Unearthed

Arcana: Feats
Based on feedback from our surveys and a Ultimately, feats should serve to flesh out your
number of requests on Twitter (Im characters identity. By creating feats with
@mikemearls if you want to give me a shout), names like Tavern Brawler and Sharpshooter,
this months Unearthed Arcana introduces new were using language that you can imagine
feats for fifth edition D&D. Before we get to the characters using to describe themselves. By
details, though, lets take a moment to talk about having a place in the worlda tangible essence
feat design and the place of feats in the game. that people can recognizefeats can add a layer
To begin with, since using feats is an optional of flavor and texture to your character without
rule, its important to never assume that a overpowering the class features that define who
particular feat will be a part of the game. For your character is.
instance, a class cant refer to a feat, and feats
should never be granted as class features. As
well, we cant rely on feats to carry the Weapon Mastery Feats
mechanical load for actions and abilities that Lets take a look at feat design by way of example.
should be captured in the core rules. A I think it would be cool to create a series of feats
hypothetical feat that makes you a skilled that can grant characters expertise with specific
gambler cant assume that the DM uses any weapons, similar to how Polearm Master works.
specific rules for wagering, as we dont have core What might that look like?
rules for those. Instead, such a feat might grant
you a bonus to Wisdom checks to reflect your Warhammer Master
ability to read others, as well as granting
advantage on any ability check made as part of a When you hit a creature with a warhammer, the
game of chance. creature must succeed on a Strength saving
Just as importantly, feats shouldnt add a throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your
mechanical layer to parts of the game where we Strength modifier) or be knocked prone.
expect the Dungeon Master to make a judgment In addition, you can use your warhammer to
call or to adjudicate things on the fly. For knock away a foes shield. If you hit a creature
example, a feat that allows you to adopt an alias thats using a shield, you can have the attack deal
would have to be written in such a way as to no damage and force the creature to drop its
allow characters without the feat to still attempt shield.
such a deception. The feat might give you
proficiency in one or more skills, a bonus to Why I Hate this Feat
Charisma, and a specific benefit (such as a reroll) This first attempt at creating a feat for characters
when adopting an alter ego youve spent time using a warhammer has huge problems. To start
practicing, all of which can improve your with, it triggers additional die rolls every time a
chances of success. But it shouldnt serve as a character hits. Thats irritating enough at low
barrier that prevents a character without the levels, but at higher levels and with multiple
feat to assume someones identity by way of attacks, it can quickly run out of control.
ability checks and good roleplaying. The ability to knock aside an opponents shield
Mechanically, feats are also meant to be all-in- is niftybut thats something any character
one options. We avoid chains of feats, just as we should be able to attempt. Locking that down
avoid making assumptions about your into a feat threatens to limit the games flexibility.
proficiencies or character class (unless this is You could argue that anyone could still try that
unavoidable). A feat is a package that covers all trick, but the way the feat frames the ability
the bases, allowing it to benefit any character. makes it sound like only characters with this feat
can succeed. This option is an area that Id want

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DMs to adjudicate on their own, rather than overwhelming edge and can rescue some shred
bloating the game with fiddly rules. of success from disadvantage.
Finally, this feat is fairly narrow. It applies to Finally, the added benefit to the Help action
only one weapon, when its net effect could grants a narrow but useful option without
probably apply to almost any bludgeoning overriding improvisation. This type of benefit
weapon. improves a standard action you can take, while
Heres a different take on it. coloring that action with a special benefit
applicable to your expertise. It doesnt stop
Fell Handed another character from attempting something
similar while using the Help action. It simply
You master the handaxe, battleaxe, greataxe, leaves it up to the DM to decide what check that
warhammer, and maul. You gain the following character needs to make in order to accomplish
benefits when using any of them: what your training allows you to do
automatically.
You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls you make Of course, our collective playtest efforts have
with the weapon. the final say on this feat. But hopefully it
Whenever you have advantage on a melee provides you with a good idea of our design
attack roll you make with the weapon and hit, direction as we look at adding more feats to the
you can knock the target prone if the lower of game.
the two d20 rolls would also hit the target. The rest of this article presents a number of
Whenever you have disadvantage on a melee new feats, each of which has been designed with
attack roll you make with the weapon, the the concepts outlined here in mind. Each feat
target takes bludgeoning damage equal to your also includes a short commentary to give you
Strength modifier (minimum of 0) if the attack some insight into the thinking behind it. By
misses but the higher of the two d20 rolls giving you more insight into feats, we hope the
would have hit. feedback you give us in return will help sharpen
If you use the Help action to aid an allys melee our sense of what works and what youd like to
attack while youre wielding the weapon, you see more of.
knock the targets shield aside momentarily. In
addition to the ally gaining advantage on the Blade Mastery
attack roll, the ally gains a +2 bonus to the roll
if the target is using a shield. You master the shortsword, longsword, scimitar,
rapier, and greatsword. You gain the following
Why I Like this Feat benefits when using any of them:
A number of things about this improved version
of the feat make me happy. To start with, it You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls you make
applies to a broad range of characters. I toyed with the weapon.
with the idea of having it apply just to heavy On your turn, you can use your reaction to
weapons, but I like the flavor of capturing a assume a parrying stance, provided you have
range of weapons normally associated with the weapon in hand. Doing so grants you a +1
dwarves. bonus to your AC until the start of your next
The attack bonus is a handy benefit that turn or until youre not holding the weapon.
applies to every attack you make, without When you make an opportunity attack with
requiring any obnoxious handling or the weapon, you have advantage on the attack
interruptions. roll.
The benefit on advantage and disadvantage
gives you a nifty added edge in a fight. It reflects Why I Like this Feat
the idea that, as an ironhanded master of This feat is simple, but it provides a tangible
weapons, you can turn an advantage into an boost to both offense and defense.

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 The bonus to attack rolls captures the idea that
your focus makes you better with blades than
Spear Mastery
you are with other weapons. The math is simple Though the spear is a simple weapon to learn, it
enough that it doesnt slow down the game. rewards you for the time you have taken to
The second benefit tries to capture the idea of master it. You gain the following benefits.
a sword as a superior defensive weapon, as
compared to axes, hammers, and so on. By You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls you make
focusing on defense rather than keeping your with a spear.
eyes open for the opportunity to counterattack, When you use a spear, its damage die changes
you make yourself harder to hit. from a d6 to a d8, and from a d8 to a d10 when
The final benefit is a contrast to parrying. If wielded with two hands. (This benefit has no
you forgo your swords defensive capabilities, effect if another feature has already improved
you can strike quickly and more efficiently when the weapons die.)
taking advantage of a foes distraction. You can set your spear to receive a charge. As a
bonus action, choose a creature you can see
Flail Mastery that is at least 20 feet away from you. If that
creatures moves within your spears reach on
The flail is a tricky weapon to use, but you have its next turn, you can make a melee attack
spent countless hours mastering it. You gain the against it with your spear as a reaction. If the
following benefits. attack hits, the target takes an extra 1d8
piercing damage, or an extra 1d10 piercing
You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls you make damage if you wield the spear with two hands.
with a flail. You cant use this ability if the creature used
As a bonus action on your turn, you can the Disengage action before moving.
prepare yourself to extend your flail to sweep As a bonus action on your turn, you can
over targets shields. Until the end of this turn, increase your reach with a spear by 5 feet for
your attack rolls with a flail gain a +2 bonus the rest of your turn.
against any target using a shield.
When you hit with an opportunity attack using Why I Like this Feat
a flail, the target must succeed on a Strength This feat looks a little different from the other
saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + members of the weapon mastery family because
your Strength modifier) or be knocked prone. it focuses on a simple weapon. It grants the same
+1 bonus to attack rolls as the other feats, but it
Why I Like this Feat also boosts the spears damage to make it equal
I tackled the weapon mastery feats first, and I to martial weapons.
wanted to make sure that each of them had a The third element focuses on making the spear
distinct flavor. The sword version of this feat is a useful defensive weapon. Given that fifth
fairly generic by design, since it needs to appeal edition D&D doesnt have a specific action for
to a broad range of players. That means the charging, the ability to skewer an incoming
other feats can appeal to players looking for enemy requires a bit of finesse. This feat sets up
something a little more esoteric. The Flail Master a situation that requires an opponent to move a
feat thus specializes in neutralizing shields and noticeable distance toward you. Shutting off
trying to knock opponents prone, playing into your attack with Disengage allows a creature to
the idea of a flails ability to whip around an approach you carefully by forgoing its action to
object or entangle a foes legs. attack, even as forcing you to commit to a
specific opponent makes the benefit faster to
resolve. This way, the DM doesnt need to check
whether you want to attack every single creature
that moves up to you.

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 The extra reach is a minor ability, but one that
reflects the spears nature in a simple, easy way.
Gourmand
You have mastered a variety of special recipes,
Tool Feats allowing you to prepare exotic dishes with useful
effects. You gain the following benefits:
Weapons are fun, but feats are intended to
support all parts of the game. To that end, here Increase your Constitution score by 1, to a
are a few feats that grant proficiency with tools maximum of 20.
and some additional thematic benefits. You gain proficiency with cooks utensils. If
you are already proficient with them, you add
Alchemist double your proficiency bonus to checks you
make with them.
You have studied the secrets of alchemy and are As an action, you can inspect a drink or plate of
an expert in its practice, gaining the following food within 5 feet of you and determine
benefits: whether it is poisoned, provided that you can
see and smell it.
Increase your Intelligence score by 1, to a
maximum of 20. During a long rest, you can prepare and serve a
meal that helps you and your allies recover
You gain proficiency with alchemists supplies.
from the rigors of adventuring, provided you
If you are already proficient with them, you
have suitable food, cooks utensils, and other
add double your proficiency bonus to checks
supplies on hand. The meal serves up to six
you make with them.
people, and each person who eats it regains
As an action, you can identify one potion
two additional Hit Dice at the end of the long
within 5 feet of you, as if you had tasted it. You
rest. In addition, those who partake of the meal
must see the liquid for this benefit to work.
have advantage on Constitution saving throws
Over the course of any short rest, you can
against disease for the next 24 hours.
temporarily improve the potency of one potion
of healing of any rarity. To use this benefit, you
must have alchemists supplies with you, and Master of Disguise
the potion must be within reach. If the potion
You have honed your ability to shape your
is drunk no more than 1 hour after the short
personality and to read the personalities of
rest ends, the creature drinking the potion can
others. You gain the following benefits:
forgo the potions die roll and regains the
maximum number of hit points that the potion Increase your Charisma score by 1, to a
can restore. maximum of 20.
You gain proficiency with the disguise kit. If
Burglar you are already proficient with it, you add
double your proficiency bonus to checks you
You pride yourself on your quickness and your make with it.
close study of certain clandestine activities. You If you spend 1 hour observing a creature, you
gain the following benefits: can then spend 8 hours crafting a disguise you
can quickly don to mimic that creature. Making
Increase your Dexterity score by 1, to a
the disguise requires a disguise kit. You must
maximum of 20.
make checks as normal to disguise yourself,
You gain proficiency with thieves tools. If you
but you can assume the disguise as an action.
are already proficient with them, you add
double your proficiency bonus to checks you
make with them.
Why I Like these Feats
Tools are a fun part of the game, but it
sometimes takes a lot of work from the DM to

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bring them into play. For example, cooks
utensils are only as useful as the adventure or
campaign allows them to be, since they dont
have a clear role in the three core pillars of the
game: combat, interaction, and discovery. On top
of making the numerical bonus provided by tools
significantly higher, the feats above try to add
concrete benefits to those tools. Thieves tools
are an exception, though. Because traps and
locks are such a common part of the game, the
extra bonus the feat provides is powerful enough
in and of itself.

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