Abbreviations: In the following I am referring to Dungeons and Dragons as D&D, the Players Handbook as the PHB, the 2014 version as 5E and to the 2024 version as 5.5.

The D&D 5.5 PHB: Review of “Chapter 3, Character Classes, Barbarian”

I am assuming that the reader is familiar with the 5E PHB, so I am only commenting on things that are new or different from the 5E version.

The Barbarian Class

Note: This chapter contains the twelve character classes: Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard. Each class is presented with 4 subclasses that they all get at third level.
I will be reviewing each class as it is presented in the D&D 5.5 PHB. The first one is the Barbarian.

The descriptions below have been abbreviated. They are intended to serve as a guide to the changes. Please don’t consider these to be the rules, refer to the text in the book.

TRAITS

The Barbarian’s Primary ability, Hit Points, and Proficiencies haven’t changed. An interesting change in wording is that characters no longer have proficiency in armor, it is now called “Armor Training”, but it is functionally the same as Armor Proficiency in D&D 5E.
STARTING EQIPMENT: This has been simplified. It is now “Choose A or B: (A) Greataxe, 4 Handaxes, Explorer’s Pack, and 15 GP; or (B) 75 GP”

CLASS FEATURES

LEVEL 1, RAGE: The only change in the number of rages you get shows up in level 20 where it is reduced from unlimited to 6, the same number you get at level 19. You can now only enter rage if you aren’t wearing armor. In addition to getting all your rages back after a long rest, you now regain one use of rage with a short rest. When raging, you also do your rage damage when you make an unarmed strike. If you cast a spell before going into rage, you lose concentration when you rage. Rather than when knocked unconscious, it ends if you have the lncapacitated condition. It doesn’t end if you haven’t attacked anyone or taken damage. You can extend the rage if you; make an attack roll against an enemy, force an enemy to make a saving throw, or take a Bonus Action to extend your Rage. And you can maintain a Rage for up to 10 minutes.

LEVEL 1, UNARMORED DEFENSE: No change.
LEVEL 1, WEAPON MASTERY: Each weapon type now has a mastery property, which is useable only if you have this property.  (Barbarians, Fighters, Paladins, Rangers, and Rogues have this feature. Certain feats also give you this feature.) You can use the mastery property of two melee weapons at first level. The number increases with your level up to 4 weapons al level 10. On a long rest, you can change one of the weapons that you have mastery of.
LEVEL 2, DANGER SENSE: Same as before other than it dropped the requirement that you not be blinded or deafened.
LEVEL 2, RECKLESS ATTACK: Same other than it changed “during this turn” to “until the start of your next turn.” This will allow you to use it if using a reaction to attack.
LEVEL 3, BARBARIAN SUECLASS: (Described later)
LEVEL 3, PRIMAL KNOWLEDGE: (This one is new.) You get proficiency on another skill and, while raging, you can use your STR modifier when making one of these checks: Acrobatics, Intimidation, Perception, Stealth, or Survival.
LEVEL 4, ABILITY SCORE IMPROVEMENT: “You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat (see chapter 5) or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Barbarian levels 8. 12, and 16.” This is the same as it was in 5E, it just made the ability score improvement a feat, and lets you choose another feat instead if you want to. Another minor change is that you don’t get this at level 19 anymore, you will get an Epic Boon instead (see below).
LEVEL 5, EXTRA ATTACK: No change.
LEVEL 6, FAST MOVEMENT: No change.
LEVEL 7, FERAL INSTINCT: No change other than it dropped the part about if you are surprised at the beginning of combat, because of the change in the rules regarding surprise at the beginning of combat. (Refer to my post “D&D 5.5 PHB Review (Playing the Game and the Rules Glossary).”
LEVEL 7, INSTINCTIVE POUNCE: (This one is new.) “As part of the Bonus Action you take to enter your Rage, you can move up to half your Speed.”
LEVEL 9, BRUTAL STRIKE (Replaces Brutal Critical): You make a Reckless Attack, you roll without Advantage and if it hits, you deal an extra 1d10 damage, and either; Forceful Blow. Push the target 15 feet away from you. You can then move up to half your Speed straight toward the target without provoking Opportunity Attacks. Or Hamstring Blow. The target’s Speed is reduced by 15 feet until the start of your next turn.
LEVEL 11, RELENTLESS RAGE: The only difference is that if you make your CON save, your Hit Points change to a number equal to twice your Barbarian level instead of dropping to 1.
LEVEL l3, IMPROVED BRUTAL STRIKE: (This one is new.) “The following effects are now among your Brutal Strike options; Staggering Blow. The target has Disadvantage on the next saving throw it makes, and it can’t make Opportunity Attacks until the start of your next turn. Sundering Blow. Before the start of your next turn, the next attack roll made by another creature against the target gains a +5 bonus to the roll. An attack roll can gain only one Sundering Blow bonus.”
LEVEL 15, PERSISTENT RAGE: (This one has completely changed.) Once per long rest, when you roll Initiative, you regain all uses of Rage. Also, it lasts for 10 minutes unless you have the Unconscious condition (not just the lncapacitated condition) or don Heavy armor.
LEVEL 17, IMPROVED BRUTAL STRIKE: The extra damage increases to 2d10. And, you can use two different Brutal Strike effects.
LEVEL 18, INDOMITAELE MIGHT: (No change.)
LEVEL l9, EPIC BOON: All classes get an epic boon feat at 19^th level. There is a separate list of feats that are in the Epic Boon Category.
LEVEL 20, PRIMAL CHAMPION: Same as before, but the maximum score has been raised fro, 24 to 25.

SUBCLASSES

The D&D 5E PHB only has 2 subclasses; the Path of the Beserker and the Path of the Totem Warrior. The PHB 5.5 dropped the Path of the Totem Warrior and has the following has four.

PATH OF THE BERSERKER

LEVEL 3, FRENZY: (This one has completely changed.) If you use Reckless Attack while in a Rage, you deal an extra damage equal to your Rage Damage bonus number of d6s.
LEVEL 6, MINDLESS RAGE: Same as before, except the charmed condition isn’t just suspended, it ends.
LEVEL 10, RETALIATION: (This was moved from level 14 down to level 10.)
LEVEL 14, INTIMIDATING PRESENCE: (This was moved from level 10 up to level 14 and completely re-written.) This was changed from an action to a bonus action. Instead of working on a single creature, it works on each creature of your choice within 30 feet. The save has been changed from being based on your CHA to your STR. The frightened effect doesn’t end until after 1 minute, instead of at the end of your next turn.  And there are a couple more minor changes.

PATH OF THE WILD HEART

LEVEL 3, ANIMAL SPEAKER: You can cast the Beast Sense and Speak with Animals spells as Rituals.
LEVEL 3, RAGE OF THE WILDS: When you Rage, you gain one of these; Bear. You have Resistance to every damage type except Force, Necrotic, Psychic, and Radiant. Eagle. You can take the Disengage and Dash actions as part of that Bonus Action. Wolf. While Raging, your allies have Advantage on attack rolls against any enemy within 5 feet of you.
LEVEL 6, ASPECT OF THE WILDS: You gain one of the following. You can change your choice after a Long Rest. Owl. Darkvision, 60 feet. If you already have Darkvision, its range increases by 60 feet. Panther. You have a Climb Speed. Salmon. You have a Swim Speed.
LEVEL 10, NATURE SPEAKER: You can cast the Commune with Nature spell as a Ritual.
LEVEL 14, POWER OF THE WILDS: You gain one of the following; Falcon. A Fly Speed if you aren’t wearing any armor. Lion. Enemies within 5 feet of you have Disadvantage on attacks against targets other than you. Ram. You knock a Large or smaller creature Prone when you hit it with a melee attack.

PATH OF THE WORLD TREE

LEVEL 3, VITALITY OF THE TREE: You get these two features when raging.
Vitality Surge. You gain a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to your Barbarian level.
Life-Giving Force. Give a creature within 10 ft. Temporary Hit Points equal to your Rage Damage bonus number of d6s. They go away when your rage ends.
LEVEL 6, BRANCHES OF THE TREE: While raging, a creature within 30 ft. makes a STR save (DC = 8+STR mod+PB) or is teleported to an unoccupied space you can see within 5 feet of yourself, and its speed is 0 until the end of the current turn.
LEVEL 10, BATTERING ROOTS: Your reach is 10 feet greater with any Heavy or Versatile Melee weapon. When you hit with it, you can activate an extra Push or Topple mastery property.
LEVEL 14, TRAVEL ALONG THE TREE: As a Bonus Action, you can teleport yourself and six willing creatures who are within 10 feet, up to 60 ft. and, once per Rage, you can increase the range to 150 feet.

PATH OF THE ZEALOT

LEVEL 3, DIVINE FURY: While raging, each turn, the first creature you hit takes 1d6 plus half your Barbarian level extra Necrotic or Radiant damage.
LEVEL 3, WARRIOR OF THE GODS: You start with a pool of 4d12s. As a bonus action, you can roll dice from that pool and heal that number of HP. Your pool is refreshed on a Long Rest. The pool’s number of dice increases by one at Barbarian levels 6, 12, and 17.
LEVEL 6, FANATICAL FOCUS: Once per rage, you can reroll a failed save with a bonus = your Rage Damage bonus.
LEVEL 10, ZEALOUS PRESENCE: Once per long rest (unless you expend a use of your Rage), as a Bonus Action, 10 creatures of your choice within 6O feet of you gain Advantage on attack rolls and saving throws until the start of your next turn.
LEVEL 14, RAGE OF THE GODS: Once per long rest, when you rage, for 1 minute unless you drop to 0 HP, you gain these 3 features. Flight. A Fly Speed and can hover. Resistance You have Resistance to Necrotic, Psychic, and Radiant damage. Revivification. Can expend a use of your Rage to use a reaction, when someone within 30 ft. drops to 0 HP, their HP becomes a number equal to your Barbarian level instead.

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.