D&D (2024) Ranged Builds Thread

[FrogReaver]

Unless I am missing something, you need 9 levels of fighter to use slow with a heavy crossbow. With cunning action disengage, I'm also not seeing what the XBE feat is doing for you.

I'm using Push not slow? Heavy Crossbow comes with Push. So you get access to that at level 1. Heavy Crossbow with the feat ignores loading, so best of both worlds.

I think Truestrike with maximum Charisma is a better foundation for a crossbow wielding Rogue type. With a 2-level Paladin dip on an Arcane Trickster this character can be a force to be reckoned with and is pretty awesome from level 1.

I don't know about better, but it's a solid working option. Has some pros and cons compared to the Paladin/Rogue setup.

Doesn't use Push Mastery as well due to not having 2 attacks.
Alot of your damage relies on being immobile, whereas the Paladin 6/Rogue X has high accuracy while being able to maintain mobility.
This also really hurts the push attack enemies off of you then retreat out of their non-dash move range tactic.

For species I like Halfling with the Magic Initiate feat (Truestrike, Green Flame Blade, Tashas Hideous Laughter) or Elf with Truestrike and any origin feat (Musician works well).

I think Elf takes the cake for the Rogue, especially if you aren't playing with Green Flame blade (not in 2024 rules, which is at least how my table plays).

Another variation is a level 2 Warlock dip for agonizing truestrike.

Assuming that's allowed then it's okay. Nothing wrong with it but not particularly great either. It only comes out slightly better than straight rogue for damage but delays alot of your higher level rogue class features. Ultimately I'd almost certainly rather have straight rogue than that dip.

 

[FrogReaver]

How about the Dark Sniper build?

• Start with rolling up a Drow, Shadow Elf, or Tiefling to get the Darkness spell for free, and choose Warlock to get the Eldritch Blast cantrip.
• When you reach 2nd level, choose two Invocations: Devil's Sight (to be able to see normally in magical darkness) and Agonizing Blast (to add your Charisma modifier to Eldritch Blast damage).
• When you reach 3rd level, you gain the ability to cast Darkness 1/day without expending a spell slot, by virtue of your ancestry. Now you can cast darkness on yourself, and use Eldritch Blast against targets that can't see you (very few enemies can see through magical darkness). You shoot with Advantage, they return fire with Disadvantage.
• At 5th level, take Counterspell to block incoming AoE spells and Dispel Magic attempts.

That's pretty much it. You can add on other feats and invocations that will let you do other stunts (push/pull targets around, slow them down, etc), but the real meat-and-potatoes of this build is to put yourself in a magical bubble of Darkness and then blast away. Sure, you aren't invincible and they will eventually break your Darkness spell...but they will take a lot of damage and burn a lot of resources before that happens.

I guess it's cool but seems a bit weaker on the damage front than most of the other options.

Personally I hate the darkness reliant warlocks. Can too often interfere too much with the rest of the party.

 

[Zardnaar]

I guess it's cool but seems a bit weaker on the damage front than most of the other options.

Personally I hate the darkness reliant warlocks. Can too often interfere too much with the rest of the party.

Darkness warlocks new build party around it or sod off imho. It's not exactly banned but using it would likely get one spoken to.

 

[CleverNickName]

I'm just sayin', it's a valid sniper build. I had a lot of fun with mine.

But yeah, it can cause problems. Like every other character "build," you should run it past the rest of the table before you show up with it at game night to make sure it's a good fit.

 

[FrogReaver]

A Zealot Barbarian makes an interesting archer foundation and then multiclass to something else. Essentially you trade damage for damage reduction. It's kind of interesting, but probably not quite as good as the other options.

 

[FrogReaver]

I'm just sayin', it's a valid sniper build. I had a lot of fun with mine.

But yeah, it can cause problems. Like every other character "build," you should run it past the rest of the table before you show up with it at game night to make sure it's a good fit.

As one of the few archer builds capable of counterspelling early, I think anything warlock deserves honorable mention just for that.

 

[mellored]

As one of the few archer builds capable of counterspelling early, I think anything warlock deserves honorable mention just for that.

And to update the classic Sorlock
Sorcerer 2 (quicken, Con saves)
Warlock 2 (EB, Agonizing Blast
Valor Bard 10 (extra attack, Magic Secrets: Haste, Warcaster, +2 Chq)
Fighter 2 (Action Surge)

Then you can
Action: cast Haste
Action Surge: attack + EB
Haste Attack: EB
Quicken: EB
= 16d10+80 + push 80'.

 

[Zardnaar]

And to update the classic Sorlock
Sorcerer 2 (quicken, Con saves)
Warlock 2 (EB, Agonizing Blast
Valor Bard 10 (extra attack, Magic Secrets: Haste, Warcaster, +2 Chq)
Fighter 2 (Action Surge)

Then you can
Action: cast Haste
Action Surge: attack + EB
Haste Attack: EB
Quicken: EB
= 16d10+80 + push 80'.

The recurring flaw in thise vard 10 type builds is they take to long to cone online and they're semi unplayable to level 12-14.