kardar233
2018-04-08, 12:40 AM
A thought came to me recently while I was trying to work out how to combine Sharpshooter and Elven Accuracy with a reliable and unlimited source of advantage. This is more of a combo thought than a truly optimized build, but it might be reasonably effective.
The Elven Executioner
The short of it: By using a hand crossbow with the UA Close Quarters Shooter style, you can use Shield Master to generate advantage for Sharpshooter.
Build stub:
Any Elf or Half-Elf
Fighter 8 (Any subclass)
Stat priority: Dex>Con>Str>Wis/Int/Cha
Skills: Athletics (others not relevant)
At Fighter 1, take the UA Close Quarters Shooter Fighting Style.
At Fighter 4, take the Shield Master feat.
At Fighter 6, take the Sharpshooter feat. The build is now functional.
At Fighter 8, take the Elven Accuracy feat.
Wield a Hand Crossbow and a Shield.
This character plays as a melee Fighter, unlike other Sharpshooter builds and so is a little bit more like a Great Weapon Master. Each turn, make a Shove with your Bonus Action to knock the opponent down. Per Sage Advice ( https://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/01/29/shield-master-feat/ ) you may make this Shove before taking your Attack action as long as you commit to taking the Attack action. Then, make two Sharpshooter attacks with Elven Accuracy advantage. This build is functional at 6th level without Elven Accuracy.
Pros over GWM build:
- better defense due to shield and Shield Master
- slightly more base accuracy from Close
- self-reliant for Advantage
- can make use of Elven Accuracy for greater reliability
- more competent at range with Dex focus and Sharpshooter
- better initiative from Dex focus
Cons over GWM build:
- lower base damage
- no bonus action attacks on kill or crit
- lack of Strength focus means you may not be able to wear plate
- appropriate magic weapons are rarer
- somewhat more MAD
- costs more; even without Elven Accuracy, you need to spend two feats and a fighting style
- slower to come online and weaker at low level
Ways to improve the build:
- A Rogue 1 dip (probably just after Fighter 6) for Athletics expertise will help your low bonus and make your Shield Master pushes more reliable.
- Choosing Champion as your subclass synergizes extremely well with crit-fishing builds like Paladin or Rogue. Note that you can choose not to take your Sneak Attack damage on your first attack each round in the hope of critting for double Sneak Attack, and you have a better than 1/4 of critting each hit. Hunter or Horizon Walker Ranger’s bonus damage effects can benefit the same way.
Restrictions:
If UA is not available, you can still do this using the Crossbow Sniper feat. However, adding another feat slows this build down significantly, meaning you may want to lose Elven Accuracy by going Variant Human so the build still comes online at 6th level.
Thoughts? Critique?
Addendum: I called it the Elven Executioner because I imagined the combo playing out as the Executioner knocking down the enemy and then using the hand crossbow to shoot them in the head.
The Elven Executioner
The short of it: By using a hand crossbow with the UA Close Quarters Shooter style, you can use Shield Master to generate advantage for Sharpshooter.
Build stub:
Any Elf or Half-Elf
Fighter 8 (Any subclass)
Stat priority: Dex>Con>Str>Wis/Int/Cha
Skills: Athletics (others not relevant)
At Fighter 1, take the UA Close Quarters Shooter Fighting Style.
At Fighter 4, take the Shield Master feat.
At Fighter 6, take the Sharpshooter feat. The build is now functional.
At Fighter 8, take the Elven Accuracy feat.
Wield a Hand Crossbow and a Shield.
This character plays as a melee Fighter, unlike other Sharpshooter builds and so is a little bit more like a Great Weapon Master. Each turn, make a Shove with your Bonus Action to knock the opponent down. Per Sage Advice ( https://www.sageadvice.eu/2015/01/29/shield-master-feat/ ) you may make this Shove before taking your Attack action as long as you commit to taking the Attack action. Then, make two Sharpshooter attacks with Elven Accuracy advantage. This build is functional at 6th level without Elven Accuracy.
Pros over GWM build:
- better defense due to shield and Shield Master
- slightly more base accuracy from Close
- self-reliant for Advantage
- can make use of Elven Accuracy for greater reliability
- more competent at range with Dex focus and Sharpshooter
- better initiative from Dex focus
Cons over GWM build:
- lower base damage
- no bonus action attacks on kill or crit
- lack of Strength focus means you may not be able to wear plate
- appropriate magic weapons are rarer
- somewhat more MAD
- costs more; even without Elven Accuracy, you need to spend two feats and a fighting style
- slower to come online and weaker at low level
Ways to improve the build:
- A Rogue 1 dip (probably just after Fighter 6) for Athletics expertise will help your low bonus and make your Shield Master pushes more reliable.
- Choosing Champion as your subclass synergizes extremely well with crit-fishing builds like Paladin or Rogue. Note that you can choose not to take your Sneak Attack damage on your first attack each round in the hope of critting for double Sneak Attack, and you have a better than 1/4 of critting each hit. Hunter or Horizon Walker Ranger’s bonus damage effects can benefit the same way.
Restrictions:
If UA is not available, you can still do this using the Crossbow Sniper feat. However, adding another feat slows this build down significantly, meaning you may want to lose Elven Accuracy by going Variant Human so the build still comes online at 6th level.
Thoughts? Critique?
Addendum: I called it the Elven Executioner because I imagined the combo playing out as the Executioner knocking down the enemy and then using the hand crossbow to shoot them in the head.