# What is a Feat? --- A feat represents a talent or an area of expertise that gives a character special capabilities. It embodies training, experience, and abilities beyond what a class provides. At certain levels, your class gives you the Ability Score Improvement feature. Using the optional feats rule, you can forgo taking that feature to take a feat of your choice instead. You can take each feat only once, unless the feat's description says otherwise. You must meet any prerequisite specified in a feat to take that feat. If you ever lose a feat's prerequisite, you can't use that feat until you regain the prerequisite. For example, the Grappler feat requires you to have a [Strength](https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/5e_SRD:Strength "5e SRD:Strength") of 13 or higher. If your [Strength](https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/5e_SRD:Strength "5e SRD:Strength") is reduced below 13 somehow—perhaps by a withering curse—you can't benefit from the Grappler feat until your [Strength](https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/5e_SRD:Strength "5e SRD:Strength") is restored.