Dressing as a D&D Barbarian

One of the most popular character classes in Dungeons and Dragons is the barbarian. If you are interested in dressing up as this character, we hope to walk you through the background and aesthetic of a D&D barbarian. This post looks at the overall aspects of the barbarian character class, some popular aesthetic choices, and a few outfit inspirations.

Background

At the start of Dungeons and Dragons, the barbarian was based heavily on Conan the Barbarian. This character class focuses on defensive powers and the idea of battle rage or thriving in the chaos of battle.

The barbarian has the option of different paths. These paths include the Path of the Berserker and the Path of the Totem Warrior. The berserker focuses on increasing a barbarians rage for more savage attacks, while the totem warrior includes animal attributes to their character. Additional sources have included paths such as the Storm Herald, Zealot, Beast, Wild Magic, and Battlerager. Our outfit inspirations will provide a good basis for any of these paths.

A common theme for barbarian characters is up-close melee fighting. They often choose heavy weapons designed to deal greater damage. The barbarian class gives characters access to a boost in speed, a boost in defense when unarmored, and a rage ability which increases damage they deal while decreasing damage they take. With these boosts in mind, you can pick and choose items based more on their aesthetic rather than their theoretical offensive or defensive capabilities.

Aesthetic Aspects

There are certain popular choices of aesthetics when it comes to dressing as a D&D barbarian. Often, the design of a barbarians outfit focuses on the theoretical climate of the barbarian. If a barbarian is from a cold climate, then they tend to wear fur. The amount varies but usually appears somewhere on their outfit. Meanwhile, if the barbarian is from a warmer climate or can tolerate cooler weather, then they often tend to show more skin. This can appear with shorts and sleeveless tops for example.

The typical styles tend towards certain real-world cultures or general aesthetics. For example, many barbarians often dress like the Vikings or the Ancient Celts. Steppe styles, often referencing Genghis Khan, are also popular. A fourth option is a mixture of aspects from different tribes, often from Africa. Regardless of the real-world source of aesthetic, a popular theme is the use of leather. Leather is a highly popular material when it comes to the style of a barbarian. Finally, another popular aspect of a barbarian warrior in Dungeons and Dragons is that they tend to wield large, heavy weapons. Swords and axes are popular choices.

D&D Barbarian Outfit Inspiration

As mentioned earlier, the outfit a barbarian wears often depends on the environment that they are from. There are a few options to look at. For example, a female barbarian may want to wear something like the Elyona Canvas Tunic with the Philipp Canvas Trousers or another shirt with the Nuala Suede Leather Skirt. The pants are easier for layering with other pieces for a cooler weather outfit, while the skirt may work better for a warmer weather outfit. Again, the desired layering or level of visible skin is up to you.