Rangers are a Dungeons & Dragons class with a long-running reputation for being underwhelming compared to the rest. Even with their mixed reviews in D&D 5e, the Ranger's current half-caster and half-combat setup are much improved from previous iterations of the class.
Strongest D&D Rangers, Ranked
These are the most powerful rangers found in the rich and long-standing lore of Dungeons & Dragons.
Rangers in 5e can be built as an equivalent to the party's Fighter or Rogue, or in some cases, they can even be both thanks to the Ranger's ability to cast spells and be a force in melee combat depending on the build. Newer additions brought by Xanathar's Guide to Everything and various Unearthed Arcana should give players a better incentive to give the Ranger class a try.
Updated May 18th, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: The Ranger is the class that emerges from the shadows to be more than what they first seemed. Previously overlooked as a support class, there's more motivation now than ever before for choosing a Ranger. It's a good choice for players torn between any classes in Dungeons & Dragons 5e, offering the opportunity to be proficient as both a scout and a striker. There are many important factors to consider when creating the best possible Ranger build, and this list has been updated with a few more ways to maximize this underappreciated class.
Rangers can be a variety of moral alignments and have few limitations when it comes to role-playing and backstory. They can be bound to a strict moral code or act as more of a mercenary, be bound to a deity, or dedicated to cold hard facts. Their lives tend to be difficult and isolated, constantly grappling with their chosen enemies and safeguarding the innocent denizens of the wilderness. Their mysterious backgrounds make for some of the best role-playing options in the game, leaving a ton of room for player creativity and DM input alike.
The Best Races For Rangers
There's A Way To Make A Ranger Out Of Any Race
When picking a race for the best Ranger build, it's important to remember that the most important ability scores for this class are Wisdom and Dexterity. Other ability scores will vary depending on your character's role in the party.
Species Name | Description |
Aarakocra | A +2 to Dexterity is a good start for a Ranger of any build or party role, and this elusive race also gets a +1 to Wisdom, the Ranger's secondary stat. |
Centaur | A species from Mythic Odysseys of Theros, they get a +2 to Strength and +1 to Wisdom, which are two important stats for Rangers, especially of the melee variety. |
Bugbear | Bonuses to Dexterity and Strength make this an ideal choice for a Ranger that leans towards melee damage. |
Drow | +1 Dexterity. Also known as a Dark Elf, celebrity D&D character Drizzt Do'Urden is of this lineage and is a multiclass Fighter-Ranger. |
Kenku | When it comes to RP and abilities that overlap nicely with the secretive Ranger, the Kenku is a great choice already, and bonuses to Dexterity and Wisdom make it even better. |
Glasya Teifling | Get a +1 to Dexterity, a vital Ranger stat, and ideal for a ranged build. Another advantage is the innate ability Legacy of Malbolge, the ability to cast the Minor Illusion cantrip. |
Githyanki | Added with Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes and popularized in Baldur's Gate 3, Githyanki have improved Jump and Mage Hand along with boosts to Strength and Agility, making for a nimble and versatile Ranger. |
Hill Dwarf | Ideal to start a melee build, Dwarves get a +2 to Constitution along with a +1 to Wisdom for the Hill Dwarf variant, along with the advantages of Darkvision and Toughness. |
Human | The bonuses to every ability score, plus an extra language ability, make a Human Ranger one of the most versatile options. |
Forest Gnome | As the most elusive Gnome subrace, this could be the most compelling option for a Ranger that specializes in Stealth, and the Dexterity bonus is also helpful. |
Halflings | With their +2 Dexterity and their innate Lucky ability, combined with Brave and Halfling nimbleness, a Halfling Ranger won't frighten easily. |
Harengon | A new race from Wild Beyond the Witchlight, has unique abilities like Hare-Trigger and Leporine Senses as opposed to ability scores for the best Ranger build. |
Half-Orc | Good for a Strength-based Ranger with bonuses to Strength and Constitution. They also get Darkvision, Savage Attacks, and Relentless Endurance. |
Variant Humans | This race is designed to work with anything with a few choices with floating ability scores, so it's not hard to customize the character to suit this class, even for healing. |
Wood Elf | Their +1 Wisdom and +2 Dexterity bonus are perfect for a Ranger, especially combined with Fleet of Foot and the Mask of the Wild ability. |
D&D Races That Would Make Baldur's Gate 3 Even Better
Baldur's Gate 3 includes a ton of races for players to choose from, but there are a couple of Dungeons and Dragons races that did not make the cut.
Ability Scores
All Abilities Are Viable, But Some Offer Better Synergy
There's a lot of variety in the Ranger ability scores, as some builds can be widely different from others. Dexterity is the most important stat for most builds, followed by Wisdom.
- Dexterity. This is the most important ability score for any Ranger, with the character's next three scores chosen depending on the build.
- Wisdom. The Ranger has powers comparable to that of a Cleric when it comes to spirituality, which includes some limited healing powers.
- Strength. Prioritize this stat only if the Ranger is a melee Fighter. Otherwise, the Constitution is more important.
- Constitution. This stat the number of hit points a character has, and Rangers typically have a higher Constitution
- Intelligence. Helpful for investigation checks and the Ranger's Favored Enemy abilities.
- Charisma. This is the closest to a sump stat this class has, but the stereotype of the scruffy, antisocial Ranger doesn't have to be the default setting.
D&D: 12 Fun One-Shot Ideas
While long, detailed Dungeons & Dragons campaigns are a blast, sometimes it's nice to wrap up a plot in session, and these one-offs provide just that.
Conclaves, The Ranger Subclasses
The Latest Sourcebooks Have Almost Tripled The Ranger's Available Subclasses
The next step is choosing the Ranger's subclass, and this was significantly improved by the updated information in Xanathar's Guide to Everything. The original 5e's base D&D Player's Handbook only offered only two Ranger archetypes. Rangers also get to specialize in a Fighting Style at level 2, and some of those are better in combination with some Conclaves than others.
Name of Conclave | Sourcebook | Special Abilities | Perks | Ideal Fighting Style |
Hunter | D&D The Player's Handbook | Fighting against threats like marauding orcs, roving gangs of thieves, or rampaging dragons. | An animal companion | Blind Fighting; ideal for fighting in close quarters or dimly lit spaces. |
Beast Master | D&D The Player's Handbook | Befriending and commanding animals. | An animal companion that also helps in combat. | Archery or Thrown-Weapon Fighting, so you can attack from a distance while your pet takes the melee route. |
Drakewarden | Fizban's Treasury of Dragons | A former or current member of a secret order of Rangers with connections to dragons; powers include Thaumaturgy and Tongue of Dragons. | These Rangers can take on the form of a draconic spirit, which can also manifest as a drake companion. | Melee or ranged magical damage. From level three, the Ranger can summon their drake companion and choose the type of elemental damage it will wield. |
Gloom Stalker | Xanathar's Guide to Everything | Optimized for doing the most in the first round of battle. This Conclave also has abilities that dip into the Rogue's skillset and magic like Fear and Greater Invisibility. | Get an extra spell at certain levels. | Blind Fighting, Defense |
Fey Wanderer | Tasha's Cauldron of Everything | A steward of both the real and mystical Fey realm. | These Rangers can infuse their weapon with Fey magic for extra damage. | Dueling, Two-Weapon Fighting |
Horizon Walker | Xanathar's Guide to Everything | Oriented more towards mobility. This conclave has some of the best bonus spells a Ranger can get, including Misty Step and Haste. | Use portals to move between two locations. | Defense, Dueling |
Monster Slayer | Xanathar's Guide to Everything | Trained in supernatural techniques to overcome vampires, dragons, evil fey, fiends, and other magical threats. | Gets extra spells at certain levels. | Deuling, Druidic Warrior |
Swarmkeeper | Tasha's Cauldron of Everything | The ability to command a swarm, which can act as protection or as a companion. | Learn the magic of the Swarmkeeper from the 3rd level and get a Mage cantrip from the 1st level. | Druidic Warrior, Archery |
D&D: Best Martial Ranged Weapons
Dungeons and Dragons players have access to a large selection of ranged weapons; here are the best martial ranged weapons available.
Skills
Rangers Typically Lean Towards Dex-Based Skills
Every single Ranger, regardless of build or party role, needs certain Skills to be effective. Others are a matter of choice depending on the build. The following are essential for the class.
- Perception: Wisdom-based. This is the most commonly rolled ability in D&D and also makes sense for Rangers of any build.
- Stealth: Dexterity-based. This is one of the Skills that allows the Ranger to be the Rogue of the party if needed.
- Acrobatics: If the Ranger is Dexterity-based, this Skill is highly recommended.
- Athletics: If the Ranger is Strength-based, Athletics would take the place of Acrobatics.
- Insight: Wisdom-based. Use this to determine the true intentions of any creature, be they friend or foe.
- Survival: Wisdom-based. Focuses on skills to aid in wilderness survival, like tracking, an obvious choice for a Ranger.
D&D: Best Martial Melee Weapons
There's a wide array of weapons for players to choose from in Dungeons & Dragons. For users of martial melee weapons, these are the best options.
Feats
Dependent On What Weapon Types A Ranger Uses
When it comes to choosing Feats, the choice will likely depend on what type of weapons the Ranger has chosen for their unique build.
Name | Description |
Sharpshooter | Ranged attacks ignore some cover and do not carry Disadvantage at long range. Chance to take -5 to hit for +10 on ranged damage. |
Dual Wielder | Take advantage of the Ranger's ability to use virtually any weapon. |
Resilient | +1 in one ability. Gain proficiency in saving throws when using this ability. |
Great Weapon Master | Extra attack after a melee critical hit. Choose to take -5 to attack roll to add +10 to damage with a heavy weapon. |
Polearm Mastery | Make an extra attack with a polearm weapon. Make an Opportunity Attack (OA) if a creature enters your reach. |
Crossbow Expert | Ignore the loading property of crossbows. No Disadvantage when in contact with a creature when you shoot. |
Sentinel | When the Ranger is in melee range of an enemy moving past them or attacking an ally, they get an Attack of Opportunity. |
War Caster | Advantage on saving throws to maintain Concentration. Cast some spells as part of an OA by spending a Reaction. |
Alert | +5 to Initiative rolls and can't be surprised. Creatures you don't see don't gain Advantage on attack rolls. |
D&D: 8 Combat Tips For Players
Players new to Dungeons & Dragons may want to keep in mind the following combat tips before starting a new game.
Backgrounds
Ropleplay Details For The Player And DM
Finally, players can top off their best Ranger build with a well-suited Background. There's a lot for a Ranger to work with depending on the adventuring module and the campaign the Dungeon Master is trying to create, so don't feel confined to the following suggestions.
Name | Description |
Folk Hero | A natural choice for a Ranger that depends on a high Wisdom score and also includes Animal Handling and Survival along with a good backstory. |
Outlander | The character's Athletic and Survival skills have been developed after years in the harsh wilderness. Includes guides, nomads, trappers, exiles, and outcasts. |
Criminal | Deception is based on Charisma, which might be a miss depending on the build, but the Thieves Tools and stealth, a Dexterity-based ability, are worth it. |
Sailor | These Rangers are Athletic and Perceptive denizens of marine vessels. They are pirates, privateers, and whalers. |
Shipwright | A Ranger of the open seas, this one builds and patches their vessels as much as they navigate and haul sail. |
Far Traveler | They are as the name suggests and often come from a distant, even mythical country. These Rangers are explorers, storytellers, and mercenaries. |
Uthgardt Tribe Member | An interesting choice for a Ranger who's looking for a backstory rooted in Shamanism or Folk Heroes. |
Urchin | A wise choice for the best build if the character is a Dexterity-based Ranger; includes stealth and Sleight of Hand along with some handy Thieves Tools. |
Wildspacer | Exclusive to the Spelljammer module, these are explorers of the Astral Plane and are experts in Athletics and Survival. |
Dungeons & Dragons
- Created by
- E. Gary Gygax , Dave Arneson
- Creation Year
- 1974
- Movie
- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
- Video Game(s)
- Baldur's Gate , Baldur's Gate 2 , Baldur's Gate 3 , Icewind Dale , Neverwinter Nights , Neverwinter Nights 2 , Neverwinter , Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard , Dungeons and Dragons: Dark Alliance
Summary
Tabletop RPG
