In Dungeons & Dragons, the Tavern Brawler feat transforms improvised objects and fists into effective tools for combat and control.
Core Mechanics
Benefits:
- Increased Unarmed Damage: Unarmed strikes use a d4 for damage instead of the standard 1.
- Proficiency with Improvised Weapons: You are proficient with improvised weapons, treating any object as a simple melee weapon dealing d4 damage.
- Bonus Action Grapple: Immediately after hitting a creature with an unarmed strike or improvised weapon on your turn, you can use a bonus action to attempt to grapple the target.
Effective Builds
Tavern Brawler excels with specific class synergies:
- Barbarians: Rage grants Advantage on Strength checks (including grapple attempts) and adds rage damage to unarmed/improvised weapon strikes.
- Monks: Martial Arts or Flurry of Blows can follow the bonus action grapple; Monk unarmed damage scaling eventually surpasses the d4 but proficiency in improvised weapons remains useful.
- Strength-based Fighters (Battle Master): Grappling sets up maneuvers like Trip Attack or Pushing Attack. Action Surge provides more attacks/grapple attempts.
- Clerics (War/Tempest Domains): Divine Strike/Bonus Action attacks synergize well with the feat's action economy, enabling grapple + spellcasting.
Tactical Applications
- Environmental Control: Grapple enemies to restrict movement, shove them prone for Advantage, or hold them in hazardous areas.
- Action Economy Efficiency: Combine an attack with a grapple attempt in a single turn using your Bonus Action.
- Weapon Versatility: Effectively utilize any nearby object (chairs, tankards, rocks) as a weapon when disarmed or strategically.
- Synergy with Grapple Feats: Combine effectively with Grappler (for pinning) or Skill Expert (Athletics expertise) for extreme grapple reliability.
Key Limitations
- Damage output with base d4 unarmed/improvised attacks is low compared to dedicated weapons.
- Relies heavily on high Strength for effective attack rolls, damage rolls, and grapple checks.
- Grappling larger creatures (size Large or bigger) requires specific class features (like Rune Knight) or spells.
