Path of the Strong

Barbarians who walk the Path of the Strong have learned the depths of their powerlessness and decided to augment their strength through the power of steroids. They’ve relinquished weapons and martial techniques, trusting only in what others can never take away: the bodies they’ve sculpted through hard work and enough substances to kill any normal humanoid.

These barbarians’ rage is sourced from a deep sense of pride and indignation. They wish to prove that their sacrifices mattered and made them strong.

The Only Armor You Need

Starting at 3rd level, your muscles are strengthened through steroids and can resist absurd force. While you are not wearing any armor, your armor class equals 10 + your Strength modifier + your Constitution modifier. You cannot use shields and benefit from this feature and this feature cannot raise your AC above 22.

Additionally, you can flex hard enough to negate damage. While you are raging and take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d6. Add your Strength modifier to the number rolled, and reduce the damage by that total. The damage you reduce with this feature occurs before you apply resistance. You can use this reaction a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus until you finish a long rest.

The Only Guns You Need

Starting at 3rd level, you’ve realized that weapons and techniques are tools of the weak. Your muscular might provides all of the power you need. You deal 1d8 bludgeoning damage with your unarmed strikes when you are not wielding a weapon in either hand.

While you’re raging, the first creature you hit on each of your turns with an unarmed strike takes extra bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + half your barbarian level.

Overwhelming Strength

At 6th level, your strength has begun to surpass human limits. While raging, your Strength score and maximum for your Strength score increases by 2. At 14th level, this increase becomes 4, and at 20th level, your Strength score is increased by 6 and your Strength score maximum becomes 30.

You also count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Finally, your unarmed strikes count as magical for the purpose of overcoming resistance and immunity to nonmagical attacks and damage.

The Brain is A Muscle

At 10th level, you’ve realized your brain is like a muscle and you can use it in similarly wondrous ways. In two skills of your choice, you can use Strength rather than any other stat to make checks with these skills. You also gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.

Martyr of Muscles

At 14th level, you’ve developed an intimate understanding of your muscles and can manipulate them to maximize their efficiency and power. When an unarmed strike you make when you take the Attack action reduces a creature’s hit points below your half your barbarian level, they are reduced to 0 hit points and you can make another unarmed strike on your turn. If you hit a different creature with this additional unarmed strike, you can add the extra damage from The Only Guns I Need.

Additionally, you can choose to unleash the monstrous power of your muscles as an action. You make an unarmed strike against a creature. If the strike hits, the creature takes an additional 10d10 bludgeoning damage as you condense each muscle fiber in order to release its explosive full power on the unfortunate soul. If the strike misses, the creature takes half of the damage it would have on a hit. Once you use this action, you cannot do so again until you finish a long rest.