Path of the Giant Guide for Beginners: Mastering the Giant Barbarian in D&D 5e

The Path of the Giant Barbarian from Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants brings mythic power and elemental fury to the Barbarian class. Unlike other Barbarians, who rely purely on brute strength, Giant Barbarians channel primal magic from the elemental forces of the giants, growing in size and wielding massive weapons with overwhelming force.

If you love the idea of towering over your foes, throwing enemies across the battlefield, and wielding the raw might of the giants, this subclass is for you!

Why Play a Path of the Giant Barbarian?

Key Benefits

• Giant’s Power – Grow in size and increase your reach in melee.
• Elemental Damage – Add force, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage to your attacks.
• Throwing Enemies and Objects – Toss creatures and boulders like a true giant!
• Tankiness with Utility – You’re not just a damage dealer; you can manipulate the battlefield.

Compared to other Barbarian subclasses, Giant Barbarians bring unique versatility, allowing them to fight in melee and at range while controlling enemy movement.

Core Features

Key Mechanics and Abilities

• Giant’s Havoc (Level 3)

  • When you rage, you grow to Large size.
  • Your weapon attacks gain +5 feet of reach.
  • You can deal elemental damage (force, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder) equal to your Rage bonus.

  Example: A greataxe normally has 5 feet of reach, but with Giant’s Havoc, you swing at enemies 10 feet away!

• Elemental Cleaver (Level 6)

  • Your weapon attacks are now magical and deal extra elemental damage (1d6 per hit).
  • You can throw weapons up to 20/60 feet, returning them to your hand like Thor’s Mjolnir.

  Example: You throw your massive greataxe, hitting an enemy 60 feet away, and it magically returns to you!

• Mighty Impel (Level 10)

  • Use a bonus action to throw a creature within 30 feet.
  • The creature moves 30 feet in any direction (if they fail a STR save).

  Example: You grab a goblin and hurl it off a cliff or into another enemy!

• Demiurgic Colossus (Level 14)

  • Grow to Huge size when raging.
  • Your reach increases by another 5 feet (now 15 feet total).
  • Your Elemental Cleaver damage increases to 2d6 per hit.

  Example: At Huge size, you swing your giant sword across a massive area, hitting multiple enemies at once!

Suggested Ability Scores

• Primary: Strength – Core stat for melee damage.
• Secondary: Constitution – Increases HP and tankiness.
• Tertiary: Dexterity or Wisdom – Helps with AC, saves, and perception.

Recommended Races

To match the giant heritage, the best races include:

• Goliath – Built-in resistance to cold and great Strength bonuses.
• Firbolg – Lore-friendly giant kin with natural magic.
• Orc (or Half-Orc) – Savage Attacks + STR bonus fits perfectly.
• Minotaur – Already large and powerful, with built-in charge abilities.

Playing as a Path of the Giant Barbarian

Role in a Party

• Frontline Bruiser: Your extra reach and size make you a natural tank.
• Battlefield Controller: Throw enemies, block paths, and manipulate positioning.
• Damage Dealer: Massive weapon swings + elemental damage = high burst potential.

Compared to other Barbarians, Giant Barbarians excel at controlling space, making them an excellent choice for protecting allies while dealing serious damage.

Tips for New Players

• Use Your Reach. Stay out of enemy range while still attacking.
• Throw Enemies Off the Map! Mighty Impel is great for throwing enemies into pits, traps, or lava.
• Pick the Right Element. Force damage is rarely resisted, while fire or lightning can exploit weaknesses.
• Use Thrown Weapons. Your magic weapon recall lets you fight at range when necessary.

Roleplay Suggestions

• The Titanborn Warrior – A mortal descendant of ancient giants, struggling to control their immense power.
• The Colossal Gladiator – A warrior who fights in massive coliseums, terrifying crowds with their size.
• The Walking Earthquake – A shamanic warrior, channeling the power of the elements to shake the battlefield.

Gear and Dice Recommendations

Suggested Equipment

• Weapons:
  • Greatsword / Greataxe – Best for high-damage swings with extra reach.
  • Warhammer – Elemental Cleaver turns this into Thor’s hammer.
• Armor:
  • Unarmored Defense – Works well with high CON.
  • Magic Items:
    • Belt of Giant Strength – Thematic AND overpowered (up to STR 29!).
    • Gauntlets of Ogre Power – Great for early-level STR boosts.
    • Ring of the Ram – Extra force-based knockback attacks.

Dice Recommendations from Runic Dice

Enhance your character's persona with these thematic dice sets:

• Titan’s Wrath: For massive, earth-shattering attacks, consider the Gemstone Zoisite Polyhedral DND Dice Set. Handcrafted from genuine zoisite gemstone, these dice exhibit a robust and earthy appearance, embodying the immense power of a titan's strike.
• Stormcaller: If you favor lightning and thunder damage, the Black Inked Lightning Cracked Glass DND Dice Set is an excellent choice. Featuring a striking cracked glass design with black inked numerals, these dice evoke the raw energy of a storm, perfect for channeling tempestuous forces.
• Molten Fury: For fire-themed destruction, perfect for a fiery giant, the Red and Gold Glitter Liquid Core Resin DND Dice Set is ideal. Displaying shimmering red and gold tones with a dynamic liquid core, these dice capture the essence of molten lava and unbridled fury.

Advanced Tips and Tricks

Optimization Strategies

• Feats:

  • Polearm Master – Extra attacks when enemies enter your reach (15 ft at high levels!).
  • Great Weapon Master – Extra melee damage for massive swings.
  • Crusher – Knock enemies away when you hit them!

• Multiclassing:

  • Fighter (Rune Knight) – Giant-themed synergy + extra damage.
  • Wizard (Bladesinging) – Cast Enlarge/Reduce on yourself for more absurd growth.
  • Sorcerer (Storm) – Gain lightning-based spells to match your elemental fury.

Advanced Builds

• The Titan Crusher – Focus on knockback effects, reach, and polearm combos.
• The Stormborn Giant – Take lightning-based spells through multiclassing.
• The Hulking Brute – Maximize damage resistance and battlefield presence.

The Path of the Giant Barbarian is one of the most fun and versatile Barbarian subclasses in D&D 5e. With massive size, increased reach, and elemental power, it blends pure melee force with tactical battlefield control. Whether you want to be a raging colossus smashing foes beneath your feet or a strategic warrior throwing enemies across the battlefield, the Giant Barbarian offers limitless fun and power.