great weapon master 5e

Grana Motel

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10-03-2025

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The Great Weapon Master feat in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) is a powerful choice for martial characters, especially those who wield great weapons. This guide will delve into its mechanics, optimal uses, and considerations for building a character around this potent feat. We'll also discuss potential synergies with other feats and classes.

Understanding the Great Weapon Master Feat

The Great Weapon Master feat grants two significant advantages:

• +4 Bonus to Strength: This immediately boosts your damage output and carrying capacity.

• Attack Action Advantage: This is the core of the feat. When you score a critical hit or a hit with a melee weapon that deals at least 2d6 damage, you can add +10 to the damage roll. However, you take a -5 penalty to your attack rolls.

This seemingly paradoxical combination of bonus damage and attack penalty makes the feat both incredibly rewarding and strategically complex.

How to Use Great Weapon Master Effectively

The key to maximizing the Great Weapon Master feat lies in understanding its risk-reward dynamic:

• High Damage Potential: The +10 damage bonus can obliterate enemies with one lucky hit. This is especially devastating against low-health targets.

• Increased Critical Hit Chance: The +4 to Strength also indirectly increases your critical hit chance (since your damage roll is higher, you have a better chance of reaching the critical hit threshold.)

• Strategic Positioning: Use your bonus action to reposition to avoid enemy attacks, mitigating the risk of the attack penalty. This is particularly useful when facing multiple opponents.

• Consider Your Character's Role: A character primarily focused on one target is perfectly suited for this. However, against multiple weaker enemies, the -5 penalty might be more detrimental than the high damage potential.

• Target Selection: Prioritize high-value targets with relatively low AC, where the damage bonus significantly outweighs the reduced hit chance.

Great Weapon Master: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What weapons benefit most from Great Weapon Master?

A: Great axes, great swords, mauls, and greataxes. Weapons that deal at least 2d6 damage are necessary to trigger the damage bonus.

Q: Does the -5 penalty to attack rolls stack with other penalties?

A: Yes, the -5 penalty stacks with other penalties to your attack rolls.

Q: Can I use this feat with a Polearm Master?

A: Absolutely! The synergies between these two feats can be devastatingly effective.

Q: Is Great Weapon Master good for all classes?

A: While effective for many martial classes, its effectiveness hinges on consistently hitting (or critting) to overcome the attack penalty. Classes with high Strength scores and access to abilities that boost attack rolls are best suited to this feat. Barbarians, Fighters, and Paladins are ideal candidates.

Synergies and Combinations

Several other feats and class features synergize well with Great Weapon Master:

• Polearm Master: The bonus action attack offsets the loss of your bonus action in between your turns.
• Sentinel: This allows you to further control the battlefield and hinder enemies from escaping your attacks.
• Sharpshooter: This synergizes in different ways; the sharpshooter attack penalty isn't cumulative with the great weapon master penalty. While seemingly contradictory, the increased range and damage make up for the attack roll penalty.
• Heavy Armor Master: Reduces the impact of incoming damage.

Conclusion: Is Great Weapon Master Right for You?

The Great Weapon Master feat provides a high-risk, high-reward playstyle that rewards precision and strategic decision-making. It's not a universally effective feat, but when used correctly, it can transform a martial character into a devastating force on the battlefield. Carefully consider your character build, playstyle, and the types of encounters you'll face before choosing this feat. Remember to assess the risk vs. reward against various opponents. A single powerful blow can mean victory, or a string of misses could lead to a quick demise.