Primal Path: Path of Adaption

Barbarians that follow the Path of Adaption seek to improve their ability and fighting prowess through transformative means. Adapting at every chance in order to best their opponents and bending even their own physiology through sheer strength.

Apex Predator

Starting at 3rd level, you can change your physiology to give you an edge over your prey. You grow claws, fangs, spines, horns, or a different natural weapon of your choice that deal damage (as appropriate to the natural weapon you chose) equal to 1d12 + your Strength modifier. These natural weapons can be used as long as you do not have heavy armor or a shield equipped. When not in use you can choose whether or not these are visible.

Additionally, while raging you gain the ability to use make special attack actions, based on the type of damage chosen for natural weapons, for the duration. Your Apex Predator features require your target to make a saving throw to resist the feature’s effects. The saving throw DC is calculated as follows:

Apex Predator save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your strength modifier:

Bludgeoning: When you take the Dash action and run at least 20 feet in a straight line towards a creature, you can use your bonus action to make an attack using your Apex Predator natural weapon against them. On a hit, they take an additional 1d12 damage and have to succeed on a Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

When you take the Dash action and run at least 20 feet in a straight line towards a creature, you can use your bonus action to make an attack using your Apex Predator natural weapon against them. On a hit, they take an additional 1d12 damage and have to succeed on a Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. Slashing: When you can make a melee weapon attack using your Apex Predator natural weapons against a creature you can use a bonus action to deal slashing damage equal to your strength modifier to any other creatures of your choice that you can see within 5 feet of you.

When you can make a melee weapon attack using your Apex Predator natural weapons against a creature you can use a bonus action to deal slashing damage equal to your strength modifier to any other creatures of your choice that you can see within 5 feet of you. Piercing: When you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack with your Apex Predator natural weapon, you can use your bonus action to inflict a deep puncture. The creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw, or they begin to bleed. While bleeding, the creature loses hit points equal to 1d4 + your rage damage bonus at the start of each of its turns. This bleeding lasts for 1 minute, until they receive magical healing, or until they use an action to staunch the bleeding. You can not use this effect on the same target again until they are no longer bleeding from your natural weapons.

You can change the type of natural weapon you are using as a bonus action, or immediately after you enter a rage.















Reactive Defense

At 6th level, your body quickly adapts to the most present danger at hand. You can rage as a reaction when you take damage. When you start your rage in this way, you gain resistance to any damage type that was dealt to you by the triggering attack or effect. You also have advantage on saving throws against effects that use the same ability score as the most recent saving throw you have had to make since the start of your rage.

Additionally, the natural weapons provided by your Apex Predator feature become magical for the sake of ignoring resistances.

Evolutionary Nature

At 10th, your body has learned the ability to magically alter itself, even in its resting state. You learn the Alter Self spell and can cast it once per short rest. When you cast the spell in this way it does not require concentration.

Additionally, The Natural Weapons option of the spell is replaced with the option to use your Apex Predator features abilities for the duration of the spell.

Constitution is your spellcasting ability for this spell.



























































Art by: Mike Sass