Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Build Discussion Twin barbs - Giant and...?

This is not a request for a specific build as much as it is a quick build-related question:

Running Tactician, I play a Giant Barb and fully intend to play the whole game dual-barbarian with support classes (Romancing Karlach).

I just can't decide if I should run her as a second Giant Barb or as a Bearheart tank variant?

First option sounds really fun, but second option offers four specific advantages: Damage resistance, Carrying Capacity, Permanent Talk With Animals, and Elk Aura (eventually) for movement speed for the rest of the party.

Basically I just can't make my mind up so I question strangers for their opinion instead...

(No not interested in Berserker, btw).

I would not go with two throwers as there is only limited amount of gear available.

If the Giant Barb is a thrower I'd go with a Tiger Barb for the AoE melee and bleeding>>maiming with Tiger and Wolverine aspects. That'd be at least 10 levels of Barb. Take 2 Fighter for action surge or just stay Barb for the third feat.

Whatever you prefer really.

Personally, given that Giant Barb is mostly focused on throwing, there's the issue of competing for equipment when running 2 of them. As you only get 1 copy of the Ring of Flinging, Gloves of Uninhibited Kushigo, Returning Pike and Nyrulna.

Meanwhile, going some other type of Barb (Doesn't have to be Bear Heart. Tiger Heart is pretty decent for having that infinite use Cleave that guarantees Bleed with no save. With Wolf Heart being useful if you have other melee that can benefit from the passive Advantage bonus) for a more typical melee Barb would spread out the equipment usage (Armour/Clothing would still have some competition, but there's options available. Even more so if you go Dex Barb)

Of course, you can still go for less optimal play and just go melee Giant Barb too to avoid the gear situation. Then you can have the funny situation with Giant Rage + Enlarge (Elixir or spell) on 2 characters causing them to be HUGE.

You'll still make more than enough damage throwing without optimized gear tho. You don't have to super-optimize to win every fight in Tactician. Especially when you have Elemental Cleaver.
I usually play my Giant barb as a melee 50% of the time anyway.

...SO anyway, turns out the question is somewhat moot because what I ended up doing was to run two wildhearts: Tav as a Tiger, Karlach as a Bear. Both with Wolverine simply because she will be up there with me and benefit from my bleed attacks.

Hopefully you sacrificed Wyll to BOOAL for the benediction that gives advantage against bleeding.

I might have to try a duo melee Barb run, sounds fun.