D&D 5E Unearthed Arcana: 16 New Feats

"Today’s Unearthed Arcana presents a selection of new feats for Dungeons & Dragons. Each feat offers a way to become better at something or to gain a whole new ability."

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The feats include Artificer Initiate, Chef, Crusher, Eldritch Adept, Fey Touched, Fighting Initiate, Gunner, Metamagic Adept, Poisoner, Piercer, Practiced Expert, Shadow Touched, Shield Training, Slasher, Tandem Tactician, and Tracker.

 

[Weiley31]

Kinda wish Eldritch Adept was more along the lines of the Druidic and Blessed Warrior fighting styles, but for arcane users. But I'm still happy with an extra Invocation.

 

[Marandahir]

The only problematic 5e feat, IMHO, is Athlete, not in and of itself, but because there's now a Background with the same name. Feats should not be named the same as Backgrounds.

Kinda wish Eldritch Adept was more along the lines of the Druidic and Blessed Warrior fighting styles, but for arcane users. But I'm still happy with an extra Invocation.

We don't know if they'll add an Arcane Warrior fighting style yet or not. Even if they don't, it's easy enough to add.

However, it should also be noted that Eldritch Knights don't really need the fighting style since they get cantrips already (though sadly, Arcane Archer can't access Druidic Warrior if they're doing more of a 4e Seeker, and the Arcane Warrior option is missing for more mainstream Arcane Archers). The Blessed Warrior and Druidic Warrior fill a specific need for Paladins and Rangers where they couldn't use cantrips that make sense for their character class without multiclassing. Superior Technique fills a similar role for Fighters that want to play with Martial Maneuvers but don't want to be all about that.

You can have both: Martial Adept, Superior Technique, and Fighting Initiate all fit together side-by-side. Meanwhile, an Eldritch Knight or Arcane Archer Fighter can take Eldritch Adept or Artificer Adept to lean into their magical tendencies, and they can add to it the Magic Initiate feat. If WotC includes the hypothetical Arcane Warrior fighting style, then there were be another dial to lean into that magical tendency.

 

[Mistwell]

This is one of the better UAs. I like almost all of these. And, we need more feats like Chef!

 

[Sacrosanct]

A lot of these feats are "multiclass lite" feats. I like them.

Exactly. Which I think is a great strength in them. It solves so many conundrums on how to build your PC to fit whatever archetype you wanted.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Regarding the weapon damage-type feats, no group I have ever played with since I started in the early 80's placed randomly generated magic weapons and armor. What DM likes to screw over their players like that? Yeah, if the DM was using a published adventure, then the PCs could end up with items they could not use, but they made for good trade stock if they could not be sold. Same thing for homebrew adventures. If the PCs found something they could not use, they either sold or traded it or they held onto it for a while, in case the DM was pulling the old video game trick of having you find magic weapons and armor that would be used by the next PC that was going to join the group.

And aside from that, realism about what a weapon can actually do for damage still comes into play. A longsword can slash and pierce. An axe can slash and bludgeon or pierce, depending on which side of the head you are using and whether the non-bladed side has a spike or hammer head. Etc. So I am fine with those three feats. Use a spear and take the piercing and bludgeoning feats and it starts to feel like a martial arts movie.

 

[Minigiant]

Like:

Crusher/Piercer/Slasher/poisoner

more focus on nonmagical damage types is cool

Fighting initiate

Warriors in D&D might have multiple fighting styles and this helps.

Dislike:

Tracker
Until rangers are given better unique low level spells, access to them for other classes should be extremely limited. Especially since there are no feats to boost or broaden other ranger class features.

Don't know:

Metamagic Adept

Sorcery points and Metamagic is sorcerer's thing. I like them having a feat to boost it but am iffy on it being too useful for others. But you really can't do much with 2 sorcery points if you don't already have them.

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

However, it should also be noted that Eldritch Knights don't really need the fighting style since they get cantrips already (though sadly, Arcane Archer can't access Druidic Warrior if they're doing more of a 4e Seeker, and the Arcane Warrior option is missing for more mainstream Arcane Archers). The Blessed Warrior and Druidic Warrior fill a specific need for Paladins and Rangers where they couldn't use cantrips that make sense for their character class without multiclassing. Superior Technique fills a similar role for Fighters that want to play with Martial Maneuvers but don't want to be all about that.

You can have both: Martial Adept, Superior Technique, and Fighting Initiate all fit together side-by-side. Meanwhile, an Eldritch Knight or Arcane Archer Fighter can take Eldritch Adept or Artificer Adept to lean into their magical tendencies, and they can add to it the Magic Initiate feat. If WotC includes the hypothetical Arcane Warrior fighting style, then there were be another dial to lean into that magical tendency.

They also fill the role of granting Eldritch Knights a little magic from first level instead of waiting till 3rd.

 

[BookBarbarian]

The feats are ok. Good even. But I don't like any of them as much as I like Fell Handed from the 2016 UA. That feat had flavor.

 

[Li Shenron]

It was totally expected that early or late they would come up with a feat or something else to steal the one and only reason to play a Sorcerer.

Now, to restore the fairness, there has to be a feat which grants a Spellbook feature so you can scribe unlimited spells for the same cost as a Wizard.

 

[Sacrosanct]

What a mess.

Chef
:...These special treats last 8 hours after being made." Why do they spoil to fast?
"...eat one of those treats to gain temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus." Why temp hit points?

Have you ever eaten ice cream after it's served? 8 hours after it's served? Also, temp HP because since we know HP also reflect energy and focus, and we know food can give you a temp boost of energy, it makes total sense.

But it seems like this UA clearly isn't for you since you seem to be focused on how bad it is.