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Message: <blockquote data-quote="clutchbone" data-source="post: 6704054" data-attributes="member: 98332">9. Feats[sblock=Player's Handbook Feats]Actor: Arcane Tricksters, Assassins, and Masterminds all have class features/spells for mimicking others, and the bonus to disguises is situational.Alert: These perks are useful for any class, really, but the +5 to Initiative is pretty much mandatory for Assassins.Athlete: Thieves already get the climbing bonus, and the rest isn't really worth it.Charger: This interferes with your Cunning Action to disengage to safety.Crossbow Expert: Lets you ignore the loading property so you can draw ammunition as part of the attack. Taken with the feat's third property, a rogue armed with a hand crossbow can fire twice in one turn, although you need one hand free to handle the ammo. One of the few ways a rogue can get multiple attack rolls (without multiclassing for 5 levels).Defensive Duelist: This can potentially be one of the best defensive feats at high level, but note that it competes with Uncanny Dodge for your reaction, it only protects against one melee attack per round, and it also doesn't protect against critical hits. If your DM rolls dice in the open and you don't mind the overlap, you can use this for regular hits and Uncanny Dodge for crits to save a lot of damage.Dual Wielder: Remember, if you take this to optimize melee damage, you won't be able to use Cunning Action to disengage behind your meatshield. Better for Swashbucklers as they can use Fleet of Foot instead.Dungeon Delver: This is dependent on your campaign (and DM); fighting a horde of orcs? You don't need this. Raiding tombs? Might be a good idea. Arcane Tricksters can just use their Mage Hand to avoid trap damage entirely.Durable: Normal hit die recovery for rogues is ~4.5+Con. Con is usually +1 or +2 for rogues, so this benefit will turn your avg hit die recovery to ~5+Con or ~6+Con. Not worth it. Elemental Adept: You don't ever use elemental damage spells. Grappler: There's an interesting Grappling Rogue build, but it's more like a dip into rogue than a full rogue build. Everyone else should avoid.Great Weapon Master: You can't Sneak Attack with these.Healer: This actually isn't that bad. Healer's Kits heal more hp per shot than a potion of healing and are also much more cost efficient (about 7 copper per hit point healed without even factoring the number of hit dice, vs about 7.1 gold per hit point with the potion). This feat ends up saving the party lots of gold over the long run, and Healer's Kits are also more common than magical potions. Better for Thieves with their Fast Hands & Cunning Action(use an object) features.Heavily Armored: Maybe a Str-based Mountain Dwarf rogue would consider this, but they should really just dip into fighter instead. Heavy Armor Master: No, this is too far even for the Mountain Dwarf. Inspiring Leader: Meh, this isn't really your bag of tricks. Keen Mind: Just straight bump Int instead, if you feel the need. Lightly Armored: Worthless to you. Linguist: Just straight bump Int instead, if you feel the need. Lucky: Another feat that's universally useful for any class. Note that this doesn't grant advantage, just an extra d20, so it doesn't work with Sneak Attack.Mage Slayer: Boost your melee damage output and saving throws vs adjacent spellcasters, including innate (and psionic) ones. Swashbucklers have an easier time fulfilling Sneak Attack conditions behind enemy lines, where the casters usually hide. Note that the reaction attack resolves after the triggering spell is cast (DMG p. 252), so a spell like shocking grasp can prevent your special melee attack from happening.Magic Initiate: Get hex and don't look back. The target won't know you've placed a hex on it (pg. 204) so casting this from hiding won't break surprise, and since initiative counts as a dexterity check this is great for Assassins to set up assassinate/death strike! Hex can also last multiple encounters (as long as you don't travel or take a short rest) because you can re-target it anytime after the initial target dies within the 1 hour duration. If you prefer a divine flavor, guidance, resistance and bless are solid selections from the cleric list; you don't even need any Wis to make them work. There's also find familiar; choose an owl to get a flying scout and the flyby help actions. Martial Adept: 1 maneuver per short rest isn't that great. If you do take this, go with Precision and Riposte. Medium Armor Master: Str-based Mountain Dwarf rogues or multiclass rogue/fighters may want this, but no one else. Mobile: +10 speed is good for small rogues, but you already have Cunning Action to disengage, unless you really want to make the most of TWF. Moderately Armored: You're here for the +2 AC from shield proficiency, or if you happen to find mithral half-plate armor. You could also just multiclass into fighter. Mounted Combatant: Having automatic advantage on melee attack rolls is great on paper, but most campaigns will probably require you to become unmounted fairly regularly. Also as a rogue you generally don't want to encourage attackers to target you.Observant: If you have proficiency and Expertise in perception, this can be potentially game breaking in your DM's eyes. If not, this can still be useful. Note that this adds a modifier to your passive score only, not to any actual rolls.Polearm Master: Nope. No Sneak Attacks with two-handed weapons.Resilient: Choose Con and by 15th level you will be proficient in all 3 big saves. This works best if your character starts off with an odd Con stat. Ritual Caster: If you take this, choose wizard (as they have the most ritual spells) and get find familiar and an owl (flyby attack + help action = advantage). I prefer Magic Initiate, but this is fine.Savage Attacker: No, re-rolling one d8 (at best) is really weak for a feat.Sentinel: On paper, more opportunity attacks = more Sneak Attacks (as long as SA conditions are met), however this is quite risky as monsters will probably just end up focusing on you. Great if your party has a way of directing who your enemy attacks (ie Goading Attack maneuver, etc). Remember that Sentinel attacks resolve after the triggering attack (DMG p. 252) so you can only avenge your friend's death, not prevent it.Sharpshooter: Excellent when paired with Crossbow Expert to extend the hand crossbow's paltry range. Also works well for Assassins with Skulker. This way your assassinate/death strike will do plenty more damage with less risk if you miss.Shield Master: This lets you shove(knock prone) as a bonus action before your attack to set up Sneak Attack conditions, but you need to grab proficiency with shields from somewhere first. For best results you should be a strength-based rogue trained in Athletics with Expertise while abusing Reliable Talent.Skilled: Ehhh, not really necessary. You already get at least 6 skills at the minimum. Skulker: Pretty decent for sniping. There's a bit of overlap though for Wood Elves and Lightfoot Halflings. I'd usually just take Crossbow Expert or Sharpshooter, unless I was playing an Assassin - missing with an assassination opener is frustrating, but at least they won't know where you are, and you might even get to try again if they didn't hear the arrow.Spell Sniper: You can't use ranged spells with Sneak Attack.Tavern Brawler: You can't Sneak Attack with improvised weapons or unarmed strikes.Tough: More hitpoints are always welcome, but it's best for rogues to focus on other areas (like how not to get hit at all)War Caster:Only for Arcane Tricksters, and even then it's not a top priority. Full casters get more use out of this feat than you. Weapon Master: Heavy crossbows, longbows, scimitars and whips aren't worth the price of a feat. For what it's worth, whips are the best choice here. [/sblock][sblock=Xanathar's Guide to Everything Racial Feats]Bountiful Luck (Halfling): Moderately useful for any halfling adventurer, and halfling adventurers make good rogues.Dragon Fear (Dragonborn): Poor race choice for rogues.Dragon Hid (Dragonborn): Poor race choice for rogues.Drow High Mage (Drow): Useful spells using charisma.Dwarven Fortitude (Dwarf): Poor race choice for rogues.Elven Accuracy (Elf or Half-elf):As you should already be sniping with advantage from hiding, this is amazing.Fade Away (Gnome): Excellent for forest gnome rogues. Works well with both Sneak Attack and an Arcane Trickster's Magical Ambush feature.Fey Teleportation (High Elf): Supercharged misty step is great for Arcane Tricksters.Flames of Phlegethos (Tiefling): Poor race choice for rogues, and rogues can't Sneak Attack with spell damage.Infernal Constitution (Tiefling): Poor race choice for rogues.Orcish Fury (Half-orc): Poor race choice for rogues.Prodigy (half-elf, half-orc, or human): Skill, tool, language, and expertise? *Skill monkeying intensifies*.Second Chance (Halfling): Pretty good, but some overlap with Uncanny Dodge.Squat Nimbleness (Dwarf or a small race): Dex, speed, skill, and adv. to escape grapples is quite a good package for halflings and gnomes.Wood Elf Magic (Wood elf): Pass without trace + expertise & reliable talent is very powerful. [/sblock]Example BuildsFor these builds I have only included items where choice is a factor, so basic class and achetype features are not shown. Also they are meant to be examples of capable solo-class builds and therefore are not multiclassed, except for the strength build which needed a bit of help.[sblock=Thief Build]This is your classic treasure-seeking, trap-finding, dungeon-delving Thief. He's the penultimate scout, able to walk into any room and notice every little detail without trying; by level 20, he will have 30 passive perception which is 2 points shy of the theoretical maximum.Race: Variant Human (Dex +1 Wis +1, Skill: Perception, Feat: Observant(Wis), Language: Orc)Ability Score Array: Str 12, Con 13, Dex 16, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8Background: UrchinProficient Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Perception, Stealth, Sleight of HandLevel 1: Expertise: Perception, StealthLevel 2:Level 3:Level 4: Ability Score Improvement: Dex +2Level 5:Level 6: Expertise: Athletics, Thieves ToolsLevel 7:Level 8: Ability Score Improvement: Healer featLevel 9:Level 10: Ability Score Improvement: Dex +2Level 11:Level 12: Ability Score Improvement: Dungeon Delver featLevel 13:Level 14:Level 15:Level 16: Ability Score Improvement: Resilient(Con) featLevel 17:Level 18:Level 19: Ability Score Improvement: Lucky featLevel 20: [/sblock][sblock=Assassin Build]This Assassin is a ranged damage specialist and party "face". She is built to obtain a surprise round and/or high initiative and capitalize on her damaging 1st round Assassin features, preferably by sniping from ambush or from behind her allies. Race: Lightfoot HalflingAbility Score Array: Str 8, Con 12, Dex 17, Int 8, Wis 15, Cha 14Background: CriminalProficient Skills: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, Persuasion, StealthLevel 1: Expertise: Insight, StealthLevel 2:Level 3:Level 4: Ability Score Improvement: Crossbow Expert featLevel 5:Level 6: Expertise: Deception, IntimidateLevel 7:Level 8: Ability Score Improvement: Dex +1, Wis +1Level 9:Level 10: Ability Score Improvement: Alert featLevel 11:Level 12: Ability Score Improvement: Dex +2 Level 13:Level 14:Level 15:Level 16: Ability Score Improvement: Sharpshooter featLevel 17:Level 18:Level 19: Ability Score Improvement: Skulker featLevel 20: [/sblock][sblock=Arcane Trickster Build]This Arcane Trickster is a jack-of-all-trades, providing decent ranged support, social skills, and magical tomfoolery. I'm a bit biased though, as this was my very first 5e character. Man, I miss this guy.Race: Forest GnomeAbility Score Array: Str 8, Con 13, Dex 16, Int 17, Wis 8, Cha 12Background: CharlatanProficient Skills: Acrobatics, Deception, Investigation, Persuasion, Stealth, Sleight of HandLevel 1: Expertise: Deception, StealthLevel 2:Level 3:Level 4: Ability Score Improvement: Crossbow Expert featLevel 5: Level 6: Expertise: Persuasion, Sleight of HandLevel 7:Level 8: Ability Score Improvement: Dex +2Level 9:Level 10: Ability Score Improvement: Magic Initiate feat (Wizard): friends, mending, find familiar,Level 11:Level 12: Ability Score Improvement: Con +1, Int +1Level 13:Level 14:Level 15:Level 16: Ability Score Improvement:  Dex +2Level 17:Level 18:Level 19: Ability Score Improvement: Int +2Level 20:[/sblock][sblock=Spell Choices by Level]Level 1:Level 2:Level 3: greenflame blade, message, prestidigitation, shield, silent image, sleepLevel 4: charm personLevel 5:Level 6:Level 7: mirror image, replace charm person with suggestionLevel 8: misty step, replace sleep with invisibilityLevel 9: Level 10: friends, hold personLevel 11: disguise selfLevel 12:Level 13: hypnotic pattern, replace disguise self with major imageLevel 14: blinkLevel 15:Level 16: phantom steedLevel 17:Level 18:Level 19: confusion, replace phantom steed with greater invisibilityLevel 20: dimension doorKnown spells at level 20:Cantrips: minor image, mage hand, message, friends, mending, prestidigitation, greenflame blade, 1st level: shield, silent image, find familiar2nd level: hold person, invisibility, mirror image, misty step, suggestion,3rd level: blink, hypnotic pattern, major image, 4th level: confusion, dimension door, greater invisibility.This is a solid mix of offense and defense across all spell levels.[/sblock][sblock=Strength-Based Thief Build]At first I was skeptical, but you can definitely build a decent rogue that uses Strength for attacks. This rogue is a textbook hired goon, adept in shaking down, roughing up, and ransacking. Instead of sneaking around, this bruiser eventually masters the art of knocking enemies prone with a shield and then Sneak Attacking them while they lie in the dirt. The one fighter level is for shield proficiency.Race: Mountain DwarfAbility Score Array: Str 17, Con 15, Dex 15, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 10Background: CriminalProficient Skills: Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, Stealth, Sleight of HandLevel 1: Expertise: Athletics, IntimidationLevel 2:Level 3:Level 4: Ability Score Improvement: Str +1, Dex +1Level 5:Level 6: Expertise: Insight, PerceptionLevel 7:Level 8: Multiclass: Fighter (Dueling fighting style)Level 9: Ability Score Improvement: Shield Master featLevel 10:Level 11: Ability Score Improvement: Str +2Level 12:Level 13: Ability Score Improvement: Resilient(Con) featLevel 14:  Level 15:Level 16:Level 17: Ability Score Improvement: Medium Armor Master featLevel 18:Level 19:Level 20: Ability Score Improvement: Con +2[/sblock][sblock=Swashbuckler Build]This Swashbuckler is a decent party face and skill monkey with high charisma, 3 languages, and 8 skills. At mid-level, she's great at slipping through enemy ranks to take down enemy spellcasters, thanks to her archetype features and the Mage Slayer feat. She becomes a lot beefier in the epic levels, perfect for staying alive in melee while dishing out pain with dual rapiers. Although she's fine as is, a one-level dip into Fighter for whip proficiency and Two-Weapon fighting style would be ideal. Race: Half-Elf (Dex +1 Con +1 Cha +2, Skills: Acrobatics, Persuasion, Language: GoblinAbility Score Array: Str 10, Con 15, Dex 16, Int 8, Wis 10, Cha 16Background: SailorProficient Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, Persuasion, Stealth,Level 1: Expertise: Persuasion, StealthLevel 2:Level 3:Level 4: Ability Score Improvement: Dex +2Level 5:Level 6: Expertise: Athletics, DeceptionLevel 7:Level 8: Ability Score Improvement: Dual WielderLevel 9:Level 10: Ability Score Improvement: Dex +2Level 11:Level 12: Ability Score Improvement: Mage Slayer featLevel 13:Level 14:Level 15:Level 16: Ability Score Improvement: Resilient(Con) featLevel 17:Level 18:Level 19: Ability Score Improvement: Cha +2Level 20: [/sblock]</blockquote>

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