D&D 5E Feats that are particularly great at low levels

[Elric]

There are a few feats that seem particularly incredible at first level (the Variant Human gets a feat at first level instead of needing to wait until level 4).

Heavy Armor Mastery is great because DR 3 is a large fraction of damage at this level and because magic weapons or the damage types it doesn't protect against are comparatively rare.

Healer is great healing ability at first level but seems to drop off compared to things like Cleric spells at higher levels.

Inspiring Leader on a high Cha character is so many temporary HP at first level. It seems great throughout your career as long as it's a 4+ character party.

Great Weapon Fighting can be triggered consistently without setup or a build dedicated to it because HP are so low at first level. It's a great feat at any level, but can get consistent bonus attacks at very low levels without needing many attacks, Advantage, or an expanded critical range.

Anything I'm missing?

 

[sigfile]

Lucky - You can effectively give yourself advantage or force disadvantage on an enemy three times per day, and you get to wait until after you or the enemy rolls the dice to use it. Potentially the best feat in the game.

Polearm Master - have a free bonus action attack (bonk + full mods) with reach. Not good enough? Okay, you get a reaction attack when something enters your reach, too. Good grief.

Since anything that grants a bonus action attack is going to be golden, Crossbow Expert needs to be considered. The fact that it does away with disadvantage on ranged attack rolls when standing next to an enemy regardless of the character's weapon type is gravy.

That's another perk with Great Weapon Master - the conditions that grant the bonus attack aren't actually tied to heavy or two-handed weapons. Only the giant accuracy-for-damage tradeoff requires a heavy weapon.

Honorable mention goes out to Observant - at low levels, spotting the ambush early can easily be the difference between life and death.

On the flip side, Sentinel is a trap at starting levels. This isn't 4E; a lowbie fighter that forces all the kobolds to attack him or else is going to end up a bloody smear on the ground.