Path of Necromancy - Barbarian Subclass (Legendary Archive) (Patreon)

Barbarians who follow the Path of Necromancy draw on dark powers to control the dead. They make deals with hidden forces or command the souls of those who have passed away. These Barbarians are often avoided and distrusted by those who celebrate life, but their control over the undead makes them powerful friends for those who are not afraid to join forces with them.

They learn to use their rage to reach into the shadows and pull forth servants from the afterlife, using their will to give these creatures purpose. In battle, they are surrounded by the zombies and spirits they command, making them as much a general of the dead as they are a force of destruction.

This path is not just about power over death, but about understanding the thin line between life and the hereafter. Barbarians on this path may seek knowledge in forbidden places, learn ancient rituals, and even carry tokens of the dead. They may be outcasts, but in their solitude, they find strength and a unique kind of honor. The spirits that follow them are not just tools but can be the remnants of comrades, enemies, or lost loved ones given a chance to fight again.

In the heat of their rage, these Barbarians' presence on the battlefield can change the tide of war. Their allies know that with a necromantic Barbarian’s fury comes the might of the restless dead, and enemies learn to fear the relentless power of a warrior who commands death itself.

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Undead Minions

When you choose this path at 3rd level, when you reduce a humanoid enemy to 0 hit points, you can use a bonus action and expend a use of your Rage to raise it as a zombie. It follows your commands, and it lasts for 1 minute. You can only have one zombie at a time at this level.

At 10th level, zombies you raise with Undead Minions count as Large and gain extra hit points equal to twice your Barbarian level. At 14th level, you can raise three zombies instead of one.

Necrotic Rage

Starting at 6th level, your rage takes on a necromantic aspect. While raging, you can surround yourself with a necrotic aura. This aura extends 5 feet from you in every direction, but not through total cover. Your aura has these effects:

• Any enemy that starts its turn in the aura takes necrotic damage equal to your proficiency bonus.
• Enemies that start their turn in the aura have disadvantage on saving throws against effects that cause the frightened condition.

Unholy Recklessness

At 10th level, the zombies you raise with Undead Minions have weapon attacks that count as magical for overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage. When you use Reckless Attack, one of your minions gains the benefits of Reckless Attack until the start of your next turn (your choice).

Bonecrusher's Critical

At 14th level, when you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, one minion of your choice gains a critical hit range of 18-20 for its next attack. Additionally, when a zombie hits with an attack, you can use your reaction to expend one Hit Die, adding the amount rolled as extra necrotic damage to the zombie's attack.