D&D: Fantastic Feats for Formidable Fighters
Playing a Fighter, or other Melee enthusiast? Liven up your basic attack routine with a few exciting feats for Fighters.
Just because the makers of D&D aren’t called Fighters of the Coast doesn’t mean everyone’s favorite sword-wielding meatshields can’t have a little fun. After all, one of the most unique things a Fighter has in 5th Edition is getting more feats than anyone else.
And after a while, you’ll run out of Ability Scores to increase. But that just means you can take more interesting options. And while some feats are a little more optimal than others, there are plenty of options if you’re looking to inject a little flare into your Fighter. Or another melee character. Here are some of our favorites.
Crusher
Crusher is a fantastic Fighter feat, introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything. In addition to increasing your Str or Con by 1, you get the option of pushing a target that’s no more than one size larger than you up to five feet in any direction whenever you hit with an attack that does bludgeoning damage.
When you crit with an attack that deals bludgeoning damage, any attack rolls against that creature are made with advantage until the start of your next turn also. So, you can help your party get a critical hit too.
It’s pretty simple, but it’s more flexible than you think. This works with melee weapons like warhammers, but also with ranged weapons that deal bludgeoning damage—that sling or even the Catapult spell suddenly can push creatures around at range.
Gift of the Chromatic Dragon
With this feat, you gain the ability to infuse your weapon with extra magical damage. You can imbue it with acid, cold, fire, lightning, or poison, dealing an extra 1d4 points of the chosen type when it hits for the next ten rounds.
Additionally, as a reaction, you can grant yourself resistance to one of those same energy types when you take damage. A great little offensive/defensive combo for Fighters looking to get a little more out of their kit.
Orcish Fury
This feat, out of Xanathar’s Guide to Everything is only for Half-Orcs. But if you’re playing a Half-Orc with any kind of interest in weapon attacks, it’s worth considering. Not only do you increase your Str or Con by 1, you also gain the ability to give yourself an extra damage die on a hit, once per rest, and can make a free weapon attack (ranged or melee) after you use your Relentless Endurance trait to stay at 1 hp instead of 0.
Slasher
Do you like swords or axes? How about slowing down your enemies? If the answer to either of these is yes, Slasher is the feat for you. This feat slows a target down by 10 feet whenever you hit a creature with an attack that deals slashing damage.
On a critical hit, it can grant disadvantage to any attack roll the target makes for a turn. Which can really help turn the tides of battle.
Gunner
You know what goes quite well with D&D’s fantasy pastiche? Guns. Lots of guns. And with the Gunner feat, not only do you gain proficiency with firearms, but you also ignore the loading property of them.
Meaning you can fire a pistol, musket, or even topaz annihilator as often as you like in a turn, provided you have enough ammo around. And since the feat removes disadvantage for firing while engaged in melee, you effectively gain another option for melee weapons, which works with feats like Sharpshooter.
Happy Adventuring
