Why the half-orc is the 2014 rules' best critical-hit race, the classes and weapons it suits, and two builds ready to play.
Under the 2014 rules your race sets your ability score increases, and the half-orc gets +2 Strength and +1 Constitution. Those are the two scores every Strength martial wants, so the half-orc fits the barbarian, fighter and paladin without wasting a point.
Its traits all point the same way. Savage Attacks adds a weapon die to melee critical hits, Relentless Endurance keeps you up once per day when you drop to 0, and Menacing gives you Intimidation for free. There are no subraces.
Relentless Endurance is the trait that saves the most characters at my table. The fighter drops to 0, stays at 1, and gets one more turn to drink a potion or finish the job. A half-orc barbarian is one of the hardest things in the Player's Handbook to put down for good.
+2 Strength and +1 Constitution.
60 feet. Dim light counts as bright and darkness as dim, in shades of gray.
Proficiency in Intimidation, which frees a skill pick from your class or background.
When you drop to 0 hit points and are not killed outright, drop to 1 instead. Once per Long Rest. Massive damage that kills you outright still kills you.
On a melee weapon critical hit, roll one of the weapon's damage dice one more time and add it. It stacks with the barbarian's Brutal Critical from level 9.
Savage Attacks rolls one of your weapon's damage dice, so a weapon with one big die gets more from it than a weapon with two small ones. It only works on melee weapon attacks.
Xanathar's Guide to Everything adds feats only some races can take. If your table uses it:
From the Player's Handbook, Great Weapon Master is the classic half-orc feat: when you score a critical hit, you get a bonus action attack.
The SRD includes one feat, GrapplerGrapplerGENERAL featYou have advantage on attack rolls against a creature you are grappling.. It suits a half-orc with high Strength who would rather pin an enemy than hit it.
Rage, attack recklessly and swing a greataxe. When a crit lands, Savage Attacks adds a d12. When you drop, Relentless Endurance stands you back up.
Build this half-orc
Chain mail and a greataxe. From level 3 you crit on 19 or 20, and every crit rolls an extra d12. Simple to play and hits hard all campaign.
Build this half-orcFor Strength martials, yes. Under the 2014 rules the half-orc gets +2 Strength, +1 Constitution, Darkvision, Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks. It is one of the best races for barbarians and fighters.
Barbarian. Reckless Attack gives Advantage for more critical hits, Brutal Critical stacks with Savage Attacks, and Relentless Endurance backs up Rage. Champion fighter is just as good.
No. Savage Attacks adds one of the weapon's damage dice on a melee weapon critical hit. Sneak Attack dice, Divine Smite dice and spell damage are not weapon dice.
Once, then again after a Long Rest. It works when you drop to 0 hit points but are not killed outright.
Build a half-orc in a couple of minutes and start an adventure in your browser. Play solo, or send your friends a link and play together.
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