Tip 1: Work With Your DM (And Start Early)
Two key Ranger features, Favored Enemy and Natural Explorer, need to be decided upon at 1st Level and will stick with you forever.
Favored Enemygrants bonuses to tracking different types of creatures (e.g. Beasts, Giants, Undead) whileNatural Explorermakes it easier to travel on certain types of terrain (e.g. Desert, Forest, Swamp).
Since both of these are chosen during character creation—before the first session even kicks off—it’s entirely possible to accidentally picking creature and terrain types that you’ll never encounter.
There’snothingworse than having a core class feature that you’ll never be able to use, let alonetwoof them.
That’s why it’s crucial to talk to your DM prior to creating your Ranger. Ask them for guidance on which types of creatures and terrains you’re likely to run into. If the DM is worth their salt, they’ll work with you and make sure your Ranger is useful on the party’s adventures.
Additionally, keep in mind that these two abilities do work together—if you’re tracking a favored enemy through your chosen terrain, you’ll have both benefits in tandem.
Related:What Makes a Great DM for D&D? Key Traits That Players Love
Tip 2: Hunter’s Mark Is Your Most Important Spell
At 2nd Level, Rangers get access to spells from a relatively limited spell list. Rangers gain Spell Slots at a slower rate than most other classes, so you’ll need to be very mindful about which spells you end up picking.
One of the first spells you need to take isHunter’s Mark. This spell not only grants a damage boost against a specific creature, but it also makes it easier to track them down should they slip away from combat.
Another detail that makes Hunter’s Mark even more useful is that it can becast using a Bonus Action, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice your Action of the round to cast it.
If a creature that’s marked with Hunter’s Mark goes to zero Hit Points before the spell wears off, you can shift it to another creature you can see. In other words, you could potentially cast it once and it’ll last you an entire encounter (as long as you maintain concentration).
Related:First Time Playing D&D? Critical Tips for New D&D Players
Tip 3: Don’t Underestimate Trap Spells
It’s easy to overlook spells likeCordon of ArrowsorSnare, which require a fair amount of planning to be effective in action.
However, the Ranger class is all about scouting ahead and luring enemies into a situation where the party holds an advantage. Laying down traps and snares—magical or mundane—are a big part of the Ranger flavor.
Don’t be afraid to embrace this side of the class, using these trap spells to give your party an advantage before combat even starts.
With some properly laid traps, you can bolster your party’s melee and ranged capabilities. Think about using the Ranger’s stealth abilities to get into tricky spots, and take advantage of Natural Explorer!
Tip 4: Pick the Right Ranger Archetype
At 3rd Level, Rangers get to choose a Ranger Archetype. These grant powerful new abilities at later levels, allowing you to customize your Ranger to suit your playstyle.
There are two Ranger Archetypes detailed in theD&D Player’s Handbook, with more added in later books. Since this guide is for beginners, we recommend one of the two core options.
TheHunterRanger Archetype allows you to embody the classic Ranger builds of previous D&D editions.
When you reach 3rd, 7th, 11th, and 17th Levels, you can choose a new ability from the list presented in the rulebook.
For example, at 3rd Level, you can choose betweenColossus Slayer(extra damage against targets who are already wounded),Giant Killer(use a Reaction to attack a nearby creature who misses an attack against you), orHorde Breaker(attack a second creature when you attack).
This is the best Ranger Archetype to take for players who want to focus on their combat abilities and want more options during encounters.
TheBeast MasterRanger Archetype gives you the chance to develop a bond between your Ranger and a wild animal.
This bond grants a bonus to the creature’s Attack rolls, plus an increased list of actions they can take on their turn.
The downside of Beast Master is that it requires you to manage an extra character in combat and sacrifices your Ranger’s own strength for the flavor of having a loyal animal companion.
This is one of the weaker character choices provided in the D&D Player’s Handbook and should only be taken by players who are comfortable with prioritizing roleplay over practical results.
Read next:How to Pick Your D&D 5e Class: Which D&D Class Should You Play?
The Hunter
TheHunterRanger Archetype allows you to embody the classic Ranger builds of previous D&D editions.
When you reach 3rd, 7th, 11th, and 17th Levels, you can choose a new ability from the list presented in the rulebook.
For example, at 3rd Level, you can choose betweenColossus Slayer(extra damage against targets who are already wounded),Giant Killer(use a Reaction to attack a nearby creature who misses an attack against you), orHorde Breaker(attack a second creature when you attack).
This is the best Ranger Archetype to take for players who want to focus on their combat abilities and want more options during encounters.
The Beast Master
TheBeast MasterRanger Archetype gives you the chance to develop a bond between your Ranger and a wild animal.
This bond grants a bonus to the creature’s Attack rolls, plus an increased list of actions they can take on their turn.
The downside of Beast Master is that it requires you to manage an extra character in combat and sacrifices your Ranger’s own strength for the flavor of having a loyal animal companion.
This is one of the weaker character choices provided in the D&D Player’s Handbook and should only be taken by players who are comfortable with prioritizing roleplay over practical results.
Read next:How to Pick Your D&D 5e Class: Which D&D Class Should You Play?
