Crushing the Competition: A Comprehensive Guide to the Crusher Feat in D&D 5e

The Crusher feat in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (5e) is a powerful option for characters who favor bludgeoning damage. This feat not only enhances your damage output but also provides a tactical edge, allowing you to manipulate enemy positions on the battlefield. If you’re looking to add a bit more oomph to your smashing attacks and gain battlefield control, Crusher is a feat worth considering. This comprehensive guide will delve into the specifics of the feat, provide detailed instructions on how to use it effectively, and explore character builds that synergize well with its abilities. Prepare to learn how to literally crush your foes!

Understanding the Crusher Feat

The Crusher feat is one of several racial feats introduced in the Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything supplement. It’s not tied to a specific race, meaning that any character can acquire it provided they meet the prerequisites, which are none! This makes it a versatile option for almost any martial or even spellcasting character who uses bludgeoning damage. Here’s the full text of the feat:

Crusher

You are a master of crushing your foes, granting you the following benefits:

• Increase your Strength or Constitution score 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 it’s no more than one size larger than you.
• When you score a critical hit with a weapon that deals bludgeoning damage, all attacks against the target have advantage until the end of your next turn.

Let’s break down each component of the feat:

Ability Score Improvement

The first benefit of the Crusher feat is a simple +1 to either your Strength or Constitution score. This is always a welcome addition, providing either a bonus to your attack and damage rolls (Strength) or increasing your hit point total and potentially improving saving throws (Constitution). This flexibility makes the feat useful even if the other features aren’t perfectly aligned with your build.

Strength

Choosing Strength is the natural choice for most melee combatants who use bludgeoning weapons. Barbarians, Fighters, and Paladins will often benefit greatly from the increased accuracy and damage that an improved Strength score provides. This also allows for easier grappling and shoving, further enhancing your ability to control the battlefield.

Constitution

While less common, an increase to Constitution can be valuable for any character, especially those playing tank-style roles or spellcasters who find themselves in the melee. More hit points mean more survivability, and an improved Constitution save bonus makes you more resistant to debilitating effects such as poison and many magical attacks. It’s a good option for characters who might not be optimizing for damage but still want to contribute in combat.

Forced Movement

The second benefit of the Crusher feat allows you to move a creature you hit with a bludgeoning attack 5 feet. This movement is triggered once per turn, making it a consistent effect that you can plan your strategies around. It’s vital to understand a few key elements of this movement ability:

• Once per turn: This limitation ensures that you can’t just push enemies all over the place with multiple attacks in a single turn. You must choose the best opportunity to make the most of this movement.
• Bludgeoning Damage: This is crucial. The triggering attack must deal bludgeoning damage. This means that weapons like maces, warhammers, and clubs are prime choices, but you can also rely on unarmed strikes or certain spells that deal bludgeoning damage, such as Earth Tremor.
• Unoccupied Space: The creature must be moved to a space that is not occupied by another creature or object. This means that you cannot simply push them through solid walls or into allies.
• Size Restriction: The creature being moved must be no more than one size larger than you. A Medium character can move a Large creature, but a Large creature would be limited to moving a Huge one. This prevents extremely large creatures from being moved by the feat.

This forced movement is incredibly versatile. Here are some strategic uses:

• Disruption: Push enemies away from allies who are engaged in melee, potentially preventing them from being hit.
• Positioning: Move enemies closer to allies or into more advantageous positions for you and your party.
• Environmental Hazards: Shove enemies into hazards like fire, pits, or off ledges for extra damage or to remove them from the fight entirely.
• Breaking Grapples: An enemy grappled by an ally may not be able to move but this movement can break the grapple by removing the enemy out of the grapple range.
• Setting up AoE: Moving enemies closer together can make area-of-effect spells or abilities more effective.
• Breaking Concentration: Moving a concentrating caster is a good way to potentially break their spell.

Critical Hit Advantage

The third and final benefit of the Crusher feat is triggered when you score a critical hit with a bludgeoning weapon. When this happens, all attacks against the target gain advantage until the end of your next turn. This is a massive boost to damage output for you and your allies.

• Critical Hit: This effect only applies when you roll a natural 20 on your attack roll with a bludgeoning weapon. This means it is less reliable than the other benefits of the feat, but the effect is extremely powerful.
• Advantage on Attacks: This advantage applies to all attacks made against the creature, including ranged, melee, and even spells that require an attack roll. This is particularly useful when fighting a tough enemy that requires a concerted effort from the party.
• Until the end of Your Next Turn: The advantage lasts until the end of your next turn, ensuring that it will be in effect for at least one attack and possibly more if other allies act between your turns.

This benefit can turn a critical hit into a truly devastating event, allowing you and your allies to capitalize on the vulnerability of the enemy.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Crusher Feat Effectively

Now that we understand the individual components of the Crusher feat, let’s look at how to utilize them effectively in combat.

Step 1: Choose the Right Build

The Crusher feat is most effective when combined with a character build that uses bludgeoning damage and benefits from battlefield control. Here are some examples of classes that work well with the Crusher feat:

• Barbarian: Barbarians often rely on heavy weapons, making bludgeoning damage a common option. The reckless attack feature also increases the chances of scoring critical hits, which synergizes perfectly with the third benefit of the Crusher feat.
• Fighter: Fighters gain multiple attacks, increasing the chance of landing hits and triggering the forced movement effect and are more likely to crit given enough attacks. The Battle Master subclass can use maneuvers such as pushing attack to move enemies around even more.
• Paladin: Paladins are capable melee combatants who often rely on bludgeoning weapons. They also benefit from having an increased Strength modifier for their spells and weapon attacks. Their ability to divine smite increases the chance of scoring devastating critical hits.
• Cleric (War Domain): War Domain Clerics are proficient with martial weapons and can rely on a heavy mace or other bludgeoning weapon. They also often find themselves in melee, and an increase to their Constitution for concentration purposes and more health is welcome.
• Monk: Monks can deal bludgeoning damage with their unarmed strikes and benefit from the increase to Strength or Constitution which can enhance their many different abilities.
• Druid (Circle of the Moon): Druids of the Circle of the Moon can rely on bludgeoning damage as beasts, this gives them added control and can pair with their many spells effectively.

When choosing your class, consider not only which classes naturally benefit from bludgeoning damage but also which ones will use the forced movement or advantage on crit effects strategically.

Step 2: Choose the Right Weapon

Choosing a bludgeoning weapon is key to making the most of the Crusher feat. Here are some excellent options:

• Warhammer: A versatile martial weapon that deals 1d8 bludgeoning damage with a versatile (1d10 if wielded with both hands) property. Good damage and solid choice for fighters and paladins, especially for those who want to wield a shield at the same time.
• Maul: A two-handed martial weapon that deals 2d6 bludgeoning damage. Best for maximizing damage, but restricts your off-hand from carrying items.
• Mace: A simple weapon that deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage. A basic weapon but allows for a shield to be used in conjunction for added protection.
• Morningstar: A martial weapon that does 1d8 piercing and 1d4 bludgeoning damage. Useful if you don’t want to solely rely on bludgeoning damage.
• Club: A simple weapon that deals 1d4 bludgeoning damage. A very basic weapon, best used in the early levels.
• Quarterstaff: Another simple weapon that deals 1d6 bludgeoning damage, or 1d8 when wielded with both hands. While the damage die isn’t the best, it can be useful for monks and allows for versatile usage.
• Unarmed Strikes: Monks and other martial classes can also deal bludgeoning damage with unarmed strikes. This provides flexibility if you are caught unarmed or want to maximize your unarmed strikes abilities.

Consider your class, fighting style, and desired damage output when selecting a bludgeoning weapon. Keep in mind that the choice of weapon also impacts your ability to use shields and other off-hand items.

Step 3: Plan Your Movement

The forced movement component of the Crusher feat requires careful planning. Before your turn, assess the battlefield and identify opportunities to use your 5-foot push effectively. Consider these factors:

• Enemy Positions: Are there allies engaged with enemies that could benefit from you pushing one away? Are there weaker targets or spellcasters that you can position more effectively?
• Environmental Hazards: Are there any pits, fire, or ledges that you can push an enemy into? Environmental hazards can severely damage or even eliminate an enemy.
• Ally Positions: Can you move an enemy to help a party member who might be disadvantaged? Can you move them into a spot where allies can make use of certain abilities?
• Escape Routes: Does your forced movement push enemies towards an escape route? Make sure the pushed enemy doesn’t have a faster, safer path to get away from you or your party.

Visualize the movement on the battlefield and consider all possibilities before you make your attack. Remember that it only happens once per turn, so use it wisely!

Step 4: Optimize Critical Hits

While you can’t directly control when you score a critical hit, you can maximize the chances of triggering the third component of the feat. Here are some ways to do this:

• High Strength Score: A high Strength score increases your accuracy and therefore the chance that you’ll land a critical hit. The +1 bonus from the Crusher feat will help with this, but don’t rely solely on the feat for your accuracy.
• Advantage: When you have advantage on your attack roll, your chances of scoring a critical hit are greatly increased. Find ways to gain advantage in combat, such as attacking prone enemies or flanking them with allies.
• Reckless Attack (Barbarian): The Barbarian’s Reckless Attack feature is an excellent way to gain advantage on your attacks and therefore increase your chances of getting a critical hit.
• Champion Fighter: The Champion Fighter has the Improved Critical feature which increases your critical hit range to a 19 or 20 making it a reliable way to trigger the effects of the Crusher feat.
• Spells and Abilities: Certain spells or abilities can impose conditions on enemies that give you advantage on attack rolls, and abilities can increase the crit range.

Remember, even without a high crit chance, the potential for advantage for your entire party until the end of your next turn is a potent and rewarding benefit.

Step 5: Coordinate with Allies

The Crusher feat is even more effective when used in coordination with your allies. Communication is key to maximizing your damage output and battlefield control. Share your strategy and how you intend to use the forced movement and critical hit advantage with your fellow party members.

For example:

• Communicate your target: Let your allies know which enemy you intend to push so they can position themselves accordingly.
• Signal Critical Hit: Announce when you score a critical hit so your allies can take advantage of the advantage on attacks until the end of your next turn.
• Area of Effect Synergies: Work with spellcasters to move enemies into advantageous positions for AoE spells.
• Melee Coordination: Discuss how your forced movement can help your melee allies attack enemies more effectively.

Working together will ensure that you and your allies are getting the most out of your combined abilities.

Advanced Tactics and Synergies

Let’s explore some more advanced tactics and character builds that can take full advantage of the Crusher feat.

The Grappler

Combining the Crusher feat with the ability to grapple can create a powerful control-focused fighter. By grappling an enemy, you can reduce their movement and push them around the battlefield more easily with the feat’s forced movement effect. You also can set up a condition where they are more easily to be hit if your allies have trouble targeting them. This is an excellent strategy for Barbarians, Fighters, and even some Monks.

The Battlefield Controller

Characters who specialize in controlling the battlefield can greatly benefit from the Crusher feat. Classes like the Battle Master Fighter can use maneuvers to push and reposition enemies, and the Crusher feat adds another layer of control. Druids with spells that can affect the battlefield can use the Crusher feat to keep enemies in place or push them into hazardous areas.

The Crit-Fishing Build

Building a character specifically around scoring critical hits can take the Crusher feat to its absolute peak. Champions Fighters with their improved critical hit range, Barbarians with reckless attack and abilities to add crit range, and Paladins with abilities that add crit range all make great candidates. The advantage on attacks after a crit will significantly increase damage output for you and your party.

The Combo Caster

While bludgeoning damage is less common for casters, certain spells, like Earth Tremor, can benefit from the Crusher feat. This means certain types of casters can mix in spellcasting and melee attacks into their tactics. A Circle of the Moon Druid using Wild Shape to transform into a beast that deals bludgeoning damage with natural weapons can also get great use out of this feat.

Synergy with Other Feats

The Crusher feat can also synergize well with other feats. Consider taking these feats alongside Crusher for even greater benefits:

• Slasher: For characters who sometimes use slashing weapons, this feat complements the Crusher by adding versatility to weapon choice.
• Piercer: Similar to slasher, this feat will add versatility if you use piercing damage often.
• Tavern Brawler: If you favor unarmed combat, this feat allows you to make great use out of your unarmed strikes and can help with grappling.
• Great Weapon Master/Polearm Master: If you favor bludgeoning weapons that require two hands, these feats help you maximize damage, and can work with many different weapons.
• Sentinel: Combined with forced movement, this feat can make it difficult for enemies to move around you, making you more effective at locking down enemies.

Carefully consider the feats you take to make sure they complement your chosen class and combat style.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

To use the Crusher feat to its fullest potential, you need to be aware of common mistakes people make:

• Forgetting the Bludgeoning Restriction: Make sure you’re using a bludgeoning weapon or attack when trying to trigger the effects of the feat. You won’t be able to move enemies if you are using another damage type.
• Ignoring Forced Movement: Don’t waste your forced movement. Pay attention to enemy positions and environmental hazards. Every push is an opportunity to disrupt your enemies.
• Underestimating Critical Hit Advantage: Even if you can’t control critical hits, don’t forget that the advantage lasts until the end of *your* next turn, and coordinate with your party to make the most of it.
• Not Communicating with Your Party: The Crusher feat becomes exponentially more effective if you’re working with your allies. Talk to your party to coordinate movement and damage.
• Not planning for enemy escape: Pushing an enemy away can be counterproductive if it leads to them being in a safer or more advantageous position. Consider where you push them and if that creates any issues.

Being mindful of these common mistakes will allow you to use the Crusher feat to its full potential.

Conclusion

The Crusher feat is a versatile and powerful option for characters who use bludgeoning damage in D&D 5e. Its mix of offensive and tactical benefits makes it valuable for a wide range of character builds. Whether you’re a mighty Barbarian, a stalwart Paladin, or a cunning spellcaster who can mix in martial combat, the Crusher feat has something to offer. By understanding its mechanics, using it strategically, and communicating with your party, you can truly crush your foes and become a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

With the step-by-step instructions and detailed explanations provided in this guide, you are now well-equipped to incorporate the Crusher feat into your games. Experiment with different builds, try out various tactics, and enjoy the added depth that this feat brings to your gameplay. Get out there and start crushing!