Is there a point to using a 2H weapon if you don't take Great Weapon Master?

[Lampros]

I never take GWM, because I like Savage Attacker better. So the damage gap between 1H (and Duelist Fighting Style) and 2H without GWM is not substantial, no?

[Sonic Titan]

Take both?

(But take GWM first).

[kbiz]

Great Weapon Master is +10 dmg and an extra attack. Better than Savage Attacker in my opinion.

Damage output is more a function of other more important variables rather than either feat.

[Recjawjind]

The difference between anything else and 2h /w GWM is beyond substantial. It's an S+ tier feat for any melee martial.

[Lampros]

Originally posted by Sonic Titan:

Take both?

(But take GWM first).

Not enough Feats. Most of my builds have 2 Feats, and Alert and Savage Attacker (or Ability enhancement) fill those slots.

Originally posted by kbiz:

Great Weapon Master is +10 dmg and an extra attack. Better than Savage Attacker in my opinion.

Damage output is more a function of other more important variables rather than either feat.

I don't like missing; also the gap between Savage Attacker and GWM is less for the Paladins and BM Fighters I run.

[kbiz]

If you don't like missing, always attack with Advantage.

Savage Attacker with raise avg weapon dmg from the 50th to the 75th percentile. That's peanuts.

Great Weapon Master and Sharpshooter have value though.

You almost always want Alert and +2 Ability for every character. That leaves one or two feats more. Gotta be selective.

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Lampros:

Is there a point to using a 2H weapon if you don't take Great Weapon Master?
I never take GWM, because I like Savage Attacker better. So the damage gap between 1H (and Duelist Fighting Style) and 2H without GWM is not substantial, no?

Depends on the weapon'S effect and whether you can make use of them.

[Kaisha]

Mathematically speaking GWM > savage attacker, and both are better than ASI.

Here's a good post summarizing the maths:

https://www.reddit.com/r/BG3Builds/comments/16iep9v/evaluating_savage_attacker_and_other_mechanics/

[SupraVector]

Worth noting since there are no "heavy" weapons in this game GWM works when using versatile weapons without a shield. Which means if you have a versatile finesse weapon like Phalar Aluve you can use Sneak Attack and GWM at the same time.

[Giganx]

Depending on your build you'll probably want both eventually. Getting GWM first is questionable, because at level 4 a -5 to hit is crippling, so you probably won't be using GWM's modifier much; whereas Savage Attacker is more of a constant.

Once your to hit + advantage is enough to offset the -5 attack then GWM is superior. If you're running a 2H crit build you'll want both to see consistently big numbers; getting higher rolls through Savage Attacker on a crit is big damage.