[RPG] Does the Lucky feat overrule the Halfling’s Lucky trait

dnd-5efeatshalflingracial-traits

Alright so I've heard talk of specific rules overruling generic rules, but both of these seem like specific rules to me.

So the Halfling racial trait Lucky (which I'll call Halfling Luck from here on out, to help avoid confusion) states:

When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll. (PHB, 28)

and the Lucky feat specifies:

Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20… You choose which of the d20s is used for the attack roll, ability check, or saving throw. (PHB, 167)

Meaning that if you use a point with an advantage or disadvantage roll, you're allowed to choose from any of the three rolls.

So if you use Halfling Luck to reroll a 1, can you then decide to use a luck point and still get to choose any of the dice? Or if you use a luck point and that dice rolls a 1, do you reroll it with Halfling Luck and then still get to choose any?

Best Answer

I think this is pretty cut and dried with just what you have quoted. If you're a Luck Halfling and you roll a 1, you can re-roll it once and use the number. Then if you just don't like any number you rolled, even the re-roll, you can spend a luck point to re-roll (again). One doesn't replace the other, you simply have both features, and both operate exactly as they written.

First Case: Feature then Feat

So if you use Halfling Luck to reroll a 1, can you then decide to use a luck point and still get to choose any of the dice?

Yes.

Example

Let's say you roll to attack, and roll a natural 1. Your halfling luck kicks in:

When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll. (PHB, 28)

You get a, say 5. It still isn't high, so you choose to use your luck feat.

Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20... You choose which of the d20s is used for the attack roll, ability check, or saving throw. (PHB, 167)

Second Case: Feat then Feature

Or if you use a luck point and that dice rolls a 1, do you reroll it with Halfling Luck and then still get to choose any?

Not quite. The roll is whichever you choose when you use in the feat Lucky. So, you could choose the 1, and then get to re-roll, as per RAW, but you'd have to use the number of that Halfling luck reroll not the previous two.

Example

So, in this case you roll a 3 and use Luck Feat to roll again, you roll a 1.

Whenever you make an attack roll, an ability check, or a saving throw, you can spend one luck point to roll an additional d20... You choose which of the d20s is used for the attack roll, ability check, or saving throw. (PHB, 167)

You choose the 1, specifically to trigger your halfling ability. So, you've now effectively rolled a 1, and get to reroll it:

When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll. (PHB, 28)

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