Path of the Giant Weapon (5A)

This is a Barbarian subclass for 5A. Since you can't use oversize weapons if you are Small, this primal path is not suited to Small characters.

Some warriors are not satisfied with just big weapons—they want the biggest weapon possible! Those who enter this path often do so after randomly picking up an oversize weapon and deciding to learn to use it.

Many Giant Weapon Wielders still keep a normal weapon around for targets that are hard to pin down.

Subclass features

Oversize Weapons

Beginning when you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you can use oversized versions of some weapons.

An oversize weapon is a weapon scaled for a Large or Huge wielder. Finding such weapons can be hard. You can order one from a smith, but finding one as loot after defeating a Large or Huge foe like an ogre or giant is common—especially for magic weapons. An oversize weapon costs and weights ten times as much as an ordinary weapon of its kind, but the sale value is normally that of an ordinary weapon of its type. Such a weapon is generally treated as a Greataxe, Greatclub, Greatsword, Heavy Crossbow, Javelin, Longbow, Maul, or Pike to you, even tough it might have been a similar but light one-handed weapon to the creature that originally used it. If you wish to use other oversized weapons, you must check with your DM.

An oversize weapon in your hands gains the heavy and two-handed properties and loses the finesse and light properties. You have disadvantage when you attack with an oversize weapon, but you double the damage dice of the weapon. (1d12 becomes 2d12, 2d6 become 4d6, and so on).

The Bigger They Are

Starting at 3rd level, you no longer suffer disadvantage with oversize weapons when attacking creatures who are Large or larger.

Huge Fury

At 6th level, you no longer suffer disadvantage using oversize weapons when raging.

Huge Confidence

At 10th level, when wielding an oversize weapon, your confidence surges. You have advantage on Wisdom and Charisma saving throws.

Giant Weapon Mastery

At 14th level, you no longer suffer disadvantage when using oversize weapons.

Designer's Notes

The idea behind this subclass is super-simple. Double weapon damage at the price of disadvantage. This has obvious synergies with Reckless Attack. This only pays on large weapons, so the weapon restrictions really aren't restrictions at all, just guidelines as to which weapons are good to use this way. As you level up, you avoid disadvantage in more an more situations, but you do not actually get any new abilities. This may need to change.

Another variant of oversized weapons can be found in Warped Warrior.