Sharpshooter 5e: What the 2024 Feat Does Now
Sharpshooter is a level 4 General feat (Dexterity 13+) that gives +1 Dexterity and lets your ranged weapon attacks ignore half and three-quarters cover, skip disadvantage at long range, and skip disadvantage when an enemy is within 5 feet. The 2014 version had no Dexterity bonus but offered -5 to hit for +10 damage, which 2024 removed.
What does Sharpshooter do in 2024?
The 2024 Player's Handbook turned Sharpshooter from a damage feat into an accuracy and positioning feat. You need to be level 4 with Dexterity 13 or higher, and you get:
- Ability Score Increase: +1 Dexterity, to a maximum of 20.
- Bypass Cover: your ranged weapon attacks ignore half cover (+2 AC) and three-quarters cover (+5 AC).
- Firing in Melee: having an enemy within 5 feet of you no longer gives you disadvantage on ranged weapon attacks.
- Long Shots: shooting at a target beyond your weapon's normal range, out to its long range, no longer gives you disadvantage.
Everything applies to ranged weapon attacks only. Spell attacks are not affected.
What changed from the 2014 Sharpshooter?
The 2014 feat had no prerequisite and no ability bonus. It ignored the same cover and removed long-range disadvantage, but it did nothing for shooting in melee. Its headline feature was the option to take -5 to hit for +10 damage on any ranged weapon attack you were proficient with. Combined with the Archery fighting style's +2, it made 2014 archers some of the highest damage dealers in the game. The 2024 version removed that option entirely.
| Part of the feat | 2014 PHB | 2024 PHB |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite | None | Level 4+, Dexterity 13+ |
| Ability score | None | +1 Dexterity |
| Ignore half and three-quarters cover | Yes | Yes |
| No disadvantage at long range | Yes | Yes |
| No disadvantage with an enemy within 5 ft. | No | Yes |
| -5 to hit, +10 damage | Yes | Removed |
How much damage did Sharpshooter lose in 2024?
A lot. This is a level 5 fighter with a longbow (1d8), +4 Dexterity and the Archery style, attacking twice at +9. The numbers are expected damage per round, counting critical hits, with no advantage. The 2014 column uses -5/+10 on every shot; 2024 Sharpshooter adds no damage, so its row equals "no feat" in the open.
| Target AC | Hit chance (normal) | No feat / 2024 | Hit chance (-5) | 2014 (-5/+10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 85% | 14.90 | 60% | 22.65 |
| 15 | 75% | 13.20 | 50% | 18.95 |
| 17 | 65% | 11.50 | 40% | 15.25 |
| 19 | 55% | 9.80 | 30% | 11.55 |
Because Archery offsets part of the -5, the 2014 power shot came out ahead at every AC here, by about 2 to 8 damage per round. At level 11 with three attacks the gap grows to between about 5 and 14 damage per round. That damage is simply gone in 2024. Check any of these with the dice calculator or the probability calculator.
What is the 2024 Sharpshooter actually worth?
Its value shows up when something would otherwise hurt your shot. Same level 5 archer, one attack against an AC 15 target:
| Situation | Without Sharpshooter | With Sharpshooter |
|---|---|---|
| Target behind half cover (AC 17) | 65% hit, 5.75 avg | 75% hit, 6.60 avg |
| Target behind three-quarters cover (AC 20) | 50% hit, 4.48 avg | 75% hit, 6.60 avg |
| Enemy within 5 ft. (disadvantage) | 56.25% hit, 4.79 avg | 75% hit, 6.60 avg |
| Long range (disadvantage) | 56.25% hit, 4.79 avg | 75% hit, 6.60 avg |
So each affected shot gains roughly 1 to 2 damage on average. If your party fights in tight dungeons where enemies hide behind pillars, other creatures (which give half cover) and arrow slits, that adds up. If your DM rarely uses cover and you stay out of melee, it does very little beyond the +1 Dexterity.
Is Sharpshooter worth taking in 2024?
For a pure archer, it is a good but not mandatory pick. The firing-in-melee clause is the big upgrade: a ranger or fighter who gets rushed by a wolf can keep shooting at full accuracy instead of taking the opportunity attack to back off. If your Dexterity is odd, the +1 makes it nearly free.
If your Dexterity is even and you rarely face cover, a plain +2 Dexterity Ability Score Improvement adds more damage. Weapon masteries also carry a lot of an archer's power in 2024: the longbow's Slow and the heavy crossbow's Push both work on every hit.
Who should take it
- Ranged fighters and rangers: the main audience. Take it at level 4 if your Dexterity is 17.
- Rogues with a hand crossbow: useful, since Sneak Attack builds often end up in melee range, and one hit matters more when it carries extra dice.
- Skip it if: you rely on spell attacks such as Eldritch Blast. The feat does nothing for them.
Can a 2024 archer still get the old damage?
Not from Sharpshooter. One quirk worth knowing: in 2024 the longbow and heavy crossbow have the Heavy property, and the 2024 Great Weapon Master adds your proficiency bonus to hits with Heavy weapons. It requires Strength 13, though, and some DMs rule it meant for melee only. Ask before you build around it.
FAQ
Does Sharpshooter still have -5/+10 in 2024?
No. The 2024 Sharpshooter has no damage option at all. It gives +1 Dexterity, ignores half and three-quarters cover, and removes disadvantage for long range and for having an enemy within 5 feet.
Does Sharpshooter work with spells?
No. In both editions Sharpshooter only affects attacks with ranged weapons. Spell attacks like Eldritch Blast or Fire Bolt do not ignore cover through this feat.
Is Sharpshooter worth it in 2024?
It is a solid pick for a dedicated archer, especially one who gets cornered in melee, but it is no longer a damage feat. If you just want more damage, an Ability Score Improvement or a weapon mastery-focused build may add more.
Does Sharpshooter ignore full cover?
No. Total cover still blocks the attack completely. Sharpshooter only removes the +2 AC from half cover and the +5 AC from three-quarters cover.
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Contains content from the System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.