Loader image
Loader image
Back to Top

Blog

Nerdarchy > Dungeons & Dragons  > Character Builds  > Blade Dancer – Dexterity Based Barbarian with Gas in the D&D Tank

Blade Dancer – Dexterity Based Barbarian with Gas in the D&D Tank

RPG Crate Unboxing - May 2018
Building a D&D Character Soup to Nuts From Farmer to Folk Hero

The gentlemen at Nerdarchy have been pouring over books and crunching the numbers in their effort to find the most effective fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons tank build. Myself, while I appreciate numbers and that search for the best, I’m not really a build kinda guy. I’m a team player though, so I’m going to put forward my hopefully unique dexterity based barbarian character concept that can be used in the spirit of the tank, while still bringing all manner of interesting flair to the combat scene.

D&D tank Dexterity based barbarian blade dancer

A wood elf barbarian’s mobility, toughness and whirling blades can keep the enemies attention focused on them while they strike like a bird of prey. [Art by Sven Bybee]

Elenthel Taniaran, Blade Dancer of the Soaring Glade

I’m in love with my Blade Dancer concept. I know to a lot of people that a wood elf barbarian isn’t as optimal as they’d like, but hear me out. Around the younger races using the name Tani for their ease of use, our Blade Dancer has been trained within his culture to be a warrior who embraces the Predator’s ye. This technique is passed down to each Blade Dancer, the knowledge of all previous hunters and warriors infused into their style.

The ability to step up their consciousness and slow the battle around them, assessing routes of enemy retreat and avenues of attack. The rage mechanic is used as a hunter’s focus, honing the character’s mind and contorting their weapons and bodies to make every attack on them a glancing blow. The whirling and flipping these warriors do looks like an intricate and deadly dance, hence the title Blade Dancer.

These protectors are trained to defend their woodlands and the glade they grew up in. Tani, after faltering in the guidelines of his elders, is exiled for 117 years. This is an effort to give him time to meditate on his lapse in judgement. He now travels in the dangerous wilds to learn from the outside world and try to understand if he should fall in line with his teachings or follow his heart.

What makes this a D&D tank?

D&D tank Dexterity based barbarian

Agnetha Armbreaker from the Scarlet Sisterhood is an Path of the Totem Eagle barbarian and she’s been doing all right for herself and the party! Click the image above to check out the playlist of live gameplays on the Nerdarchy YouTube channel.

While many would say a Dexterity based barbarian does not make for a strong character, I do find the added flexibility means more precise and effective applications of the barbarian’s skillset. I’m very boring and do just about everything Player’s Handbook only, with no variant rules like feats and multiclassing. The benefit is it makes my characters much easier to discuss.

Let’s take Tani at 8th level, as I think that’s when everything really comes together. Being a Dexterity based barbarian, we likely have a AC 17 with Unarmored Defense and no shield, which is fairly admirable. We snatch up Totem of the Eagle at 3rd level and 6th level and this is where options really open up. Tani has a base movement of 45 ft., the ability to Dash as a bonus action, and incoming attacks of opportunity are made at disadvantage. This means while ragin, Tani has a movement range of 135 ft. to get wherever he needs to onto the battlefield and with AC 17 and attacks of opportunity against him made at disadvantage, hopefully taking less damage to get into that perfect position.

Couple this with Danger Sense, the increased rarity of being surprised, the ability to see better than almost anyone in the dark and a really good Stealth and you have an interesting blend. Tani can take to the front and spot threats early.

Once found, he can find the perfect position to eliminate foes and engage as many as possible to keep them from getting into position easily. Bringing dual short swords and eventually the ability to fly to the battle means keeping away from this blade dancer hunter is near impossible, especially if he puts a sword away and grapples with advantage.

But what do you think? Do you think the Blade Dancer can hold the tide against many foes, helping his party by being the center of attention as an effective D&D tank? Have you played a Dexterity based barbarian yourself? Let me know below in the comments.

Like this?

Did you enjoy this post? Nerdarchy’s awesome volunteer staff of writers and editors do their best to create engaging, useful and fun content to share. If you like what you find here on our site, consider patronizing us in a good way through Patreon.

On top of reaching our goal of paying our writers, pledging gets you exclusive monthly content for your D&D game, opportunities to game with Nerdarchy, access to patron-only channels on our Discord and more.

With your generous support we’ll continue to create quality content between our YouTube channel and blog, invest in equipment to increase recording quality, and keep creating original publications and products to enhance your tabletop roleplaying and gaming experience.

Thank you for your consideration and as always, until next time stay nerdy!

[amazon_link asins=’0786966246,0786966254,0399580948′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’nerdarchy-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’39ecf707-7130-11e8-b447-6fcc41e695e9′]

Share
Jacob Kosman

Child of the Midwest, spending his adolescence dreaming of creating joy for gaming between sessions of cattle tending. He holds a fondness for the macabre, humorous and even a dash of grim dark. Aspiring designer spending most of his time writing and speculating on this beautiful hobby when he isn't separating planes.

4 Comments

  • Gabriele
    June 17, 2018 at 5:48 am

    I like your concept and think that with the Primal Path in XGtE your barbarian would be an awesome tank and an enjoyable character to play 🙂

  • Patrick
    June 18, 2018 at 2:15 am

    I haven’t looked into this recipe yet. I was looking into Bladesong, but multiclassing for a highly mobile, good AC build. Fighter (6), Rogue (5), and Wiz (9). Fighter Battle master, dual wield, w/ command, evasive footwork, and maneuvering strikes. Rogue Assassin to level 5 for dodge, and Wiz for the rest. Use ASI to get Warcaster, Mobility, Dex, Int, and finally the Dual Wielder feat. I flip flop a lot on what sequence of events makes most sense, but I suppose that is part of the fun. Lots of possibilities, but now I have to look into this one… Thanks for the build, yet another fun option for this sort of concept.

Leave a Reply