Ranger 5e - DnD Class Guide

Learn all about rangers, the nature-dwelling warrior class of D&D

Rangers live on the fringes of society and are capable fighters in their own right, often most at home in nature. They perform best in their favoured environments and when fighting their favoured enemies as well as being at an advantage when traversing the wilderness and tracking others.

How to play as a ranger

Rangers make capable support warriors, though will often be used in a ranged capacity. They tend to fair best against multiple enemies due to their abilities and some area of effect spells. And on that note, they are half-casters so get access to a solid range of spells. With Wisdom being their spellcasting ability, it’s best to make sure your ranger is well stocked in this ability. They’ll likely be in combat too so Dexterity is likely a good bet for the heightened AC and to enhance their ability with ranged weapons.

Ranger Strengths

Rangers fair particularly well against their favoured enemy and within their favoured environment so utilise this to your advantage as best as possible. If you know much about the campaign, this will help you better decide what your favourites will be. Rangers are fairly versatile and do well in the outdoors when tracking enemies or scouting. They’ll also do a decent amount of damage when coupled with their abilities.

Ranger Weaknesses

While rangers have some decent versatility, a lot of their best abilities are quite situational. This unfortunately means that there will be times when a ranger isn’t useful, especially in some campaigns, particularly those that might involve a lot of dungeons or cities. And while they are effective warriors, there are better options for damage dealing if that’s what you want to do.

Ranger class features

Party Role	Ranged Damage Dealer, Utility, Support Caster
Main Ability	Dexterity and Wisdom
Saving Throws	Dexterity, Strength
Hit Dice	1d10 + Consitution modifier per level
HP at 1st Level	10 + Constitution Modifier
Spell Casting Ability	Wisdom
Armour Proficiency	Light armour, medium armour, shields
Weapon Proficiency	Simple weapons, martial weapons

Ranger Abilities

Level	Proficiency Bonus	Features	Spells Known	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
1st	+2	Favoured Enemy, Natural Explorer	–	–	–	–	–	–
2nd	+2	Fighting Style, Spellcasting	2	2	–	–	–	–
3rd	+2	Primeval Awareness, Ranger Conclave	3	3	–	–	–	–
4th	+2	Ability Score Improvement	3	3	–	–	–	–
5th	+3	Extra Attack	4	4	2	–	–	–
6th	+3	Favoured Enemy Improvement, Natural Explorer Improvement	4	4	2	–	–	–
7th	+3	Ranger Conclave Feature	5	4	3	–	–	–
8th	+3	Ability Score Improvement, Land’s Stride	5	4	3	–	–	–
9th	+4		6	4	3	2	–	–
10th	+4	Natural Explorer Improvement, Hide in Plain Sight	6	4	3	2	–	–
11th	+4	Ranger Conclave Feature	7	4	3	3	–	–
12th	+4	Ability Score Improvement	7	4	3	3	–	–
13th	+5		8	4	3	3	1	–
14th	+5	Favoured Enemy Improvement, Vanish	8	4	3	3	1	–
15th	+5	Ranger Conclave Feature	9	4	3	3	2	–
16th	+5	Ability Score Improvement	9	4	3	3	2	–
17th	+6		10	4	3	3	3	1
18th	+6	Feral Senses	10	4	3	3	3	1
19th	+6	Ability Score Improvement	11	4	3	3	3	2
20th	+6	Foe Slayer	11	4	3	3	3	2

Ranger subclasses in D&D 5e

Ranger Subclass	Subclass Abilities	Source Book	Description
Hunter	Hunter’s Prey, Defensive Tactics, Multiattack, Superior Hunter’s Defense	Player’s Handbook	A warrior that has honed their ability to hunt and trap their prey.
Beast Master	Ranger’s Companion, Exceptional Training, Bestial Fury, Share Spells	Player’s Handbook	A ranger that handles animals and that fights side by side with an animal partner.
Gloom Stalker	Gloom Stalker Magic, Dread Ambusher, Umbral Sight, Iron Mind, Stalker’s Flurry, Shadow Dodge	Xanathar’s Guide to Everything	A ranger that hunts in the night to hunt the creatures of night and shadows.
Horizon Walker	Horizon Walker Magic, Detect Portal, Planar Warrior, Ethereal Step, Distant Strike, Spectral Defense	Xanathar’s Guide to Everything	Hunters of creatures from other realms and planes.
Monster Slayer	Monster Slayer Magic, Hunter’s Sense, Slayer’s Prey, Supernatural Defense, Magic-User’s Nemesis, Slayer’s Counter	Xanathar’s Guide to Everything	Hunters of powerful creatures, deadly to most ordinary warriors.
Fey Wanderer	Dreadful Strikes, Fey Wanderer Magic, Otherworldly Glamour, Beguiling Twist, Fey Reinforcements, Misty Wanderer	Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything	Rangers that use the powers of the fey to charm their enemies.
Swarmkeeper	Gathered Swarm, Swarmkeeper Magic, Writhing Tide, Mighty Swarm, Swarming Dispersal	Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything	Keepers of swarm creatures that aid them in combat.
Drakewarden	Draconic Gift, Drake Companion, Bond of Fang and Scale, Drake’s Breath, Perfected Bond	Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons	Rangers that fight alongside a drake companion.