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

[Zardnaar]

A) Shillelagh isn’t even on the Ranger spell list (no cantrips are), and Rangers will use their DEX for bow or finesse weapon attacks.

B) Of the 61 spells on the Ranger spell list, 14 require a saving throw, 2 require making a spell attack, 1 (Cure Wounds) adds WIS for extra healing, and 1 (Dispel Magic) requires WIS for an ability check if the ongoing spell is above 4th level. That leaves 43 spells where your WIS is irrelevant.

C) None of the above matters, since your original topic of discussion had nothing to do with weapon attacks, spell attacks, spell save DCs, skills, or saving throws. The only thing you mentioned in post #57 was class features keying off an ability score.

A. Anyone can get Shillelagh via guide origin.

B. Druids now have a ranged cantrip. Longbow now require 13 strength
MAD as you want wisdom and con. Ranged attacks got nerfed hard.

C. No comment.

Basically if your build needs a cantrip, level 1 spell or whatever it's easily available.

Opportunity cost though can be argued.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

A. Anyone can get Shillelagh via guide origin.

B. Druids now have a ranged cantrip. Longbow now require 13 strength
MAD as you want wisdom and con. Ranged attacks got nerfed hard.

Technically they do not. Only if you want to add prof bonus to damage... Which you should...

C. No comment.

Basically if your build needs a cantrip, level 1 spell or whatever it's easily available.

Opportunity cost though can be argued.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

A) Shillelagh isn’t even on the Ranger spell list (no cantrips are), and Rangers will use their DEX for bow or finesse weapon attacks.

B) Of the 61 spells on the Ranger spell list, 14 require a saving throw, 2 require making a spell attack, 1 (Cure Wounds) adds WIS for extra healing, and 1 (Dispel Magic) requires WIS for an ability check if the ongoing spell is above 4th level. That leaves 43 spells where your WIS is irrelevant.

C) None of the above matters, since your original topic of discussion had nothing to do with weapon attacks, spell attacks, spell save DCs, skills, or saving throws. The only thing you mentioned in post #57 was class features keying off an ability score.

You can get Shillelagh via the fighting style Druidic Warrior

 

[Nikosandros]

Longbow now require 13 strength

Longbows require dex 13, like all heavy ranged weapons.

 

[Ashrym]

Heavy​

You have Disadvantage on attack rolls with a Heavy weapon if it’s a Melee weapon and your Strength score isn’t at least 13 or if it’s a Ranged weapon and your Dexterity score isn’t at least 13.

Great Weapon Master​

General Feat (Prerequisite: Level 4+, Strength 13+)

You gain the following benefits.

Ability Score Increase. Increase your Strength score by 1, to a maximum of 20.

Heavy Weapon Mastery. When you hit a creature with a weapon that has the Heavy property as part of the Attack action on your turn, you can cause the weapon to deal extra damage to the target. The extra damage equals your Proficiency Bonus.

Hew. Immediately after you score a Critical Hit with a Melee weapon or reduce a creature to 0 Hit Points with one, you can make one attack with the same weapon as a Bonus Action.

Longbow​

Type: Martial Ranged Weapon Cost: 50 gp Weight: 2 lbs

Proficiency with a Longbow allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.

---

This weapon has the following mastery property. To use this property, you must have a feature that lets you use it.
Slow. If you hit a creature with this weapon and deal damage to it, you can reduce its Speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn. If the creature is hit more than once by weapons that have this property, the Speed reduction doesn’t exceed 10 feet.

Name	Cost	Damage	Weight	Properties
Longbow	50 gp	1d8 piercing	2 lbs	Ammunition, Heavy, (Range 150/600), Two-Handed, Slow

For clarification.

The heavy property requires 13 DEX as a ranged weapon, and great weapon master can be taken requiring 13 STR. DEX is needed, STR is wanted.

 

[Zardnaar]

For clarification.

The heavy property requires 13 DEX as a ranged weapon, and great weapon master can be taken requiring 13 STR. DEX is needed, STR is wanted.

Derp my bad. Misread heavy property.

Opportunity cost of gwm is no dexterity boost.

Fighters may be best archers now battlemaster specifically.

 

[Minigiant]

Fighters may be best archers now battlemaster specifically.

As it should be.

Fighters should be the best as any one style.

 

[Zardnaar]

As it should be.

Fighters should be the best as any one style.

Yeah they can burn a feat on heavy weapon master and not suffer for it.

Sharpshooter, HWM and 20 dex by level 8.

 

[Horwath]

A) Shillelagh isn’t even on the Ranger spell list (no cantrips are), and Rangers will use their DEX for bow or finesse weapon attacks.

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.

 

[Chaosmancer]

That's just apparence.

Hunter's Mark is an option.
The problem is Hunter's Mark alone is bad.

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