One of my group's first-level, variant Human, Fighter took Polearm Master as his feat (and Great Weapon as his style) and equipped himself with a Glaive (7' in length, Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed). In combat, he set himself up 10' away from the monster and attacked - reach weapon, so that's okay. But then he says he uses the Polearm Master feat to make a bonus attack (vis: When you take the Attack Action and attack with only a Glaive, Halberd, Quarterstaff, or spear, you can use a bonus Action to make a melee attack with the opposite end of the weapon. This attack uses the same ability modifier as the primary Attack. The weapon’s damage die for this Attack is a d4, and the attack deals bludgeoning damage). I can see this when they are close (i.e., the normal 5' range) but how would this work if they are holding the Glaive near the base of the shaft to reach the target with their first attack?? I can't see how they could switch it to butt strike in the same 6s round... RAW says it's possible but am seeking clarification if this feature should really only apply when they are at 5' range.
The Polearm Master feat has no reach limit for the bonus action so it can attack at 10' reach just as well. How it specifically come to do so it up to the character.
I always like to refer to the Prince Nuada vs. Hellboy fight from Hellboy 2 for inspiration on the kinds of moves you might do (skip to 2:24 for the polearm part) if you're looking at the kind of fantasy superhero sim that 5th edition tends towards.
When thinking about the polearm master feat I think we can assume we're not looking at your traditional 14 foot anti-cavalry pike, or a properly heavy chopping halberd but some kind of more specialised weapon balanced for rapidly spinning and shifting for the kinds of moves you're making.
Plus it's also just one of those levels of abstraction in the game; a number of monsters have tail attacks but don't need to make them against targets behind themselves, yet for their size a full body swing would be a substantial operation to attack something in front when they've got claws and/or teeth right there.
You could alternatively explain it as some kind of "glancing blow", e.g- catching an enemy with the shaft of the weapon as part of a return motion, rather than catching them fully with the point or blade. Or you could narrate the move as step forward to hit within a 5 foot reach then stepping back, but due to the motion of the weapon you don't count as moving (don't trigger opportunity attacks) because you're guarding yourself at the same time. There's a few ways to spin it from the story perspective.
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I always like to refer to the Prince Nuada vs. Hellboy fight from Hellboy 2 for inspiration on the kinds of moves you might do (skip to 2:24 for the polearm part) if you're looking at the kind of fantasy superhero sim that 5th edition tends towards.
When thinking about the polearm master feat I think we can assume we're not looking at your traditional 14 foot anti-cavalry pike, or a properly heavy chopping halberd but some kind of more specialised weapon balanced for rapidly spinning and shifting for the kinds of moves you're making.
So, the Hellboy fight was with a shorter weapon than the seven foot long Glaive... and they were a lot closer than ten feet... As I say, I have NO problems with it IF they are at five feet range - it's just an attack at ten feet (with a weapon that's only seven feet long) doesn't make sense to be able to butt-strike. To make that sort of spinning attack, you need to be grasping the weapon somewhere near the middle... well, IMO anyway ;-) :D
Your hands aren't glued to the middle or one end of the weapon. With skill, the weapon can be spun and slid through your grip to gain the reach needed. And it works RAW so if you want to change it as DM you need to discuss it with the player and possibly let them adjust the choices they made for the character, if they aren't happy with your decision. Or let them make a different character.
And the Hellboy clip was just an example of how a weapon could be used to make these types of attacks. The weapon in question is shorter, but gets the point across as you see him attack with both ends of the weapon, sliding through their hands, to attack at a distance that Hellboy's weapon would not be able to make.
I would have sworn their was a 5' restriction on the bonus action attack function of this feat. My group's been playing with that restriction for more than a year! Where the hell did we get that from?!
I would have sworn their was a 5' restriction on the bonus action attack function of this feat. My group's been playing with that restriction for more than a year! Where the hell did we get that from?!
Your party isn't the only one with such impression, the question was asked to the Dev before on Twitter;
@ninjakirby1322 Question about glaives and halberds: Can the bonus attack from Polearm Master be taken at 10 feet reach as well?
@JeremyECrawford The bonus attack of Polearm Master can use the weapon's reach. The feat would tell you if it couldn't.
Hi
One of my group's first-level, variant Human, Fighter took Polearm Master as his feat (and Great Weapon as his style) and equipped himself with a Glaive (7' in length, Heavy, Reach, Two-Handed). In combat, he set himself up 10' away from the monster and attacked - reach weapon, so that's okay. But then he says he uses the Polearm Master feat to make a bonus attack (vis: When you take the Attack Action and attack with only a Glaive, Halberd, Quarterstaff, or spear, you can use a bonus Action to make a melee attack with the opposite end of the weapon. This attack uses the same ability modifier as the primary Attack. The weapon’s damage die for this Attack is a d4, and the attack deals bludgeoning damage). I can see this when they are close (i.e., the normal 5' range) but how would this work if they are holding the Glaive near the base of the shaft to reach the target with their first attack?? I can't see how they could switch it to butt strike in the same 6s round... RAW says it's possible but am seeking clarification if this feature should really only apply when they are at 5' range.
Thanks!
The Polearm Master feat has no reach limit for the bonus action so it can attack at 10' reach just as well. How it specifically come to do so it up to the character.
I always like to refer to the Prince Nuada vs. Hellboy fight from Hellboy 2 for inspiration on the kinds of moves you might do (skip to 2:24 for the polearm part) if you're looking at the kind of fantasy superhero sim that 5th edition tends towards.
When thinking about the polearm master feat I think we can assume we're not looking at your traditional 14 foot anti-cavalry pike, or a properly heavy chopping halberd but some kind of more specialised weapon balanced for rapidly spinning and shifting for the kinds of moves you're making.
Plus it's also just one of those levels of abstraction in the game; a number of monsters have tail attacks but don't need to make them against targets behind themselves, yet for their size a full body swing would be a substantial operation to attack something in front when they've got claws and/or teeth right there.
You could alternatively explain it as some kind of "glancing blow", e.g- catching an enemy with the shaft of the weapon as part of a return motion, rather than catching them fully with the point or blade. Or you could narrate the move as step forward to hit within a 5 foot reach then stepping back, but due to the motion of the weapon you don't count as moving (don't trigger opportunity attacks) because you're guarding yourself at the same time. There's a few ways to spin it from the story perspective.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
So, the Hellboy fight was with a shorter weapon than the seven foot long Glaive... and they were a lot closer than ten feet... As I say, I have NO problems with it IF they are at five feet range - it's just an attack at ten feet (with a weapon that's only seven feet long) doesn't make sense to be able to butt-strike. To make that sort of spinning attack, you need to be grasping the weapon somewhere near the middle... well, IMO anyway ;-) :D
Your hands aren't glued to the middle or one end of the weapon. With skill, the weapon can be spun and slid through your grip to gain the reach needed. And it works RAW so if you want to change it as DM you need to discuss it with the player and possibly let them adjust the choices they made for the character, if they aren't happy with your decision. Or let them make a different character.
And the Hellboy clip was just an example of how a weapon could be used to make these types of attacks. The weapon in question is shorter, but gets the point across as you see him attack with both ends of the weapon, sliding through their hands, to attack at a distance that Hellboy's weapon would not be able to make.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
I would have sworn their was a 5' restriction on the bonus action attack function of this feat. My group's been playing with that restriction for more than a year! Where the hell did we get that from?!
Your party isn't the only one with such impression, the question was asked to the Dev before on Twitter;
It'll also get a +1 bonus if you're using a +1 polearm. But the Beyond character sheet doesn't do this.
Think Donatello from TMNT, not those dudes from 300 with 14 foot long spears.