Second Chance Feat: When To Force A Re-Roll

Last Updated on November 5, 2023

Second Chance Feat

Prerequisite: Halfling

Fortune favors you when someone tries to strike you. You gain the following benefits:

  • Increase your Dexterity, Constitution, or Charisma score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
  • When a creature you can see hits you with an attack roll, you can use your reaction to force that creature to reroll. Once you use this ability, you can’t use it again until you roll initiative at the start of combat or until you finish a short or long rest.

Source: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything

How Does Second Chance Work?

Available in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything, the Second Chance feat enhances the natural luck of halfling characters, making them unnaturally elusive.

This feat is a good choice for spellcasters and other halfling characters who are desperate to avoid combat damage.

Unlike most feats in D&D, Second Chance has a racial prerequisite, so your character can only take this feat if they are a halfling. 

With Second Chance, your character will get to boost one ability score, choosing from either dexterity, charisma, or constitution.

Because fortune favors the halfling, they can get a second chance to avoid an enemy’s attack. When an enemy attacks, the halfling can use a reaction to force the enemy to reroll.

Use this feat to escape the devastating consequences of a critical attack. The best part about this feat is that it can be used once per encounter.

Second Chance can be used once per encounter. This means every time you roll initiative, you’ll get another opportunity to use this ability. Also, a short or long rest will reset your use of this feat.

Rerolling Attacks

When a halfling triggers Second Chance, the opponent will have to reroll the attack dice. In this case, players must use the second attack roll even if it’s higher than the original roll.​​

This means it’s possible for an opponent to get an even better roll the second time. Be careful you don’t accidentally make the situation worse by using this feat.

Is Second Chance Any Good?

Honestly, if you’re looking for a highly impactful feat, this is likely not it.  

Most characters will find there are better alternatives available. 

Unless your character is desperate to avoid taking combat damage, you might want to look at other feats, for example, Magic Initiate or Lucky.

Best Classes for Second Chance

That being said, some people might LOVE the idea of this for their character.  Of course that is all the reason you need.

Similarly, some characters really do need to avoid getting hit at all costs.

Not everyone has the hit points of a Fighter or Paladin. Wizards and Rogues, for example, are notorious for getting crushed in a single blow.

Wizards

Wizards aren’t known for their ability to take a punch. It’s usually best for wizards to avoid getting hit in the first place, especially if they are casting a spell that requires concentration. 

Wizards have neither the hit points nor the armor to withstand much damage. If your halfling wizard is in the midst of a dangerous campaign facing several encounters every day, then Second Chance could be a lifesaver. 

While Second Chance can’t bring your halfling Wizard back to life, it might keep you from falling unconscious in the first place. 

Several Wizard spells require concentration. When Wizards are hit, they risk losing concentration and the spell.

With Second Chance, you can prevent the damage from breaking your concentration.

Use the Second Chance feat to keep your wizard from getting killed by a strong enemy.

For some monsters, one attack will be enough to squish you. When it comes down to it, you want more than a spellbook between you and a razor-shape axeblade. 

Rogues

One of the most lethal classes, the Rogue is a friend of shadows and companion of death.

Assassins, thieves, and tricksters, Rogues are capable of dealing tremendous amounts of damage with their sneak attack ability. But what about when the tables are turned? 

Typically, rogues are better at dealing damage than taking it. While your halfling rogue will know how to kill with expertise, you’ll need more than fancy footwork to stay alive. 

Roguish life is a dangerous game. One wrong move could be your last. You don’t want to let your fate come down to one bad roll of the dice. But, as a halfling, destiny is your friend. 

By taking the Second Chance feat, you’ll have the opportunity to cheat death, a gamble that’s always worth taking, and while rogues make good use of their bonus action, they have little in the way of reactions. 

Second Chance will give rogues a chance to use their reaction to avoid a fatal enemy attack, and they can do this each encounter. For a combat-heavy campaign, this feat could be the perfect choice.

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