Credit: Mark Tarrisse

Path of the Pit Fighter

At 3rd level, a Barbarian gains the Primal Path feature. Here is another option for that Path: the Path of the Pit Fighter

The Pit Fighter

Any good pit fighter will tell you, it doesn’t matter how well you fight—all the crowd cares about is blood, and they don’t care if it’s yours or the other guy’s. So if you want to survive your time in the pit, make sure the people get their blood, and lots of it. If you’re lucky enough, the audience will be on your side, you’ll feel the roar of the crowd pounding in your chest, and nothing can stop you.

While pit fighters’ lives might seem defined by their profession, some do manage to escape the pits, either by winning their freedom in battle or by breaking their chains in the night. Though they may no longer be pit fighters by profession, they will always be pit fighters at heart, and often long for the excitement of battle and the roar of the crowd years after they’ve officially retired.

Pit Fighter Features
Barbarian Level Feature
3rd Showmanship, Dirty Tricks
6th Brutal Assault
10th Roar of the Crowd
14th Team Player

Showmanship

Starting at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in the Performance skill.

Dirty Trick Dice

You start with four trick dice, which are d8s, and you expend one whenever you use a Dirty Trick. You regain them all when you finish a short or long rest.

Dirty Tricks

At 3rd level you have mastered the art of fighting dirty. You learn three Dirty Trick maneuvers. You can only use one Dirty Trick option per attack.

Some Dirty Tricks require your opponents to make a saving throw. The saving throw DC is calculated as follows: DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength or Dexterity modifier (your choice)

  • Play Dirty: When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can expend one trick die to attempt to hamper your opponent's vision by kicking up loose dirt, throwing a handful of sand, reflecting sunlight off your blade, etc. You add the trick die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw or be Blinded until the end of your next turn.
  • Cheap Shot: When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one trick die to hit them where it hurts. You add the trick die to the attack's damage roll, and the target must succeed on a Strength saving throw or have their speed halved until the end of your next turn.
  • Grit of the Pit: If you are hit by an attack, you can expend one trick die as a reaction, adding the number rolled to your AC. If the attack still hits, you take half damage from it.
  • Dazing Blow: When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one trick die to daze them and give your allies an opening. You add the trick die to the attack’s damage roll, and the next attack roll against the target by an attacker other than you has advantage if the attack is made before the start of your next turn.
  • Bob and Weave: When you move on your turn, you can expend a trick die, adding the total to your AC until you stop moving.
  • Leg Sweep: When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can expend one superiority die to attempt to knock the target down. You add the superiority die to the attack's damage roll, and if the target is Large or smaller, it must make a Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

Brutal Performer

Whenever you make a Charisma (Intimidation), Charisma (Performance) check, or a Charisma (Persuasion) check, you may use your Strength modifier in place of your Charisma modifier.

Roar of the Crowd

Beginning at 10th level, the roar of applause spurs you on to greater acts of violence and brutality. If there is at least one ally that you can see or hear within 60 feet of you when you begin raging, you gain temporary hit points equal to half your barbarian level + your Constitution modifier, and you have advantage on Wisdom saving throws against being charmed or frightened for the duration of your rage.

Improved Reckless Attack

At 14th level, when you use your Reckless Attack feature while raging, you add your Rage damage to the attack's damage roll twice.

Credit: Mark Tarrisse