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

[WayOfTheFourElements]

Horses are expensive.

I recommend the upper class.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I we had a barbarian subclass that used inspirational shouts, you could be a hoarse archer.

 

[Weiley31]

I we had a barbarian subclass that used inspirational shouts, you could be a hoarse archer.

The Rider Barbarian Subclass from AIME does that with it's level 14th ability. It only allows your party to use your Reckless Attack feature and they add your rage damage to it.

 

[Azzy]

Honestly, I think you'd have to homebrew a subclass (or find a 3-party one) to make the concept work effectively. I, too, would love to have a viable mounted archer in D&D—it's an archetype that's appeared in multiple cultures across history and isn't easily modeled in this edition.

I think barbarian or ranger would be the best places for such an archetpe. I favor the barbarian over the ranger for this because I don't think the spellcasting of the ranger really fits here. The barbarian's rage doesn't fit either, really, but I think we could use the barbarian's rage to power more appropriate abilities like archery tricks (much like the spore druid can use their windshape to do non-wildshapey things).

 

[Shiroiken]

Battlemaster Fighter is probably going to fit your niche best. Every maneuver except Lunge and Reposte can be done with a ranged weapon, so it'll provide your cool archery tricks. I'd consider the Mounted Feat, which are easier to come by with a fighter. If you can find some way to cast Summon Steed (which is unlikely without way too much effort), that would bind your steed to be more than just a generic mount.

IIRC, there's a griffon rider sub-class in Midgard, but I don't know for which class. Using that with a bow would fit everything except your archery specialization.

Beastmaster Ranger could work, with your mount being your beast, but this is... weak at best. I think the other two options would be more interesting and fun to play.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Honestly, I think you'd have to homebrew a subclass (or find a 3-party one) to make the concept work effectively. I, too, would love to have a viable mounted archer in D&D—it's an archetype that's appeared in multiple cultures across history and isn't easily modeled in this edition.

I think barbarian or ranger would be the best places for such an archetpe. I favor the barbarian over the ranger for this because I don't think the spellcasting of the ranger really fits here. The barbarian's rage doesn't fit either, really, but I think we could use the barbarian's rage to power more appropriate abilities like archery tricks (much like the spore druid can use their windshape to do non-wildshapey things).

I think the ranger's archery related spells are pretty good, though, and fit a multi-generational cultural tradition of highly skilled archers in a fantasy world.
I get that some folks don't like adding magic to real world concepts, but for me...that's just part of translating them to a fantasy world.

I would need to either make a subclass, use the UA enhancements (replacements, technically, but we just add them instead) or revised ranger, though.

I do have a homebrew feat that gives the Find Steed spell, essentially with some edits. That is, you can summon a creature other than a steed with it, and it gains a HP progression and proficiency bonus like the "Beast of The XYZ" options presented in the class feature variants UA. It also boosts an existing critter gained from a feature or spell, so it's still a good feat for BM Rangers and Chain Warlocks.

Battlemaster Fighter is probably going to fit your niche best. Every maneuver except Lunge and Reposte can be done with a ranged weapon, so it'll provide your cool archery tricks. I'd consider the Mounted Feat, which are easier to come by with a fighter. If you can find some way to cast Summon Steed (which is unlikely without way too much effort), that would bind your steed to be more than just a generic mount.

IIRC, there's a griffon rider sub-class in Midgard, but I don't know for which class. Using that with a bow would fit everything except your archery specialization.

Beastmaster Ranger could work, with your mount being your beast, but this is... weak at best. I think the other two options would be more interesting and fun to play.

Battlemaster with the homebrew feat I mentioned above could certainly work. There honestly isn't any better "archery tricks" option other than ranger spells, and I could easily work out some mounted manuevers, or manuevers that involve a secondary allied creature that will work with a mount.

 

[TheSword]

Can I ask @doctorbadwolf the circumstances,
/campaign the character will be in? That might affect the mix.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Can I ask @doctorbadwolf the circumstances,
/campaign the character will be in? That might affect the mix.

the details haven't come together fully, yet. I want to play a mounted archer who is an explorer. My wife will probably be playing an Elf/Orc Barbarian.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

My wife pointed out that a flying mount could work in the upcoming Islands game! Halfling Ranger with a pteranadon!