Fixing the Ranger in D&D 2024 (5.5e)

Hello good hunter,

For the past few years the ranger has been WotC’s problem child.

The Ranger Problem

To their credit WotC tried to fix the class a couple of times,

First in Xanathar by introducing super strong subclasses, such as the gloom stalker, an option which in any other class would be absolute insanity.

But they realized that just like giving steroids to a dying patient, it might give them big muscles, it still won’t fix the bloody heart attack. 

So Tasha’s came out and, I’d argue, mostly fixed the damage part of the ranger.

But then 2024 rolls around, with the new version of D&D  and in what is one of the worst marketing moves I’ve ever seen, in the teaser video, they say that they’ve completely revamped the ranger, and that it feels like a completely different class.

But it’s the same thing as Tasha’s, and now you have a horrible level 20 ability...

Fixing the Ranger

To give the devil its due, it’s clear that with the 2024 version they tried to give the ranger more of its class identity back as a relentless tracker.

I personally think it’s the wrong approach:

In my eyes, the ranger is the opposite of a paladin's lawful warfare: it’s the underhanded methods, the dirty work, anything is good as long as it brings victory. Rangers fight with guerilla tactics:

Hunter’s mark is the red dot that appears on the politician’s forehead right before he gets shot, fog cloud is the smoke bomb dropping in on the aristocrats, and your bow is just the weapon you are using to get rid of them.

Illegal? Probably .

Cool as hell? Yes.

So let's pick up where WotC left off and fix the ranger.

Take Care!
Evan | MonkeyDM

P.S: I also included a fix for the warlock's level 20 ability, because though the class as a whole is great in 5.5e, that capstone is still one of the worst ones in the game.

P.P.S: I created the Scorched Earth Ranger to explore our new and improved ranger, it's free so have fun with it!