D&D 5E Best out of combat class features?

[Undrave]

Frankly, the best single out-of-combat feature is spellcasting. Which is also the best single in-combat feature.

Reliable talent is the runner-up. It doesn’t give you as many easy ways to avoid having to make checks as spellcasting does, but it’s incredible insurance against failure on checks, especially when combined with expertise.

Wild Shape is potentially very powerful out of combat, depending on what forms the DM will let you access.

Honorable mention to Jack of all Trades - Reliable Talent’s less successful older sibling.

Which one would you say is the most fun, even if it's not as good?

 

[Ath-kethin]

Hands down, the best out of combat power is the Beastmaster's Ranger's Companion. It means they never have to be lonely!

 

[Fenris-77]

Hands down, the best out of combat power is the Beastmaster's Ranger's Companion. It means they never have to be lonely!

I want to play a Wolf who has a Ranger Companion, does that work?

 

[TwoSix]

Most of the warlock invocations that grant an at-will spell.

At-will disguise self? Amazing. At-will invisibility (in shadows)? The rogue is jealous. At-will detect magic? Find answers to traps and hazards quickly and easily. Read all writing is great when it comes up. And so on.

At-will silent image to make fake doors never gets old.

 

[TwoSix]

Animals also often have special forms of movement or senses that can be useful in all sorts of situations.

One campaign idea I've been keeping in my back pocket is a guerrilla (gorilla?) strike team of all druids. Fly in with bird form, infiltrate with rodent form, etc.

 

[Krachek]

Background by a long edge.

 

[Charlaquin]

Which one would you say is the most fun, even if it's not as good?

I mean, probably also spellcasting? It’s so incredibly versatile, you can create all sorts of different-feeling characters simply by choosing different spells. Although paradoxically, it also kind of makes spellcasting the least interesting. It’s like “there’s an app for that.” If there’s something you want to do, there’s a spell for that. And it’s too bad, because a lot of potentially interesting non-spellcasting character concepts are just outshone by casters.

 

[GlassJaw]

Artificer Infuse Item > Replicate Magic Item is pretty sweet to make an item the party might need in a pinch. Lots of utility items on the list, like an alchemy jug, lantern of revealing, sending stones, etc.

 

[Undrave]

I mean, probably also spellcasting? It’s so incredibly versatile, you can create all sorts of different-feeling characters simply by choosing different spells. Although paradoxically, it also kind of makes spellcasting the least interesting. It’s like “there’s an app for that.” If there’s something you want to do, there’s a spell for that. And it’s too bad, because a lot of potentially interesting non-spellcasting character concepts are just outshone by casters.

I'm trying to come up with a new out of combat ability for a home-brewed class and it's friggin' hard! Everything is just spell casting or a bonus to skill... and that's not even taking into account keeping it consistent with the fluff...

 

[Fenris-77]

I'd like a class ability that allows my cloak to billow when narratively appropriate.