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

[Minigiant]

No.

Hunter's Mark alone is bad post-level 8 or 9, moving into level 11. From levels 1-4 the Ranger is one of , if not THE highest damage class in the game because of Hunter's Mark, and it is still really really good around levels 5 and 6.

The Ranger hitting for ~31.5 damage every turn at level 5 is not bad. It is outperforming the Greatweapon Battlemaster Fighter who is only getting ~23.15 at that same level with two uses of superiority

Yes.

I meant that Hunter's Mark is at first level spell.
First level spells are supposed to become obsolete in tier 3.

So if you want to design an entire class around at first level spell you have to do the same thing as you do with the warlock/EB/Hex and design within the class ways to boost it.

D&D since the original edition was designed off the concept that spellcasters would transition to you spell that they level up.

The core issue that I constantly constantly repeat is the fact that wizard of the coast does not want to create new spells for Ranger.

 

[Zardnaar]

No.

Hunter's Mark alone is bad post-level 8 or 9, moving into level 11. From levels 1-4 the Ranger is one of , if not THE highest damage class in the game because of Hunter's Mark, and it is still really really good around levels 5 and 6.

The Ranger hitting for ~31.5 damage every turn at level 5 is not bad. It is outperforming the Greatweapon Battlemaster Fighter who is only getting ~23.15 at that same level with two uses of superiority

2d6+7 is 14x 2 for 28. Situational 2d6+4. And whatever Graze does.

Thus excludes any Superiority Dice or buff via prone or action surge.

Vs 2d6+4 11x 3. Situationally add 2d6 to that round 2. And whatever the subclass adds.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

with Magic initiate Druid as origin feat, everyone and their mother will take Shillelagh and ranged attack cantrip.

with extra attack, shillelagh just scales better than weapon attacks. Unless taking 2Handed ones, but then you are losing on +2 AC.

You disregard nick.

 

[Minigiant]

Ranger ironically is one of the best classes on freedom of secondary score. Each goal of wisdom has a build

20 Wisdom: Green Gish- Shilleagh and Ranged spell attack build

18 Wisdom: Conjurer- Conjure Barrage/Beast/Volley/Woodland Being spammer

16 Wisdom: Summoner- Summon Fey and Summoner Beast are good enough at Pro+3

14 Wisdom: Thornmaster- Hail of Thorns Spammer

16 Strength: Great Weapon master- Switches between Greatsword and longbow.

18 Constitution: Tangler- Spikes and Vines everywhere with push and slow weapons.

 

[Lord Twig]

The problem with a Ranger focusing on Shillelagh is that it is a Bonus Action to cast and only lasts a minute. So even if you have Hunter's Mark pre-cast, you can't place it on a target until your second round. So no Hunter's Mark the first round.

That said, if you use a ranged attack on the first round and place or cast Hunter's Mark, and then close and cast Shillelagh on the second round, that could work pretty well.

The more I think about it the more I think that Ranger works really well as a switch-hitter. Start with Hunter's Mark and a ranged spell or attack, then close on the second round and you have your Bonus Action free to do whatever you want (assuming your initial target didn't die in one round). So also lets your more tanky party members move up and be targets for the enemies before you move in to focus fire one whatever target is needed.

 

[Zardnaar]

The problem with a Ranger focusing on Shillelagh is that it is a Bonus Action to cast and only lasts a minute. So even if you have Hunter's Mark pre-cast, you can't place it on a target until your second round. So no Hunter's Mark the first round.

That said, if you use a ranged attack on the first round and place or cast Hunter's Mark, and then close and cast Shillelagh on the second round, that could work pretty well.

The more I think about it the more I think that Ranger works really well as a switch-hitter. Start with Hunter's Mark and a ranged spell or attack, then close on the second round and you have your Bonus Action free to do whatever you want (assuming your initial target didn't die in one round). So also lets your more tanky party members move up and be targets for the enemies before you move in to focus fire one whatever target is needed.

You can spam shillagh outside of combat.

 

[Chaosmancer]

The core issue that I constantly constantly repeat is the fact that wizard of the coast does not want to create new spells for Ranger.

I will agree that the Ranger single target damage could be fixed by introducing new spells around Tier 3

 

[Chaosmancer]

2d6+7 is 14x 2 for 28. Situational 2d6+4. And whatever Graze does.

Thus excludes any Superiority Dice or buff via prone or action surge.

Vs 2d6+4 11x 3. Situationally add 2d6 to that round 2. And whatever the subclass adds.

Not sure what you are doing to get a +7 at level 5. Not while using a 2d6 weapon. Graze tells me you stuck with Great Weapon... oh wait, did you add GWM to each attack? Double checks new rules Ah, it is per attack. So my GWM Battlemaster would have been doing 24.05 from the way I did the math. I am not accounting for graze, which could add us into 27.25. And that is with superiority dice. Not counting the extra bonus action attack, but if I did then it would get you up to 34.4

But that is spending superiority dice, which are a resource in limited supply. You only get four per short rest. You used two of them this round and got a rare bonus action attack to finally cap above the Ranger, who can repeat their attack pattern every single round for multiple hours, without spending a single spell slot. This is purely hunter's mark and Dual Wielder feat.

Rangers are not bad at damage, even at levels 5,6 and 7. They actually do really, really good damage if built for melee dual-wielding.

 

[Chaosmancer]

The problem with a Ranger focusing on Shillelagh is that it is a Bonus Action to cast and only lasts a minute. So even if you have Hunter's Mark pre-cast, you can't place it on a target until your second round. So no Hunter's Mark the first round.

That said, if you use a ranged attack on the first round and place or cast Hunter's Mark, and then close and cast Shillelagh on the second round, that could work pretty well.

The more I think about it the more I think that Ranger works really well as a switch-hitter. Start with Hunter's Mark and a ranged spell or attack, then close on the second round and you have your Bonus Action free to do whatever you want (assuming your initial target didn't die in one round). So also lets your more tanky party members move up and be targets for the enemies before you move in to focus fire one whatever target is needed.

Yeah, ranger's are great "fifth men" in their ability to fill any role to some degree. And we can't forget that you can cast conjure barrage and Hunter's mark on the same turn, if you you are using the slotless resource. Or summon fey and Hunter's mark if you are a Fey Wanderer which everyone seems to love.

 

[Zardnaar]

Not sure what you are doing to get a +7 at level 5. Not while using a 2d6 weapon. Graze tells me you stuck with Great Weapon... oh wait, did you add GWM to each attack? Double checks new rules Ah, it is per attack. So my GWM Battlemaster would have been doing 24.05 from the way I did the math. I am not accounting for graze, which could add us into 27.25. And that is with superiority dice. Not counting the extra bonus action attack, but if I did then it would get you up to 34.4

But that is spending superiority dice, which are a resource in limited supply. You only get four per short rest. You used two of them this round and got a rare bonus action attack to finally cap above the Ranger, who can repeat their attack pattern every single round for multiple hours, without spending a single spell slot. This is purely hunter's mark and Dual Wielder feat.

Rangers are not bad at damage, even at levels 5,6 and 7. They actually do really, really good damage if built for melee dual-wielding.

Wife briefly tested a fae Wanderer lvl 7 dual wielder. Impressive imho.