The Crusher(UA) feat seems like an obvious choice for Monks. You get to move your enemy around. Get partial stuns for free from crit hits, which gives you a whole new turn at advantage to hit more crits. All without giving up precious Ki.
Now bring in Polearm master. After pushing someone away, they have to walk back up to you which gives you a reaction hit. As it’s their turn and not yours, you can push them away again if you wanted.
Now take Sentinel. Oh sorry? You wanted to come over here and hit me. Not in my personal space bubble thanks. Any enemy walking up to you gets smacked backwards and their speed dropped to 0.
You could even take this on any class and be a wannabe monk.
You are practiced in the art of crushing your enemies, granting you the following benefits:
Increase your Strength or Dexterity by 1, to a maximum of 20.
Once per turn, when you hit a creature with an attack that deals bludgeoning damage, you can move it 5 feet to an unoccupied space, provided the target is no more than one size larger than you.
When you score a critical hit that deals bludgeoning damage to a creature, attack rolls against that creature are made with advantage until the end of your next turn.
I don't of any bludgeoning weapon that you can use with the Polearm Master Feat.
Polearm Master
You can keep your enemies at bay with reach weapons. You gain the following benefits:
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 it deals bludgeoning damage.
While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, quarterstaff, or spear, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach.
You are practiced in the art of crushing your enemies, granting you the following benefits:
Increase your Strength or Dexterity by 1, to a maximum of 20.
Once per turn, when you hit a creature with an attack that deals bludgeoning damage, you can move it 5 feet to an unoccupied space, provided the target is no more than one size larger than you.
When you score a critical hit that deals bludgeoning damage to a creature, attack rolls against that creature are made with advantage until the end of your next turn.
I don't of any bludgeoning weapon that you can use with the Polearm Master Feat.
Polearm Master
You can keep your enemies at bay with reach weapons. You gain the following benefits:
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 it deals bludgeoning damage.
While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, quarterstaff, or spear, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach.
Quarterstaff is bludgeoning and will work with the reaction attack. The bonus action attack is always bludgeoning. Getting the reaction attack at reach is the only thing that wouldn't work with crusher, since all of the reach weapons are not bludgeoning.
Of course, you only get one reaction for each of your turns (which is normally per round, but there are a few ways to get two turns in a round), so not being able to use Crusher for that attack may be less critical.
"When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn. If the reaction interrupts another creature's turn, that creature can continue its turn right after the reaction."
You are practiced in the art of crushing your enemies, granting you the following benefits:
Increase your Strength or Dexterity by 1, to a maximum of 20.
Once per turn, when you hit a creature with an attack that deals bludgeoning damage, you can move it 5 feet to an unoccupied space, provided the target is no more than one size larger than you.
When you score a critical hit that deals bludgeoning damage to a creature, attack rolls against that creature are made with advantage until the end of your next turn.
I don't of any bludgeoning weapon that you can use with the Polearm Master Feat.
Polearm Master
You can keep your enemies at bay with reach weapons. You gain the following benefits:
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 it deals bludgeoning damage.
While you are wielding a glaive, halberd, pike, quarterstaff, or spear, other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach.
Quarterstaff is bludgeoning and will work with the reaction attack. The bonus action attack is always bludgeoning. Getting the reaction attack at reach is the only thing that wouldn't work with crusher, since all of the reach weapons are not bludgeoning.
Of course, you only get one reaction for each of your turns (which is normally per round, but there are a few ways to get two turns in a round), so not being able to use Crusher for that attack may be less critical.
"When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn. If the reaction interrupts another creature's turn, that creature can continue its turn right after the reaction."
PAM on a Quarterstaff monk is an interesting quandry, I've wondered before whether the Feat's d4 for the Bonus Attack would take precedent, or the Monk's level-based monk weapon damage progression would instead overwrite it. Either way, I think PAM+Sentinel control monks are a surprisingly effective way to build them, because they can get places on the battlefield to exert lockdown control that more traditional control tank fighters struggle to reach.. It does require abandoning any thought of maxing both Dex and Wis for 20+ AC, though, which takes at least 4 ASI to do. This Crusher feat at least fits into the half-stat Dex boost your ordinarily might need, and/or would be great on a variant Human monk, so your Dex won't suffer much, but it can be painful to put yourself out there as a sticky spot in the battlefield with less than top-tier AC for the sake of a single reaction.
I wish Slings were a more viable weapon choice (by being a Monk weapon, for example), or that Magic Stone was a more viable cantrip, because Crusher seems like a great feat for a character dealing ranged blunt damage. If "Once per turn, when you hit a creature..." were interpreted to be "Once per creature per turn", the control that Crusher provides a sling user might almost be enough to justify being a sling-wielding Battlemaster?
The Class Feature Variants Monk actually allows for that:
Monk Weapons 1st-level monk feature (enhances Martial Arts) You can use this feature to define your monk weapons, rather than using the definition in Martial Arts. You practice your martial arts with specially chosen weapons, which become monk weapons for you. You can choose a number of weapons to be your monk weapons equal to 5 + your Wisdom modifier (minimum of five weapons). The chosen weapons must each meet the following criteria: • The weapon must be a simple or martial weapon. • You must be proficient with the weapon. • The weapon must lack these properties: heavy, special, or two-handed.
Work out a way to drop Spike Growth behind them and you can push the enemy across the cheese grater.
It doesn’t specify direction. Theoretically if you hit them with a sling you could even pull them 5 feet towards yourself, move them sideways, or even diagonally.
Work out a way to drop Spike Growth behind them and you can push the enemy across the cheese grater.
It doesn’t specify direction. Theoretically if you hit them with a sling you could even pull them 5 feet towards yourself, move them sideways, or even diagonally.
That's a little silly. They might have to tighten up the language a little so that it's away from you.
Work out a way to drop Spike Growth behind them and you can push the enemy across the cheese grater.
It doesn’t specify direction. Theoretically if you hit them with a sling you could even pull them 5 feet towards yourself, move them sideways, or even diagonally.
That's a little silly. They might have to tighten up the language a little so that it's away from you.
To be fair, they were probably imaging melee, and you physically push/dragging the target. But even with a sling it could be explained where they stumble one square from being momentarily dazed or something.
Work out a way to drop Spike Growth behind them and you can push the enemy across the cheese grater.
It doesn’t specify direction. Theoretically if you hit them with a sling you could even pull them 5 feet towards yourself, move them sideways, or even diagonally.
That's a little silly. They might have to tighten up the language a little so that it's away from you.
To be fair, they were probably imaging melee, and you physically push/dragging the target. But even with a sling it could be explained where they stumble one square from being momentarily dazed or something.
That's fair. With that kind of explanation, it would make sense.
PAM on a Quarterstaff monk is an interesting quandry, I've wondered before whether the Feat's d4 for the Bonus Attack would take precedent, or the Monk's level-based monk weapon damage progression would instead overwrite it.
The Martial Arts die does not replace the d4. It replaces the weapon's normal damage. There was a similar sage advice in regards to the Shillelagh spell.
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PAM on a Quarterstaff monk is an interesting quandry, I've wondered before whether the Feat's d4 for the Bonus Attack would take precedent, or the Monk's level-based monk weapon damage progression would instead overwrite it.
The Martial Arts die does not replace the d4. It replaces the weapon's normal damage. There was a similar sage advice in regards to the Shillelagh spell.
True, but considering that the bonus action attack from martial arts will require the same trigger as the PAM bonus action (well close enough that the difference will be moot for most monks), choosing the PAM bonus action versus the martial arts unarmed will be a matter of flavor until level 5 when the martial arts die will render the PAM bonus action obsolete absent a ruling that allows a magic weapon's damage to be added to the d4 or a feature that requires a weapon attack.
The crusher, piercer, and slasher feats were intentionally worded to include any type of attacks that utilize those damage types. Melee, ranged, weapon, and even spells. The spells are incredibly limited that make use of both the damage types and attack rolls though. The same is true for the poisoner feat.
we’ll see if the versatility of these feats survive to print.
Piercer is a great little pop for so many things, boosts the most popular weapons for Dex Builds, and some of my favorite spells like Thorn Whip, and it stacks with Hunter’s Mark too.
But Crusher and Slasher are the real gems. Too bad there isn’t a better option for slashing damage at range.
Piercer is a great little pop for so many things, boosts the most popular weapons for Dex Builds, and some of my favorite spells like Thorn Whip, and it stacks with Hunter’s Mark too.
But Crusher and Slasher are the real gems. Too bad there isn’t a better option for slashing damage at range.
Are there any slashing at range weapons or spell attacks?
Piercer would also work well for monks, with a Spear or a Kensei-longbow sniper.
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Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
The Crusher(UA) feat seems like an obvious choice for Monks. You get to move your enemy around. Get partial stuns for free from crit hits, which gives you a whole new turn at advantage to hit more crits. All without giving up precious Ki.
Now bring in Polearm master. After pushing someone away, they have to walk back up to you which gives you a reaction hit. As it’s their turn and not yours, you can push them away again if you wanted.
Now take Sentinel. Oh sorry? You wanted to come over here and hit me. Not in my personal space bubble thanks. Any enemy walking up to you gets smacked backwards and their speed dropped to 0.
You could even take this on any class and be a wannabe monk.
Crusher
You are practiced in the art of crushing your enemies, granting you the following benefits:
I don't of any bludgeoning weapon that you can use with the Polearm Master Feat.
Polearm Master
You can keep your enemies at bay with reach weapons. You gain the following benefits:
Quarterstaff is bludgeoning and will work with the reaction attack. The bonus action attack is always bludgeoning. Getting the reaction attack at reach is the only thing that wouldn't work with crusher, since all of the reach weapons are not bludgeoning.
Of course, you only get one reaction for each of your turns (which is normally per round, but there are a few ways to get two turns in a round), so not being able to use Crusher for that attack may be less critical.
"When you take a reaction, you can't take another one until the start of your next turn. If the reaction interrupts another creature's turn, that creature can continue its turn right after the reaction."
Yep. Missed that.
PAM on a Quarterstaff monk is an interesting quandry, I've wondered before whether the Feat's d4 for the Bonus Attack would take precedent, or the Monk's level-based monk weapon damage progression would instead overwrite it. Either way, I think PAM+Sentinel control monks are a surprisingly effective way to build them, because they can get places on the battlefield to exert lockdown control that more traditional control tank fighters struggle to reach.. It does require abandoning any thought of maxing both Dex and Wis for 20+ AC, though, which takes at least 4 ASI to do. This Crusher feat at least fits into the half-stat Dex boost your ordinarily might need, and/or would be great on a variant Human monk, so your Dex won't suffer much, but it can be painful to put yourself out there as a sticky spot in the battlefield with less than top-tier AC for the sake of a single reaction.
I wish Slings were a more viable weapon choice (by being a Monk weapon, for example), or that Magic Stone was a more viable cantrip, because Crusher seems like a great feat for a character dealing ranged blunt damage. If "Once per turn, when you hit a creature..." were interpreted to be "Once per creature per turn", the control that Crusher provides a sling user might almost be enough to justify being a sling-wielding Battlemaster?
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
The Class Feature Variants Monk actually allows for that:
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Work out a way to drop Spike Growth behind them and you can push the enemy across the cheese grater.
There is a way. It's called teamwork.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
It doesn’t specify direction. Theoretically if you hit them with a sling you could even pull them 5 feet towards yourself, move them sideways, or even diagonally.
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That's a little silly. They might have to tighten up the language a little so that it's away from you.
To be fair, they were probably imaging melee, and you physically push/dragging the target. But even with a sling it could be explained where they stumble one square from being momentarily dazed or something.
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That's fair. With that kind of explanation, it would make sense.
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ModeratorThe Martial Arts die does not replace the d4. It replaces the weapon's normal damage. There was a similar sage advice in regards to the Shillelagh spell.
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True, but considering that the bonus action attack from martial arts will require the same trigger as the PAM bonus action (well close enough that the difference will be moot for most monks), choosing the PAM bonus action versus the martial arts unarmed will be a matter of flavor until level 5 when the martial arts die will render the PAM bonus action obsolete absent a ruling that allows a magic weapon's damage to be added to the d4 or a feature that requires a weapon attack.
Depending on weapon enhancements and other features, the choice between PAM vs MA bonus attack may be more than damage die at stake.
Im not sure I agree with the SA ruling there, but yes, I understand that that is JC’s opinion.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Yep, hence the part of my post starting with "absent a ruling that allows...". That's where it gets interesting.
The crusher, piercer, and slasher feats were intentionally worded to include any type of attacks that utilize those damage types. Melee, ranged, weapon, and even spells. The spells are incredibly limited that make use of both the damage types and attack rolls though. The same is true for the poisoner feat.
we’ll see if the versatility of these feats survive to print.
Piercer is a great little pop for so many things, boosts the most popular weapons for Dex Builds, and some of my favorite spells like Thorn Whip, and it stacks with Hunter’s Mark too.
But Crusher and Slasher are the real gems. Too bad there isn’t a better option for slashing damage at range.
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Are there any slashing at range weapons or spell attacks?
Piercer would also work well for monks, with a Spear or a Kensei-longbow sniper.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Just the handaxe that I can think of.
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