The Great Weapons Master feat is a powerful tool for melee fighters in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, offering significant bonuses to attack rolls and damage. However, it also comes with a hefty penalty that can make it a risky choice.

In this guide, we will explore the benefits and drawbacks of the feat, discuss how to use it effectively, and provide some tips for building characters that synergize well with it.

Great Weapons Master Feat

The Great Weapons Master feat is a powerful option for characters who wield heavy weapons in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. It grants significant bonuses to attack rolls and damage, but also imposes a penalty on attack rolls when using heavy weapons.

Feat Overview

The Great Weapons Master feat allows a character to make the following changes to their combat:

• Add a +10 bonus to attack rolls made with heavy weapons.
• Add a +10 bonus to damage rolls made with heavy weapons.
• Take a -5 penalty to attack rolls made with heavy weapons.

To qualify for the Great Weapons Master feat, a character must have proficiency in martial weapons and a Strength score of 13 or higher.

Attack Bonus and Damage

The +10 bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls granted by the Great Weapons Master feat is a significant boost to a character’s combat effectiveness. This bonus applies to all attacks made with heavy weapons, including both melee and ranged attacks.

The +10 bonus to damage rolls is particularly potent, as it increases the average damage output of a character’s attacks. This bonus is especially beneficial for characters who are already dealing high damage, such as barbarians and fighters.

Penalty on Attack Rolls, Great weapons master feat

The -5 penalty to attack rolls when using the Great Weapons Master feat with heavy weapons is a significant drawback. This penalty can make it difficult to hit enemies, especially at higher levels when enemy Armor Class increases.

The penalty on attack rolls is particularly noticeable when a character is using a two-handed weapon, as they do not benefit from the +2 bonus to attack rolls that is granted when wielding a one-handed weapon in two hands.

Usage and Tactics

The Great Weapons Master feat is best used by characters who are proficient with heavy weapons and who have a high Strength score. These characters will be able to mitigate the -5 penalty to attack rolls and take full advantage of the +10 bonus to damage rolls.

The feat is particularly effective when used with weapons that have a high damage die, such as great swords and battleaxes. These weapons deal more damage on average, and the +10 bonus to damage rolls from the feat will further increase their damage output.

Character Builds

The Great Weapons Master feat can be a good choice for a variety of character builds, including:

• Barbarians: Barbarians are a natural fit for the Great Weapons Master feat, as they are proficient with martial weapons and have a high Strength score. The feat will boost their damage output and make them even more formidable in combat.

• Fighters: Fighters are another good choice for the Great Weapons Master feat, as they can choose the Great Weapon Fighting style to mitigate the -5 penalty to attack rolls. This will allow them to deal consistent damage with heavy weapons.

• Paladins: Paladins can also benefit from the Great Weapons Master feat, as they can use their Divine Smite ability to deal extra damage on critical hits. The feat will increase their chances of hitting critical hits and dealing even more damage.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The Great Weapons Master feat has several advantages, including:

• Significant bonus to attack rolls and damage rolls.
• Can be used with a variety of heavy weapons.
• Can be a good choice for a variety of character builds.

However, the feat also has some disadvantages, including:

• Significant penalty to attack rolls.
• Can be difficult to use effectively at higher levels.
• Not as effective with weapons that have a low damage die.

Essential Questionnaire: Great Weapons Master Feat

What are the prerequisites for taking the Great Weapons Master feat?

To take the Great Weapons Master feat, you must meet the following prerequisites:

• Strength score of 13 or higher
• Proficient in heavy weapons

What are the benefits of taking the Great Weapons Master feat?

The Great Weapons Master feat provides the following benefits:

• +1 bonus to attack rolls with heavy weapons
• +10 damage on a critical hit with a heavy weapon

What is the penalty for using the Great Weapons Master feat?

When you use the Great Weapons Master feat, you suffer a -5 penalty to attack rolls with heavy weapons.

How can I use the Great Weapons Master feat effectively?

To use the Great Weapons Master feat effectively, you should focus on building a character with high Strength and proficiency in heavy weapons. You should also consider taking other feats that synergize well with the feat, such as the Polearm Master feat or the Sentinel feat.