Mastering One D&D Feats: A Comprehensive Guide to Character Customization

One D&D, the evolution of the world’s greatest roleplaying game, brings exciting changes to character customization, and feats are at the forefront. Feats allow you to tailor your character beyond their class and background, granting unique abilities and opening up new avenues for roleplaying. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about One D&D feats, from understanding their mechanics to choosing the best ones for your character.

What are Feats in One D&D?

Feats are special abilities or talents that your character can acquire as they level up. They represent specialized training, inherent aptitudes, or extraordinary experiences. Unlike class features, which are tied to your chosen class, feats offer a broader range of options and allow you to further define your character’s identity.

In One D&D, feats are primarily acquired at certain levels, replacing an Ability Score Improvement (ASI). This means you’ll have to make a strategic choice between increasing your ability scores (which improve your character’s core stats) or gaining a new feat (which grants a specific ability). The decision hinges on your character’s needs and your desired playstyle.

Key Changes to Feats in One D&D

One D&D introduces several significant changes to feats compared to previous editions of Dungeons & Dragons:

* **Feat Prerequisites:** Many feats now have prerequisites, such as a minimum ability score or proficiency in a specific skill. This ensures that feats are acquired in a logical progression and prevents characters from gaining abilities they aren’t prepared for. These requirements ensure a minimum level of competency before a character can attempt the feat.
* **Tiered Feats:** Feats are often categorized into tiers, such as early-level feats and higher-level feats. This helps to balance the game and prevent characters from becoming overpowered too early. Only the more powerful feats are locked behind level requirements. A lower-level character might be able to select a feat that grants a single new skill proficiency, but a higher-level character will have access to options that allow them to reroll saving throws or increase the power of their magical attacks.
* **Racial Feats:** Some feats are specifically designed for certain races, providing them with unique abilities that reflect their heritage. These feats offer a way to further customize your character’s racial traits and make them feel more distinct. A feat might allow a high elf to naturally cast *minor illusion*, or grant a dwarf resistance to a specific type of damage, even beyond the damage resistances they already possess. They expand upon the background of the character and create a more immersive playing experience.
* **Clearer Descriptions:** Feat descriptions are generally more concise and easier to understand in One D&D. This helps to reduce ambiguity and ensure that everyone is on the same page about how a feat works. These streamlined descriptions provide a more streamlined playing experience.

How to Choose the Right Feats

Choosing the right feats is crucial for optimizing your character and enhancing your enjoyment of the game. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make informed decisions:

**Step 1: Understand Your Character’s Role and Build**

Before you start browsing through the list of feats, take a moment to consider your character’s role in the party and your overall build strategy. Ask yourself the following questions:

* **What is my primary role in combat?** (e.g., tank, damage dealer, healer, controller)
* **What are my strengths and weaknesses?**
* **What are my character’s core abilities and skills?**
* **What kind of playstyle do I enjoy?** (e.g., aggressive, defensive, tactical)

For example, if you’re playing a tank character, you’ll want to prioritize feats that improve your survivability and ability to control the battlefield. If you’re playing a damage dealer, you’ll want to focus on feats that increase your damage output and accuracy.

**Step 2: Review the Available Feats**

Once you have a clear understanding of your character’s role and build, it’s time to review the available feats. Pay close attention to the following:

* **Prerequisites:** Make sure you meet the prerequisites for any feat you’re considering. If you don’t meet the prerequisites, you won’t be able to take the feat.
* **Benefits:** Carefully read the description of each feat to understand its benefits. Consider how the feat will impact your character’s abilities and playstyle.
* **Synergy:** Look for feats that synergize well with your character’s class features, skills, and other abilities. Some feats may amplify the effects of your existing abilities, making them even more powerful.
* **Level Requirement:** Be mindful of the level requirement for each feat. Some feats may not be available until you reach a certain level.

The official One D&D playtest material is your best source for understanding what feats are currently available. Keep in mind that playtest material is subject to change, so always refer to the most up-to-date information.

**Step 3: Prioritize Feats That Address Weaknesses**

One effective strategy for choosing feats is to focus on addressing your character’s weaknesses. For example, if your character has low saving throws, you might consider taking a feat that improves your saving throw proficiency. If your character struggles in melee combat, you might consider taking a feat that grants you additional defensive abilities.

By addressing your weaknesses, you can make your character more well-rounded and resilient.

**Step 4: Consider Feats That Enhance Strengths**

While addressing weaknesses is important, it’s also worth considering feats that enhance your character’s strengths. If you have a character who excels at dealing damage, you might consider taking a feat that further increases their damage output. If you have a character who is skilled at stealth, you might consider taking a feat that makes them even harder to detect.

By enhancing your strengths, you can make your character even more formidable in their area of expertise.

**Step 5: Think About Roleplaying Opportunities**

Feats aren’t just about combat effectiveness. They can also provide opportunities for roleplaying and character development. Consider choosing feats that align with your character’s personality, background, and goals.

For example, if you’re playing a character who is deeply connected to nature, you might consider taking a feat that grants you abilities related to nature or animal handling. If you’re playing a character who is driven by a desire for knowledge, you might consider taking a feat that enhances your skills in investigation or arcana.

**Step 6: Evaluate Feats in the Context of Your Party**

When choosing feats, it’s important to consider your character’s role within the party. Think about how your feats will complement the abilities of your fellow players and contribute to the overall success of the group. Avoid choosing feats that duplicate the abilities of other characters, unless you have a specific strategic reason for doing so.

For example, if another character in your party is already proficient in healing, you might want to focus on feats that enhance your damage output or control abilities.

**Step 7: Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment**

One D&D is designed to be a flexible and adaptable game. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different feats and see what works best for your character. If you find that a particular feat isn’t working out as planned, you can always talk to your Dungeon Master about potentially swapping it out for something else.

The most important thing is to have fun and create a character that you enjoy playing.

Popular One D&D Feats (Examples – Subject to Change)

While the official list of One D&D feats is constantly evolving, here are some examples of popular feats that have appeared in playtest materials and are likely to be included in the final version of the game. Keep in mind that the specific details of these feats may change.

* **Actor:** Gain proficiency in Deception and Performance. Advantage on Deception and Performance checks to impersonate someone. This feat is excellent for social characters who want to excel at deception and disguise. It’s particularly useful for rogues, bards, and warlocks.
* **Alert:** +5 to initiative. You can’t be surprised while you are conscious. Other creatures don’t gain advantage on attack rolls against you as a result of being hidden from you. This feat is fantastic for characters who want to act first in combat. It’s especially valuable for damage dealers and support characters who need to position themselves strategically.
* **Athlete:** Increase Strength or Dexterity by 1, to a maximum of 20. When you are prone, standing up uses only 5 feet of your movement. Climbing doesn’t cost you extra movement. This feat is useful for characters who want to improve their physical abilities and mobility. It’s a solid choice for fighters, rangers, and rogues.
* **Lucky:** You have 3 luck points. Whenever you make an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20. You can choose to spend one of your luck points after you roll the die, but before the outcome is determined. You choose which of the d20s is used for the attack roll, ability check, or saving throw. You can also spend one luck point when an attack roll is made against you. Roll a d20, and then choose whether the attacker’s roll uses their d20 or yours. If more than one creature spends a luck point to influence the outcome of a roll, the points cancel each other out; no additional dice are rolled. You regain your expended luck points when you finish a long rest. This feat is incredibly versatile and can be used to improve your chances of success in a variety of situations. It’s a great choice for any character.
* **Mobile:** Your speed increases by 10 feet. When you use the Dash action, difficult terrain doesn’t cost you extra movement on that turn. When you make a melee attack against a creature, you don’t provoke opportunity attacks from that creature for the rest of the turn, whether you hit or not. This feat is excellent for characters who want to move quickly around the battlefield and avoid opportunity attacks. It’s particularly useful for monks, rogues, and barbarians.
* **Resilient:** Choose one ability score. You gain proficiency in saving throws using that ability. Increase the chosen ability score by 1, to a maximum of 20. This feat allows you to shore up a weakness in your saving throw proficiencies. It’s a solid choice for any character who wants to improve their survivability.
* **Skilled:** You gain proficiency in any combination of three skills or tools of your choice. This feat provides excellent flexibility and allows you to customize your character’s skillset to suit their needs. It’s a great choice for characters who want to be well-rounded or who have specific skills that they want to acquire.
* **Tough:** Your hit point maximum increases by an amount equal to twice your level. Whenever you gain a level thereafter, your hit point maximum increases by an additional 2 hit points. This feat is a simple but effective way to improve your character’s survivability. It’s a great choice for any character who wants to be more durable.
* **War Caster:** You have advantage on Constitution saving throws that you make to maintain your concentration on a spell when you take damage. You can perform the somatic components of spells even when you have weapons or a shield in one or both hands. When a hostile creature’s movement provokes an opportunity attack from you, you can use your reaction to cast a spell at the creature, rather than making an opportunity attack. The spell must have a casting time of 1 action and must target only that creature. This feat is essential for spellcasters who want to maintain their concentration in combat. It also allows you to cast spells more easily and provides a powerful defensive option.

Example Feat Progression: A Fighter Build

Let’s illustrate how you might choose feats for a specific character build. Suppose you’re creating a fighter who specializes in two-weapon fighting and focuses on dealing high damage.

* **Level 1:** Start with a variant human to gain a bonus feat. Choose **Fighting Initiate** and take the Two-Weapon Fighting style if you haven’t already taken it from your class.
* **Level 4:** Take the **Dual Wielder** feat. This will allow you to use two non-light weapons, increasing your damage output significantly.
* **Level 6 (Fighter):** Choose **Ability Score Improvement** for Strength or Dexterity
* **Level 8:** Take the **Athlete** feat to improve your mobility and Strength or Dexterity.
* **Level 12:** Take the **Tough** feat to increase your hit points and improve your survivability.
* **Level 14 (Fighter):** Choose **Ability Score Improvement** for Strength or Dexterity
* **Level 16:** Take the **Lucky** feat.

This feat progression focuses on maximizing damage output with two-weapon fighting while also improving survivability and mobility. The choices are optimized for that style, and can be switched with other feats depending on playstyle and DM decisions.

Tips for Discussing Feats with Your DM

* **Be Clear About Your Goals:** Explain to your DM why you want to take a particular feat and how it will enhance your character’s role in the game.
* **Be Open to Suggestions:** Your DM may have valuable insights or suggestions about feats that would be particularly well-suited for your character or the campaign.
* **Be Respectful of the Rules:** Always adhere to the rules of the game and respect the DM’s decisions.
* **Work Together:** The goal is to create a fun and engaging experience for everyone at the table. By working together with your DM, you can ensure that your feat choices contribute to a positive and memorable gaming experience.

Conclusion

One D&D feats offer a powerful way to customize your character and enhance your gameplay experience. By carefully considering your character’s role, strengths, weaknesses, and playstyle, you can choose feats that will make them more effective, versatile, and engaging. Remember to experiment, have fun, and work with your DM to create a character that you truly enjoy playing. Good luck, and may your dice rolls be ever in your favor!