Goliath Guide 5e

Which 5e Classes Work With Goliaths?

Looking at the ASIs and racial traits of the goliath, it is quite obvious what sort of playstyle is intended. Ideally, goliaths want to be a damage soaker and destroy their foes with a STR weapon.

Artificer: Artificers need INT to be effective.

• Updated: Stone's Endurance and Mountain Born is helpful, but artificers should already be quite durable with shield if their subclass can take it, absorb elements, and infusions to go with heavy armor.

Barbarian: Goliaths are perfectly suited for barbarians, giving even the half-orc a run for their money. Stone’s Endurance makes Reckless Attack less scary, so you can be even more, well, reckless!

• Updated: Goliaths remain one of the absolute best choices for any barbarian as not much has changed.

Bard: Bards really want that CHA boost for their spells, and melee bards are better off going for a DEX build.

• Updated: Goliaths do increase the bard's durability, though they should not be trying to tank damage in the first place. Melee bards could find some utility here.

Cleric: STR builds are quite good for this class, and the Goliath will make for one tanky cleric. The main issue here is that clerics are a full caster class, so without WIS you are at quite a handicap until you can boost it to a comfortable level with ASIs.

• Updated: An excellent choice for any tanking cleric. Stone's Endurance will keep you on your feet much longer, allowing you to heal and assist your allies as they deal big damage.

Druid: Druids need WIS to be effective.

• Updated: Druids are one of the trickiest classes to keep alive due to their low AC and mediocre hit dice. Stone's Endurance goes a long way to keep druids on their feet and in the fight.

Fighter: Everything about the goliath is perfect for a STR-based fighter. With the goliath’s traits, your fighter will deal massive damage while being able to tank for the party.

• Updated: Fighters are already great tanks, and Stone's Endurance takes this to the next level. AC won't need to be as much of a concern with a goliath since you have a large pool of hit points and you can reduce damage with Stone's Endurance.

Monk: DEX and WIS are paramount for the effectiveness of a monk, so missing both here hurts. STR can be useful for a Grapple/Shove build, but that won’t be enough to make up for the poor stat distribution.

• Updated: Monks can be quite difficult to keep alive at low levels due to mediocre hit dice and AC. For low level campaigns, Stone's Endurance is a great way to make up for this before you get higher DEX and access to some of your better class features.

Paladin: Some paladins do not want to pump their CHA as high as it can go for spellcasting, and will instead focus on STR for melee damage output while focusing on spells that don’t require CHA to be effective. In that case, goliath paladins are quite strong and will be effective tanks rivaling the other viable melee classes.

• Updated: An excellent choice for any tanking paladin. Stone's Endurance will keep you on your feet much longer, allowing you to heal and assist your allies as they deal big damage.

Ranger: Rangers are typically bow users, and melee ranger builds would likely prefer finesse weapons.

• Updated: A premium option if going for the difficult to build STR ranger, but even regular DEX-based rangers will enjoy Stone's Endurance as a way to increase durability as rangers don't have much in the way of damage reduction.

Rogue: DEX is simply too good to consider a STR Rogue without multiclassing.

• Updated: The main draw of the goliath, Stone's Endurance, is made redundant by Uncanny Dodge.

Sorcerer: Sorcerers need CHA to be effective.

• Updated: Not a terrible choice since Stone's Endurance will do lots for survivability, though ideally your sorcerer won't be taking lots of damage to begin with.

Warlock: Warlocks need CHA to be effective.

• Updated: Goliaths are an excellent pick for any Hexblade warlock since they can really struggle with durability. Stone's Endurance and to a lesser degree Mountain Born should help there. If playing any other subclass goliaths aren't the best pick because ideally your warlock won't be taking lots of damage to begin with.

Wizard: Wizards need INT to be effective.

• Updated: Not a terrible choice since Stone's Endurance will do lots for survivability, though ideally your wizard won't be taking lots of damage to begin with. Even Bladesingers won't be too interested in the goliath since they have access to shield, absorb elements, Bladesong, and Song of Defense to stay alive.