Top 10 feats that any character could take?

[unseenmage]

List the most broken overpowered munchkinable minmaxable feats that you know of.
In the order you'd take them. This is a challenge to find good great feats for anyone rather than those feats that are good for a specific build.

The list would be useful for DMs who need feats for monsters.
(Awakened creatures and other magically created creatures without proper statblocks come to mind.)

The goal is to have a list of the most OP ten feats one character could take.
The only feat slots we're filling are the ones any creature has according to the Level-Dependent Benefits tables on page 22 of the 3.5 Player's Handbook and page 7 of the Epic Level Handbook.

Feats from all sources are available but please cite sources for those feats that aren't in core.

When feats are gained:

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1st lvl:
3rd lvl:
6th lvl:
9th lvl:
12th lvl:
15th lvl:
18th lvl:
21st lvl:
24th lvl:
27th lvl:

List of feats so far:

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Generally Useful
Able Learner (RoD150)
Alertness
Bladeproof Skin (UA92)
Faerie Mysteries Initiate (D319pg58)
Favored In Guild (DMG2pg227)
Imperious Command (DotU50)
Improved Initiative
Jack of All Trades (CAd110)
Keen Intellect (OA64)
Knowledge Devotion (CCh60)
Mercantile Background (PGtF41)
Live my Nightmare (UA94)
Luck of Heroes (PGtF40)
Nymph's Kiss (BoED44)
Open Minded (CAd111)
Quick Draw
Quick Reconnoiter (CAd112)
Rapid Metabolism (EPH50)
Touch of Golden Ice (BoED47)
Travel Devotion (CCh62)
True Believer (MIC222)
Water Devotion (CCh64)
Wild Cohort (web)

Quite Powerful
Ancestral Relic (BoED39)
Animal Devotion (CCh54)
Darkstalker (LoM179)
Death Devotion (CCh57)
Draconic Aura: Vigor (DM16)
Healing Devotion (CCh59)
Item Familiar
Fast Healing (Dr70)
Landlord (SBG10)
Leadership
Least Legacy (WoL14)
Planar Touchstone (PlH41)
Undead Leadership (LM31)
Wedded to History (D354pg54)

Prerequisite for Shenanigans
Bind Vestige (ToM72)
Hidden Talent (EPH67)
Magical Training (PGtF41)
Martial Study (ToB31)
Open (varies) Chakra (MoI39-40)
Shape Soulmeld (MoI40)

Requires Prerequisite
Alternative Source Spell (D325pg61)
Assume Supernatural Ability (SS30)
Chaotic Spell Recall (FC1pg84)
Craft Contingent Spell (CAr77)
Draconic Heritage (DM17)
Magical Training (PGtF41) --> Create Wondrous Item
Flyby Attack
Bind Vestige (ToM72) --> Improved Bind Vestige (ToM73)
Lifesense (LM28)
Magic In The Blood (PGtF40)
Martial Study (ToB31) --> Martial Stance (ToB31)
Metamorphic Transfer (EPH48)
Mindsight (LoM126)
Magical Training (PGtF41) --> Obtain Familiar (CAr81)
Natural Spell
Point Blank Shot --> Precise Shot
Craft Staff --> Recharge Staff (D338pg60)
Spontaneous Healer (CDi84)
Toughness --> Troll-Blooded (D319pg61)
War Magic Study (D309pg44)

Honorable Mention
Running Circles (Monte Cook's Book of Experimental Might)

[EugeneVoid]

Leadership

[SowZ]

Leadership
Item Familiar
Improved Initiative
Create Wondrous Item if you can manage a caster level, which isn't too hard even for a mundane character
Obtain Familiar, also requires a caster level
Wild Cohort
Able Learner
Martial Study
The Devotion Feats are generally all around decent, too, and oddly don't have alignment pre-reqs as far as I know

[OldTrees1]

Leadership

Undead Leadership (your minions are Necropolitians but you get a higher starting Leadership score)

[EugeneVoid]

Why not both.

[OldTrees1]

Why not both.

That was what I meant.

[SowZ]

Why not both.

Taking standard Leadership would be redundant, depending on the interpretation, since the 'follower slots' may or may not be doubled by taking both feats. The only reason you would take both feats under such a ruling is because you want the undead cohort but don't want to be penalized for living followers.

[gorfnab]

Shape Soulmeld

[limejuicepowder]

I'm a fan of quick draw.....yeah most people aren't, but I like the idea that I can get that thing I need RIGHT NOW easily.

[SowZ]

I'm a fan of quick draw.....yeah most people aren't, but I like the idea that I can get that thing I need RIGHT NOW easily.

Lot's of items for that, though.

[Scow2]

I'm a fan of quick draw.....yeah most people aren't, but I like the idea that I can get that thing I need RIGHT NOW easily.

Quick Draw only applies to weapons... which also means the much-vaunted Commoner ChickenSwarm is not actually functional.

[Kraken]

Something that I feel goes under the radar for many different character types is darkstalker. Sure, it often gets mentioned in rogue-type builds, but realistically it can be fantastic for any character, especially ones utilizing invisibility, concealment, miss chance, and so forth.

Shape soulmeld is definitely a winner, due to its vast versatility.

Leadership, and similar abilities, are probably at the top in terms of raw power, depending on the degree to which you're allowed to customize your follower and cohorts.

Improved initiative, because going first can be very useful.

Quick reconnoiter has helped me many times with DMs who are stingy about observational skills during combat. Plus, more bonus initiative. Though it has 5 ranks in listen and spot as pre reqs, so it might take a while for some builds to qualify.

Planar touchstone. Another versatile one with so many uses.

Mindsight, unquestionably powerful and useful for anyone, if you can qualify.

[Silva Stormrage]

Landlord gives you a LOT of money for a fortress and you can use it to build a flying cube of death.

[ben-zayb]

Hidden Talent and Magical Training could open a big can of worms if used intelligently (and we know that budding psions and wizards are just that)

Since this thread concerns monsters thrown by DMs, I figure Assume Supernatural Ability and Flyby Attack would also work wonders.

[Deepwood Sniper]

I've always tried to make the feats Toughness, Trollblooded, fast heal, true believer, and Precise Shot. if im playing a class with alot of healing spells like a cleric, i always get the Spontaneous Healer feat.

[cakellene]

Quick Draw only applies to weapons... which also means the much-vaunted Commoner ChickenSwarm is not actually functional.

Chickens are scary weapons, just ask Link.

[EugeneVoid]

I've always tried to make the feats Toughness, Trollblooded, fast heal, true believer, and Precise Shot. if im playing a class with alot of healing spells like a cleric, i always get the Spontaneous Healer feat.

Dat Toughness

[Hand_of_Vecna]

In addition to a several that have been mention repeatedly; Improved Initiatiative, Leadership, Shape Soulmeld, Wild Cohort, Able Learner . . .

Hidden Talent-It's only supposed to be available in "High Psionics" campaigns, but it gives you 2 PP and a 1st level power from any list.

Martial Study/Stance

Bladeproof Skin-DR 3/bludgeoning will make you far too tanky if taken at level 1.

Bind Vestige/Improved

If allowed; the old version of Cosmopolitan that gave you +2 to a skill and made it always a class skill. Great for qualifying for prestige classes or maxing one of the "best" skills.

Oh, Devotion Feats. I know they usually aren't recommended for characters that don't have native turn undead attempts, but for a monster or anyone that doesn't expect to get in regular 4/day encounters, they can be great.

For a first level character, Healing Devotion's 1 minute of fast heal 1 could give a serious edge in combat and a full heal afterwards.

Air gives a trivial +1 deflection bonus to AC, but also gives projectiles a 50% miss chance against you.

Death-heavily restricted negative level effect on weapons.

Fire-+1 fire damage+ignite

Travel/Knowledge-well known optimizers tools

Water-Summon a water elemental, potentially strong at the minimum levels to summon each size, very weak just before upgrading.

[Rubik]

Quick Draw only applies to weapons... which also means the much-vaunted Commoner ChickenSwarm is not actually functional.

Chickens are weapons. They may be improvised weapons, but that's only a -4 penalty. Heck, almost anything can be used as an improvised weapon.

[Deepwood Sniper]

Dat Toughness

i only get it as a prerequisite though. past level 3 its pretty much useless. Trollblooded has saved me more times than i can remember. i'm currently playing the "Shackled City" campaign as a Dwarf Cleric at 5th level. I'm focusing primarily on being the healer. Its been working pretty well for me.

[Rubik]

Draconic Heritage followed by Draconic Aura: Vigor. Even at a +1 bonus, that's still fast healing 1 for everyone in the group who isn't at 50% hp or above, saving quite a lot of healing in the long run. Especially great to put on a psicrystal, animal companion, or improved familiar.

Assume Supernatural Ability and Rapid Metabolism are excellent for anyone with shapeshifting ability, including those with a psychoactive skin of proteus, any odd creature type and a wand of Alter Self, or other item-based Polymorph-type effect. Gain pixie-based Greater Invisibility, basically at will. Any psionic character would find Metamorphic Transfer in the same boat.

Open Minded is great for +5 skill points to help you qualify for a prestige class or broaden your horizons at low levels, and it can be retrained later if your breadth in skills becomes satisfactory naturally.

[SowZ]

Draconic Heritage followed by Draconic Aura: Vigor. Even at a +1 bonus, that's still fast healing 1 for everyone in the group who isn't at 50% hp or above, saving quite a lot of healing in the long run. Especially great to put on a psicrystal, animal companion, or improved familiar.

Assume Supernatural Ability and Rapid Metabolism are excellent for anyone with shapeshifting ability, including those with a psychoactive skin of proteus, any odd creature type and a wand of Alter Self, or other item-based Polymorph-type effect. Gain pixie-based Greater Invisibility, basically at will. Any psionic character would find Metamorphic Transfer in the same boat.

Open Minded is great for +5 skill points to help you qualify for a prestige class or broaden your horizons at low levels, and it can be retrained later if your breadth in skills becomes satisfactory naturally.

You can't retrain if you needed them to qualify for a PrC.

[unseenmage]

Draconic Heritage followed by Draconic Aura: Vigor. Even at a +1 bonus, that's still fast healing 1 for everyone in the group who isn't at 50% hp or above, saving quite a lot of healing in the long run. Especially great to put on a psicrystal, animal companion, or improved familiar.

Assume Supernatural Ability and Rapid Metabolism are excellent for anyone with shapeshifting ability, including those with a psychoactive skin of proteus, any odd creature type and a wand of Alter Self, or other item-based Polymorph-type effect. Gain pixie-based Greater Invisibility, basically at will. Any psionic character would find Metamorphic Transfer in the same boat.

Open Minded is great for +5 skill points to help you qualify for a prestige class or broaden your horizons at low levels, and it can be retrained later if your breadth in skills becomes satisfactory naturally.

Does that Fast Heal trick work if the party are all Constructs?

[Hand_of_Vecna]

Yes, only regeneration is restricted from working on Con - creatures. Kinda funny that the Druid exclusive healing spell works on constructs and Cleric's Cures don't and they don't have access to repair spells when you consider the historical origin of Golems.

[Thanatosia]

Luck of Heroes seems a pretty solid no brainer must take for anyone playing with Faerun Locality feats. +1 AC & all saves for one feat is pretty dang hard to beat, and useful to pretty much every character ever.

[Rubik]

You can't retrain if you needed them to qualify for a PrC.

If you've already got the skill points, it doesn't matter how you got them later on, even without the extra five. Just make sure to put more of your natural ranks in.

Does that Fast Heal trick work if the party are all Constructs?

Yep! Fast healing works on anything.

[OldTrees1]

Luck of Heroes seems a pretty solid no brainer must take for anyone playing with Faerun Locality feats. +1 AC & all saves for one feat is pretty dang hard to beat, and useful to pretty much every character ever.

It's just +numbers. Most of the good feats at +abilty/trait/quality

[TuggyNE]

Most min-maxing only works properly for a particular set of builds, which is why stuff like Natural Spell is extremely powerful, but on most characters completely useless. So there's going to be a lot of feats that are weirdly non-useful per the restrictions.

Quick Draw only applies to weapons... which also means the much-vaunted Commoner ChickenSwarm is not actually functional.

Beg pardon? The usual method I'm aware of is to use an SCP to generate infinite chickens with infinite free actions; no feat required, just a mundane* item.


*Well, allegedly mundane. SCPs, to my mind, are the least mundane items in D&D short of major artifacts, though.

[Know(Nothing)]

If you're Necropolitan, Lifesense is insanely good.

[Ansem]

Mercantile background.
Easier to buy artifacts and 50% more income from loot to really fuel that equipment train.
Ever since I gave it to my Artificer I'm never playing without again.