Barbarians

Learn how to play Barbarians in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn! Discover their strengths, weaknesses, and unique Rage ability to dominate the battlefield.

Alright, let's talk about Barbarians in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Think of them as the wild, untamed warriors of the game. They don't have the fancy training of a Fighter, but they make up for it with pure, unadulterated enthusiasm and raw power!

Here's the lowdown on what makes a Barbarian tick:

• Armor Restrictions: They can't wear anything heavier than splint mail. So, no full plate for these guys, which can be a bit of a defensive challenge later on.
• Weapon Specialization: Good news here! Barbarians can achieve Specialisation (that's two slots) with any weapon class they choose. Go wild with your favorite weapon!
• Fighting Styles: Similar to weapons, they can specialize in any fighting style, and they get a sweet deal with Two-Weapon Style, allowing three specialization slots there. Dual-wielding Barbarians, anyone?
• Movement Speed: They move 2 points faster than most other characters. This means they can close the distance quickly or reposition themselves more easily in combat.
• Immunity: Barbarians are immune to backstabs. So, no need to worry about sneaky rogues getting the drop on you from behind!
• Rage Ability: This is their signature move! At level 1, they can use Rage once per day. For every four levels you gain after that, you get an additional use per day. So, at level 5 you get 2 uses, at level 9 you get 3, and so on.
• Damage Resistance: At 11th level, they gain +10% resistance to physical damage. This bonus increases by another +5% at both 15th and 19th levels, making them tougher as they get stronger.
• Hit Points: Barbarians get a massive 12 HP per level for the first nine levels. After that, it drops to a still respectable 3 HP per level. This means they start off incredibly tanky!

Now, let's talk about that Rage ability in more detail. When a Barbarian Rages, they get some serious buffs for 5 rounds:

• +4 Strength
• +4 Constitution
• +2 to saves vs. spells
• -2 to Armor Class (this is the trade-off for the other buffs)
• Immunity to a whole host of nasty status effects: charm, hold, fear, maze, stun, sleep, confusion, and level drain.

Honestly, while Barbarians have some cool perks like extra HP, damage resistance, and that powerful Rage, they don't quite measure up to a Fighter's weapon mastery. Plus, their inability to wear heavy armor can leave them vulnerable. Compared to a Berserker (a specific type of Fighter), the Barbarian's Rage is a bit weaker, and they can't dual-class out of it like a Berserker can. So, while they're fun and powerful in their own right, a Berserker often ends up being the more versatile and ultimately stronger choice in the long run.