Your exposure to the Shadowfell's magic has changed you, granting you the following benefits:
Increase your Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma score by 1, to a maximum of 20.
You learn the Invisibility spell and one 1st-level spell of your choice. The 1st-level spell must be from the Illusion or Necromancy school of magic. You can cast each of these spells without expending a spell slot. Once you cast either of these spells in this way, you can't cast that spell in this way again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast these spells using spell slots you have of the appropriate level. The spells' spellcasting ability is the ability increased by this feat.
Shadow Touched: Ultimate Edgelord
Review by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold
Wizards of the Coast LOVES the edgy anti-heroes, and I can’t blame them. My first character was a drow illusionist/assassin whose character arch was performing a coup and becoming a tyrannical lich. That character literally died as the big bad. I have lived and breathed the ultimate edge. Shadow Touched takes a dark, broody magic that people tend to love, pairs it with one of if not the best 2nd level spell in the game, and tacks on a free ability score point and another free first level illusion or necromancy spell. Team, I’m going to level with you: Shadow Touched is absolutely cracked.
Magic Initiate is a feat I rave about regularly. That feat gives you two cantrips and a 1st level spell from a class spell list, functionally feeling like a bonus 1st level spell slot per long rest with some cosmetic cantrips to flesh out a character's feel. Shadow Touched gives you a 1st and 2nd level spell slot bonus. For non-magical characters, that’s a HUGE upgrade. If you’re a hybrid caster/martial or a warlock in desperate need for more cheap resources, look no further, Shadow Touched has your back. First level variant humans can just start with Invisibility, two levels prior to when any classes can get access to it. A 1st level full caster has two FIRST level spell slots per long rest, and with just a feat, you can have a 1st and 2nd instead. Ludicrous.
I don’t think I need to spend too long raving about Invisibility. It's busted. Broken. It changes how a DM has to approach exploration for the rest of time. Invisibility opens up paths to infiltration, information gathering, and ambushes in a way no other feature in the game can for its level. Plus, as far as once per long rest features go, having one that lasts an entire hour means you’re getting a LOT of bang for your buck here.
The illusion and necromancy lists aren’t particularly robust for 1st level spells, but there are some decent choices you get. The full list is Cause Fear, Color Spray, Disguise Self, Distort Value, False Life, Illusory Script, Inflict Wounds, Ray of Sickness, and Silent Image. Of this list, Cause Fear, Disguise Self, and Silent Image stand out to me as options that are excellent additions to nearly any character. Cause Fear is a 1st level save or die that rivals Hideous Laughter in usefulness. Disguise Self is a great tool to have for navigating roleplay encounters or as part of complex infiltration plans. Silent Image is the 1st level big illusion spell, and if you’re good with illusions, this can make a massive impact on any element of gameplay. The other options are mediocre at best to pretty terrible at worst (cough cough Illusory Script), but remember, you’re also getting Invisibility AND a +1 modifier. This bonus could not be here at all and I’d still say this feat is excellent.
I’m guessing the only reason they tacked on the ability score bump was to clearly designate what your spellcasting modifier is, and empower non-casters a bit with the option to have an easier time growing their save DC. You most certainly do not need to be flipping an odd score even to justify taking this though, especially in the lower tiers. If you are playing a caster and have an odd score, this is the most no-brainer feat they’ve ever created. Two extra spell slots, access to an incredible 2nd level spell, access to any necromancy or illusion 1st level spell, AND getting +1 to your spell save DC, spell attack rolls, and whatever other bonuses will grow with a +1 modifier? Bonkers. Bananas. Absolutely worth taking. Shadow Touched is an exceptional, powerful feat. Give it a whirl on your dark and brooding loner. It's a great time.
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