General Feat (Prerequisite: Level 4+)
You’ve mastered the use of a rod as an Arcane Focus. You gain the following benefits.
Close-Ranged Focus. If the target of a cantrip you cast using a Rod as a Spellcasting Focus is within 20 feet of you when you roll a 1 or 2 on a damage die, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll, even if the new roll is a 1 or a 2.
Unshakeable Casting. When you make a ranged spell attack roll while using a Rod as a Spellcasting Focus, you do not have Disadvantage on the roll if you are within 5 feet of an enemy.
Rough & Tumble. When you make a ranged spell attack while using a Rod as a Spellcasting Focus, you can use a Bonus Action to make a melee attack with your Rod. It counts as a Club for the purposes of the attack.
Heavy Rods
Humanity’s use of Wands and Staffs as Arcane Focuses dates back to Sarlona, but the Rod was born in Breland. Beren Hearth is a Brelish folk hero said to have owned an inn in the days before Galifar. When brigands tried to rob him, they took his staff; Beren smashed a chair, used the leg as a focus for Scorching Ray and then beat the last brigand with the leg itself. The Brelish “heavy rod” can be used either as an Arcane Focus or as a standard Club. Today, both Brelish and Karrnathi artificers produce heavy rods, while Aundairian and Cyran mages traditionally scorn such Rods as deplorably uncouth. A character with the Rod Expert feat doesn’t have to be wielding a heavy rod to gain the benefits of the feat; any rod will suffice.