Path of Mistwood
Gaelin appeared from the mist and fell into the rage-fueled rhythms of the mist dance, his axes becoming deadly extensions of himself…
Gaelin, Barbarian of the Path of Mistwood
The first barbarians that traveled the path of mistwood were elves who expanded upon their natural gifts to become masters of the forests. Over time, members of other races who saw the need to protect and cherish the green places of the world joined and learned from them. Often these warriors haunt the woods alone, only seen when called to action by something that would despoil their home.
Building a Path of Mistwood Barbarian
Path of Mistwood barbarians specialize in the use of thrown weapons, and unlike many other barbarians, are adept at taking their enemies by surprise. Keep the following traits and abilities in mind when building your character:
Bonus Proficiency - You gain proficiency in the Stealth skill and one other barbarian class skill.
Mistwood Defender - While raging, you can add your Rage Damage to your thrown weapon attacks, as well as draw and throw a thrown weapon as a bonus action.
From the Mist - You can cast the misty step spell a limited number of times a day, and are able to make an attack with a thrown weapon as part of the same bonus action before or after the spell. Additionally, your vision is not hindered by either mist or fog.
Mist Dance - When you attack while raging, you can make one attack against each nearby creature. You can only do this a limited number of times a day.
War Band’s Passage - When you cast misty step, you can bring up to two willing creatures with you.
Path of Mistwood barbarian’s unique ability to add their rage bonus to thrown weapons makes them effective at both close and mid-range. Their proficiency in Stealth also means that they can fulfill a scout-like role for the party. If they are caught unaware, their From the Mist trait means that they can quickly get out of danger and return to warn the rest of the party. Their Mist Dance ability allows them to become a fearsome force in any battle, especially when they are surrounded. There are number of thrown weapons that are suitable for you to use, including a dagger, handaxe, javelin, light hammer, or spear, among others, so you should be able to find one that fits your particular playstyle and aesthetic. Their capstone feature War Band’s Passage can allow them to get allies out of danger quickly, or get them behind the enemy line to sow chaos. How you choose to use these abilities will likely depend on the make-up of the rest of your adventuring party.
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to picking your race, especially if your gamemaster allows the optional rules variant to customize racial ability modifiers. However, some races may possess certain racial features that grant them an additional edge when it comes to particular classes.
Half-orcs and dragonborn are both great options for a barbarian, with the Savage Attacks and Relentless Endurance of a half-orc offering both offensive and defensive capabilities, and the dragonborn’s breath weapon offering you a way to deal damage in a large area. Another great option from the Core Content Pack is the minotaur, whose charge attack could prove particularly effective if you were to first misty step behind the enemy frontlines and charge their more vulnerable backline. Lastly, if you want to lean into the lore of the subclass, you could go with an elf, given that they were the original followers of this path.
Roleplaying Tips
When roleplaying as a Path of Mistwood barbarian, it helps to ask what drove your character to pursue this particular path? Many barbarians tend to operate with less subtly, charging loudly into the fray, while your kind are more likely to approach in cold silence. Does that same quiet intensity in battle translate to how you interact with others in roleplaying situations? If so, perhaps you won’t pursue the stereotype of the loud and gregarious barbarian, opting instead for a more subdued, but equally intimidating personality.
Your roleplaying may also be informed by the background that you choose. Hunter and Infantry are both safe choices for a barbarian, especially if you want to emphasize your prowess in combat. In either case, you should consider what kind of organization you were a part of. Was it a nomadic tribe, a rag-tag mercenary group, or a highly-trained military organization? This choice may later influence how you interact with others outside of that organization. As always, whatever path you choose to follow, be sure to ask yourself why it is you’ve sought out the company of an adventuring party, and use that to guide your roleplaying in the future.
How to Access this Content
This subclass was created by our partners at Kobold Press, and it is one of the many available to subscribers, along with others like the Way of the Dragon Spirit or the Elementalist, as well as races such as the Shade or Spindrift Dwarf. Learn about these and others by checking out the rest of our Character Choices series.
Build your own Path of Mistwood barbarian and tell us about it in the comments below or on any of our social channels. Join us on Discord, Reddit or Facebook to meet other members of the community and take your game to the next level, or follow us on Twitter @shardtabletop for regular updates.
