Some Barbarian help, please.

[NumberKruncher]

Hey guys.

I'm playing a Half Orc Barbarian in a party where I'm the only tank. The closest thing after me to being a tank is a Life Cleric. After that, we have a Rogue, a Sorcerer, and a Warlock.

I want to maximize my tankiness.

This character just hit 3rd level and we're playing through the Out of the Abyss mod.

How do I maximize his tankiness? One player recommended taking the Path of the Totem with a Bear Totem. That seems good, but I wanted to check with you guys first.

Also, after I hit level 5 (gaining a 2nd attack), is it worth adding 3 or 4 levels of Fighter? I was looking at the Champion archetype for the increased criticals? I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not, but my line of thinking was using Reckless Attack gives me a better chance for a critical as well, and Half Orcs are pretty good when they score more criticals.

[TenaciousJ]

Do you mean you want to increase his ability as a damage sponge, or do you mean you want ways to make him a difficult bump in the road to get past?

[NumberKruncher]

Ya know, I'm really not sure.

Overall, I guess I want higher damage. If I want to be a damage sponge, I'll pick out my small axe (battle axe).

[NerfTrooper94]

If you are going pure tank I would recomend grabbing a couple of levels of druid so you can be a bear barbarian that turns into a bear and does some bear things.... bear.

In all seriousness though the extra hp sends your tanking through the roof and if your DM lets you stay raged when you transform you get SO MUCH DAMAGE!

[Braininthejar]

EDIT: pelase delete. I didn't notice it was 5E

[awaken_D_M_golem]

Given the party make up, going Sentinel
and being a lockdown / grappler, and let all
those pew-pew-ers get their pew-pew on.
But I haven't given grappling a hard crunch yet.

I remain enamored with Bear 3 and Eagle 6.
There is a Dex Barb guide now at wotc dammit ENWorld,
and Chain'Lock 3 gets the super scout stretch going.

Sambojin posted some Druid forms with excellent senses.
Paladin 2 is a decent place to dump spell slots
while otherwise restricted in a Barb Rage.

[NumberKruncher]

Unfortunately, my stats won't allow multiclassing into Druid or Paladin.

Would I be making a mistake adding 3-4 levels of Fighter (Champion or Battlemaster)?

Or is a tanky, damage dealing bear Barbarian better off pure Barbarian?

[Argent Fatalis]

The reason Wild Shape is so revered for barbarian bear form tanking is it costs little and vastly improves your reliability as a tank; everything from your Armor Class to hit points to the ever reliable and versatile druid chassis.

Given you cannot go the druid route, barbarian and fighter multiclassing is not a bad option, as fighter is solid on its own now. I am partial to Battlemaster as it gives you things to do as a melee sort, some of which can improve your survivability and others of which make you a more credible threat - especially when paired with Sentinel. If you can keep yourself a credible threat to your enemies and keep beating them senseless while having minimal healing needed on yourself, that is ideal - Battlemaster fighter and Bear Totem barbarian working well for that.

[SorO_Lost]

Fighter with a Bear Totem dip of Barbarian is a great all around combatant, but if you're wanting more Barb than Fighter consider Thunderbeast from SCAG.

You get Bear Totem's abilities but replace the 14th level one with Tiger, which if you move 20ft & Attack you can use your Bonus Action to make another single Attack. Aka Bear+Frenzy.