Hey all — I am playing a hexblade/fighter multiclass (mostly for the flavor). The character is currently 1 fighter /3 hexblade but we've just leveled up.

I plan to take the next level in warlock and will be taking a feat. I'm torn between a few options and was hoping for folks to weigh in with their opinions. For context, the character is a bugbear and currently 17 charisma (this comes into consideration later)

• Fey Touched
  • Boosts CHA to 18
  • Get Misty Step
  • Get Gift of Alacrity (+1d8 to initiative), which pairs well with bugbear sneak attack feature
• Polearm Master
  • Extra BA attack (1d4)
  • This is great if using Hex, which adds 1d6 to all hits
  • When someone enters my reach (10ft), I can take opportunity attack
• Skill Expert
  • Boosts CHA to 18
  • Expertise in athletics (have 16 strength)
  • Another tbd skill

I'm mostly struggling with if the damage aspect of PAM outweights the utility and ASI boost of Fey Touched or Skill Expert. Thanks for your thoughts

Honestly grab your 2nd level of Fighter for action surge now maybe?

The PM extra AO can be pretty cool assuming your bugbear isn't charging into the enemy and is actually setting back letting them come to them? is that how you'll play them?

PM 1d4 extra attack will require a bonus action, the first round you'll be devoting that to your hexblade curse. So, presumably you are hexing a guy you intend to hit that round... so he'll already be in range when for the next round. So sure the PM AO will get triggered if they go first in initiative, or if someone else comes up, but it wont' be triggered with hexblade very often. And the 1d4 extra damage might sometimes make a diff but in most fights the baddies aren't surviving focus fire from the party for enough rounds to make that add up. So while it is nice when you get it, and something to do with your BA that might otherwise get skipped ... it is far from reliable dmg increase IMO.

A lot of things are situational, and that's OK and having options for a bunch of situations is awesome when it works out. But, its hard to pass up consistent bonuses for situational ones. Fey Touch provides a direct boost to damage and to hit due CHA increase now, and some fantastic utility. Action surge .. well its just amazing (and comes back on a short rest just like all your lovely pack magic slots).

Without seeing your char and knowing how you want to play it, its hard to answer this. But it is a lot easier to imagine situations where the Action Surge or Fey Touched will be more useful earlier on than PM. But, if you want to setup the sentinel and Pm combo with that super reach, then hitting up PM now does make a lot of sense as hitting that combo at lvl 9 will feel a lot better than hitting it at lvl 13

Polearm Master is probably my favorite of the three

Thanks for the response. I think you're right, PAM seems situational, and while I'll like the extra BA and OA attacks when they come up, the free spell slots and CHA boost will pay dividends.

I'd like to point out that Gift of Alacrity is not normally available to anyone other than chronomancers and gravimancers, so you may want to check with the GM before grabbing it if you take Fey Touched.

 The problem with PAM for a hexblade is that you already have two valuable bonus actions (hexblade's curse and hex, or at higher levels spirit shroud). Also, hex warrior (if you're planning on using it) doesn't apply to two-handed weapon.

Quote from 6thLyranGuard >>

I'd like to point out that Gift of Alacrity is not normally available to anyone other than chronomancers and gravimancers, so you may want to check with the GM before grabbing it if you take Fey Touched.

 Assuming the DM is using Critical Role options, Gift of Alacrity is listed as an option for Fey Touched within D&D Beyond. May still be a good idea to check with your DM, but D&D Beyond does allow it.

Quote from bhthephoenix >>

Quote from 6thLyranGuard >>

I'd like to point out that Gift of Alacrity is not normally available to anyone other than chronomancers and gravimancers, so you may want to check with the GM before grabbing it if you take Fey Touched.

 Assuming the DM is using Critical Role options, Gift of Alacrity is listed as an option for Fey Touched within D&D Beyond. May still be a good idea to check with your DM, but D&D Beyond does allow it.

 DDB allows it because it's not programmed to handle such restrictions.

I feel like the issue isn't too many feats to choose from, its that we aren't allowed enough feats. They keep adding more, but a character only ever gets 1-3 feats (vast majority of games don't go past lvls 6-8). Add to this, you gotta choose feat vs stat bump.

There are WAY to many upgrade choices for characters over the life of the character. Adding more feats doesn't change anything since they are usually a false choice. You gotta choose whats best, and often times a stat can be best. Why have so many feats when you'll never be allowed to choose even 5% of them.

If you have an odd ability score, a half feat is better than a stat boost.  If you have an 18 in your primary ability score, you can get away with taking a full feat instead of an ability boost because the power increase up to 20 isn't as big of a deal as going from 16 to 18.

Fey Touched if Gift of Alacrity allowed. (Also look at Dissonant Whispers or Bless if you are not using Concentration)

Skill Expert is cool if you have a plan for using your skills regularly.

PAM last because I tend to favor weapon feats lower than support feats. Everyone is helping in a fight and the idea of being a slightly better damage dealer (put the spreadsheets away please) does not appeal to my play style. My friends who focus on GWM/PAM/SS/CBE tend to be so fight focused that when we are exploring, they seem bored. If you have a skill or something that increases your ability to be flexible and adapt, I always go with that.