Crusher Feat 5E | Maximizing Impact with Bludgeoning Weapons

Looking to dominate in combat with the Crusher 5e feat? Learn how this powerful choice can amp up your melee attacks and control enemy movement. Perfect for barbarians, fighters, and monks, Crusher 5e is an essential strategy for those who want to deal and dictate devastating blows.

Crusher Feat Overview

Understanding the Crusher Feat

At its core, the Crusher feat offers a unique combination of ability score increase and enhanced bludgeoning combat capabilities. Players can add 1 point to their Strength or Constitution score, up to a maximum of 20. This is a departure from many other feats, which often focus on increasing Dexterity. The choice between Strength and Constitution is critical, as the former enhances a character’s physical power in melee combat, while the latter bolsters their vitality and durability.

Beyond these ability score improvements, the Crusher feat provides two additional benefits that refine a character’s bludgeoning combat capabilities. These benefits operate in harmony with a variety of melee classes. For instance, barbarians, fighters, paladins, and monks can substantially benefit from the Crusher feat, given their heavy reliance on melee combat. Even clerics, depending on their chosen domain, can gain advantages from the feat.

The Mechanics of Crusher in Combat

The Crusher feat isn’t just about boosting your character’s brute strength or resilience. It’s also about adding depth to your combat strategy by providing both offensive and defensive benefits. The Crusher feat grants advantage on any subsequent attack rolls made against the same creature when your character lands a critical hit that deals bludgeoning damage. This advantage lasts until the start of your next turn. This means that once your character has landed a critical hit, they’re more likely to land subsequent hits, resulting in higher overall damage output.

But the Crusher feat isn’t just about dealing damage. A key aspect of the feat is the ability to manipulate the positioning of enemies on the battlefield. The Crusher feat allows you to:

• Move a creature 5 feet into an unoccupied space when it is hit by an attack that deals bludgeoning damage, as long as it is no more than one size category larger.
• This ability can be used once per turn.
• This forced movement can be used defensively, allowing your character to push an enemy away and prevent triggering an attack of opportunity upon retreat.

Moving the Battlefield

The Crusher feat’s capability to force movement of enemies provides you with a powerful tool for controlling the battlefield. By moving an enemy 5 feet into an unoccupied space, your character can alter flanking positions, displace foes from advantageous locations, and even manipulate the dynamics of the area to facilitate more effective attacks by allies. This ability to dictate the positioning of enemies on the battlefield is not just about gaining an offensive edge. It also serves a defensive purpose.

For instance, your character can use the Crusher feat to push an enemy away, thereby avoiding an attack of opportunity and protecting vulnerable allies from the effects of area-of-effect spells. However, it’s worth noting that the repositioning ability is subject to size constraints. For example, Small characters cannot move creatures more than one size larger, reducing the feat’s effectiveness for them. This can be problem if you play the goblin race in that you are likely to face numerous opponents too big to move.

Critical Advantage

Achieving a critical hit is always a rewarding moment in combat, especially when you hit a creature. With the Crusher feat, this moment becomes even more significant. Scoring a critical hit results in advantage on subsequent attack rolls against the same creature. This advantage applies to all attack rolls made against the affected creature until the start of your character’s next turn.

The benefit of this is twofold. Firstly, it increases the likelihood of subsequent hits against the target. Secondly, the increased hit probability results in a higher overall damage output against the creature. In essence, scoring a critical hit with the Crusher feat doesn’t just deal a substantial amount of damage in the moment, but it also sets up your character for a potentially devastating onslaught of follow-up attacks.

Optimal Class Synergies with Crusher

The Crusher feat is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Its benefits and effectiveness can vary significantly depending on the character class and fighting style. For instance, Fighters greatly benefit from the Crusher feat due to their ability to perform multiple attacks per turn, which pairs well with the feat’s advantage on attack rolls after landing a critical hit. Monks, who frequently use unarmed strikes and monk weapons dealing bludgeoning damage, can also find the Crusher feat a strong choice for enhancing their combat efficiency.

Other melee-centric classes, excelling in melee attack, such as:

• Barbarians
• Paladins
• Melee-focused Clerics
• Artificers

Players can also capitalize on the strengths of the Crusher feat, while taking advantage of their proficiency bonus and the occasional strength saving throw. For instance, Barbarians can use the feat to maximize the benefits of their Rage ability, while Paladins can leverage the feat to amplify the impact of their smites and extra attacks.

Fighters: Bludgeoning Mastery

Fighters are known for their prowess in melee combat, and the Crusher feat only enhances this. Their emphasis on melee engagement and consistent battlefield manipulation makes the synergy between Fighters and the Crusher feat a prime example of class-feat optimization. The feat enhances a Fighter’s efficiency by granting advantage on subsequent attack rolls following a critical hit. This aligns perfectly with a Fighter’s ability to conduct multiple attacks per round.

The Crusher feat becomes even more potent when used by Champion Fighters. These Fighters have an increased likelihood of scoring critical hits, thanks to their subclass features. This makes the primary advantage provided by the Crusher feat – advantage on attack rolls after a critical hit – particularly valuable for them.

Rogues: Sneak Attack Surprises

Rogues, known for their cunning and agility, can also find interesting synergies with the Crusher feat. For a start, the feat can allow Rogues to use their signature Sneak Attack more than once per turn, provided they manage to deal bludgeoning damage to an enemy during an opportunity attack. This can significantly boost their damage output in the right circumstances.

Moreover, by using bludgeoning weapons and the Crusher feat, Rogues can deal additional sneak attack damage. This is due to the feat’s critical hit effects that grant advantage on subsequent attack rolls against the target. By cleverly combining the Crusher feat’s capability of moving enemies on a critical hit with a Rogue’s cunning action for positioning, players can set up strategic locations for effective use of sneak attacks.

Selecting the Right Equipment

To maximize the benefits of the Crusher feat, it’s crucial to choose the right equipment. Bludgeoning martial weapons, such as maces and warhammers, are particularly effective for characters who possess the feat. The mace, for instance, is a favored weapon among clerics who value its utility and traditional role in their class’s armament.

Barbarians can also leverage the Crusher feat effectively by wielding a warhammer. The combination of the warhammer’s raw power and the Barbarian’s Rage ability can result in significant damage output. The Crusher feat further enhances this by granting advantage on attack rolls following a critical hit and providing the capacity for strategic repositioning. You can also get similar performance with either the slasher feat or piercer feat if you prefer a different style of weapon.

Weapon Pairings for Maximum Impact

Finding the right weapon to pair with the Crusher feat can greatly impact a character’s combat effectiveness. For strength-based characters, heavier two-handed bludgeoning weapons like mauls can lead to high single-strike damage, complementing the Crusher feat by maximizing the impact of successful hits. For these characters, warhammers can be particularly effective, allowing them to fully exploit the one-handed damage versatility factor.

On the other hand, dexterity-based characters can optimize the Crusher feat by using light hammers, allowing them to deliver bludgeoning damage while still capitalizing on their agility and finesse. Even characters who specialize in dual wielding can get the most out of the feat by choosing heavier one-handed weapons like maces, which provide substantial damage without precluding a secondary weapon.

Advanced Tactics and Combinations

While the Crusher feat offers impressive benefits on its own, its potential can be further enhanced when combined with other tactics and abilities. For example, the feat can enhance party cooperation by allowing players to move opponents into beneficial positions for allies or out of detrimental spell areas. This strategic repositioning of enemies can protect vulnerable allies or move adversaries within range of an ally’s attacks.

Some combinations go beyond mere physical attacks. For instance, combining the Crusher feat with a Warlock’s Eldritch Blast and Repelling Blast invocation can create a powerful crowd control combo by pushing enemies back. Similarly, pairing the Telekinetic feat with Crusher can allow for further manipulation of enemy positions, using a bonus action.

Spell Synergy: Spike Growth and Booming Blade

Magic users are not left out of the Crusher feat’s potential. Combining the feat with certain control spells can provide strategic advantages in positioning and damage output. For instance, a multiclassed Divine Soul Sorcerer and Genie Warlock can effectively harness the feat with a control spell like Spike Growth to dictate enemy placement on the battlefield.

Bladesinger wizards, despite their typical focus on agility and spells, can also employ the Crusher feat. Using a bludgeoning weapon, they can utilize spells like Booming Blade for added damage and tactical positioning. The result is a Bladesinger that not only excels in agility and spellcasting but is also a formidable melee combatant.

Multiclass Maneuvers

Diversifying your character’s class can further enhance the utility of the Crusher feat. Multiclassing offers unique opportunities to combine the feat with other class abilities. For example, a Dao genie warlock can apply the Crusher feat to bludgeoning damage done through the Genie’s Wrath ability. This, when combined with Repelling Blast, enhances the feat’s tactical forced movement.

By exploring multiclassing options, you can create a character that not only possesses the strength and resilience boosted by the Crusher feat but also enjoys the benefits of other classes’ unique abilities. This results in a character that is versatile, robust, and capable of controlling the battlefield in multiple ways.

Crusher Feat Limitations and Considerations

As impressive as the Crusher feat is, it’s crucial to understand its limitations and consider its use carefully. For instance, the feat is generally not recommended for Rogues. Their primary combat focus leans more towards Dexterity and sneak attacks, which may not synergize well with bonuses to Strength-based bludgeoning attacks and forced movement offered by Crusher.

That said, the Crusher feat still provides a defensive benefit even for classes that cannot fully capitalize on its offensive capabilities. The ability to push enemies away can prevent opportunity attacks and aid in strategic retreats, offering a layer of protection in combat.

Crushing the Meta: Case Studies in Clobbering

To appreciate the full potential of the Crusher feat, let’s look at a few case studies in different combat scenarios and character builds. Consider a Barbarian with the Crusher feat using a warhammer. This character can utilize extra attacks, bonus to Strength or Constitution, and Rage for effective battlefield control and damage output. The feat’s ability to move opponents and grant advantage on attack rolls after a critical hit makes this Barbarian a formidable presence on the battlefield.

Now let’s take a look at the Monk class in 5e. They can greatly benefit from Crusher as every punch and kick deals bludgeoning damage. When combined with a quarterstaff, Ki abilities, and other monk skills, the Crusher feat can make a Monk extremely potent. Similarly, Paladins can maximize the utility of the Crusher feat with their smite abilities, extra attacks, and a fighting style that complements melee combat.

Finally, let’s not forget the feat’s strategic positioning capabilities. The ability to move foes into flanking positions for allies or out of the range of area-of-effect spells cast by friendly characters can significantly change the tide of battle. While some classes may not gain significant benefits from the Crusher feat, it remains a standout choice for melee-focused classes.

Sample Crusher Feat Build: The Stick and Board Champion

• Class: Fighter
• Race: Variant Human
• Subclass: Champion
• Feats: Polearm master, crusher
• Theme: Use your staff to push your enemies around and score lots of attacks of opportunity

the Stick-and-Board Champion isn’t a new concept, as it builds off of a concept that has been popular since the beginning of 5E: arming a fighter with a quarterstaff and shield, then taking advantage of the Dueling fighting style and the the polearm master feat. This build has a different twist on that approach once we reach level four.

First, the initial build. You’ll need to be a variant human or some other option that allows you to take a feat at first level. This is important, as the build requires two feats to really cook. In addition to focusing your ability points into strength, you’re also going to want to start out with the polearm master feat. This feat gives you a bonus attack with the butt of the staff, which is nice. The real point is the second part of the feat that allows you to make attacks of opportunity when a foe enters the range of your quarterstaff. That will be important at level 4.

At level 3, you’ll need to take the Champion fighter archetype. This is to take advantage of landing a critical hit at a natural 19 as well as a 20. You will also want the Duelist fighting style. You’re going to be rolling with a quarterstaff and a shield, which means you get to tack on +2 to your damage rolls.

It all comes together at level 4 when you take your ASI. Skip the ability score and grab the crusher feat. This feat has excellent synergy with your current build in two ways. First, every time you land a hit with your quarterstaff against most enemies, you can knock them back five feet. That means you get an attack of opportunity each time they move back next to you to re-engage. If that wasn’t enough, every time you land a critical hit (which will be 10 percent of the time thanks to being a Champion fighter) all attacks against your target will have advantage until the start of your next turn. This includes any attack of opportunity you take after knocking them back! I love the way all these moving parts work together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the crusher feat worth it?

The Crusher feat is worth it if you enjoy wielding weapons that can deliver powerful blows, especially if you prefer maces or hammers over swords. It would be particularly effective for a cleric character in Dungeons & Dragons.

How do you use the crusher feat?

You can use the Crusher feat by moving a creature 5 feet to an unoccupied space when you hit it with an attack that deals bludgeoning damage, as long as the target is no more than one size larger than you.

Is crusher good for monk?

Yes, the Crusher feat is great for Monks because it complements their unarmed strikes and provides additional benefits for monk weapons that deal bludgeoning damage, like quarterstaffs. It allows the player to push the target after a successful hit, making it particularly useful.

Can the Crusher feat be used defensively?

Yes, the Crusher feat can be used defensively to push enemies away and prevent opportunity attacks, aiding in strategic retreats. It ads a level of control to the battlefield that melee characters are often lacking, and I love that.

Summary

The Crusher feat is a powerful tool in the hands of the right character. It offers a unique combination of ability score increase, enhanced bludgeoning combat capabilities, and tactical advantages in combat. Whether you’re a Fighter landing multiple attacks per turn, a Monk delivering rapid-fire punches and kicks, or a Paladin smiting foes with divine power, the Crusher feat can significantly enhance your character’s combat effectiveness. However, it’s crucial to understand the feat’s limitations, select the right equipment, and explore advanced tactics to maximize its potential. With careful consideration and strategic use, the Crusher feat can transform your melee character into a formidable force on the battlefield.

Still mulling over your options? Be sure to check out our Feats 5E Guide!