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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dausuul" data-source="post: 7305628" data-attributes="member: 58197">Let's compare an 8th-level fighter with greatsword and GWM to an 8th-level fighter with quarterstaff, shield, and Polearm Mastery. Figure a typical enemy has AC 13.Greatsword fighter: Base attack is +8 twice/round for 2d6+5, rerolling 1s and 2s. That's DPR 21.333 (13.333 per hit x2 attacks x0.8 hits per attack). Add Great Weapon Mastery, and it's 25.667 (23.333 per hit x2 attacks x0.55 hits per attack). AC is 18.Polearm master: Base attack is +8 twice/round for 1d6+7, and +8 once/round for 1d4+7. That's DPR 24.4 (10.5 per hit x2 attacks, plus 9.5 per hit x1 attack, all x0.8 hits per attack). AC is 20.So, the greatsword fighter has about the same DPR (the slight difference could easily be tipped one way or the other by monster AC or other factors), and doesn't have to use a bonus action to get there. She also gets a bonus action attack whenever she drops a foe. Against that, the polearm master has +2 AC and gets a free reaction attack whenever an enemy enters his/her reach.I'd say it really comes down to the +2 AC. Everything else balances out pretty well, but the AC tips the scales in favor of the polearm master. It's not an overwhelming advantage, but it's certainly going to be noticeable.</blockquote>