Sharpshooter 5E | DnD 5E Sharpshooter Guide
If you are an experienced DnD enthusiast, you should be aware of the 5E Sharpshooter feat. Whether you find your character to be on the receiving end of a Dungeon Master employing it against you, or you play as a Ranger specializing in long-distance shots, you will grow to like the D&D Sharpshooter feat more and more as you explore the possibilities offered by it.
One of the strongest feats in the world’s most famous tabletop game, 5E Sharpshooter is a must for any ranged attack-centered character build, be it a valor bard or a fighter. The best part is, if you know the characteristics of the feat, you won’t have to keep its usage restricted to ranged attack alone. Let’s understand what the D&D 5E Sharpshooter feat entails.
D&D 5E Sharpshooter Feat Explained
Before delving deep into what the D&D Sharpshooter feat is and how it works, let’s see what the Player’s Handbook has to comment on the same:
You have mastered ranged weapons and can make shots that others find impossible. You gain the following benefits:
- Attacking at long range doesn’t impose disadvantage on your ranged weapon attack rolls.
- Your ranged weapon attacks ignore half cover and three-quarters cover.
- Before you make an attack with a ranged weapon that you are proficient with, you can choose to take a -5 penalty to the attack roll. If the attack hits, you add +10 to the attack’s damage.
Simply put, if you take up the 5E Sharpshooter feat, you will effectively be transformed into a superhuman assassin equipped with the skill to let off seemingly impossible shots with panache and ease. Needless to say, the feat comes in handy to characters who utilize range weapons the most. As portrayed in popular culture, it will let your character play as a gunslinger or an archer.
If you take up the D&D 5E Sharpshooter, your character can effectively shoot from a considerable distance with close to no penalty. Additionally, the feat will allow you to ignore most of the covers and deal extra damage with your hits. This comes in handy when you think of it this way: you don’t want to sit close enough to the battlefield for a melee combatant to approach you and knock you down. So, if you are carrying ranged weapons, it is always a great idea to take up this feat.
Usually, your character can cross the threshold of d10 territory once you start using firearms and crossbows. Therefore, most ranged weapons don’t get the opportunity to deal a hefty 10 damage. But, with the D&D Sharpshooter feat, you are allowed to take a penalty on your attack roll, and moreover, deal no less than 10 extra damage on one successful hit.
So, all things considered, the 5E Sharpshooter is a ranged attack build’s best friend. But, how do you use this feat judiciously to not miss out on any abilities offered? Let’s take a look.
Also Read: DND 5e Core Feats
How to Get The Most Out Of Sharpshooter?
D&D 5E Sharpshooter is a feat that should be present on any character sheet that lists down ranged weapons as the primary weapon. Whether your character shares an affinity towards firearms, crossbows, or even an unorthodox slingshot contraption, the Sharpshooter feat should be your go-to ability.
Looking for a high attack modifier quite early on in the game? You should take the -5 penalty to deal some additional damage. However, if you rolled a low one, it’s a good idea to scale your AC up before taking up this feat. Though, needless to say, the earlier you get your hands on this feat, the better the +10 will feel.
Note that it is a static damage amount, so it will not scale with level. Instead, it will begin blending into the background as you equip yourself with stronger equipment. However, even at level 20, this feat does not cease to amaze.
Which Class Should Use The Sharpshooter Feat?
Not every feat goes with every class, and the same is true for the 5E Sharpshooter. Let’s take a look at which classes would be able to utilize this feat best:
1. Ranger
If you are playing as a ranger with range weapons, you will find yourself at two disadvantageous positions: firstly, there is a particular range beyond which you cannot shoot, and secondly, even if you do (with “long” range weapons), you find yourself rolling at a disadvantage. Therefore, players rarely take a shot at a very long distance.
However, with the 5E Sharpshooter feat, you can bid adieu to both these disadvantages, with a doubled range and ability to ignore cover.
2. Fighter
Some of the most versatile combatants, the Fighter class, the following fighter subclasses – Dragonborn fighter, Half Orc fighter, Champion Fighter can benefit from this feat solely because of the number of attacks they can get off it in a single turn. Being the masters of long-ranged combat, fighters can unleash droves of arrows at targets with the help of the D&D 5E Sharpshooter.
If you are playing as a Gunslinger, you can stop worrying about covers and long distances and just play your game with the Sharpshooter feat.
3. Rogue
If you are playing as a Rogue, and play as any of these rogue subclasses – Human Rogue, thief Rogue, you can consider using the 5E Sharpshooter feat, especially if you are adept at using crossbows and employing ranged attacks instead of getting close to the daggers.
Sharpshooter feat is one of the most suitable feat for rogue, because you will get an extra AC improvement, so this feat could outshine others if you wanted to prioritize effective assassination. If your Rogue character shows proficiency with dangerous poisons at higher levels, that’s even better.
Also Read: Crossbow Expert 5e
Conclusion
Know your build and its strengths and weaknesses before making your pick. But if your character does well with ranged attacks, the 5E Sharpshooter might just be the perfect feat for your style of gameplay.
Spend some time exploring this feat and juxtaposing it with the skill sets offered by your character. That should give you the answer. Happy questing!
