Not sure if it's relevant to your idea, but under the 2024 rules, Polearm Master and Sentinel feats no longer synergize.
EDIT: I've just seen your edit. IMO, allowing the Yklwa to be used with Pole Strike or Reactive Strike shouldn't be a big issue.
Pole Strike. Immediately after you take the Attack action and attack with a Quarterstaff, a Spear, or a weapon that has the Heavy and Reach properties, you can use a Bonus Action to make a melee attack with the opposite end of the weapon. The weapon deals Bludgeoning damage, and the weapon’s damage die for this attack is a d4.
Reactive Strike. While you’re holding a Quarterstaff, a Spear, or a weapon that has the Heavy and Reach properties, you can take a Reaction to make one melee attack against a creature that enters the reach you have with that weapon.
Not sure if it's relevant to your idea, but under the 2024 rules, Polearm Master and Sentinel feats no longer synergize.
EDIT: I've just seen your edit. IMO, allowing the Yklwa to be used with Pole Strike or Reactive Strike shouldn't be a big issue.
Pole Strike. Immediately after you take the Attack action and attack with a Quarterstaff, a Spear, or a weapon that has the Heavy and Reach properties, you can use a Bonus Action to make a melee attack with the opposite end of the weapon. The weapon deals Bludgeoning damage, and the weapon’s damage die for this attack is a d4.
Reactive Strike. While you’re holding a Quarterstaff, a Spear, or a weapon that has the Heavy and Reach properties, you can take a Reaction to make one melee attack against a creature that enters the reach you have with that weapon.
Not sure if it's relevant to your idea, but under the 2024 rules, Polearm Master and Sentinel feats no longer synergize.
EDIT: I've just seen your edit. IMO, allowing the Yklwa to be used with Pole Strike or Reactive Strike shouldn't be a big issue.
Pole Strike. Immediately after you take the Attack action and attack with a Quarterstaff, a Spear, or a weapon that has the Heavy and Reach properties, you can use a Bonus Action to make a melee attack with the opposite end of the weapon. The weapon deals Bludgeoning damage, and the weapon’s damage die for this attack is a d4.
Reactive Strike. While you’re holding a Quarterstaff, a Spear, or a weapon that has the Heavy and Reach properties, you can take a Reaction to make one melee attack against a creature that enters the reach you have with that weapon.
Ah, my bad. I was referring to 5.14.
No problem! I just wanted to point that out in case it was something to consider for your proposal :) (or for future visitors!)
While not eligible, the Yklwa working with Polearm Master wouldn't be that broken considering the Spear can already deal 1d8 damage with better range.
It would just not require two hands to do so basically.
It's a flat damage boost really.
With a spear, 1h is 1d6+2+str, with dueling. 5.5 average, ignoring strength.
With a Yklwa, it's 1d8+2+str. 6.5 average. While it's not a massive difference, I find it interesting that without hb it out damages the best sword and board combo.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/equipment/41-yklwa
It's basically a spear with a big die and worse throwing distance. I don't think I'd be that bad.
Edit: I just reread sentinel, I meant PAM.
Not sure if it's relevant to your idea, but under the 2024 rules, Polearm Master and Sentinel feats no longer synergize.
EDIT: I've just seen your edit. IMO, allowing the Yklwa to be used with Pole Strike or Reactive Strike shouldn't be a big issue.
Ah, my bad. I was referring to 5.14.
While not eligible, the Yklwa working with Polearm Master wouldn't be that broken considering the Spear can already deal 1d8 damage with better range.
It would just not require two hands to do so basically.
No problem! I just wanted to point that out in case it was something to consider for your proposal :) (or for future visitors!)
It's a flat damage boost really.
With a spear, 1h is 1d6+2+str, with dueling. 5.5 average, ignoring strength.
With a Yklwa, it's 1d8+2+str. 6.5 average. While it's not a massive difference, I find it interesting that without hb it out damages the best sword and board combo.
Right, my point +1 damage is not broken.