Dungeons & Dragons has changed its rules. With the release of the 2024 Player's Handbook, quite a few changes have happened here and there, even if the core of the game is mostly the same. One of the key changes is feats. Now, they're separated into categories: Origins, General, Fighting Style, and Epic Boons.

Related

Dungeons & Dragons: How To Convert Your Characters To The 2024 Player's Handbook

Here's how to convert your characters to the 2024 Player's Handbook in D&D!

Posts

Here, we'll dive into general feats, which you need at least level four to get. We have new options, as well as new versions of old feats to choose from, some of them being buffed while others nerfed. Which of these are the best options for your character?

All general feats now give you a +1 to an ability score, which means that some returning feats were nerfed to accommodate this new bonus. All of them will demand you to be at least level four, along with another prerequisite that will be specified along with the feat.

10 Ability Score Improvement

Don't Underestimate A Raw Bonus

A human Wizard by Aaron J Riley.

As we mentioned, all general feats come with a +1 increase to an ability score, and the feat will tell you which ability will get the bonus. That in itself is pretty good, as you can stack your character up with multiple feats and still reach 20 on whatever ability score is the best for you.

That said, getting a +2 rather than a +1 - or getting two +1s to increase two ability scores at once - is still an extremely valid thing to do to your character. Some builds benefit from reaching 20 as soon as possible, and the Ability Score Improvement is still the best way to do so.

9 Crossbow Expert

Still Powerful

Front image: Gloom Stalker, by Polar Engine

Background image: Wayfarer, by Jonas de Ro

Crossbow Expert now focuses mainly on crossbows, as the name implies, rather than how it used to work. It only ignores the loading properties of crossbows rather than any weapon (if you're using firearms, get the Gunner feat).

It also only removes the disadvantage of shooting with an enemy five feet away from you if you're shooting with a crossbow weapon. Lastly, when you use a hand crossbow for an additional attack with the bonus action, you can add the dexterity modifier to the damage.

If your main weapon has the Nick weapon mastery, you can do the additional crossbow attack without consuming your bonus action.

8 Durable

Heal Thyself

A Devout Warrior of Sacred Oaths by Michael Broussard.

If you want Second Wind but you're not a fighter, this is the next best thing. It also gives you an advantage on death saving throws, which is very helpful, and you can use your hit dice as a bonus action whenever you want to, assuming you have hit dice to spare.

Because of that, you can always restore some of your health, especially at higher levels, where you'll have plenty of these. And yes, the roll includes your constitution bonus.

7 Elemental Adept

Stack It Up

The Sorcerer Delina by Winsu Tan.

Aside from giving you a +1 for your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma, this feat didn't change much. You choose a damage type, and from now on, you can ignore enemies' resistance towards it. It'll become a two whenever you roll a one for damage with this element. You can get this feat multiple times, the same as before, as long as you pick another damage type.

Related

Dungeons & Dragons: 7 Best Backgrounds In The 2024 Player's Handbook, Ranked

Here are the best backgrounds in the D&D 2024 Player's Handbook!

Posts

That said, the +1 bonus makes a lot of difference. Assuming you're starting with your spellcasting ability at 16, you can get this feat four times and get it to 20 while ignoring four types of damage resistances.

6 Great Weapon Master

Nerfed, But Powerful

A Fierce Warrior by Denman Rooke.

Great Weapon Master lost its gamble mechanic, where the character could give themselves a -5 penalty to their attack for a +10 to their damage. Instead, whenever someone attacks with a weapon that has the heavy property, their damage will have a bonus equal to their proficiency bonus (heavy ranged weapons, like the longbow, theoretically fit here).

The second part, where you get to attack with your bonus action whenever you roll a critical hit or zero someone's health, still applies. Oh, and the +1 goes to your strength here.

Homebrew tip: Sharpshooter no longer adds a damage bonus. Let your players choose between buffing their strength or dexterity with Great Weapon Master (and let characters with a dexterity of 13 or more get it), and let them do the second part with ranged attacks as well. This feat's damage bonus also applies to heavy ranged weapons, rules as written, so let players lean into that.

5 Heavy Armor Master

It's Better

A Master of All Arms and Armor by Nestor Ossandon Leal.

Heavy Armor Master was a good feat that got obsolete at higher levels because the damage decrease it provided only worked in a few situations. Now, the decrease will happen whenever you take bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage, regardless of whether this damage is magical or not. The boss' +2 weapon won't overrule the feat anymore.

The old version also provided a -3 to the damage, while here, the damage decrease will be equal to your proficiency bonus. Sure, that means the decrease is lower initially, but it'll get higher eventually.

4 Mage Slayer

Protect Thy Mind

A Martial Artist by Joshua Raphael.

Mage Slayer only has one feature in common with its previous version: If you hit someone concentrating on a spell, they have a disadvantage on the concentration saving throw. You also get a +1 to strength or dexterity and something similar to Legendary Resistance.

Once per any rest, if you fail a saving throw that uses charisma, intelligence, or wisdom, you can simply choose to succeed (no reaction required). Perfect to avoid mind control or Hold Person.

3 Skulker

See Everything

A Dexterous Expert by Aurore Folny.

Skulker maintained its feature where if you make an attack while hidden and miss it, you won't reveal your position (though now it's any attack, not just ranged). You don't get the part where you can hide in dim light, but whenever you use the Hide action in combat, you get advantage (rogues, rejoice).

Along with that, you'll get a +1 to your dexterity and ten feet/three meters of blindsight, meaning you can fight someone who's invisible at close range or fight in darkness (and any other time you're blinded).

While there is a Fighting Style that adds blindsight, this feat comes with more perks, and you can use your Fighting Style for something else instead.

2 Spell Sniper

Crossbow Expert For Nerds

An aasimar Wizard by Martina Fa Ckova.

Spell Sniper now comes with a +1 to intelligence, wisdom, or charisma. While it no longer comes with a free spell, it lets you use ranged spell attacks while an enemy is five feet away from you, just like Crossbow Expert does to crossbow attacks.

Related

Dungeons & Dragons: 7 Most Useful Tools In The 2024 Player's Handbook

These tools are now more useful than ever on your adventures.

Posts 1

Lastly, if you cast a spell with a range of ten feet/three meters or more that requires an attack roll, you can add 60 feet/18 meters to its range. You could use something like Eldritch Blast from 180 feet/54 meters away, for instance, instead of its default (120 feet/36 meters).

1 War Caster

If It Ain't Broke...

A goliath Cleric casts Spiritual Weapon in battle with an umber hulk by Justine Cruz.

Okay, so War Caster didn't change - aside from a +1 to your intelligence, wisdom, or charisma. You'll get advantage on concentration saving throws, you can cast a spell that targets one person as an opportunity attack, and you can perform somatic components even if both your hands are carrying something.

While nothing major changed here, this is one of the most useful feats to have with any character who wants to focus on spellcasting, especially if your favorite spells require concentration. So we recommend it.

Your Rating

close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like Follow Followed

Dungeons & Dragons

Original Release Date 1974 Player Count 2+ Age Recommendation 12+ (though younger can play and enjoy) Length per Game From 60 minutes to hours on end. Franchise Name Dungeons & Dragons Publishing Co Wizards of the Coast Brand Dungeons & Dragons Expand Collapse