random Half-Orc Barbarian thinking “big race plus big class equals giant right?” Wrong. Got crushed by those goblins near Emerald Grove because my rage didn’t do anything special. Felt like a regular angry dude cosplaying as Hulk.
Finding The Actual Path
After digging through subclasses at level 3, I discovered Path of the Giant – that’s the magic sauce! Immediately respec’d using Withers (that skeleton guy charges 100 gold but worth it).
Leveling Up The Right Way
Here’s exactly what I did step by step:
- Level 1: Tanked strength to 17 and constitution to 16 – dumped charisma cause giants don’t do small talk
- Level 2: Picked Reckless Attack – swing first ask questions never
- Level 3: Chose Path of Giant subclass – finally grew visibly larger during rage!
- Level 4: Took Great Weapon Master feat – that extra damage is vicious
- Level 5: Got Extra Attack – now hitting like truck twice per turn
Gear That Actually Works
Tried fancy armor early and it sucked. Barbarians need mobility! Stuck with medium armor like the Adamantine Splint Mail. For weapons:
- Early game: Any random greataxe works
- Mid game: Switched to Sword of Justice for extra reach
- Holy Grail: Got the Balduran’s Giantslayer in Act 3 – this thing CRUSHES
Also grabbed Returning Pike as backup weapon – rage then chuck spears like javelins!
Combat Flow That Works
Figured out this killer rotation:
- Rage IMMEDIATELY to grow big
- Charge in with bonus action (Giant’s Havoc feature)
- Smash twice with main weapon
- Throw smaller enemies into walls or chasms
Seriously throwing goblins off cliffs never gets old. Feels like playing god with anger issues.
Why This Trumps My Old Build
Last playthrough I did berserker barbarian. Giant path beats it because:
- You ACTUALLY look huge during fights
- Elemental damage on weapons is awesome
- Throwing heavy objects deals stupid damage
- Reach bonus helps positioning
Pro tip: Pair with Karlach as a buddy barbarian. Two angry giants smashing everything = chaos I love.
Finished at level 10 tearing through Bhaal’s cultists like paper. Worth every failed start! Just remember to RAGE FIRST or you’ll get melted like I did against that dragon.