D&D 5E The 2024 Ranger is Actually Pretty Good (with numbers)

[UngeheuerLich]

Some people want their ally ranger to be long range. Maybe you're one of them. Some people demand their ally clerics/bards/druids be healbots.

What does their opinion have to do with what the player of the character wants to play? If they want a long range ace, they can play one.

Yes. Your character is your character. The ranger is fully capable of being a good melee character. I actually like the great axe wielding ranger. And then being able to use a bow with that 14 dex is an added benedit.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

Yes. Your character is your character. The ranger is fully capable of being a good melee character. I actually like the great axe wielding ranger. And then being able to use a bow with that 14 dex is an added benedit.

Yeah, I agree. A character will almost always have a primary weapon that is better than their secondary weapons, due to primary ability score differences, feat/weapon mastery investment, or magic properties.

That does not invalidate the secondary weapons used for their secondary purpose.

 

[Horwath]

The barbarian has a 14 dex and a longbow!

Parties want a ranger to be ace at long range, not be a low hp barbarian.

I mean, ranger sure works better at range.
Kind of a bad design to have forced concentration feature(8 instances of the feature over 20 levels) on a class that is somewhat expected to go to melee without any help with holding concentration.

Sorcerer has basically 2 build in options for Concentration.

1. Con saves by default
2. Ability to take extend spell at 2nd level for meager 1 sorcery point.

ranger has:
1. "cricket noises"
2. "prays for 6th level paladin in a party"

 

[FrogReaver]

For full transparency, there is the breakdown of the Two-weapon Fighting Beast Master Ranger 12th level damage.

Round one. Ranger places Hunter’s Mark as a bonus action, both Ranger and Beast Companion close. Ranger takes the Attack Action and gives their first attack to the Beast who attacks twice, getting the 1d6 bonus damage twice, possibly knocking the target prone, and Hunter’s Mark damage once. Ranger then attacks with their shortsword once and their scimitar once.

Round two through three. Ranger commands Beast to attack as a Bonus Action. Beast attacks twice, getting the Hunter’s Mark damage once and uses Exceptional Training to do the Help Action as a Bonus Action. Ranger attacks with shortsword twice and scimitar once.

I am rounding all damage to the nearest tenth of a point, but for fun I am showing the actual result before the rounding. Some of them get rather silly.

Round 1:
Beast Attack 1 (1d8+1d6+6 (14 avg. damage, 8 crit damage), no advantage)
14 x .55 = 7.7
8 x .05 = 0.4

Beast Attack 2 (1d8+1d6+6 (14 avg. damage, 8 crit damage), possible advantage from prone)
14 x .55 x .45 = 3.465 = 3.5
8 x .05 x .45 = 0.18 = 0.2
14 x .7975 x .55 = 6.14075 = 6.1
8 x .0975 x .55 = 0.429 = .4

Beast Hunter’s Mark (1d6 (3.5 avg. damage, 3.5 crit damage), two chances to hit and crit with possible advantage on second chance)
3.5 x 0.857625 = 3.0016875 = 3

Shortsword attack (2d6+5 (12 avg. damage, 7 crit damage), possible advantage from prone)
12 x 0.6 x .2025 = 1.458 = 1.5
7 x 0.05 x .2025 = 0.070875 = 0.1
12 x 0.84 x .7975 = 8.0388 = 8
7 x 0.0975 x .7975 = 0.54429375 = 0.5

Scimitar attack from Nick (2d6+5 (12 avg. damage, 7 crit damage), possible advantage from Vex)
12 x 0.60 x 0.2086 = 1.50192 = 1.5
7 x 0.05 x 0.2086 = 0.07301 = 0.1
12 x 0.84 x 0.7914 = 7.977312 = 8
7 x 0.0975 x 0.7914 = 0.5401305 = 0.5

DPR for Round 1: 41.5

Rounds 2-4:
Beast Attack 1 (1d8+6 (10.5 avg. damage, 4.5 crit damage))
10.5 x .55 = 5.775 = 5.8
4.5 x .05 = 0.225 = 0.2

Beast Attack 2 (1d8+6 (10.5 avg. damage, 4.5 crit damage))
10.5 x .55 = 5.775 = 5.8
4.5 x .05 = 0.225 = 0.2

Beast Hunter’s Mark (1d6 (3.5 avg. damage, 3.5 crit damage), two chances to hit and crit)
3.5 x 0.895 = 3.1325 = 3.1

Shortsword attack 1 (2d6+5 (12 avg. damage, 7 crit damage), advantage from Exceptional Training Help action)
12 x 0.84 = 10.1
7 x 0.0975 = 0.7

Shortsword attack 2 (2d6+5 (12 avg. damage, 7 crit damage), possible advantage from Vex)
12 x 0.60 x 0.16 = 1.152 = 1.2
7 x 0.05 x 0.16 = 0.056 = 0.1
12 x 0.84 x 0.84 = 8.4672 = 8.5
7 x 0.0975 x 0.84 = 0.5733 = 0.6

Scimitar attack 1 (2d6+5 (12 avg. damage, 7 crit damage), possible advantage from Vex)
12 x 0.60 x 0.2 = 1.44 = 1.4
7 x 0.05 x 0.2 = 0.07 = 0.1
12 x 0.84 x 0.8 = 8.064 = 8.1
7 x 0.0975 x 0.8 = 0.546 = 0.5
*Okay, the actual chance to get advantage is 0.8016, not 0.8. But it is close enough!

DPR for Round 2-3: 46.4

Average DPR for four rounds of combat:
(41.5 + 46.4 x 3) / 4 = 45.175 = 45.2

Looking back I said that the Beast Master was doing 44.8 damage at level 12 in my original post, so I was off by 0.4 damage. I think I might have been rounding more the first time around. Or maybe I wasn’t rounding as much? Anyway, here is all the math so you can check it if you want.

Oh and here is the simple math for Conjure Barrage. Looks like I assumed a 55% chance for the target to fail their Dex save, which might be too generous, but it is easy enough to change.

Conjure Barrage (3)
22.5 x .55 = 12.375 = 12.4
22.5 / 2 x .45 = 5.0625 = 5.1
17.5 / target
DPS gain on 3 or more targets

That’s a bit less than a GWM fighter with subclass abilities and more hoops to jump through, but still good. The ranger may even be more defensive since picking up defensive duelist is an option and some attacks will target his beast instead of him.

Also, can you bonus action command the beast to attack and also use one of your attacks to do so and end up with the beast doing 4 attacks?

 

[Ashrym]

The barbarian has a 14 dex and a longbow!

Parties want a ranger to be ace at long range, not be a low hp barbarian.

The ranger also has options like conjure barrage or lightning arrow.

I also don't think 14 DEX as a backup is bad. It's just not as good as a character specialized in DEX. I think 8 DEX is bad and 10 DEX is still better than nothing.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I mean, ranger sure works better at range.
Kind of a bad design to have forced concentration feature(8 instances of the feature over 20 levels) on a class that is somewhat expected to go to melee without any help with holding concentration.

Sorcerer has basically 2 build in options for Concentration.

1. Con saves by default
2. Ability to take extend spell at 2nd level for meager 1 sorcery point.

ranger has:
1. "cricket noises"
2. "prays for 6th level paladin in a party"

I still think that giving rangers con saves instead of dex saves had been a great idea.

Probably starting with one fighter level, will be a great option.
Still having 14 dex. Still being able to swap into medium armor if stealth and speed is a priority, but otherwise wearing heavy armor.

Go with str 15 to 17, wis 14 to 16, dex 14 and con 12 and don't look back.

My favourite spread would be:

Str 15+2
Dex 14
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 13+1
Cha 8

Farmer background.

If you are ok with 15 Str and rather have more wisdom or con in the beginning, many other backgrounds are viable.

As a guide, starting with 16 wisdom and and str 15 still allows you to use the heaviest armor and then transition from shilelagh quarterstaff to a heavy weapon. Maybe a polearm.

Having two fighting styles does not hurt. Archery and defense style or even thrown weapon style for darts! does not hurt.
GWF with a great sword and HM and giant slayer is also great option. It adds close to 2 damage to each attack. And your bonus action is always open and you even do damage on a miss. And at level 5 you get GWM that adds another 3 damage on top of it. At that point a great axe is not a bad idea.

If you think only having a single attack at level 5 hurts too much, TWF is also possible.

And best thing: losing the ranger capstone is not terrible if you manage to get to level 20.

At 11, you get tireless as a semi capstone. Probably better than Hunter subclass ability.

At that point your best bet is probably raising fighter and either become eldritch knight for extra spell levels and great spells (take those that don't need int!) or battlemaster for more maneuvers.

You will probably be a great damage dealer. Single target and multi target. Fighter is such a good class to start with, 90% of your problems are solved by starting fighter 1 with an approproiate background.

 

[Minigiant]

Kind of a bad design to have forced concentration feature(8 instances of the feature over 20 levels) on a class that is somewhat expected to go to melee without any help with holding concentration

Well that's why you have extra uses. To put up HM again.

It's not like TWF ranger has a smite eating up their slots

 

[Horwath]

I still think that giving rangers con saves instead of dex saves had been a great idea.

Probably starting with one fighter level, will be a great option.
Still having 14 dex. Still being able to swap into medium armor if stealth and speed is a priority, but otherwise wearing heavy armor.

Go with str 15 to 17, wis 14 to 16, dex 14 and con 12 and don't look back.

My favourite spread would be:

Str 15+2
Dex 14
Con 12
Int 10
Wis 13+1
Cha 8

Farmer background.

If you are ok with 15 Str and rather have more wisdom or con in the beginning, many other backgrounds are viable.

As a guide, starting with 16 wisdom and and str 15 still allows you to use the heaviest armor and then transition from shilelagh quarterstaff to a heavy weapon. Maybe a polearm.

Having two fighting styles does not hurt. Archery and defense style or even thrown weapon style for darts! does not hurt.
GWF with a great sword and HM and giant slayer is also great option. It adds close to 2 damage to each attack. And your bonus action is always open and you even do damage on a miss. And at level 5 you get GWM that adds another 3 damage on top of it. At that point a great axe is not a bad idea.

If you think only having a single attack at level 5 hurts too much, TWF is also possible.

And best thing: losing the ranger capstone is not terrible if you manage to get to level 20.

At 11, you get tireless as a semi capstone. Probably better than Hunter subclass ability.

At that point your best bet is probably raising fighter and either become eldritch knight for extra spell levels and great spells (take those that don't need int!) or battlemaster for more maneuvers.

You will probably be a great damage dealer. Single target and multi target. Fighter is such a good class to start with, 90% of your problems are solved by starting fighter 1 with an approproiate background.

that build is better with one level of ranger only. maybe 2 for some skills and extra fighting style
just take HM 4x per long rest and good to go.

TWF with action surge will net a lot of extra d6s in a round.

 

[Zardnaar]

that build is better with one level of ranger only. maybe 2 for some skills and extra fighting style
just take HM 4x per long rest and good to go.

TWF with action surge will net a lot of extra d6s in a round.

MCing into ranger after fighter EK 6 looks good as well.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

that build is better with one level of ranger only. maybe 2 for some skills and extra fighting style
just take HM 4x per long rest and good to go.

TWF with action surge will net a lot of extra d6s in a round.

This build is not better with just one level ranger. It is different.

If you want more martial power. Be a fighter. If you want to have more spells and expertise and some better skills, be a ranger. Noone stops you from taking fighter 2 at some point for tactical mind and action surge. Maybe fighter4/ranger5 or fighter5/ranger4 at level nine won't be a mistake. Really depends what you want to do thereafter. Focus more on spells or more on fighting.