Infinite Rage (3.5e Optimized Character Build)
Introduction
The Barbarian's ability to rage is helpful in any battle, but it's limited by the fact that the Barbarian has a limited amount of time per rage, a limited amount of rages and the lack of ability to use the rage ability to counter an enemy attack. This build gets rid of those limits as best it can.
References
Player's Handbook Version 3.5 and Complete Warrior
Game Rule Components
This build requires one of the following alignments: CE, CN, NE
Race and Templates
Half-orc or orc (requirement for Eye of Gruumsh)
Classes
This build uses the Barbarian (PHB v3.5), the Eye of Gruumsh (CW) and the Frenzied Berserker (CW).
Feats
Extra Rage, Weapon Focus (Orc Double Axe), Intimidating Rage, Destructive Rage, Power Attack, Cleave, Instantaneous Rage, Extend Rage, Improved Toughness and Faster Healing.
Spells, Powers, Items
You must wield an Orc Double Axe (or you waste some feats).
Miscellaneous
This build draws heavily from the Rage and Frenzy abilities from all of the classes used. I am assuming here that Half-Orcs and Orcs are automatically proficient with the Orc Double Axe (and therefore have the Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Orc Double Axe) feat from creation).
Progression
The scores after racial changes for Half-Orcs were: 20 Strength, 15 Dexterity, 15 Constitution, 10 Intelligence, 9 Wisdom and 8 Charisma.
The scores after racial changes for Orcs were: 22 Strength, 15 Dexterity, 15 Constitution, 10 Intelligence, 8 Wisdom and 8 Charisma.
| ECL | Class/HD/LA | Feats | Special |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Barbarian 1 | Extra Rage | Rage 1/day (3/day with Extra Rage) |
| 2nd | Barbarian 2 | ||
| 3rd | Barbarian 3 | Weapon Focus (Orc Double Axe) | |
| 4th | Barbarian 4 | Rage 2/day (4/day with Extra Rage) | |
| 5th | Barbarian 5 | ||
| 6th | Barbarian 6 | Intimidating Rage | Eligible for Eye of Gruumsh prestige class |
| 7th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 1 | Cumulative Eye of Gruumsh and Barbarian Rage amounts | |
| 8th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 2 | Rage 3/day (5/day with Extra Rage), Swing Blindly | |
| 9th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 3 | Destructive Rage | |
| 10th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 4 | ||
| 11th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 5 | Greater Rage | |
| 12th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 6 | Power Attack | Rage 4/day (6/day with Extra Rage) |
| 13th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 7 | ||
| 14th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 8 | ||
| 15th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 9 | Cleave | eligible for Frenzied Berserker prestige class |
| 16th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 9 / Frenzied Berserker 1 | Frenzy 1/day (3/day with Extra Rage) and Rage 4/day (6/day with Extra Rage) | |
| 17th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 1 | Rage 5/day (7/day with Extra Rage), Sight of Gruumsh | |
| 18th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 2 | Instantaneous Rage | |
| 19th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 3 | Frenzy 2/day (4/day with Extra Rage) | |
| 20th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 4 | Deathless Frenzy | |
| 21st | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 5 | Extend Rage | Frenzy 3/day (5/day with Extra Rage) |
| 22nd | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 6 | Inspire Frenzy 1/day (unsure if Extra Rage affects this) | |
| 23rd | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 7 | Frenzy 4/day (6/day with Extra Rage) | |
| 24th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 8 | Extra Rage (another application) | Greater Frenzy, Frenzy 8/day, Rage 9/day, Inspire Frenzy 2/day (unless Extra Rage applies to it) |
| 25th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 9 | Frenzy 9/day | |
| 26th | Barbarian 6 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 10 | Inspire Frenzy 3/day (unless Extra Rage applies, tireless frenzy | |
| 27th | Barbarian 7 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 10 | Faster Healing or Improved Toughness | Tireless Rage |
| 28th | Barbarian 8 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 10 | ||
| 29th | Barbarian 9 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 10 | ||
| 30th | Barbarian 10 / Eye of Gruumsh 10 / Frenzied Berserker 10 | Above feat you didn't choose | Mighty Rage, Rage 10/day |
Highlights
This build works by allowing a character to rage and frenzy as often and as effectively as possible by drawing upon the classes and feats in the Complete Warrior handbook.
Munchkin-Size Me
This build can be changed by removing the Frenzied Berserker levels. This still enables you to rage quickly and often, but slightly less often that if you had taken the Frenzied Berserker levels. If you do decide to do so, replace the feat Power Attack by Faster Healing and Cleave by another take of Extra Rage and replace the Frenzied Berserker levels with Barbarian levels. Also, should you go this route, eliminate the Frenzy ability and recalculate the Rages per day.
Side Notes
just get berserker strength feat
Limitations
This build excels in battle against multiple opponents, where the rage can slay multiple enemies quickly. Also, these battles generally end before too long, so the rage is really just a great buff that can be used in a lot of encounters. While fighting a boss, the build loses quite a bit of its power (as it can only frenzy and rage once per battle).
DM Counters
Lowering the save DCs on the fear from Intimidating Rage helps.
Miscellaneous
The feat point spent in Improved Toughness is there to help the character survive through multiple rages.
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