Leonin Barbarian 5e D&D Guide

This mighty warrior stands tall, their fur the color of the sun’s first light, flowing in the wind like a majestic mane. Their eyes, gleaming like emeralds, hold the secrets of ancient battles and the wisdom of countless triumphs.

When the Leonin Barbarian enters the fray, they become a force of untamed fury. Unleashing primal instincts inherited from their feline ancestors, their muscles ripple with raw power.

As they grow in power, the Leonin Barbarian taps into their ancestral heritage. They embody the primal spirit of the wilderness, blending their innate feline agility with the uncaged might of the raging storm.

So, should you encounter a Leonin Barbarian on your adventures, remember this: their strength lies not only in their sinewy muscles but in their unwavering spirit and untamed heart. With them by your side, victory becomes an inevitability, and legends are born anew.

Creating a Leonin Barbarian

Leonin

Leonin are the guardians of the Oreskos, a shining, almost golden-like plain where even gods rarely trespass. The prides of the nomadic Leonin seldom interact with other races, as their homeland provides them with everything they need.

The Leonin are also very suspicious of others, as they remember how they were once betrayed, vowing to keep away from the treachery of strangers. 

However, there are some Leonin who wonder what lies beyond the borders of Oreskos, wishing to one day traverse the mountains and test themselves in an alien world.

Note: These features can be slightly changed or modified if some variations don’t fit your character.

Leonin Subraces

The lands of Oreskos consist of many prides of Leonin, but there aren’t any subraces, mainly due to their isolationist nature.

Barbarian Class Features

Hit Points

Proficiencies

Barbarian Primal Paths

Arriving at level 3 allows you to choose from 8 different Barbarian Primal Paths. Each path has a different playstyle, so choose the one that you find specifically interesting, or that fits your character most.

Ancestral Guardian – Ancestral Guardians revere their ancestors, using ancestral guardian spirits for aid. These spirits bolster their fighting spirits and strengthen them physically, allowing them to fight off even the toughest foes.

Battlerager (Dwarfs only) – Called Kuldjargh (translating to “axe idiot”) by the dwarfs, Battleragers worship the gods of war. 

They wear bulky armor adorned with spikes, needlessly throwing themselves into battle, using even their body as a weapon, and surrendering their sanity to the fury of battle.

Beast – Path of the Beast Barbarians draw their fury from the beast dwelling deep within their soul. If they let it take over, they physically transform, gaining many benefits.

Note: You may describe the origin of your bestial powers or roll for it.

Berserker – Berserkers use their rage to become unfathomably violent, entering a frenzy and getting a thrill like no other from battle. 

In many cases, their fury overwhelms their rational thoughts, causing them to ignore their health and well-being.

Storm Herald – Storm Heralds are taught to transform their rage into a mantle of primal magic that whirls around them, and when enraged, they create powerful magical effects.

These Barbarians are known as nature’s protectors and are often found in the far reaches of the world, where they train with druids and rangers, keeping nature safe from those who would harm it.

Totem Warrior – Totem Warriors go on a spiritual journey, accepting a spirit animal as their guide, inspiration, and protector. In battle, the spirit fills them with magical power, giving them magical fuel for their rage.

Wild Magic – Wild Magic Barbarians feel the rampant magic of the Feywild and the Upper Planes, transforming them and manifesting the otherworldly magic of their ancestors.

Note: Elves, tieflings, aasimar, and genasi Barbarians often walk this path.

Zealot – Zealots are Barbarians who fight ferocious battles in the name of their deity, channeling their rage into powerful exhibits of divine power. Deities who inspire Zealots are usually gods of violence, destruction, and combat.

Combining Barbarian With Leonin

Determining Your Barbarian Subclass

Choosing your ideal subclass is subjective, but if your objective is optimization, try understanding what your character wants to do and what stats fit best with their subclass.

Optimal Leonin Subrace

Leonin don’t have any subraces, and that shouldn’t worry you since you want to become a Barbarian, which fits extremely well with a Leonin.

Leonin have bonuses to their Constitution (2) and Strength (1) scores, which are both attributes Barbarians use the most. Leonin are also known to be extremely strong and ferocious, fitting well with the background of a Barbarian.

Just another thing, Leonin are giant humanoid lions. What’s cooler than seeing a giant humanoid lion filled with rage and ready to demolish entire armies – yeah, that’s right, nothing!

Your Leonin Barbarian Background

Your Leonin Barbarian needs a unique background that will affect its choices, as well as the way it sees the world and what it wants to achieve.

Start by asking yourself some basic questions: Where were they born, and where did they come from? Do they have any goals, bonds, or ideals, and what are their flaws? Where do they belong in social circles and society as a whole? What inspires them?

Place of Birth

Think of the environment a Leonin Barbarian grew up in and how it affected them physically and emotionally and eventually shaped their view of the world.

Try to make their place of birth and upbringing correspond with their personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws – this will truly bring their character alive.

Note: The birthplaces of races are usually mentioned in the Player’s Handbook or some of its expansion books.

Characteristics and Personality Traits 

Leonin Barbarians are very proud creatures, yet they have a rage within them which, when triggered, can cause them to battle entire armies without another thought.

Leonin Barbarian Examples:

• I judge people based solely on their actions, not their words.

• Thinking is for other people. I prefer action.

Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws

Ideal – Express one ideal that is a driving force in a Leonin Barbarian’s life – their conviction, ethical principle, and moral standing (probably something about nature).

I see no good in pretending to be something I’m not.

Bonds – Think of a single bond that your Leonin Barbarian has to an event, person, or place. Bonds will tie them to their background and can inspire bravery or stimulate memories driving them against their ideals.

I worked the land, I love the land, and I will protect the land.

Flaws – Choose a single flaw for a Leonin Barbarian – their unhealthy compulsion, greatest fear/weakness, or most vile vice.

I judge others harshly and myself even more severely.

Inspiration

Inspiration can be used by the DM to reward you for playing according to your bond, personality traits, ideals, and flaw.

As a Leonin Barbarian, I struggle to suppress my primal range, often slipping out if situations become heated.

Note: If you’re struggling to create your background or just don’t want to think, the Player’s Handbook has well-thought-through backgrounds that you can use for your character or use as a mold.

Supplies and Gear For Leonin Barbarians

Barbarians start with the following equipment, together with the equipment from their background. Choosing equipment based on your situation and your character’s proficiencies is the easiest way to go about things.

• (a) Greataxe or (b) Any martial melee weapon
• (a) Two handaxes or (b) Any simple weapon
• Four javelins and an explorer’s pack

You can decide how your character came about these goods – whether they stole, inherited, or purchased them some time back – adding to your character’s background.

Note: By using your starting wealth, you can buy your own equipment (2d4 x 10 GP for Barbarians).

Final Thoughts

Leonin Barbarians are some of the strongest recruits you’ll encounter when adventuring in D&D. Their immense pride and powerful build make them difficult to approach, but if you do, make sure you send your best warrior as they enjoy speaking of war.

If you are able to befriend a Leonin Barbarian, they’ll stay by your side and fight for as long as they live. Just make sure you start off on its good side because nobody wants to see an angry Leonin Barbarian.

You might also be interested in:

• Bugbear Fighter
• Bugbear Monk
• Leonin Paladin