Best Archer class?

[Project Danny]

What is the best class to play to the best archer in game?

I want to use dual hand crossbows as they are the best imo.

But what class to use? I was thinking going a pure dex fighter for all the extra attacks and feats.

I looked up ranger builds but it's all just beastmaster I don't care for pets.

I did try rogue but light armor sucks balls they just don't give as good stuff as medium and stealth is just clunky and junky and don't work half the time.

I was thinking going fighter champion for the extra crits I want to be able to crit a lot as well.

What's your guys suggestions?

[Project Danny]

Bump

[Maitre Corbeau]

Champion Fighter is most likely the best option for pure archer, but you should try whatever you want, you can always change your build at the camp, so don't be afraid to experience different classes/subclasses !

[guard65]

I always liked rogue/fighter or rogue/ranger. Rogue give you those second level bonus action that give and archer the ability to stick, disengage and move on the battle field as well as attempt to hide to acquire advantage then fire. You do not need over level two rogue but sometimes the third can have perks if you want the subclass feature bump.

[soulfreezer]

Rogue/Ranger multiclass works quite well, you get medium armor and extra attack from Ranger and sneak attack from Rogue for extra damage.

[6h0$t942]

I play a gloomstalker assassin. If you wanted to really optimize go for gloomstalker thief.

[ManyEagles]

The best is probably combining thief and ranger. Combining the two gives you an extra attack from ranger lvl 5 and an extra bonus action from thief. So you effectively have 4 attacks per turn when dual wielding crossbows. Combine this with the Sharpshooter perk and the risky ring to improve your accuracy and you'll be dealing a ton of damage from a distance. I usually choose gloom stalker as my ranger subclass for this build but It's kinda up to preference as hunter is also good. You could also try something like thief + champion instead for the extra crit chance while still getting an extra attack.

[ToucanSafari]

Pure fighter/champion is best. Regardless, you won't see a tremendous difference trying one of the other multiclass options because DW xbow is stupidly overpowered.

[¤ OpN ¤]

Dual hand crossbows, I would say thief is really strong with them.
If you are multi classing hunter/thief for 4 attacks or restealth for sneak attack

[guard65]

Yup but that off-hand dexterity bonus will go away for that off-hand.

It should have gone away with this update, which pissed me off that it did not but semantics none the less. All in good time. Enjoy the home-brew over-site non-5e cheat while it lasts.

[solegrim3]

Swords bard with flourishes. I respecced to 2 fighter, 6 swords bard at level 8 and she's been ripping it up since then. She also has a ton of additional utility in her bard spells.

[Atalos]

I'm currently playing Gloomstalker5/Thief5/Fighter2 with dual hand crossbows and it's really strong. It has high initiative so you can pretty much wipe packs alone on your first turn. Gloomstalker 5 gives you Dread Ambusher, Archery Fighting Style, Sharpshooter feat and an extra attack which is 4 attacks.
Thief 5 gives you a +3d6 Sneak Attack which you can reaction off of your Dread Ambusher attack, bonus action and a feat (Dex AI).
Fighter 2 gives you Two Weapon Fighting Style and Action Surge.
When you're hasted with Elixir of Bloodlust you can get up to 11 attacks. (9 without Action Surge)
https://baldursgate3.gamefractal.com/?v=1&c1=NTav_O0_B8_A-8ff88812_X.8scw%2B.apt6%2B.1b2g%2B*NDJ4MSwweDY3LDF4MSwweDg%2B*NDV4MSwweDEwLDF4MSwweDY1%2B.16v7l_Cr5g5f2_Lrrrrrgggggff_U.2i1_I.3

[Phares]

Honestly, I tried a straight-up pure Ranger Hunter Subclass and I was wrecking shop.
I was initially running a Strength build and being a heavy armour melee Ranger with a polearm, but i found both a Titanstring bow that adds your strength to damage, and the gloves that set your dex to 18.

Colossus Slayer, Hunter's Mark and eventually when you get Whirlwind Attack/Volley at level 11, ♥♥♥♥ gets a little nutty.
Rangers also get access to Longstrider and Jump, which are a gods-damned treat for battlefield control as you can end up jumping halfway across the map with the Jump spell up, so High-ground and playing keep-away is never an issue.

[❃ Galiäna Krüger ❃]

There's literally a class called "Ranger".

[Fortune Calls]

I plan to have a Drow Thief Rogue 3 / Warlock 2 that can attack safely in Darkness, with Psionic Overload, Luck of the Far Realms, and Cull the Weak. The support will be Druid Spider Wildshape to web up strategic places, and a cleric to cast triple Bless and Healing Word.

[Mravenrocks]

Not from level 1 but eventually it's Bard Sword College 6/Thief 4/Fighter 2. You dual-wield hand crossbows and use the bard inspiration to double shoots.