How to maximize bow/crossbow damage?

[aquila]

Decided to go for a Ranger build in my new playthrough and with level 7 now I still struggle to come up with a good build. I maxed out DEX and I put the right perks to up my bow game, but still I do maybe 10 damage on average per hit, my Figher hits for 30-40 at this point in comparison.

Do I need to wear a specific armor or item or is there an op bow/crossbow I have not found yet? this feels very weak compared to just smashing someone with a sword

[Ironwu]

If you are not 'married' to the Ranger class, you might consider the Fighter/Rogue Multi-Class detailed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEWnGa-GSJg&t=1455s

I have been playing this (Asterion respec) and wow. Ranged Hand Crossbows FTW!

[❃ Galiäna Krüger ❃]

1. Make sure you're using proficient weapons

2. Yes there are armors and accessories increase range attack and/or add x damage from spell damage modifier or melee damage modifier to range attack

3. AFAIK DEX doesn't give you attack bonus. DEX give AC and other stats. STR is the non-magical damage.

[Edstyles]

i think they wanted to balance the damage from bows so they barely give u any good options at the start , but once you gain some levels and gear oh boy the damage ramps up by alot and id say being ranged might even be the way to go . You dont even need frontliners at that point. Border op.

[Harukage]

Gloomstalker/Assassin 5/7. 3 atacks on turn one, advantage on enemies who had not still not had their turn, auto-crits if you surprise them plus sneak atacks. Old classic.
Another one is Battlemaster/Gloomstalker/Assasin 6/3/3. The same, but with less sneak atack damage. and 6 atacks first turn and extra damage from battle maneuvers.
Stats and feats are simple. Start with 17 DEX. Get +1 Dex from Hag, and another 2 as ASI. That is your 20 DEX. Take Sharpshooter as your second ASI/feat choice. You can have extra +10 damage ability pretty much always turned on, as with yout ini you will most likely have your turn before everyone else and free advantages on everyone. Always use light armor.
That is all.

[Moonbane]

Theres a titanbow that uses strenght instead of dex for damage.

[Edstyles]

for damage you want feats like sharpshooter , max dexterity and good gear. The class spec doesnt matter much.

You can wreck stuff as ranger , bard , fighter. It dont matter.

[parent child bowl]

Originally posted by Moonbane:

Theres a titanbow that uses strenght instead of dex for damage.

Titanstring adds the STR modifier in addition to the DEX modifier.

[FunkyMonkey]

Sharpshooter feat adds +10 damage per hit, but you take -5 attack penalty. Archery Fighting style gives +2 attack bonus and if you have access to Bless for example, between Archery style and that, you should negate the -5 penalty. After that max out your DEX. Also Ranger's can use Hunter's mark to boost their damage.

The advantage of ranged combat may not be higher damage, but you are safer and you have easier time of picking your targets. Shoot other archers, wizards or casters in general, leave the heavy armor enemies for last if possible.

[parent child bowl]

Originally posted by Edstyles:

The class spec doesnt matter much.

If you want to max out damage, you definitely go for Hand Crossbows with Battlemaster/Thief.

[War Crimes Appreciator]

Ranger is generally meh in 5E; But with some homebrew Larian put in it's a decent frontline brawler. Put the bow away, don some armor and grab your axes (or may be rapiers if you're metrosexual d'Artagnan)!

[Edstyles]

Originally posted by parent child bowl:

Originally posted by Edstyles:

The class spec doesnt matter much.

If you want to max out damage, you definitely go for Hand Crossbows with Battlemaster/Thief.

it dont matter. u can even go with 2 hander and wreck stuff. Min max aint even needed.

[Edstyles]

Originally posted by War Crimes Appreciator:

Ranger is generally meh in 5E; But with some homebrew Larian put in it's a decent frontline brawler. Put the bow away, don some armor and grab your axes (or may be rapiers if you're metrosexual d'Artagnan)!

wrong bows do good damage. not to mention Larian likes special arrows so there is that. SO you can even do aoe damage as a ranger with bows unlike meele.

[War Crimes Appreciator]

Originally posted by Edstyles:

Originally posted by War Crimes Appreciator:

Ranger is generally meh in 5E; But with some homebrew Larian put in it's a decent frontline brawler. Put the bow away, don some armor and grab your axes (or may be rapiers if you're metrosexual d'Artagnan)!

Double digit IQ post

Opinion discarded

[Pozzy Vibes GGHF :)]

you go gloomstalker 5 ranger 3 rogue, so you get 2 bonus actions, 2 hides, an extra attack when battle starts plus an extra attack and your normal attack thereafter. Get the sharpshooter talent that increases average damage at the cost of hit accuracy.
Your disadvantage with sharpshooter in accuracy is overcome when you hide in combat and attack the creature since you get advantage on that shot.
Finally anytime you attack with advantage whether its from hiding or some other effect from party members, you get to use a more powerful ranged sneak attack. In fact, you can range sneak attack when a party member is in melee range of the target as well.

Its super meta, everyone uses it, so if you don't mind being unoriginal use this build. Its like the top youtube video for baldurs gate 3 builds.

[Mork]

5 ranger / 3 thief with 2x hand xbow

DEX 18 = +4 damage
Caustic Band (ring) = +2 acid
Gloves of Archery = +2
+1 hand xbow = 2-7
Hunter Mark = 1-6
Sneak attack = 2-12 (conditional)
.................
11-21
13-33 with Sneak attack




7 level ranger with the longbow Titanstring

DEX 18 = +4
STR 21 = +5
Caustic Band (ring) = +2 acid
Gloves of Archery = +2
Longbow +1 = 2-9
Hunter Mark = 1-6
.................
16-28


(in my opinion, a Fighter battlemaster is better at archery. Disarming, frightening or pushing enemies from long range is extremally good.)