I'm currently running a a half-elf ranger (gloom stalker 11/rogue 1) with 19 Dexterity and I'm not sure which feat to go for next. I make quite a few attacks with advantage, so Elven Accuracy is attractive, but I'd also like Piercer as I do 95% of my fighting with a longbow (I already have Sharpshooter). I think Piercer may give me more flexibility; if I take Elven Accuracy at a later date I can use it to bump up my Wisdom. Any thoughts on the utility of either of these feats?
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Frankly, my dear, I'd rather be listening to Rehn Stillnight.
I don't have any experience with Piercer, but I do have experience DM'ing a game with a Half-Elf Ranger with both Sharpshooter and Elven Accuracy, and those two feats stack pretty beautifully. If you're good at giving yourself advantage, that extra roll really helps to mitigate the -5 To Hit from Sharpshooter and almost guarantees you'll land an extra powerful shot when given the option. Think of it this way... Under ideal conditions, Piercer will replace a low-damage roll with a high one (although that's not guaranteed) and gives a potential +8 when landing a critical. On a critical, if you roll perfectly to replace a 1 with an 8 and then roll an 8 on the additional damage die, you get a +15 to damage, but really it averages out to a +10, but only on crits. Sharpshooter Paired with Elven Accuracy dramatically boosts damage every time. I don't have all the math, but it gives you a major boost to dealing an additional flat +10 every single time you have advantage. If you're good at getting advantage for yourself, Elven Accuracy pays off much more often when paired with Sharpshooter.
If you didn't already have Sharpshooter I would say that Piercer is a little more versatile and will get a lot more use. But the pairing of Sharpshooter and Elven Accuracy really pushes it over the top for me.
Piercer raises your damage floor and your max damage on crits, but Elven Accuracy makes sure you hit more often. I think Elven Accuracy synergizes better with your Sharpshooter and your Sneak Attack.
I'm currently running a a half-elf ranger (gloom stalker 11/rogue 1) with 19 Dexterity and I'm not sure which feat to go for next. I make quite a few attacks with advantage, so Elven Accuracy is attractive, but I'd also like Piercer as I do 95% of my fighting with a longbow (I already have Sharpshooter). I think Piercer may give me more flexibility; if I take Elven Accuracy at a later date I can use it to bump up my Wisdom. Any thoughts on the utility of either of these feats?
Frankly, my dear, I'd rather be listening to Rehn Stillnight.
I don't have any experience with Piercer, but I do have experience DM'ing a game with a Half-Elf Ranger with both Sharpshooter and Elven Accuracy, and those two feats stack pretty beautifully. If you're good at giving yourself advantage, that extra roll really helps to mitigate the -5 To Hit from Sharpshooter and almost guarantees you'll land an extra powerful shot when given the option. Think of it this way... Under ideal conditions, Piercer will replace a low-damage roll with a high one (although that's not guaranteed) and gives a potential +8 when landing a critical. On a critical, if you roll perfectly to replace a 1 with an 8 and then roll an 8 on the additional damage die, you get a +15 to damage, but really it averages out to a +10, but only on crits. Sharpshooter Paired with Elven Accuracy dramatically boosts damage every time. I don't have all the math, but it gives you a major boost to dealing an additional flat +10 every single time you have advantage. If you're good at getting advantage for yourself, Elven Accuracy pays off much more often when paired with Sharpshooter.
If you didn't already have Sharpshooter I would say that Piercer is a little more versatile and will get a lot more use. But the pairing of Sharpshooter and Elven Accuracy really pushes it over the top for me.
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Piercer raises your damage floor and your max damage on crits, but Elven Accuracy makes sure you hit more often. I think Elven Accuracy synergizes better with your Sharpshooter and your Sneak Attack.
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Thanks for the advice guys, really appreciate it!
Frankly, my dear, I'd rather be listening to Rehn Stillnight.
Have to agree here, if you have Sharpshooter then anything that helps you hit is gold. Elven Accuracy will be a huge boost for you.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm