Should Barbarians Wear Armor in 5e? A Comprehensive Guide

The question of whether a Barbarian should wear armor in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) is a classic debate amongst players. On one hand, armor provides a clear and reliable increase to Armor Class (AC), making a character harder to hit. On the other hand, Barbarians have a unique feature called Unarmored Defense that can potentially offer a higher AC than some types of armor, especially at lower levels. This guide will delve into the intricacies of this decision, exploring the pros and cons of each approach, offering detailed instructions on how to optimize your Barbarian’s defense, and providing specific scenarios to help you make the best choice for your character.

Understanding Barbarian Unarmored Defense

Before we can determine if a Barbarian should wear armor, we need to fully understand their Unarmored Defense feature. This feature, gained at 1st level, states:

“While you are not wearing any armor, your Armor Class is 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier. You can use a shield and still gain this benefit.”

Let’s break down what this means:

• Base AC of 10: This is the standard base AC for any unarmored creature.
• Dexterity Modifier: Your Dexterity score directly influences your ability to dodge and react quickly. The higher your Dexterity modifier, the higher your AC will be.
• Constitution Modifier: This is the key component that makes Unarmored Defense attractive for Barbarians. Constitution, which is traditionally a measure of health and endurance, also contributes to your AC while unarmored. The higher your Constitution modifier, the higher your unarmored AC.
• Shields: Importantly, you can still benefit from the AC bonus provided by a shield while using Unarmored Defense. This adds significant defensive potential for an unarmored Barbarian.

This essentially means that a Barbarian with a decent Dexterity and a high Constitution can achieve a respectable AC without ever putting on a piece of armor. Let’s explore the numbers.

Example Scenarios for Unarmored Defense

Let’s consider a few scenarios with different ability scores:

• Scenario 1: Low Dex, Average Con

  A Barbarian has a Dexterity of 14 (+2 modifier) and a Constitution of 14 (+2 modifier).

  Their Unarmored AC = 10 + 2 (Dex) + 2 (Con) = 14

  With a shield, their AC is 14 + 2 (Shield) = 16

• Scenario 2: Average Dex, High Con

  A Barbarian has a Dexterity of 14 (+2 modifier) and a Constitution of 16 (+3 modifier).

  Their Unarmored AC = 10 + 2 (Dex) + 3 (Con) = 15

  With a shield, their AC is 15 + 2 (Shield) = 17

• Scenario 3: High Dex, High Con

  A Barbarian has a Dexterity of 16 (+3 modifier) and a Constitution of 18 (+4 modifier).

  Their Unarmored AC = 10 + 3 (Dex) + 4 (Con) = 17

  With a shield, their AC is 17 + 2 (Shield) = 19

These examples show how Unarmored Defense scales with ability score improvements. It also highlights that high Constitution is crucial to boosting your AC. If you’re aiming for an Unarmored build, prioritize improving your Constitution whenever possible.

Exploring Armor Options for Barbarians

Now that we have a good understanding of Unarmored Defense, let’s consider the alternative: wearing armor. Barbarians are proficient with light, medium armor, and shields. Here’s a breakdown of their most relevant options:

Light Armor

• Padded Armor: AC 11 + Dex modifier. Generally the worst option unless your Dex modifier is very high and your Constitution is low.
• Leather Armor: AC 11 + Dex modifier. Slightly better than padded, but still generally less effective than Unarmored Defense for most barbarians.
• Studded Leather Armor: AC 12 + Dex modifier. Better than the previous two light armor options but usually still worse then unarmored defense for most barbarians.

Medium Armor

• Hide Armor: AC 12 + Dex modifier (max +2). This can be a good starting option if you roll poorly for Dexterity and Constitution during character creation.
• Chain Shirt: AC 13 + Dex modifier (max +2). This could be better than unarmored if your constitution is very low and you are focused on other attributes instead.
• Scale Mail: AC 14 + Dex modifier (max +2). This is a viable armor option if you have low constitution and need a better AC than you can achieve with Unarmored Defense.
• Breastplate: AC 14 + Dex modifier (max +2). The same AC as scale mail but without disadvantage on stealth, making this better overall.
• Half Plate: AC 15 + Dex modifier (max +2). The best AC you can achieve with medium armor but usually not better than unarmored defense if you’re properly optimized.

Heavy Armor

Barbarians are not proficient with heavy armor, meaning they have disadvantage on any Strength-based checks, saving throws, or attack rolls that rely on Strength while wearing it and thus its a bad choice in most situations for a barbarian.

Shields

As mentioned previously, shields work with both Unarmored Defense and armor, granting +2 AC regardless. Shields are recommended on all barbarians.

Comparing Unarmored Defense vs. Armor

Now let’s directly compare the two approaches to see when each is more beneficial:

When Unarmored Defense Shines

• High Constitution and Dexterity: If you’ve prioritized these two ability scores, your Unarmored AC will likely be higher than any medium armor, especially early on.
• Early Levels: At lower levels, your Constitution and Dexterity modifiers will likely be more impactful than the base AC of most medium armor.
• Roleplaying Flavor: An unarmored Barbarian can evoke a primal, wild feel, perfectly fitting some character concepts.
• Mobility: Armor does not impose a penalty to movement speed however it can be limiting to your roleplaying choices depending on the type of armor and character concept.

When Armor Is Better

• Low Constitution: If your Constitution is unusually low (either due to poor rolls or character concept), armor will provide a more reliable AC.
• Poor Dexterity: If your Dexterity is also low, then the AC provided by medium armor might be higher than what your Unarmored Defense provides.
• Magic Armor: Magic armor can have substantial benefits (+1, +2, +3 AC, or more). If you find a very strong magic armor, it can be a significant upgrade.

Detailed Steps to Decide if Your Barbarian Should Wear Armor

Here’s a detailed step-by-step process to help you determine whether to wear armor or go unarmored:

1. Determine your Ability Scores: Start by noting your Dexterity and Constitution scores and calculate their modifiers. These are the most important for your AC calculation.
2. Calculate Your Unarmored AC: Add 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier. Note this number.
3. List Available Armor Options: Look through the medium armor options you have access to. Note the base AC for each armor.
4. Calculate Armor AC: For each armor, add its base AC + your Dexterity modifier (up to +2 max). Note these AC values.
5. Compare: Compare the AC of each armor option against your Unarmored AC. If your Unarmored AC is higher (or tied), you should generally go unarmored. If an armor option is better than your unarmored AC, or if you are focused on Strength or other attributes besides Dex/Con, you should consider using that armor.
6. Consider Magic Items: If you have magic armor, recalculate the AC with the magic bonus and compare. Magic armor is typically a game changer and means you should use the armor you have been given.
7. Add Shield: Whichever route you take, ensure that you add a shield to the calculation.
8. Consider Roleplaying and Character Concept: Do you want a wild, primal warrior? An armored, brute? This can inform your final choice.

Optimizing Your Unarmored Barbarian

If you decide to go the unarmored route, here’s how to optimize your character:

• Prioritize Constitution: Constitution should be one of your top two ability scores. Max it out as soon as you can.
• Prioritize Dexterity: Dexterity is also important for your AC and for other skills so aim to have this ability score as high as you can as well.
• Take feats that help with AC: Feats such as Tough, Shield Master, Mobile, or Defensive Duelist can help with your defense.
• Consider Multiclassing: If your campaign goes to high levels, consider multiclassing into classes like Monk for an additional boost to your Unarmored Defense or Fighter for proficiency in heavy armor. However, this is generally not advised for your standard Barbarian build.
• Always Use a Shield: Shields are a must for unarmored Barbarians, offering a reliable +2 AC.
• Use Spells and Magic Items: Look for spells or magic items that boost AC or give you other defensive options.

Optimizing Your Armored Barbarian

If you decide that an armored barbarian is the best choice, here are a few points to consider:

• Prioritize Strength: You will have already given less consideration to Constitution and Dexterity, so focus on your damage output by prioritizing Strength.
• Consider feats that complement your build: Feats such as Great Weapon Master or Polearm Master work well with an armored barbarian.
• Look for magic armor: As stated earlier, magic armor is a big upgrade and will most likely mean that armor is the best option.
• Use a shield: Always use a shield unless you are using a two-handed weapon, in which case you will need to carefully consider your defensive options.

Specific Scenarios and Examples

Let’s dive into some specific scenarios to further illustrate when to choose armor vs unarmored:

Scenario 1: The Low Con Barbarian

A player rolls their stats and ends up with a 13 Constitution (+1 modifier), 14 Dexterity (+2 modifier) and a 16 Strength (+3 modifier). Their starting Unarmored AC would be 10 + 2 + 1 = 13. With a shield it will be 15 AC. The player is using a greataxe so they cannot use a shield and will instead use their unarmored AC of 13. Meanwhile, Scale Mail Armor provides an AC of 14 + 2 (Dex modifier) = 16. Thus, Scale Mail or a Breastplate is the better choice for this Barbarian, since they can reach 16AC vs 13AC.

Scenario 2: The High Con, High Dex Barbarian

A player rolls incredibly well and ends up with a 18 Constitution (+4 modifier) and 16 Dexterity (+3 modifier) and 16 Strength (+3 modifier). Their starting Unarmored AC would be 10 + 3 + 4 = 17. With a shield, it will be 19 AC. The player wants to use a one-handed weapon and a shield. The best medium armor option, Half Plate, would provide 15 + 2 (Dex modifier) = 17 AC. With a shield this will be 19AC. They could use half plate but they would get the same AC as unarmored. This player should use their Unarmored Defense, even if they take penalties for stealth.

Scenario 3: The Magic Armor Barbarian

A player starts with a 15 Constitution (+2 modifier) and 14 Dexterity (+2 modifier) and 16 Strength (+3 modifier). Their Unarmored AC would be 10 + 2 + 2 = 14. With a shield, it would be 16 AC. However, the player found a magical +1 chain mail shirt. It would provide 13 (Chain Shirt) + 1 (Magical) + 2 (Dex) = 16 AC. Thus they would have an AC of 18 with a shield. This player should switch to using the magic armor.

Conclusion: It’s All About Optimization

Whether your Barbarian should wear armor is not a straightforward yes or no answer. It depends on several factors, most importantly your Dexterity and Constitution scores, the magic items available, and ultimately your roleplaying intentions for your character. By understanding the math behind Unarmored Defense and available armor options, you can make the best choice for your Barbarian. Remember, it’s all about optimization and creating a character that is both effective and fun to play. It also comes down to the character concept you are going for and there is no inherently right or wrong decision, as long as you understand the math that goes into it. The most important part of D&D is having fun, so don’t be afraid to do what is best for your game and for the story you want to tell!