What feats are good for melee builds?

[TheDwellerInDarkness]

I've come back to Underrail for another attempt, on Easy this time, and I've been considering some kind of melee build to go with. But I'm not sure which feats I should start with, or which ones aren't useful enough to pick. I could also use a brief rundown on the benefits of melee weapons (I think spears/hammers do more damage in fewer hits, but swords and knives get more hits in with smaller amounts of damage?)

[PaposikG6]

Melee weapons are primarily split into light weapons which get AP cost reduction from DEX and those who do not. Melee skill derides from either DEX or STR, whatever is higher. DEX also increases melee crit chance per 1% per point while STR additionally increases damage by a percentage (depends on weapon type, knives get really abysmal bonus from STR)

Light weapons (low AP cost and additional AP cost reduction from DEX but lower damage per hit): Gloves/Unarmed, knives
Heavier weapons (higher AP cost but higher damage per hit): Spears, swords, sledgehammers

Generally useful feats for almost all melee builds:
- Cheap Shots
- Expose Weakness
- Taste for Blood
- Sprint/Fancy Footwork (the former for heavier weapons and the latter for light weapons)
- Escape Artist

The above list doesn't include weapon specific feats that one should prioritize when playing such as Impale for spears, lightning punches for fist weapons or flurry for swords.

[TheDwellerInDarkness]

Melee weapons are primarily split into light weapons which get AP cost reduction from DEX and those who do not. Melee skill derides from either DEX or STR, whatever is higher. DEX also increases melee crit chance per 1% per point while STR additionally increases damage by a percentage (depends on weapon type, knives get really abysmal bonus from STR)

Light weapons (low AP cost and additional AP cost reduction from DEX but lower damage per hit): Gloves/Unarmed, knives
Heavier weapons (higher AP cost but higher damage per hit): Spears, swords, sledgehammers

Generally useful feats for almost all melee builds:
- Cheap Shots
- Expose Weakness
- Taste for Blood
- Sprint/Fancy Footwork (the former for heavier weapons and the latter for light weapons)
- Escape Artist

The above list doesn't include weapon specific feats that one should prioritize when playing such as Impale for spears, lightning punches for fist weapons or flurry for swords.

That makes a lot of sense to me, thank you. Are there any feats that aren't weapon-related worth getting (Pack Rat, Doctor, etc)?

[PaposikG6]

Pack Rathound and Doctor are overall very weak feats but on Easy difficulty it doesn't matter much and if you want, you can grab few QoL feats (just don't pick Pack Rathound if you go for high STR build).

Some other general use feats that can be useful:
- Opportunist (bonus damage against slowed or disabled enemies)
- Recklessness (more crit chance but you get hit by crits more often as well)
- Nimble (reduces armor penalty and if it's low enough also increases dodge)
- Juggernaut (increases hp if you wear heavy armor)
These all can be grabbed on 1st level and affect your combat performance. You don't need all of them, just pick ones that would fit your build the best.

[TheDwellerInDarkness]

So, the important feats to get are generally damage/defense related and some that grant other effects on yourself and enemies?

[PaposikG6]

So, the important feats to get are generally damage/defense related and some that grant other effects on yourself and enemies?

Yes