The 15 Best Armor For Barbarians in D&D 5e [Ranked]

The world of D&D lets adventurers pick and choose between various armors, shields, and defensive trinkets.

However, some armors stand out above the rest, fitting an adventurer’s background, build, flavor and simply giving more useful stats to that character.

In the case of Barbarians, their backstories and playstyles mainly have them don medium armor, use shields, and wear belts.

Barbarians are known for their damage, but what good does it do if you deal a ton of damage but can’t live long enough to dish it out? That’s why high AC and armor can be so important to a Barbarian.

Barbarian Armor Proficiency

• Light armor
• Medium armor
• Shields

Best Armor for the Barbarian in 5e

15. Shield

Armor Class (AC): +2

Strength: –

Stealth: –

Weight: 6 lbs

Cost: 10 GP

Explanation

Barbarians don’t often take shields, as their whole playstyle revolves around chopping off heads and getting as much damage in as possible.

However, that’s not the only efficient way they can play. For Barbarians who want to be a Defender but also want more AC, they can always pick up a shield and combine it with a Rapier.

It won’t deal as much damage as a two-handed Barbarian build, but the extra AC will keep you alive longer and let you dish out even more damage in a battle.

14. Mantle of Spell Resistance

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Gain advantage on saving throws against spells while wearing this cloak.

Explanation

Barbarians are already pretty tough because of the resistance embedded in their class features.

However, when it comes to spells, these resistances aren’t of much help, and they start to show signs of struggle.

The Mantle of Spell Resistance is a perfect way to fill the gaps that spells usually target, like their low Intelligence, Charisma, or even Wisdom ability scores. This leaves Barbarians with ample defense against spells.

13. Armor of Resistance

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Armor (heavy, medium, or light)

Description

Gain resistance to one damage type while wearing this armor. The DM will choose the type, or it can be randomly determined by the table below.

Explanation

Sometimes, you know or can make out which enemies you’ll be facing and what their damage types will be.

In those occasions, and others where certain damage types are extremely common, the Armor of Resistance can prove to be a vital addition to a Barbarian.

Luckily, the resistance they obtain doesn’t rely entirely on their rolls. They can also ask a DM to give them a specific resistance, but that gives the DM a chance to interject and create a special “side-quest” to obtain the resistance.

12. Cloak of Protection

Rarity – Uncommon (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Gain +1 bonus to AC and saving throws while wearing the cloak.

Explanation

Having a flat +1 bonus to AC is probably one of the best statistics you can pick up as a Barbarian. It does more for you than most other armors, only providing resistance or advantage against certain abilities.

However, if you want even more AC, I recommend you combine the Cloak of Protection with the Ring of Protection, giving you a total of +2 AC without needing a shield.

Note: Just keep in mind that both items require attunement.

11. Animated Shield

Rarity – Very Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Armor (shield)

Description

Holding the shield and speaking its command word with a bonus action makes the shield animate. It leaps into the air and starts to hover in your space, protecting you as if you’re wielding it (your hands are free).

It remains animated for 1 minute until you’re incapacitated, die, or until a bonus action is used to end its effect. When this happens, the shield will fall to the ground or into your hand if one of your hands is free.

Explanation

If you want a shield but still want to fight using a two-handed weapon, you should take Animated Shield.

You’ll be protected by a shield, but without the shield ever being in your hands, and with a 1-minute duration, it’s safe to say that it’ll last you through an entire battle.

All in all, picking up the Animated Shield is a great way to dish out more damage using a two-handed weapon but also being able to have a shield at the same time.

10. Bracers of Defense

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing these bracers means you gain a +2 to AC if you aren’t wearing armor or using a shield.

Explanation

The Bracers of Defense is a go-to piece of armor for a Barbarian who’s interested in using Unarmored Defense.

While it’ll be difficult with Unarmored Defense in the early game, it quickly picks up as you gain more ability scores, and once you get your hands on the Bracers of Defense, you’ll have enough AC to last you the entire game.

9. Ring of Free Action

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Ring

Description

Wearing this ring means difficult terrain doesn’t cost extra movement. In addition, magic can neither cause you to become paralyzed or restrained nor reduce your speed.

Explanation

Barbarians rely on their speed to get as close as possible to their enemies so they can hack them to pieces.

With the Ring of Free Action, it becomes easier to reach your enemies, even over difficult terrain. It also works well when fighting against magical slows, which is a Barbarian’s greatest weakness.

You could combine the Ring of Free Action with the Mantle of Spell Resistance to become a mage-killer!

8. Mizzium Armor

Rarity – Rare

Item Type – Armor (heavy or medium, but not hide)

Description

This armor is magically reinforced with the enhanced metal alloy mizzium, made in Izzet foundries. Wearing the armor means any critical hit against you will become a normal hit.

When subjected to magical effects allowing you to make a Strength or Constitution save to only take half damage, you will instead take no damage on a successful save.

Explanation

If you think Adamantine Armor is powerful, wait until you get your hands on Mizzium Armor.

Not only will you become immune to critical hits against you, but the fact that you take zero damage from Constitution and Strength saves for half damage means certain damage spells simply won’t work on you.

Mizzium Armor can also be put on medium armor, meaning you’ll have a field day if you want to avoid crits!

7. Ring of Evasion

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Ring

Description

This ring has 3 charges, regaining 1d3 expended charges each day at dawn. Failing a Dexterity save while wearing the ring means you can use your reaction to expend 1 charge to succeed on the save instead.

Explanation

Dexterity saves are some of the most common saves in D&D (not as common as Wisdom saves), and since Barbarians don’t typically build Dexterity, it’s a vital item to have.

It works best when you’re met with a roll that you HAVE to save, but if you don’t, then you can simply use the Ring of Evasion to correct it.

You can even use it to turn the tables on enemies that previously thought you were weak!

6. Belt of Dwarvenkind

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing this belt means you gain the following benefits:

• Constitution score increases by 2 (maxing out at 20)
• Gain advantage on Charisma (Persuasion) checks you make to interact with Dwarves.

Wearing the belt also means you have a 50% chance each dawn to grow a full beard if you’re capable of growing one or a thicker beard if you already have one.

Non-Dwarf characters gain additional benefits:

• Gain advantage on saving throws against Poison, and get resistance against Poison damage.
• Gain darkvision to a range of 60 feet.
• You can write, read, and speak Dwarvish.

Explanation

Even though the Belt of Dwarvenkind seems like an item meant for Dwarves, it benefits a wearer more if they aren’t a Dwarf.

It greatly improves your durability, gives you Poison resistance, which is one of the most common damage types, and even allows you to see in the dark.

I’d recommend the Belt of Dwarvenkind to any Barbarian who isn’t a Dwarf and wants some extra durability.

5. Winged Boots

Rarity – Uncommon (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing these boots gives you a flying speed equal to your walking speed. The boots can be used to fly for up to 4 hours, all at once, or used in several short flights using a minimum of 1 minute from the duration.

If you’re flying when the duration expires, you’ll descend at 30 feet per round until you’ve landed. The boots will regain 2 hours of flying capacity for every 12 hours they aren’t being used.

Explanation

Barbarians have a difficult time dealing with flying creatures as they leave their reach, and without a ranged weapon, it’s impossible to deal damage to them.

However, the Winged Boots not only solves that problem but allows for an overall improvement in movement as a Barbarian.

Even though the boots can’t fly as fast as the Broom of Flying, it doesn’t have a weight cap so you can use them as a 250 lb, 6 ft 6 Lizardman Barbarian.

4. Amulet of Health

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Your Constitution score rises to 19 while wearing this amulet. It will have no effect on you if your Constitution is at 19 or higher before wearing it.

Explanation

The Amulet of Health is one of the best armor pieces as a Barbarian, as it allows you to focus solely on ability scores other than Constitution.

However, it also increases your durability in the early game and allows you to invest more points into Strength without having to worry about Constitution.

You should also take into account that Barbarians add their Constitution modifier to their AC when unarmored, so it can greatly improve an unarmored Barbarian build throughout the early and mid-game.

3. Living Armor

Rarity – Very Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Armor (any)

Description

To attune to this armor, you must wear it for the entire attunement period, feeling as the tendrils on the inside burrow into you.

Wearing the armor gives you a +1 bonus to AC and bestows you with resistance to Necrotic, Poison, and Psychic damage types.

Symbiotic Nature – While attuned to you, the armor cannot be removed, and your attunement cannot be voluntarily ended. It can only be ended by a spell that ends the curse, detaching the armor from you.

The armor will require you to feed it fresh blood, and immediately after finishing any long rest, you must take 1 level of exhaustion or feed half of your remaining Hit Dice to the armor (rounded up).

Explanation

Living Armor functions by creating a symbiotic relationship between the wearer and the armor, similar to Venom.

The +1 to AC is good, but when you see that it also gives you Resistance to Necrotic, Poison, and Psychic damage, you understand that this armor is exceptionally powerful, especially against the undead.

However, the armor comes with a dark twist, as it yearns for fresh blood and cannot easily be removed except by magical means.

The Living Armor is one of the funniest and most intriguing armor out there, especially with all the different scenarios it can put the wearer and their party in.

2. Half Plate

Armor Class (AC): 15 + Dexterity modifier (max 2)

Strength: –

Stealth: –

Weight: 6 lbs

Cost: 10 GP

Explanation

Until you have high enough Dexterity and Constitution (+7 each), or if you want to wear normal armor, Half Plate will be your best bet for high AC, especially in the early game.

It gives disadvantage on stealth, but most Barbarians don’t care much for that, so expect to spend a lot of time in Half Plate.

1. Belt of Giant Strength

Rarity – Rare, Very Rare, or Legendary (all requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing the belt changes your Strength score with that granted by the belt. Having Strength equal to or greater than that of the belt mitigates any effects of the belt.

Six varieties of the belt exist, corresponding with and having rarity according to the six kinds of true giants.

Explanation

Belts of Giant Strength are Barbarian classics that are still highly praised to this day.

Their higher rarity version might be a bit difficult to find, but once you pick up the Hill Giant belt, it opens up a door for you to get your hands on the others.

Barbarians will mostly use Strength for their weapon attacks, so these belts are some of the best armor pieces you can get your hands on.

Note: You can also go for the Gauntlets of Ogre Power at earlier levels so that you don’t have to worry too much about your Strength and focus mainly on getting high levels of belts!

Final Thoughts

For the most part, each class in D&D has its most used or beloved armor that is both iconic and functional.

Though some of these armors might not be the best D&D armor overall, they remain the best option for that character at the moment.

A good example would be the choice between a set of medium armor and a magical shield, as both have their distinct features, but they also have varying usefulness that depend on your build.

In the end, whether you decide to take a conventional or unconventional armor, as long as you like it and it fits your playstyle, you should roll with it!