IME this is highly dependent on the DM and the campaign.
If you are guaranteed to get heavy magic weapons that keep pace with the other magic weapons in the campaign that is probably true, but I think that sort of campaign is relatively uncommon.
I have played multiple 1-20 campaigns using the 2024 rules and the highest damage PC overall was undoubtedly a champion with a Maul and GWM, but in that campaign we could buy Viscous weapons.
In every other 2024 campaign I have been in we can't get that sort of weaponry at will and what invariably happens is the GWM guy gets outclassed by the guy who finds the Staff of Striking or Flame Tongue or Scimitar of Speed etc and it happens pretty early. Power builds that are centered on dual wielding light weapons can be a bit restrictive too, but not as bad as GWM because magic light weapons are more common.
The best builds in play though and the best builds for almost all published adventures as written will tend to use something that is weapon agnostic like Blind Fighting and then don't get any feats that restrict weapons. For example Sentinel really boosts damage regardless of your weapon. In terms of damage, with the new FR rules I think in play Zhentarim Ruffian Origin Feat with Sentinel+Zhentarim Tactics would probably beat just about every other weapon user build there is at most tables.
Last edited:
