D&D 5E Best Class For A Horse Archer?

[doctorbadwolf]

Now, first things first, this isn’t an optimization thread. I don’t care what build will wrk out that top tier extra 5% DPR, I want to have a good play experience as a mounted archer.

So, what that means would probably be;

• Mobility. Not just movement speed, but ability to do more than just move fast. Hard to lock down, hard to get away from, etc.
• Tricks. Many classic equestrian tricks just aren’t in the game, but could be a combo of Athletics, Acrobatics, and, Animal Handling. Stuff like standing in the saddle, hanging sideways in the saddle to be hidden, etc.
• Make the mount more than a replaceable speed boost button. Cavalier has horse stuff, but...meh.
• Archery specialization. Kensei is good but kinda bland in terms of archer, archer Rogues are mostly fun due to rogue (So solid choice but nothing special for the concept), archery Paladins don’t really work, Arcane archer is hot, wet, old, garbage. Battlemaster is a very good fun archer, and fighters get more feats?
• Homebrew. Cavalier and Mounted Combatant are melee focused. Ugh. What do?
  
  Are there any good 3pp horse archers? What class makes the best basis for a subclass for this, if we must homebrew? Any existing subclass close enough to tweak into a good fit?

 

[Leatherhead]

Have you considered the Battlesmith?
Not only do you get a robo-dog (which small races can ride), you can infuse your bow (or even better crossbow), and you can even give the dog some magic items so that they can do cool tricks.

 

[Flamestrike]

• Mobility. Not just movement speed, but ability to do more than just move fast. Hard to lock down, hard to get away from, etc.

Horses have a 60' move speed and come with Disengage for free (or Dash for 120 but then you provoke AoO).

On your turn you can disengage with your horse and then fire away.

Beastmaster Ranger looks good (with DM permission to select a Horse). Order your companion to let you command it instead of using its own Initiative. You can always get it to act independent as well.

This way your steed gains HP and HD and its stats increase as you do.

Take archery style as your F/S. Hunters mark naturally. Mounted Combatant is still pretty decent to take (for the survivability of the mount)

For tricks, consider 3 levels of Battlemaster Fighter after hitting 5th.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Monk.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Horses have a 60' move speed and come with Disengage for free (or Dash for 120 but then you provoke AoO).

On your turn you can disengage with your horse and then fire away.

Beastmaster Ranger looks good (with DM permission to select a Horse). Order your companion to let you command it instead of using its own Initiative. You can always get it to act independent as well.

This way your steed gains HP and HD and its stats increase as you do.

Take archery style as your F/S. Hunters mark naturally. Mounted Combatant is still pretty decent to take (for the survivability of the mount)

For tricks, consider 3 levels of Battlemaster Fighter after hitting 5th.

That’s a looooong time to wait for “tricks” to come online. I really need to get a conversation going in my group about bumping how much Martial Adept gives.

Beastmaster Ranger is good. Maybe halfling on a wolf could work too. I have a Bond Companion feat that gives a hybrid Steed/Familiar/Beast Companion, or upgrades you’re existing one to use mechanics of the other two, so that can also help. I wish rangers weren’t so brutally starved for spells known, though.

 

[NaturalZero]

Have you considered the Battlesmith?
Not only do you get a robo-dog (which small races can ride), you can infuse your bow (or even better crossbow), and you can even give the dog some magic items so that they can do cool tricks.

I played in a game where someone ran the meme build of a small PC dual weilding lances on the back of a war dog.

 

[Flamestrike]

That’s a looooong time to wait for “tricks” to come online. I really need to get a conversation going in my group about bumping how much Martial Adept gives.

We let it grant 2 dice.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

How about a martial Bard? You can give your horse inspiration for when it has to pull off some sort of trick, you can have expertise in animal handling and athletics, you can ritually cast speak with animals to regularly talk with your horse, and in late game you poach all the best Ranger spells to up your archery chops. You could also take Find Steed or Find Greater Steed if you are okay with your "horse" not being an actual horse.

 

[Coroc]

Now, first things first, this isn’t an optimization thread. I don’t care what build will wrk out that top tier extra 5% DPR, I want to have a good play experience as a mounted archer.

So, what that means would probably be;

• Mobility. Not just movement speed, but ability to do more than just move fast. Hard to lock down, hard to get away from, etc.
• Tricks. Many classic equestrian tricks just aren’t in the game, but could be a combo of Athletics, Acrobatics, and, Animal Handling. Stuff like standing in the saddle, hanging sideways in the saddle to be hidden, etc.
• Make the mount more than a replaceable speed boost button. Cavalier has horse stuff, but...meh.
• Archery specialization. Kensei is good but kinda bland in terms of archer, archer Rogues are mostly fun due to rogue (So solid choice but nothing special for the concept), archery Paladins don’t really work, Arcane archer is hot, wet, old, garbage. Battlemaster is a very good fun archer, and fighters get more feats?
• Homebrew. Cavalier and Mounted Combatant are melee focused. Ugh. What do?
  
  Are there any good 3pp horse archers? What class makes the best basis for a subclass for this, if we must homebrew? Any existing subclass close enough to tweak into a good fit?

Why do you want to shoot horses ?

Try a mounted archer instead

 

[Weiley31]

Honestly? I think The Rohan Rider Barbarian subclass from Adventures in Middle Earth would be a good Rider. You can take Martial Adept and Fighting Initiate Feats to gain Superior Technique, which would net you some Superiority Die/ three Maneuver. Unless your DM is cool with your Barbarian using the Battle Master Die/Maneuver Feature.

UA Cavalier has Superiority Die so if you do that, the Maneuvers can be the Mount Tricks basically.