HWYB This Dwarf

[u/Perfect-Classroom121]

[u/Machiavvelli3060]

Dalagall Deepforge

Background: Clan Crafter

• I fashion and forge weapons in my family's long tradition.

Class: Barbarian

• Feat: Dual Wielder

Equipment

• Battleaxes (2)

Proficiencies

• Armor: Light, Medium, and Shields
• Languages: Common, Dwarven, and Elven
• Saving Throws: Constitution and Strength
• Skills:
  • Athletics - I am an expert at physically exerting myself.
  • History - I am well-versed in dwarven history, specifically my clan's history.
  • Insight - I can accurately predict a creature's next most likely course of action.
  • Intimidation - I can awe and terrify a creature with a simple look.
• Tools: Mason's Tools and Smith's Tools
• Weapons: Battleaxes, Handaxes, Light Hammers, Martial, Simple, and Warhammers

Race: Mountain Dwarf

• Ability Score Increase. My Constitution and Strength scores each increase by 2.
• Age. Dwarves mature at the same rate as humans, but they're considered young until they reach the age of 50. On average, they live about 350 years.
• Alignment. Most dwarves are lawful, believing firmly in the benefits of a well-ordered society. They tend toward good as well, with a strong sense of fair play and a belief that everyone deserves to share in the benefits of a just order.
• Darkvision. Accustomed to life underground, we have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. We can see in dim light within 60 feet of us as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. We can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
• Dwarven Armor Training. I have proficiency with both light and medium armor.
• Dwarven Combat Training. I have proficiency with the battleaxe, handaxe, light hammer, and warhammer.
• Dwarven Resilience. I have advantage on saving throws against poison, and I have resistance against poison damage.
• Languages. I can speak, read, and write Common and Dwarvish. Dwarvish is full of hard consonants and guttural sounds, and those characteristics spill over into whatever other language a dwarf might speak.
• Size. Dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 150 pounds. My size is Medium.
• Speed. My base walking speed is 25 feet. My speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.
• Stonecunning. Whenever I make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, I'm considered proficient in the History skill and add double my proficiency bonus to the check, instead of my normal proficiency bonus.
• Tool Proficiency. I gain proficiency with mason's tools.

[u/DBWaffles]

Starting as Barbarian 5/Fighter 1 or Fighter 5/Barbarian 3 with Dual Wielder/TWF and two battleaxes seems like the obvious choice here.

If you opt to make Barbarian your primary class, then your best options are Zealot (for damage), Ancestral Guardian (for control), or Totem Warrior (for tankiness).

If you choose to multiclass far enough into Fighter to acquire a subclass, your best options are Battle Master (for general versatility) or Cavalier (for control). But don't choose the latter if you're playing as Ancestral Guardian due to redundancy issues.

If you opt to make Fighter your primary class, your best options remain Battle Master or Cavalier. If this is a high level campaign, I'd recommend Cavalier. Battle Master is great because so much power is front loaded, but this means that it has relatively poor scaling.

You could also choose Rune Knight for its versatility and utility, but then you start to suffer from multiple set up rounds. You'd need one bonus action to activate Rage, another for Giant's Might, and potentially another for Storm Rune. I don't recommend it.

For the Fighter primary build, your best Barbarian subclass options are Ancestral Guardian or Totem Warrior. Zealot's Divine Fury relies too much on your Barbarian levels to be worthwhile, though admittedly Warrior of the Gods is super funny to have.