Cool article.  Love these lists.  But I think my DM probably hates that I have them all bookmarked.

Lies! 

Javelin of Lightning should be number one on this list. HANDS DOWN.

An uncommon magical item that holds one daily charge of the Lightning spell, and even after its use it can still be used as a regular magical item? AND it doesn't have any class restrictions? AND the actual ranged attack on the target (that is within 120 feet) uses a regular ranged attack instead of just the DC save or half rules? Wait.... you can still use your proficiency for ANY attacks made with the Javelin! Even with the Lightening Spell affect? 

OH WAIT! 
Yes. You saw that correctly. Javelin of Lightning DOES NOT REQUIRE ATTUNEMENT. So, paired with it being an Uncommon magical item means that there isn't much reason that you can't source them at a low level and for a low cost. So pack 10 of these bad boys as soon as you can and you are a ranged God of Thunder for 10 turns a day. Enough to turn many encounters to ash before they are finished. 

Quote from Haravikk >>

While Shield Master will definitely pair well with the battering shield (especially since it gives a +3 total on the saves), it's worth noting that the bonus action Shove that the feat lets you use takes place after an Attack action so you can't capitalise upon knocking the target prone this way unless you use Action Surge to take a second Attack action. This is because normally you won't get to attack afterwards on your turn, and unless somebody else Grapples the target to keep them down they'll have stood back up by the time you get another turn.

 You can take your bonus action before or after your action on your turn, so with the battering shield, you can most certainly knock your opponent prone and then use your action to attack with advantage! Badda bing, badda boom!

Quote from SirNotAppearingInThisFilm >>

Quote from Haravikk >>

While Shield Master will definitely pair well with the battering shield (especially since it gives a +3 total on the saves), it's worth noting that the bonus action Shove that the feat lets you use takes place after an Attack action so you can't capitalise upon knocking the target prone this way unless you use Action Surge to take a second Attack action. This is because normally you won't get to attack afterwards on your turn, and unless somebody else Grapples the target to keep them down they'll have stood back up by the time you get another turn.

You can take your bonus action before or after your action on your turn, so with the battering shield, you can most certainly knock your opponent prone and then use your action to attack with advantage! Badda bing, badda boom! 

You can't take your bonus action for Shield Master before the Attack action, because the bonus action requires you to take the Attack action first, which you can't have done if you try to use it after. This is because of the "If you take the Attack action" condition, which you don't trigger until the Attack action is taken. 

Your DM could rule that as long as you declare both at the same time then it could be allowed, but this isn't RAW, as actions (and bonus actions) normally happen separately one after the other, so it would be a house-rule that the feat arguably doesn't need; knocking enemies prone so that your allies can attack with advantage is still hugely beneficial, and like I say, on a Fighter you can use Action Surge to still benefit yourself.

Quote from Haravikk >>

Quote from SirNotAppearingInThisFilm >>

Quote from Haravikk >>

While Shield Master will definitely pair well with the battering shield (especially since it gives a +3 total on the saves), it's worth noting that the bonus action Shove that the feat lets you use takes place after an Attack action so you can't capitalise upon knocking the target prone this way unless you use Action Surge to take a second Attack action. This is because normally you won't get to attack afterwards on your turn, and unless somebody else Grapples the target to keep them down they'll have stood back up by the time you get another turn.

You can take your bonus action before or after your action on your turn, so with the battering shield, you can most certainly knock your opponent prone and then use your action to attack with advantage! Badda bing, badda boom! 

You can't take your bonus action for Shield Master before the Attack action, because the bonus action requires you to take the Attack action first, which you can't have done if you try to use it after. This is because of the "If you take the Attack action" condition, which you don't trigger until the Attack action is taken. 

Your DM could rule that as long as you declare both at the same time then it could be allowed, but this isn't RAW, as actions (and bonus actions) normally happen separately one after the other, so it would be a house-rule that the feat arguably doesn't need; knocking enemies prone so that your allies can attack with advantage is still hugely beneficial, and like I say, on a Fighter you can use Action Surge to still benefit yourself.

 I think we play it as follows: Take attack action, then if you have multi-attack, the player can take their bonus action to knock with the shield and then attack with advantage if they knock the enemy prone. Not sure if this is legal, but I know that attack action allows you to break up your attacks, so you can move in-between attacks if you multi-attack.

Quote from Limrasson >>

I think we play it as follows: Take attack action, then if you have multi-attack, the player can take their bonus action to knock with the shield and then attack with advantage if they knock the enemy prone. Not sure if this is legal, but I know that attack action allows you to break up your attacks, so you can move in-between attacks if you multi-attack.

Unfortunately this isn't legal in the rules as written; to shove first using the Shield Master's bonus action Shove you would have to take the bonus action before the Attack action, which isn't valid as the bonus action requires you to take the attack action to trigger it ("If you take the attack action").

Moving in between attacks is a separate issue, and just part of the normal movement rules (any action that allows you to make multiple attacks can also involve movements between them).

Again, anyone with multiple attacks can Shove first if they want to, you just need to swap one of your attacks for the Shove as normal. In this way you could Shove a target multiple times (if you have two attacks normally, with the bonus action you can shove three times). But the bonus action Shove must always come after in a normal single action, single bonus action turn.

This just means it requires a bit of teamwork as you can shove an enemy, and your allies can then attack with advantage. Or, as I already said, if you're a Fighter you can Action Surge to gain advantage on some of your attacks for the turn.

But it definitely 100% is not intended (or written) to be a free bonus action you can take whenever you want. Your DM is free to house-rule otherwise, but that's what it will be; a house-rule, and it really isn't necessary when it's already a really good feat for a shield user.

Quote from Demosphere>>

Lies! 

Javelin of Lightning should be number one on this list. HANDS DOWN.

An uncommon magical item that holds one daily charge of the Lightning spell, and even after its use it can still be used as a regular magical item? AND it doesn't have any class restrictions? AND the actual ranged attack on the target (that is within 120 feet) uses a regular ranged attack instead of just the DC save or half rules? Wait.... you can still use your proficiency for ANY attacks made with the Javelin! Even with the Lightening Spell affect? 

OH WAIT! 
Yes. You saw that correctly. Javelin of Lightning DOES NOT REQUIRE ATTUNEMENT. So, paired with it being an Uncommon magical item means that there isn't much reason that you can't source them at a low level and for a low cost. So pack 10 of these bad boys as soon as you can and you are a ranged God of Thunder for 10 turns a day. Enough to turn many encounters to ash before they are finished. 

Yeah it's pretty good 

javelin of lightning is a good cost/power ratio for giving strength melee characters a ranged/ aoe option. At high level it would be possible  for a fighter to have more than one of these and use them all on one turn  because they use 1 attack not an action ( they are basically magic ammunition).  Its also a good option for the tasha's battle master maneuver quick toss which allows you to make an additional thrown weapon attack as a bonus action which can trigger the javelins special ability. 

A high level battle master fighter or fighter with haste using action surge could  in a single turn could throw 9 of these giving them aoe damage on par with a wizard expending a 9th level spell and obliterating basically any enemy.  The cost of that is about as much as a very rare item. 

Quote from Solarsyphon >>

Quote from Demosphere>>

Lies! 

Javelin of Lightning should be number one on this list. HANDS DOWN.

An uncommon magical item that holds one daily charge of the Lightning spell, and even after its use it can still be used as a regular magical item? AND it doesn't have any class restrictions? AND the actual ranged attack on the target (that is within 120 feet) uses a regular ranged attack instead of just the DC save or half rules? Wait.... you can still use your proficiency for ANY attacks made with the Javelin! Even with the Lightening Spell affect? 

OH WAIT! 
Yes. You saw that correctly. Javelin of Lightning DOES NOT REQUIRE ATTUNEMENT. So, paired with it being an Uncommon magical item means that there isn't much reason that you can't source them at a low level and for a low cost. So pack 10 of these bad boys as soon as you can and you are a ranged God of Thunder for 10 turns a day. Enough to turn many encounters to ash before they are finished. 

 

Yeah it's pretty good 

javelin of lightning is a good cost/power ratio for giving strength melee characters a ranged/ aoe option. At high level it would be possible  for a fighter to have more than one of these and use them all on one turn  because they use 1 attack not an action ( they are basically magic ammunition).  Its also a good option for the tasha's battle master maneuver quick toss which allows you to make an additional thrown weapon attack as a bonus action which can trigger the javelins special ability. 

A high level battle master fighter or fighter with haste using action surge could  in a single turn could throw 9 of these giving them aoe damage on par with a wizard expending a 9th level spell and obliterating basically any enemy.  The cost of that is about as much as a very rare item. 

 

 At my table, I gave my party four of them, they sold three. They now complain that the encounters are too deadly.

Quote from Thucydides >>

Any +1 magic weapon will make fights with damage resistant/immune monsters much easier. I've played against enough fiends to testify to the utility of that. 

A magic weapon is a magic weapon whether it has a bonus to attack and damage of any sort. So, even a moon-touched sword counts as a magic weapon against damage resistance/immunity versus nonmagical sources. This also applies to the various magical staves which, coincidentally, also still count as spellcasting foci where applicable.

I just gave my fighter a shield that gives the Shield Master feat, which hopefully they will find good use for.

Dragon wing bow looks so cool!

I believe the shields pushes it further. Part of the magic items ability

My primary character is an Eldritch Knight fighter, some particular items are super helpful for this spellcasting subclass.

Ring of Spell Storing and Headband of Intellect are amazing

Quote from Haravikk >>

While Shield Master will definitely pair well with the battering shield (especially since it gives a +3 total on the saves), it's worth noting that the bonus action Shove that the feat lets you use takes place after an Attack action so you can't capitalise upon knocking the target prone this way unless you use Action Surge to take a second Attack action. This is because normally you won't get to attack afterwards on your turn, and unless somebody else Grapples the target to keep them down they'll have stood back up by the time you get another turn.

This is one of the things Crawford has clarified, that I disagree with immensely. His ruling, the way I read all his explanations, is based on the idea that this clarification was needed to remove doubt on when the timing of other bonus action things could occur, and not what the Shield Master feat BA does itself. It's a mistake that can't be fixed, otherwise, in a RAW interpretation. However, he always follows that up with "As always, the DM decides how things work at a particular table."

The rule at the table I play with, after discussing with the DM, is "attack" is the qualifier for being able to Shove with the Shield Master feat, and not the full "action." 

I can currently make 2 attacks, so the sequence goes Action (attack), bonus action (shove via Shield Master), complete the Action (extra attack, with advantage maybe).

Not only does this make way more sense (though still not what would make the MOST sense), it makes this part of the feat actually useable. For me the whole gain here, is turning Shove into a bonus action, but it provides basically no benefit with this interpretation, and actually creates multiple detriments, one of which you point out. 

As a "shield master," I'd expect my mastery to help MYSELF in combat, but with this RAW interpretation like you say, it only helps OTHER melee characters in the party. Which, if it's like mine, doesn't include another (and the rogue doesn't need this condition to trigger any advantage/sneak attack, as I'll already be within 5 feet), AND, it actually hurts your ranged players (weapons or spells), as a prone character gives them disadvantage on their attack roles. (There are no times I've ever even thought about pushing the character away with this feat. I'd just use the normal shove if this was needed for the situation, as my BA can do a lot of other things if I'm not planning on just attacking.)

I'd never have picked the feat if Crawford's clarification is how it has to work (terrible use of Action Surge also, IMO, if that's what is required for you to get any swings with advantage).

Quote from Stevil11>>

As a "shield master," I'd expect my mastery to help MYSELF in combat, but with this RAW interpretation like you say, it only helps OTHER melee characters in the party. Which, if it's like mine, doesn't include another (and the rogue doesn't need this condition to trigger any advantage/sneak attack, as I'll already be within 5 feet), AND, it actually hurts your ranged players (weapons or spells), as a prone character gives them disadvantage on their attack roles.

It is still beneficial for a Rogue to have advantage regardless of your being within 5 feet, as it still gives them a significantly better chance of hitting at all, as well as a better chance at getting a critical hit (normally 5%, roughly 10% with advantage).

Also it's worth keeping in mind that if you have Extra Attack then you already have the means to Shove a target and then attack it; you just swap your first attack for the shove, then attack with advantage with the second (or Grapple to pin them then wail on them to your heart's content thereafter).

Knocking prone also isn't the only benefit of the Shove action; you can use it to push enemies towards environmental hazards or spell areas of effect (get an ally to throw something like black tentacles down for example, or anything similar), this can also be a way to effectively Disengage as a bonus action. It's also not the only benefit of the Shield Master feat, which also bolsters your own defences.

Personally I think the feat is fine as-is; on one of my older sword and board characters I used it a lot with Action Surge as getting two attacks with advantage is still huge, or you could go for the quintuple 25-foot shove into a pit or any number of other fun things that don't require the shove and stab that people seem to expect (despite it being specifically designed not to allow that without Action Surging). 😉

That dragon bow tho

Enchanted with Minecraft infinity lol

Belt of Giant Strength not on the list? Seems like an obvious one to leave off.

Quote from Haravikk >>

Quote from Stevil11>>

As a "shield master," I'd expect my mastery to help MYSELF in combat, but with this RAW interpretation like you say, it only helps OTHER melee characters in the party. Which, if it's like mine, doesn't include another (and the rogue doesn't need this condition to trigger any advantage/sneak attack, as I'll already be within 5 feet), AND, it actually hurts your ranged players (weapons or spells), as a prone character gives them disadvantage on their attack roles.

It is still beneficial for a Rogue to have advantage regardless of your being within 5 feet, as it still gives them a significantly better chance of hitting at all, as well as a better chance at getting a critical hit (normally 5%, roughly 10% with advantage).

Also it's worth keeping in mind that if you have Extra Attack then you already have the means to Shove a target and then attack it; you just swap your first attack for the shove, then attack with advantage with the second (or Grapple to pin them then wail on them to your heart's content thereafter).

Knocking prone also isn't the only benefit of the Shove action; you can use it to push enemies towards environmental hazards or spell areas of effect (get an ally to throw something like black tentacles down for example, or anything similar), this can also be a way to effectively Disengage as a bonus action. It's also not the only benefit of the Shield Master feat, which also bolsters your own defences.

Personally I think the feat is fine as-is; on one of my older sword and board characters I used it a lot with Action Surge as getting two attacks with advantage is still huge, or you could go for the quintuple 25-foot shove into a pit or any number of other fun things that don't require the shove and stab that people seem to expect (despite it being specifically designed not to allow that without Action Surging). 😉

What I'm saying there is the rogue already has sneak attack if I'm within 5 feet of the creature they are attacking. If they're using a dagger, they're going to have advantage anyway as there is no rogue in existence who is going to approach an engaged enemy from my side or next to me, so I don't need to make them prone for advantage. And if they're using a crossbow from range, I'm giving them disadvantage.

The whole boon of Shield Master as I've stated, is eliminating the need to use one of my attacks to shove. It being a bonus action means I can take all of my attacks normally instead of doing this. As a sword and board character, it also gives me a use for my shield that otherwise doesn't exist. 

I have used this as a disengage means, but only very situationally, like if I have to go save or help someone else. 

Quote from Stevil11>>

What I'm saying there is the rogue already has sneak attack if I'm within 5 feet of the creature they are attacking. If they're using a dagger, they're going to have advantage anyway as there is no rogue in existence who is going to approach an engaged enemy from my side or next to me, so I don't need to make them prone for advantage. And if they're using a crossbow from range, I'm giving them disadvantage.

Rogues can only gain advantage without help using Steady Aim (optional rule, requires them to not move), or by successfully attacking while hidden (strictly speaking requires them to have a way to remain hidden as they approach the enemy, which is far from guaranteed). Otherwise they can only get advantage with the help of others using an optional Flanking rule that your DM may or may not allow, and requires specific positioning.

Prone is easy advantage for all melee characters in your party; it's up to you to work with them to maximise that advantage, D&D is supposed to be a co-operative game; working together with your party is not a bad thing.

The whole boon of Shield Master as I've stated, is eliminating the need to use one of my attacks to shove. It being a bonus action means I can take all of my attacks normally instead of doing this. As a sword and board character, it also gives me a use for my shield that otherwise doesn't exist.

It's not the whole boon of Shield Master, as Shield Master grants several other benefits. It's also explicitly tied to your bonus action taking place after attacking.

And using the feat as presented doesn't make the ability worthless; you can absolutely 100% bonus action Shove an enemy every turn if you're willing to work with your party to take advantage of it; if you can't be bothered, then take a different feat.

If you want to benefit from the enemy being prone yourself, then once again, as a Fighter you can Action Surge to immediately gain 1+ attacks with advantage. You can use these, or combo with a party member (e.g- a Raging Barbarian), to Grapple the enemy once they're down, thus preventing them from being able to get back up without first breaking the grapple. This can get you longer lasting advantage on all melee attacks with a basic combo any party can do (though it helps if someone is built for grappling, e.g- Barbarian with Skill Expert taking Athletics).

And also again, it's not just the knocking prone that's useful; using Shove to push an enemy five feet allows you to potentially pseudo-Disengage as a bonus action, it allows you to push an enemy towards an environment hazard or an area of effect spell and so-on.

The possibilities of how to make use of the feat are broad without changing how it's worded just so you can exploit a feature it doesn't offer in the exact form you want.

Yeah, you completely missed that what I was talking about was flanking rules. And if I had a melee party, your points would hold more weight.

But I also explained that Crawford's clarification on attack action for this feat is aimed to prevent OTHER bonus action options from being able to be abused, and not specifically this shove. He's not exactly vague about that.

He's also confirmed that how I'm saying it can work is using it in RAI form.

Also, not a great way to use action surge, because you're relying on yourself and already spent actions, a point you seem to be trying to make as being a detrimental (working together with your party), and in this case, would agree with. I'd much rather have the wizard locking the guy down while I pound him with advantage 4 times versus 2.