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Great Weapon Master
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<blockquote data-quote="kerbarian" data-source="post: 6523232" data-attributes="member: 40393"><p>Polearm Master has been brought up multiple times now as an example of why GWM isn't overpowered because Polearm Master is even better. Polearm Master is indeed a strong feat, but GWM still clearly outstrips it in what I'd consider typical situations.</p><p></p><p>I'll use a 5th-level barbarian with a greatsword as an example, using Reckless Attack. It's true that Advantage helps out GWM a lot, but it's not that hard to get. A barbarian with Reckless Attack is a simple way to get it that's built directly into the class; fighters and such would need to work with the rest of their party more.</p><p></p><p>I'll have the barbarian fighting a Troll; AC 15 is above average for enemies in the barbarian's level range, hurting GWM a bit in the comparison.</p><p></p><p>The base barbarian's average damage per round is 20.67 (2 attacks hitting on an 8 for 2d6+4 damage, with Advantage).</p><p></p><p>Now we give the barbarian the Polearm Master feat (assume he's a variant human so he doesn't have to sacrifice strength for it). His average damage per round increases to 23.69 (3 attacks hitting on an 8 with Advantage, two for 1d10+4 and one for 1d4+4), an increase of 15%.</p><p></p><p>Then we give him GWM instead of Polearm Master, and he makes all attacks at -5/+10. His average damage per round becomes 28.25 (2 attacks hitting on a 13 for 2d6+14 damage, with Advantage), an increase of 37%.</p><p></p><p>Actually both feats are even stronger than that since they can both grant extra attacks -- Polearm Master via opportunity attacks and GWM on every crit or kill. I'd say the advantage goes even further towards GWM here because the extra attacks it grants hit much harder and can be taken with Advantage (at the time an enemy walks up to you and triggers an OA, you're unlikely to have Advantage and can't use Reckless Attack).</p><p></p><p>Including the extra attacks, GWM is likely to be a 60%+ boost in damage vs. not having the feat, and I consider this a fairly reasonable and representative situation.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="kerbarian, post: 6523232, member: 40393"] Polearm Master has been brought up multiple times now as an example of why GWM isn't overpowered because Polearm Master is even better. Polearm Master is indeed a strong feat, but GWM still clearly outstrips it in what I'd consider typical situations. I'll use a 5th-level barbarian with a greatsword as an example, using Reckless Attack. It's true that Advantage helps out GWM a lot, but it's not that hard to get. A barbarian with Reckless Attack is a simple way to get it that's built directly into the class; fighters and such would need to work with the rest of their party more. I'll have the barbarian fighting a Troll; AC 15 is above average for enemies in the barbarian's level range, hurting GWM a bit in the comparison. The base barbarian's average damage per round is 20.67 (2 attacks hitting on an 8 for 2d6+4 damage, with Advantage). Now we give the barbarian the Polearm Master feat (assume he's a variant human so he doesn't have to sacrifice strength for it). His average damage per round increases to 23.69 (3 attacks hitting on an 8 with Advantage, two for 1d10+4 and one for 1d4+4), an increase of 15%. Then we give him GWM instead of Polearm Master, and he makes all attacks at -5/+10. His average damage per round becomes 28.25 (2 attacks hitting on a 13 for 2d6+14 damage, with Advantage), an increase of 37%. Actually both feats are even stronger than that since they can both grant extra attacks -- Polearm Master via opportunity attacks and GWM on every crit or kill. I'd say the advantage goes even further towards GWM here because the extra attacks it grants hit much harder and can be taken with Advantage (at the time an enemy walks up to you and triggers an OA, you're unlikely to have Advantage and can't use Reckless Attack). Including the extra attacks, GWM is likely to be a 60%+ boost in damage vs. not having the feat, and I consider this a fairly reasonable and representative situation. [/QUOTE]
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