Best subclass for ranged focused ranger?

[Edwardlloyd]

title. both swiftblade shadowtamer and marksman looks good for archer ranger.

[HozzMidnight]

IMO Hunter is best for a ranged Ranger.

[Doombringer]

Marksman can make an extra attack at high level (a.k.a. in Palace of Ice) over a Swiftblade when using a ranged weapon.
Swiftblade is the best ranger sub-class otherwise.

[Edwardlloyd]

ended up choosing marksman. hope it pays off

[Cutlass Jack]

Its worth a shot. (ouch)

[HozzMidnight]

Originally posted by Doombringer:

Marksman can make an extra attack at high level (a.k.a. in Palace of Ice) over a Swiftblade when using a ranged weapon.
Swiftblade is the best ranger sub-class otherwise.

Swiftblade is crazy good. Best dual wield class IMO.

[Stubbieoz]

Originally posted by Edwardlloyd:

ended up choosing marksman. hope it pays off

You'll be fine.
I had Marksman through the Magister and Lost valley campaigns and she always was guaranteed to range hit.

[Cabusha]

Swiftblade is definitely amazeballs for dual wielding. Been in a coop campaign off an on, (level 10 now), playing as a half orc Swiftblade, dual wielding an Axe and a Longsword. She just murderizes, tanks well, and with Jump or Longstrider up, very mobile on the battlefield. Best Ranger, IMO.

If you wanna play a ranged Ranger, play a Warlock with Sellword background for medium armor. Eldritch blast is your bow. ;)

[Aranador]

Marksman is the best ranged shooter for sure. But you have to invest in the magic bow that does extra damage, and carry arrows with extra damage as well. You dont always need to be using the latter, but you want them available. The thing about marksman is that it uses a bonus action for an extra shot, which conflicts with hunters mark - the solution is not to use hunters mark because the extra damage it can deliver, is less than a powered up extra bow shot - more so if you use fancy arrows. And by not using that concentration spell, you could use another, or better, not use one so monsters do not feel the need to run up to you and try to break your concentration.

Just be aware that monsters do like to stand next to ranged characters - Marksman has a get away for free ability though, so it is not that big a deal.

Hunter is a contender at lower levels, but those tasty extra damage dice don't come often enough compared to a high level marksman spitting out 4 arrows a round. Time Warlock isn't too bad, but the lack of extra damage arrows puts them behind, as does the lack of equivalent to Archery style.. Blaster casters with a zillion spell slots and enemies lining up laugh at both rnagers and warlocks, until they need a nap :P

[Doombringer]

Ranged ranger should use concentration on Pass Without Trace, your ranged characters can get nearly permanent advantage on attacks with it + good dex + trained stealth.
(stealth doesn't really work for melees)

With that + bracers of archery + archery fighting style + magic arrows you get a ton of extra to hit bonuses... too bad sharpshooter feat isn't in this game :(