Path of the Frenetic

Like bloodragers, frenetic barbarians are born with an innate gift that changes how they approach battle. Psychic power flows through a frenetic, bonding them to an element in the material plane and turning them into conduits for elemental power. Practiced frenetics are able to channel their gift into their weapons while raging to devastating effect.

Elemental Focus

When you choose this path at 3rd level, you gain an elemental focus from one of the following elements to which you are bound. As an action or bonus action while raging, you can decide if you want to channel potential (defensive) energy or kinetic (offensive) energy.

Air. Mobile and light on their feet, frenetics who channel air quickly adapt to bad situations and respond with equal force. When you channel air, you glow a light blue and there is always a mild breeze that affects only you.

  • Potential: While raging and channeling this energy, your movement is unaffected by difficult terrain.
  • Kinetic: Each creature within 5 feet of you must succeed on a Strength saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier) or take damage equal to your rage damage bonus. You can repeat this as a bonus action on each of your turns while you are raging and channeling this energy.

Earth. Strong and focused are the frenetics who channel earth. Even while raging, these brutes have an awareness of their surroundings that others lack. When you channel earth, you leave foot prints that fade quickly when you walk on stone or earth.

  • Potential: While raging and channeling this energy, you have advantage to Ability checks and saving throws to avoid falling prone and can’t be dragged unless the creature is two or more sizes larger than you.
  • Kinetic: Creatures that move into a square within 5 feet of you while you are raging and channeling this energy must spend 5 extra feet of movement and take damage equal to your rage damage bonus to do so. A successful saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Constitution modifier) negates the damage.

Fire. Frenetic barbarians who channel the power of fire are often short-tempered and easily roused to battle. They turn their gifts into fiery displays of superiority over their creatures that are hostile to you.

  • Potential: Thin and wispy flames wreathe your body, shedding bright light in a 10-foot radius and dim light for an additional 10 feet. You gain resistance to fire or cold damage (your choice) until your rage ends or you channel energy differently.
  • Kinetic: Flames erupt from your weapon, shedding bright light in a 20-foot radius and dim light for an additional 20 feet. While the weapon is ablaze, it deals an extra 1d6 fire damage to any target it hits. The flames last until your rage ends, you channel energy differently, or until you drop or sheathe the weapon.

Water. A tempest of emotions swirls within frenetics who channel water. Those who learn to control the maelstrom inside gain unparalleled fluidity in combat. When you channel water, you always appear slick with sweat or have a sheen of water over you.

  • Potential: While raging and channeling this energy, spells and other magical effects can neither reduce your speed nor cause you to be paralyzed or restrained.
  • Kinetic: Your weapon attacks ignore resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage until your rage ends or you channel energy differently.

Gather Power

Beginning at 6th level, if you do not move on your turn, add your Rage Damage bonus to damage dealt while you channel kinetic energy and reduce damage dealt to you by that amount while you channel potential energy. This reduction occurs before any resistance is applied.

Expanded Focus

At 10th level, you can choose a second energy type to channel. You can still only channel one type of energy at a time, but may switch between elements or potential and kinetic with an action or bonus action on your turn while raging.

Energy Burn

Starting at 10th level, once per turn, you can reduce your hit point maximum by an amount equal to your rage damage bonus (no action required by you). When you do, you can also enter a rage, begin channeling potential or kinetic energy, or change the type of energy you channel.

Elemental Conduit

At 14th level, you can channel energy even while not raging. While raging, creatures that are hostile to you have disadvantage on saving throws against your channeled energy effects and you can choose to ignore your friends with channeled energy effects.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Samurai Sheepdog: Barbarian Options 5E © 2016, Samurai Sheepdog; Author: Kevin Glusing