The goal of Dungeons & Dragons is to have fun, so from that perspective there is no wrong way to build a character, so long as it is enjoyable to play and fits well with the campaign. There is a strong argument that certain weapon types offer distinct advantages over others in the current fifth edition of D&D, however, so players concerned with optimal effectiveness will likely lean towards specializing in hand crossbows, or polearm weapons. Thanks to a specific combination of feats, these weapons allow for additional attacks, added damage, and more.
In modern D&D, the feats Great Weapon Master and Sharpshooter provide similar benefits to the Power Attack feat from third edition D&D and Pathfinder. Along with other features, these feats allow the player to strike with -5 to their attack roll in exchange for +10 to damage. Great Weapon Master allows a player to use this feature with any Heavy weapon, and Sharpshooter allows it with any ranged weapon. Adding ten damage to every attack is a significant increase in damage output, though players will need to plan their builds to compensate for the loss of accuracy.
D&D has two action types, the Action and the Bonus Action, but not every character is innately capable of taking a Bonus Action. The feats Polearm Master and Crossbow Expert allow characters to take an additional attack as a bonus action using certain weapon types after using the Attack Action with the same weapon. Polearm Master provides this for the glaive, halberd, quarterstaff and spear, though the glaive and halberd are of special note as these are Heavy weapons, therefore also eligible for the -5 to hit, +10 damage feature of Great Weapon Master. Polearm Master’s Bonus Action uses the blunt end of the weapon for 1d4 bludgeoning damage.
Player’s Handbook errata, and D&D design Jeremy Crawford’s Sage Advice column, clarifies that unlike D&D dual wielding this Bonus Action attack adds a character’s Strength modifier to damage. It also benefits from the enhancement of a magic weapon, and includes the Heavy Weapon property if the weapon was already considered Heavy. Weapon reach applies as well, making the combination of Polearm Master and Great Weapon Master a deadly duo for glaive and halberd s, weapons that are mechanically identical in Dungeons & Dragons.
Hand Crossbows & Polearms Synergize With D&D Feats
Crossbow Expert also allows a benefit from D&D's damage bonus afforded by Sharpshooter. Like the Bonus Action attack from Polearm Master, the Crossbow Expert additional attack adds the ’s Dexterity modifier to damage, and benefits from additional damage from a magic hand crossbow, as well.
While the combination of an added attack as a Bonus Action, and increased damage at the cost of accuracy, will allow also be wise to raise Dexterity for hand crossbow specialists, and Strength for polearm s, unless they are able to acquire a superior Belt of Giant Strength, instead.
Though there are feats found outside of D&D core books, including Unearthed Arcana articles, that offer similar boons to weapon types other than the hand crossbow and polearms, the combinations provided in the Player’s Handbook are likely accepted in more games and are valid in official RPGA games under Wizards of the Coast’s organized play program. While it may seem an odd aesthetic, there is good reason that high level D&D games contain so many polearm warriors and hand crossbow snipers. The feats, available in Dungeons & Dragons' core books, provide these weapons more attacks, and more damage, than any other weapons available, outside of the use of specific spells like Swift Quiver, or very niche builds like a Path of the Berserker Barbarian. Players should prioritize the feats that offer Bonus Action attacks over the feats that offer added damage, as at low levels the additional attacks will, on average, provide better results.
