Ranger

Rangers are hunters, scouts, and wardens of the wild—masters of survival who thrive where others would falter.

In the vast and varied landscapes of Eldareth, from mist-choked forests to monster-ridden ruins, rangers serve as silent sentinels and skilled trackers.

With bow, blade, and instinct, they strike swiftly and vanish like ghosts, always one step ahead of the prey they pursue.

Whether guided by nature or vengeance, a ranger’s path is theirs alone—and the wild knows them well.

This version of the Ranger class combines the robust feature chassis and streamlined utility of the 2024 revision with the thematic flexibility of Prepared spellcasting, reminiscent of classic nature-based casters. Spellcasting begins at level 1 and allows daily preparation using the 'Wisdom modifier + half Ranger level' formula, offering adaptability to face the wilds' changing threats without relying on the fixed lists of a Known caster.

Central to this design is an enhanced Hunter's Mark suite, provided through Favored Enemy (free casts), Hunter's Instinct (reaction move), Hunter's Mind (concentration-free free casts), Precise Hunter (advantage), and a modified Relentless Hunter (protecting other concentration spells), ensuring the Ranger's iconic ability is potent and less restrictive on tactical spell use.

It retains valuable modern features like Weapon Mastery, multiple instances of Expertise, Roving, Tireless, Nature's Veil, and Feral Senses, while incorporating Hunter's Versatility for refining combat style over time. Capped off by the powerful Champion of the Wilds feature boosting core attributes, the result is a Ranger who feels adaptable, highly focused on their chosen prey, and effective across all tiers of play, blending modern design sensibilities with versatile preparation.

Becoming a Ranger...

As a Level 1 Character

• Gain all the traits in the Core Ranger Traits table.
• Gain the Ranger’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Ranger Features table.

As a Multiclass Character

• Gain the following traits from the Core Ranger Traits table: Hit Point Die, proficiency with Martial weapons, proficiency in one skill of your choice from the Ranger’s skill list, and training with Light and Medium armor and Shields.
• Gain the Ranger’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Ranger Features table. See the multiclassing rules to determine your available spell slots.

As a Ranger, you gain the following class features when you reach the specified Ranger levels. These features are listed in the Ranger Features table.

Level 1: Spellcasting

You have learned to channel the magical essence of nature to cast spells. See the Player’s Handbook for the rules on spellcasting. The information below details how you use those rules with Ranger spells.

Spell Slots. The Ranger Features table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your level 1+. You regain all expended slots when you finish a Long Rest.

Prepared Spells of Level 1+. You prepare the list of ranger spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the ranger spell list. When you do so, choose a number of ranger spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + half your ranger level (rounded down, minimum of 1 spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

For example, if you are a 5th-level Ranger with a Wisdom of 16, you can prepare 5 ranger spells of 1st or 2nd level.

If another Ranger feature gives spells that you always have prepared, those spells don’t count against the number of spells you can prepare with this feature, but those spells otherwise count as Ranger spells for you.

Changing Your Prepared Spells. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can replace your list of prepared spells, replacing any of the spells there with other Ranger spells for which you have spell slots.

Spellcasting Ability. Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for your Ranger spells.

Spellcasting Focus. You can use a Druidic Focus as a Spellcasting Focus for your Ranger spells.

Level 1: Favored Enemy

You always have the Hunter's Mark spell prepared. You can cast it twice without expending a spell slot, and you regain all expended uses of this ability when you finish a Long Rest.

The number of times you can cast the spell without a spell slot increases when you reach certain Ranger levels, as shown in the Favored Enemy column of the Ranger Features table.

Level 1: Weapon Mastery

Your training with weapons allows you to use the mastery properties of two kinds of weapons of your choice with which you have proficiency, such as Longbows and Shortswords. Whenever you finish a Long Rest, you can change one of those weapon choices.

Level 2: Deft Explorer

Thanks to your travels, you gain the following benefits.

Expertise. Choose one of your skill proficiencies with which you lack Expertise. You gain Expertise in that skill.

Languages. You know two languages of your choice from the language tables.

Level 2: Fighting Style

You gain a Fighting Style feat of your choice. Instead of choosing one of those feats, you can choose the option below.

Druidic Warrior. You learn two Druid cantrips of your choice. The chosen cantrips count as Ranger spells for you, and Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for them. 

Level 3: Ranger SubClass

You gain a Ranger subclass of your choice. A subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Ranger levels. For the rest of your career, you gain each of your subclass’s features that are of your Ranger level and lower.

Level 3: Hunter's Instinct

When a creature marked with your hunter's mark drops to 0 hit points or dies before the spell ends, you can take a reaction to move the mark to another creature you can see within 90 feet.

Level 4: Ability Score Improvement

You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Ranger levels 8, 12, and 16.

Level 4: Hunter's Versatility

Whenever you reach a level in this class that grants the Ability Score Improvement feature (levels 4, 8, 12, and 16), you can do one of the following, representing a shift in your focus:

• Replace the Fighting Style feat you chose at 2nd level with a different Fighting Style feat available to Rangers.

• If you chose the Druidic Warrior Fighting Style feat, you can replace one of the Druid cantrips you learned through it with a different cantrip from the Druid spell list.

Level 5: Extra Attack

You can attack twice instead of once whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Level 6: Roving

Your Speed increases by 10 feet while you aren’t wearing Heavy Armor. You also have a Climb Speed and a Swim Speed equal to your Speed.

Level 9: Expertise

Choose two of your skill proficiencies with which you lack Expertise. You gain Expertise in those skills.

Level 9: Hunter's Mind

When you cast Hunter's Mark with your Favored Enemy feature, it doesn't require concentration and last until the end of its full duration or until you choose to end it (no action required).

Level 10: Tireless

Primal forces now help fuel you on your journeys, granting you the following benefits.

Temporary Hit Points. As an action, you can give yourself a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to 1d8 plus your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1). You can use this action a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Decrease Exhaustion. Whenever you finish a Short Rest, your Exhaustion level, if any, decreases by 1.

Level 13: Relentless Hunter

While an enemy is marked by your Hunter's Mark, you have advantage on Constitution saving throws to maintain concentration on your Ranger spells.

Level 14: Nature's Veil

You invoke spirits of nature to magically hide yourself. As a Bonus Action, you can give yourself the Invisible condition until the end of your next turn.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Level 17: Precise Hunter

You have Advantage on attack rolls against the creature currently marked by your Hunter’s Mark.

Level 18: Feral Senses

Your connection to the forces of nature grants you Blindsight with a range of 30 feet.

Level 19: Epic Boon

You gain an Epic Boon feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify.

Level 20: Champion of the Wilds

Your Constitution and Wisdom scores increase by 4, to a maximum of 25.