Crusher Feat in Dungeons & Dragons 5e: A Detailed Guide for New and Experienced Players

Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition (D&D 5e) offers players a variety of ways to create unique and impactful characters. One of the most versatile options for customizing your character is selecting feats. These optional abilities can shape your gameplay and add depth to your character’s combat prowess.

Among the many feats available, the Crusher feat stands out as a tactical choice for players who want to control the battlefield and make their strikes more impactful.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the Crusher feat—what it does, how it works, who it’s best for, and how you can use it to its fullest potential. Whether you’re a new player looking to build a strong character or an experienced adventurer refining your tactics, this comprehensive guide will cover all the details.

What is the Crusher Feat?

The Crusher feat was introduced in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, a supplement for D&D 5e that expanded options for character customization. This feat is tailored for characters who use bludgeoning weapons, such as hammers, maces, and unarmed strikes. Here’s the official description:

Crusher
You are practiced in the art of crushing your enemies, granting you the following benefits:

Increase your Strength or Constitution score by 1, to a maximum of 20.

Once per turn, when you hit a creature with an attack that deals bludgeoning damage, you can move it 5 feet to an unoccupied space, provided the target is no more than one size larger than you.

When you score a critical hit that deals bludgeoning damage to a creature, attack rolls against that creature are made with advantage until the start of your next turn.

At first glance, the Crusher feat may seem straightforward, but its true value lies in how you use it. Each of the three features—ability score increase, forced movement, and critical hit synergy—offers strategic advantages that can shift the tide of battle.

Breaking Down the Features

To fully appreciate the Crusher feat, let’s examine each of its components in detail.

1. Ability Score Increase

The first benefit of Crusher is a +1 increase to either Strength or Constitution, up to a maximum of 20. This ability score boost may not seem exciting, but it’s a crucial part of the feat’s overall appeal.

Strength: Increasing your Strength makes you better at melee combat, improving your attack rolls, damage rolls, and Strength-based skill checks like Athletics. For classes like Barbarian or Fighter, this is a natural choice.
Constitution: A boost to Constitution is ideal for any character who needs more durability. Higher Constitution means more hit points and better saving throws against effects like poison or maintaining concentration on spells.

This flexibility makes the feat useful for a variety of builds, even if you’re not heavily focused on bludgeoning damage.

2. Move an Enemy 5 Feet

The second feature of the Crusher feat allows you to move a creature 5 feet when you hit it with a bludgeoning attack. This movement can be incredibly powerful when used creatively.

Battlefield Control: Moving an enemy 5 feet may not sound like much, but it can disrupt their positioning or force them into undesirable locations. For example, you can push an enemy into a dangerous spell effect, such as Moonbeam, or out of range of your squishier allies.
Tactical Placement: If your party includes melee allies with abilities like Sentinel or Polearm Master, repositioning an enemy can trigger opportunity attacks or prevent them from escaping.
Synergy with Terrain: If the battlefield includes environmental hazards—such as cliffs, lava, or traps—you can push enemies into these hazards to deal extra damage or gain a tactical advantage.

While the 5-foot movement is limited to once per turn, it can be a game-changer when used strategically. The ability to control where an enemy stands adds a new layer of tactical depth to your character’s combat style.

3. Advantage on Attacks After a Critical Hit

The final feature of the Crusher feat rewards you for landing a critical hit with a bludgeoning attack. When you score a critical hit, all attack rolls against that creature have advantage until the start of your next turn.

Maximizing Damage: Advantage on attack rolls significantly increases your party’s chances of landing hits. This makes Crusher especially effective in boss fights or against tough enemies with high AC.
Synergy with Critical Hit Builds: If your character has features that enhance critical hit chances, such as the Champion Fighter’s Improved Critical or the Hexblade’s Curse, this benefit becomes even more impactful.
Party-Friendly Utility: This feature benefits your entire party, not just you. Allies can capitalize on the advantage to land their own attacks or trigger additional effects.

This aspect of the feat rewards aggressive and opportunistic play. If you build your character with critical hits in mind, Crusher can help you deal devastating damage while empowering your team.

Who Should Take the Crusher Feat?

The Crusher feat works best for characters who regularly deal bludgeoning damage. Let’s explore which classes and subclasses benefit the most:

1. Barbarian

Barbarians are natural candidates for the Crusher feat. Their reliance on heavy melee weapons like mauls and their ability to sustain damage in close combat make them ideal users. A Barbarian with Crusher can control the battlefield while delivering powerful strikes, especially in combination with abilities like Reckless Attack.

2. Fighter

Fighters, particularly those who favor two-handed weapons or unarmed strikes, benefit greatly from the feat. A Champion Fighter with an extended critical range (19-20) can use Crusher to reliably grant advantage to their party. Battle Masters, on the other hand, can combine the feat with maneuvers like Trip Attack for additional battlefield control.

3. Monk

Monks often deal bludgeoning damage with their unarmed strikes, making them a perfect fit for Crusher. The feat complements their mobility and ability to make multiple attacks per turn, allowing them to reposition enemies with ease.

4. Cleric (War Domain or Tempest Domain)

While Clerics are not traditionally associated with feats like Crusher, War Domain Clerics who wield maces or warhammers can use it effectively. The forced movement pairs well with spells that control the battlefield, such as Spirit Guardians.

5. Other Classes

Other classes, such as Paladins or Rogues, can find situational uses for Crusher, especially if they have access to bludgeoning weapons or multiclass into melee-heavy builds.

Crusher in Party Synergy

One of the Crusher feat’s greatest strengths is its ability to synergize with other party members. Here are some examples:

Spellcasters: You can use the 5-foot movement to push enemies into damaging spells like Wall of Fire or Cloudkill. This ensures maximum effectiveness for area-of-effect abilities.
Melee Allies: Repositioning enemies can set up attacks of opportunity for allies with feats like Sentinel. You can also push enemies into range of other melee combatants.
Ranged Allies: Pushing enemies out of melee range can protect your party’s ranged attackers, ensuring they stay safe while dealing damage.

By thinking creatively and coordinating with your team, you can use Crusher to amplify your party’s effectiveness in combat.

Roleplaying Opportunities

The Crusher feat isn’t just about mechanics—it can also add flavor to your character. Consider the following roleplaying ideas:

A Martial Artist: Your character has mastered a fighting style that emphasizes precision and control, allowing them to manipulate the flow of battle.
A Ruthless Brawler: You use sheer brute force to crush your enemies and dominate the battlefield, throwing opponents off balance with every strike.
A Disciplined Protector: You use Crusher to shield your allies by controlling enemy movement, always keeping them out of harm’s way.

Discuss your character’s fighting style and backstory with your DM to weave the feat into your narrative.

Advanced Tactics

Here are some advanced tactics to get the most out of the Crusher feat:

Combine with Grappling: Grapple a target and use Crusher to reposition them at will, potentially forcing them into harmful areas or isolating them from allies.
Multiattack Combos: Characters with multiple attacks can use Crusher to disrupt multiple enemies in a single turn, controlling the flow of combat.
Critical Hit Optimization: Pair Crusher with features or abilities that increase critical hit chances, such as the Divine Smite feature of Paladins or the Sharpen the Blade ability of Kensei Monks.

Conclusion

The Crusher feat is a versatile and rewarding option for players who value tactical combat and teamwork. Its combination of ability score increases, battlefield control, and party-wide utility make it a standout choice for characters who use bludgeoning damage.

By leveraging its features creatively and coordinating with your allies, you can dominate the battlefield and turn every encounter to your advantage.

Whether you’re a newcomer looking to try something new or a seasoned player refining your build, Crusher is a feat that rewards smart play and creative thinking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I use the 5-foot movement more than once per turn?

No, the 5-foot movement can only be applied once per turn, even if you hit multiple times.

2. Does Crusher work with ranged attacks?

No, the feat only applies to melee attacks that deal bludgeoning damage.

3. Can Crusher push enemies into occupied spaces?

No, the target must be moved to an unoccupied space.

4. Does the advantage-granting feature stack with other effects?

Yes, the advantage granted by Crusher stacks with other sources of advantage.

5. Does Crusher work on creatures larger than me?

Yes, but only if the creature is no more than one size category larger than you.

6. Can I combine Crusher with other feats?

Absolutely! Feats like Sentinel, Shield Master, and Grappler synergize well with Crusher, enhancing your control over the battlefield.