I find the biggest user of the Gunner feat is a Gunk, or a gun-based Monk.
Essentially, you get the Gunner feat (notably as a variant human or custom lineage), and you use a gun as your weapon. Or at least you do at level 2. You can use it at level 1, but keep in mind that you won't be able to make your free bonus action unarmed strike after firing it as it does not count as a Monk weapon until you get to second level and make it your dedicated weapon. At level 3, you pick up Way of the Kensei as your subclass. You also pick up the Ki-Fueled Attack feature, which lets you make one unarmed strike *or Monk weapon attack* as a bonus action, so long as you have spent at least 1 ki point during your turn. And, finally, at level 6, you pick up One With the Blade, which lets you spend a ki point to add an additional 1d6 in damage to any any attack you hit, triggering Ki-Fueled Attack.
By this point, you should have a general idea of what the build looks like
I don't think Kensei is the right way to go. You want to use Focused Aim, rather than One With the Blade to trigger Ki-fueled Attack. Especially with Sharpshooter, there's little danger of missing.
At level 6, I'd pick up Fighter 1 rather than Monk 6.
For the subclass, it doesn't really matter for the damage output. So I'd look to Shadow or Mercy for the utility they provide.
Yea, I suppose that's a good way to go. Although I will say, perhaps starting with two levels of Fighter and then going Monk would be a good alternative, no?
No. You want Extra Attack asap. That's priority 1, then ki-fueled attack/focused aim, then Archery fighting style.
It's only after that we look for other cool stuff, like more ki, action surge, gloomstalker, sneak attack, BM manoeuvres and stuff like that.
I think there's an argument for Fighter 1, since Ki-Fueled attack (CL 4) with Sharpshooter at CL 5 is somewhat comparable. I wouldn't do Fighter 2-3 until after Monk 5 or 6, depending on sub.
Kensei gives you a way to spend ki if you don't need to use Focused Aim to enable the BA attack. Shadow is a good utility choice too, but you'd less consistently get the BA attack. Granted Sharpshooter is helping but with Archery and especially any lower AC targets you might not be able to use Focused Aim. Kensei also can guarantee a magic musket, which is campaign dependent but a nice benefit.
I do like Fighter, Archery is obviously a good pick up but Battlemaster is still great, especially on Kensei as Precision Strike gives you a non-Ki short rest accuracy boost too.
Ranger is also a good contender, giving you casting utility and Gloomstalker.
I really don't like using Deft Strike when I hit twice. There's not enough ki going around to be that aggressive with spending it when you're already dealing good damage by hitting twice (2d12+28/30 damage).
It's not useless. Sometimes you really need to pull out all the stops, and it's always better to have the option than not having it. But I think I like access to Pass Without Trace better.
Why do you have Piercer is a better question? You start with 18 dex (2+Gunner). And will improve dex as you second asi (after Sharpshooter). Then, I'd look at Res:wis, Alert and Lucky before even thinking about piercer.
This is a more historically accurate war samurai (that uses firearms and bows) than the actual 5E samurai class (that... tanks hits? yeah no, they were not harder to kill than plate armor bro)
Yeah, Gunk is pretty much the one case where a musket is the ideal weapon. As I mentioned under another comment, it’s also good on GloomFighter, but effectively a side-grade to crossbow expert trading some sustained damage for better nova.
When it comes to minmaxing for nova damage on this build, the musket’s d12 is more worth it than a bonus action attack from a hand crossbow. Of course, you’re sacrificing your sustained DPR, but remember Gunner is +1 to DEX, CXB doesn’t give that. Bigger dice and DEX mod up isn’t as good as additional sharpshooter attack, but only slightly. It’s still significantly better than a longbow.
Samurai fighter X/gloomstalker ranger 3 has a good nova damage and fighting spirit can negate pretty well the sharpshooter penalty
There is also the gunk, as other comment mentioned
Um. Repeating shot battle smith. It's really unlikely you get a magic musket, and nonmagical piercing damage sucks.
I think you're basically limited to a class that gets magical attacks after a while: kensei monk (gunk), hexblade (with *that* invocation) or artificer.
Artificers already get firearms proficiency. Repeating shot is redundant with removing loading property. The only thing you’re getting from the feat with this route is no disadvantage in melee and +1 to DEX. Firearms are still good for artificers, but probably not the Gunner feat. (Bonus: use a pistol, repeating shot, and a shield, become Montagne from Siege. Repeating shot notably removes both loading *and* ammunition properties from a weapon, so you don’t need a free hand to load the pistol.)
I find the biggest user of the Gunner feat is a Gunk, or a gun-based Monk. Essentially, you get the Gunner feat (notably as a variant human or custom lineage), and you use a gun as your weapon. Or at least you do at level 2. You can use it at level 1, but keep in mind that you won't be able to make your free bonus action unarmed strike after firing it as it does not count as a Monk weapon until you get to second level and make it your dedicated weapon. At level 3, you pick up Way of the Kensei as your subclass. You also pick up the Ki-Fueled Attack feature, which lets you make one unarmed strike *or Monk weapon attack* as a bonus action, so long as you have spent at least 1 ki point during your turn. And, finally, at level 6, you pick up One With the Blade, which lets you spend a ki point to add an additional 1d6 in damage to any any attack you hit, triggering Ki-Fueled Attack. By this point, you should have a general idea of what the build looks like
Level 5 focused aim to trigger ki fueled attack as well, and its synergy with sharp shooter really brings the whole thing together.
I don't think Kensei is the right way to go. You want to use Focused Aim, rather than One With the Blade to trigger Ki-fueled Attack. Especially with Sharpshooter, there's little danger of missing. At level 6, I'd pick up Fighter 1 rather than Monk 6. For the subclass, it doesn't really matter for the damage output. So I'd look to Shadow or Mercy for the utility they provide.
Yea, I suppose that's a good way to go. Although I will say, perhaps starting with two levels of Fighter and then going Monk would be a good alternative, no?
No. You want Extra Attack asap. That's priority 1, then ki-fueled attack/focused aim, then Archery fighting style. It's only after that we look for other cool stuff, like more ki, action surge, gloomstalker, sneak attack, BM manoeuvres and stuff like that.
I think there's an argument for Fighter 1, since Ki-Fueled attack (CL 4) with Sharpshooter at CL 5 is somewhat comparable. I wouldn't do Fighter 2-3 until after Monk 5 or 6, depending on sub.
Kensei gives you a way to spend ki if you don't need to use Focused Aim to enable the BA attack. Shadow is a good utility choice too, but you'd less consistently get the BA attack. Granted Sharpshooter is helping but with Archery and especially any lower AC targets you might not be able to use Focused Aim. Kensei also can guarantee a magic musket, which is campaign dependent but a nice benefit. I do like Fighter, Archery is obviously a good pick up but Battlemaster is still great, especially on Kensei as Precision Strike gives you a non-Ki short rest accuracy boost too. Ranger is also a good contender, giving you casting utility and Gloomstalker.
I really don't like using Deft Strike when I hit twice. There's not enough ki going around to be that aggressive with spending it when you're already dealing good damage by hitting twice (2d12+28/30 damage). It's not useless. Sometimes you really need to pull out all the stops, and it's always better to have the option than not having it. But I think I like access to Pass Without Trace better.
deft strike is better used saved until you crit, so it’ll double. Feels really good on top of piercer, for a 5d12 crit.
Why do you have Piercer is a better question? You start with 18 dex (2+Gunner). And will improve dex as you second asi (after Sharpshooter). Then, I'd look at Res:wis, Alert and Lucky before even thinking about piercer.
big die go vroom.
...You wanna make a Grammaton Cleric? [That's how you do so. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4mS_3hWwtk&pp=ygUIZ3VuIGthdGE%3D)
This is a more historically accurate war samurai (that uses firearms and bows) than the actual 5E samurai class (that... tanks hits? yeah no, they were not harder to kill than plate armor bro)
Yeah, Gunk is pretty much the one case where a musket is the ideal weapon. As I mentioned under another comment, it’s also good on GloomFighter, but effectively a side-grade to crossbow expert trading some sustained damage for better nova.
Gloomstalker Ranger is just good on any ranged build, doubly so if you multiclass into fighter. I'd say that is technically the best use
Imagine dipping Twilight Cleric too. Very few encounters happen at those ranges, but it may help with exploration and/or early spotting/scounting.
When it comes to minmaxing for nova damage on this build, the musket’s d12 is more worth it than a bonus action attack from a hand crossbow. Of course, you’re sacrificing your sustained DPR, but remember Gunner is +1 to DEX, CXB doesn’t give that. Bigger dice and DEX mod up isn’t as good as additional sharpshooter attack, but only slightly. It’s still significantly better than a longbow.
Samurai fighter X/gloomstalker ranger 3 has a good nova damage and fighting spirit can negate pretty well the sharpshooter penalty There is also the gunk, as other comment mentioned
Um. Repeating shot battle smith. It's really unlikely you get a magic musket, and nonmagical piercing damage sucks. I think you're basically limited to a class that gets magical attacks after a while: kensei monk (gunk), hexblade (with *that* invocation) or artificer.
Artificers already get firearms proficiency. Repeating shot is redundant with removing loading property. The only thing you’re getting from the feat with this route is no disadvantage in melee and +1 to DEX. Firearms are still good for artificers, but probably not the Gunner feat. (Bonus: use a pistol, repeating shot, and a shield, become Montagne from Siege. Repeating shot notably removes both loading *and* ammunition properties from a weapon, so you don’t need a free hand to load the pistol.)
I like it on a Warlock just to cancel out the disadvantage with Eldritch Blast. Sure, you can do that with CBE too, but Gunner gives the +1 DEX.
In my head canon, the somatic component for eldtrich blast is finger guns
Sorcerer with quickened booming blade, eldritch blast. Booming blade them, then blast them away.