Alert 5e

Which 5e Classes Make the Most of Alert?

The color code below has been implemented to help you identify, at a glance, how good the Alert 5e feat is for a specific class/subclass.

• Red: Weak, unlikely to contribute to your build
• Orange: Situationally good, but below average
• Green: A solid choice
• Blue: A great option worth considering
• Sky Blue: One of the best choices for optimization

Alert is best for classes that either want to get to the front of the battle to tank for their party or can drop a AoE spell that takes advantage of groups being clumped up at the beginning of combat.

Artificer: With no real burst damage or AoE, artificers aren't craving the initiative boost. Combined with the fact that they can avoid being surprised with the Helm of Awareness infusion by 10th level, this makes Alert a less than optimal feat for the majority of artificer builds.

Barbarian: Barbarians already have Feral Instinct to aid during Initiative rolls. Additional initiative improvements offer diminishing returns but can be effective for barbarians as they can activate their Rage as soon as possible into the encounter to reduce any damage taken and boost their damage ouput.

Bard: Being up higher in the initiative order can be very valuable for a Bard as it allows them to drop a big spell like hypnotic pattern or lock down an enemy with hideous laughter before the enemy has a chance to react.

Cleric: Being up higher in the initiative order can be very valuable for any class. Clerics will be able to buff their allies right at the start of the fight, but this feat probably isn’t worth it just for that option.

Druid: Being up higher in the initiative order can be very valuable for any class. Druids will be able to land a big spell, buff their allies, or Wild Shape right at the start of the fight, but this feat probably isn’t worth it just for that option.

Fighter: Fighters don't have any means of outputting burst or AoE damage, but being able to close with enemies and soak damage for the rest of the party is part of what fighters do.

Monk: Being up higher in the initiative order isn't a big deal for monks because they don't have any burst damage abilities and don't have the survivability to charge into battle first.

Paladin: Being tanks, paladins want to be between enemies and the squishier party members. Alert will help with this by allowing paladins to go up higher in initiative. Combined with the Sentinel feat, this can make your Paladin an extremely effective tank. Another reason paladins like going higher in initiative is that they have solid burst damage from of their smites, so they have the opportunity to take an enemy out of the fight before they have a turn in combat.

Ranger: Rangers, don't necessarily like to go first in initiative because of their lack of burst and AoE damage options. That said, Gloom Stalkers are very fond of the initiative boost.

Rogue: The +5 to initiative is good for rogues in some cirumstances and bad in others. If your Rogue was sneaking around, got spotted, then had to take out the enemy before they can sound the alarm, this is great. If you're starting a large combat sequence and don't have any ways to get advantage on your attacks and your allies haven't closed into melee range, you'll be left without an opportunity to sneak attack. Being immune to surprise is also a solid boon for build that tends to sneak out in front of the party.

Sorcerer: Being up higher in the initiative order can be very valuable for a Sorcerer as they can go easily go nova with their Metamagic options.

Warlock: Being up higher in the initiative order can be very valuable for a Warlock as they have access to great crowd control spells like hypnotic pattern.

Wizard: Being up higher in the initiative order can be very valuable for a Wizard as it allows them to drop a big spell before the enemy has a chance to react.