The Ranger nobody asked for

Rough and wild looking, a human stalks alone through the shadows of trees, hunting the orcs he knows are planning a raid on a nearby farm. Clutching a shortsword in each hand, he mutters an incantation as he becomes vivified with mystic speed. He becomes a whirlwind of steel, cutting down one enemy after another.

After tumbling away from a cone of freezing air, an elf finds her feet and draws back her bow to loose an arrow at the white dragon. Shrugging off the wave of fear that emanates from the dragon like the cold of its breath, she sends one arrow after another to find the gaps between the dragon’s thick scales.

Crouching behind a ledge, holding his hand high, a half-elf signals to his team to hold. The marching band of dragon cultists have been spotted. They lay and wait, their ambush prepped. He readies his bow, while the rest wait for his signal.

Each of these characters is a ranger, a diverse class of skilled wilderness survivalists. Rangers do whatever they can to survive in even the harshest of conditions. Whether that entails mastering martial techniques, medicine, befriending animals, or using druid magic, rangers know what is needed to survive in the bitter world they call home.

Deadly and Independent

Though a ranger might make a living as a hunter, a guide, or a tracker, a ranger’s true calling is to defend the outskirts of civilization from the ravages of monsters, humanoid hordes, or otherworldly beings that press in from the wild. Many rangers are independent, almost to a fault, knowing that when a dragon or a band of orcs attack, a ranger might be the first—and possibly the last—line of defense.

Adept wanders, rangers traverse the landscape with ease thanks to their familiarity with the wilds. It it through such familiarity that rangers learn to survive through brutal necessity. They adapt to use terrain to their advantage. They emphasize speed, stealth, and the hunt. A ranger’s talents and abilities are honed with deadly focus on the grim task of protecting the borderlands. They learn ranger magic—a practical magic steeped in ritual and born from the divine reverence of nature and the application of arcane techniques and enhancements to whatever tools and materials are available.

This fierce independence makes rangers well suited to exploration, since they are accustomed to life far from the comforts of a dry bed and a hot bath. Faced with city-bred adventurers who grouse and whine about the hardships of the wild, rangers respond with some mixture of amusement, frustration, and compassion. But they quickly learn that other adventurers who can carry their own weight in a fight against civilization’s foes are worth the extra burden. Coddled city folk might not know how to feed themselves or find fresh water in the wild, but they make up for it in other ways.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice: 1d10 per Ranger level
• Hit Points at 1st Level: 10 + your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d10 or 6 + your Constitution modifier per ranger level after 1st

Proficiencies

• Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
• Armor: Light armor, medium armor, shields
• Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons
• Tools: None
• Skills: (Choose 3) Animal Handling, Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Stealth, and Survival.

Cut Down

Precision gives your attacks extra lethality.

At 1st level. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, the weapon deals an extra 1d8 damage.

Steady Aim

Suppressing any tremble ensures you strike true.

At 9th level. After you make a weapon attack roll, you can add 1d4 to the total. You must do this before determining the outcome of the roll.

Swift Strike

As a foe slayer, your deft hands are lightning fast.

At 17th level. You can make 1 attack as a Bonus Action. If you engage in two-weapon fighting, you make this extra attack concurrently with the Bonus Action attack from two-weapon fighting and you make this attack with either weapon.

A reminder: the Hunter's Mark spell is removed from the game, and it is recommended to prevent the Ranger from learning Hex when using this homebrew.

Tireless

7th-Level Ranger feature
Adapting has required you to be hardy and resilient, letting you recover quickly and help others along the way.

Nature's Remedies. During a Short Rest, choose one willing creature(which can be yourself). When that creature spends Hit Dice as part of the rest, they regain additional hit points equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum 1) for each Hit Die spent.

In addition, the chosen creature gains advantage on any checks or saves made to fight off poison and disease during this rest.

Decrease Exhaustion. Once between long rests, if you are Exhausted when you finish a Short Rest, your level of exhaustion decreases by 1.

Nature’s Blessing

10th-Level Ranger feature
You draw on the innate magic of the natural world to embolden you for a brief time.

When you end your turn, you can choose to invoke one of the following blessings by expending a spell slot of any level.

• Vanish. You disappear from sight, becoming invisible until the end of your next turn, or until you make an attack or cast a spell.
• Ire. Choose a creature that you can see within 15 feet of you: they must make a Charisma saving throw against your Ranger spell save DC. On a failure, they have disadvantage on attack rolls against targets other than you, and any damage they deal to you is reduced by 1d8 + your Wisdom modifier until the start of your next turn.
• Inure. Choose a number of creature that you can see up to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of one): you and all chosen creatures gain Temporary Hit Points equal to 1d8 + your Wisdom modifier. These temporary hit points last a maximum of 1 minute.

Improved Weaponry

11th-Level Ranger feature
You are trained through vigor and experience, becoming accustom to your weapons, increasing their lethality.

Once per turn, your weapon attacks deal 1 additional damage die of its type on hit. For example, a Longbow deals 2d8 damage instead of 1d8.

Sturdy

15th-Level Ranger feature

You gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws. If you were already proficient, you gain proficiency in any other saving throw of your choice.

Apex Huntsman

20th-Level Ranger feature
Becoming an apex predator, you are able to overpower and overcome the creatures you chase.

• You regain 1 use of your Huntsman ability at the start of each of your turns.
• Whenever you make a Saving Throw, you can expend 1 use of your Huntsman to add 1d8 to the save.

Ranger Archetypes

The ideal of the ranger has classic expressions. The following archetypes embody the various rangers of legends, and are available to you.

Ranger's Flexibility

3rd-level Outrider feature
The school of hard knocks forced you to be a versatile combatant, quickly switching tactics moment by moment.

On your turn, you can stow one weapon and draw a different weapon when you would normally be able to draw or stow only one weapon. In addition, you can treat the Shortbow, Longbow, and weapons with the versatile property as also having the finesse property.

Wilderness Expert

3rd-level Hunter feature
You are particularly familiar with natural environments and are adept at traveling and surviving.

You gain proficiency with Medicine, Survival, or the Herbalism Kit (your choice).
In addition, you gain the following:

• Difficult terrain doesn’t slow your group’s travel pace.
• When you forage, you find twice as much food and water as you normally would.
• You gain advantage on Wisdom(Survival) and Wisdom(Perception) checks to track or find creatures. Additionally, you learn how long ago they passed through the area on a tracking success.

Skirmisher

6th-level Outrider feature
Skilled at skirmishing, you learn to maneuver swiftly in order to keep pace with your foes.

You gain the following unique combat techniques. You can use these techniques a total of 4 times, and regain all expended uses after finishing a long rest. You gain 2 additional uses of this feature at 10th and 14th level.

Overwatch: You tenure a deep focus which allows you to act and react with greater precision. You can use your reaction to make one ranged attack against a creature who moved at least 10 feet in a straight line on its turn.

Heavy Strike: Once per turn, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon held with both hands, you may perform a special Heavy Strike. The weapon damage of the attack gains 1 additional die of its type. Additionally, you do not provoke attacks of opportunity from the target for the rest of your turn.

Horde Breaker: Once on your turn, when you make a weapon attack, you can make another attack with the same weapon against a different creature that is within 5 feet of the original target and within range of your weapon.

Land’s Stride

10th-level Outrider feature

Moving through any difficult terrain costs you no extra movement. You can also pass through plants without being slowed by them and without taking damage from them if they have thorns, spines, or a similar hazard.

In addition, you can add half your proficiency bonus (round down) to any Strength or Dexterity check you make that doesn’t already use your proficiency bonus.

Defensive Tactics

14th-level Outrider feature
You've survived harsh skirmishes and long battles, and learned how to defend yourself.

You gain the following defensive features:

Escape the Horde. Opportunity attacks against you are made with disadvantage.

Multiattack Defense. When a creature hits you with an attack, you gain a +4 bonus to AC against all subsequent attacks made by that creature for the rest of the turn.

Multiattack

18th-level Outrider feature
You master the swiftness needed to cut down all foes in your way. You gain the following attack upgrades.

Volley. When you hit a target with a ranged weapon attack, you can make an additional attack against each other target that is within 10ft of the original target as a Bonus Action.

Whirlwind. When you hit a target with a melee weapon attack, you can make an additional attack against each other target that is within 5ft of the original target as a Bonus Action.

Hide in Plain Sight

3rd-level Stalker feature
Whether you're a bounty hunter, dungeon delver, wander, or vagabond, you learn the tricks required to avoid pursuers and ambush prey.

You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena. You gain +5 to any Dexterity(stealth) ability checks made when not moving or moving at less than 1/4 your normal speed.

Shadowsense

3rd-level Stalker feature

So long as you are not deafened, you gain Blindsight out to a range of 10 feet. Additionally, dim light doesn't impose disadvantage on your Wisdom(perception) checks.

Shadowed Exploits

6th-level Stalker feature
You gain the tools needed to exploit your opponent's movements and reposition as necessary.

You gain access to special combat exploits.

Exploits Known. Starting at 6th level, you know 3 exploits. You learn an additional exploit of your choice at 10th, 14th, and 18th level.

Performing an Exploit. When you take the Attack action, you can replace one of the attacks made with a known exploit. If you hit a creature with an attack from an exploit, the attack deals 1d8 bonus damage.

You can use your known exploits 3 times, and regain all uses after finishing a short or long rest. You gain 1 additional use of this feature at 10th level, 14th level, and 18th level.

Hearth of Moonlight and Shadow

10th-level Stalker feature
Home can be wherever you are.

During a short or long rest, you can invoke the shadowy power of the Gloaming Court to help guard your respite. At the start of the rest, you touch a point in space, and an invisible, 30-foot-radius sphere of magic appears, centered on that point. Total cover blocks the sphere.

While within the sphere, you and your allies gain a +5 bonus to Dexterity (Stealth) and Wisdom (Perception) checks, and any light from open flames in the sphere (a campfire, torches, or the like) isn’t visible outside it.

The sphere vanishes at the end of the rest or when you leave the sphere.

Shadowy Dodge

14th-level Stalker feature
You can dodge in unforeseen ways, with wisps of supernatural shadow around you.

Whenever a creature makes an attack roll against you and doesn’t have advantage on the roll, you can use your reaction to impose disadvantage on it. You must use this feature before the creature makes their attack roll.

If the creature has multiple attacks, they have disadvantage on all attacks against you until the start of your next turn.

Mortal Coil

18th-level Stalker feature
You can momentarily summon the wisps of supernatural shadow to infuse your weapons with heightened lethality.

When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you can convert that hit into a critical hit.

Once you use this feature you cannot do so again until finish a long rest.

Planes Keeper

3rd-level Horizon Walker feature
Being a Horizon Walker means knowing the secrets and strengths of the multitude of planes.

You are able to read and understand Primordial and Draconic if weren't able to before, and you gain proficiency in Arcana.

By spending 1 minute feeling the earth and the flow of space and time around you, you gain a fine-tuned mystical sense to other worldly beings nearby. For the next minute, you gain the ability to magically sense the presence of any planar portal, and whether any creature originating from another plane are within 1 mile of you. This feature doesn’t reveal the creatures’ location or number but does reveal their general direction, as well as the exact location of any planar portals.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Plane Walk

3rd-level Horizon Walker feature
Your control over the magic of planes lets you step between their boundary, teleporting short distances, and draw part of their elemental energy.

You can expend a spell slot of any level as a Bonus Action to teleport up to 15 feet per spell level expended to an unoccupied space you can see and your first attack made after teleporting gains advantage.

In addition, anytime you use your Cutdown ability, you can convert the damage of the entire attack to fire, lightning, or cold damage (your choice).

Rifts

6th-level Horizon Walker feature
You can briefly cause momentary rifts between the planes in order cause various effects.

Once per turn, when you hit a target with an attack, you can apply one of the following Rifts. If you do, the target takes 1d10 bonus force damage. This damage increases to 3d10 at 18th level.

You can cause a rift a number of times equal to 1 + your Wisdom modifier(minimum of once), and regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

• Tear. A 20 foot wide by 10 foot tall by 5 foot thick wall forms around the attacked target, causing anomalous waves of planar energy to fill the wall(you decided how the wall is oriented; the wall must encompass the target). The tear lasts until the start of your next turn. To leave or move through the wall requires 20 feet of additional movement. Additionally, any attack that originates from or traverses the tear suffers a -2 to hit.
• Grasp. A divide in the planes cause the target's speed to be reduced to 0 until the start of your next turn unless they succeed on a Strength saving throw against your Ranger Spell Save. If they are flying, they do not fall as the plane divide holds them aloft.
• Spacial Collapse. The target's location becomes momentarily irrelevant. The target can be considered to be within 5 feet of its next attacker - and for the duration of their turn - even if that attacker is up to 30 feet away. This momentary location superposition fades after the target is attacked, or the end of your next turn.

Become the Gatekeeper

10th-level Horizon Walker feature
You gain the ability to quickly open a portal to nearby location, allowing fast group travel.

You can cast Arcane Gate once between long rests using this feature.

Spectral Defense

14th-level Horizon Walker feature
Your ability to move between planes enables you to slip through the planar boundaries to lessen the harm done to you during battle.

When you take damage from an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the damage taken and teleport to an unoccupied space you can see within 60 feet of you.

You can cause a rift a number of times equal to 1 + your Wisdom modifier(minimum of once), and regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Plane Shift

18th-level Horizon Walker feature
Mastering the ability to split the planes, you unlock interplanar travel and are able to bring others with you.

You learn the Plane Shift spell. However, you cannot use this spell to banish an unwilling creature. You can cast this spell once using this feature, and regain the ability to do so after finishing a long rest.

Improved Rifts

18th-level Horizon Walker feature
There is immense power residing in other planes. You master the magic necessary to harness that power.

• Improved Tear. The wall can extend up to 50 feet wide instead of 20 feet.
• Improved Grasp. All creatures of your choice within 30 feet of the target (including the target) must succeed on a Strength saving throw against your Ranger Spell Save or be pulled up to 25 feet towards the target, and have their speed reduced to 0 until the start of your next turn. If they are flying, they do not fall as the plane divide holds them aloft.
• Improved Collapse. This effect now lasts until the end of your next turn, without ending early after being attacked. And, attackers can be up to 60 feet away instead of 30 feet.

Mystic Knowledge

3rd-level Sylvan Drifter feature
In one eccentric way or another your distinct charm is noticeable by others.

You gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Performance, or Persuasion.

Additionally, you learn the Sylvan language, 1 other language of your choice, and you learn the Dancing Lights and Minor Illusion cantrips.

Sylvan Lucidity

3rd-level Sylvan Drifter feature
Keeping a cool head, nomads and drifters alike do not run from the unknown or those that threaten them.

You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened and charmed.

At later levels. Starting at 6th level, you gain immunity to the charmed and frightened conditions originating from creatures marked with your Mesmer's Mark.

Spellbinding Thorns

6th-level Sylvan Drifter feature
Using illusory magic, you're able to manipulate the minds of your enemies.

You gain the following Thorns, which modify and amplify an attack in some way. Once on your turn, when you hit a creature with an attack, you can choose to apply one of these Thorns.

You can use your Thorns a number of times equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of once), and regain all uses after finishing a long rest.

• Glinting Thorn. The creature becomes illuminated for the next minute. While illuminated, they emit dim light in a 5 foot radius and cannot become invisible. If they were invisible, they lose this condition.
• Thorn of Bewilderment. Assaulting the mind of the creature causing chaos. The creature falls victim to the Enemies Abound spell. It makes its save against your Ranger spell save DC, and you must concentrate on this as if you were concentrating on a spell to have an effect.
• Dreadful Thorn. The creature's mind fills with fear; it must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your Ranger spell save DC or drop whatever it is holding and become frightened of you until the end of its next turn. While frightened by this effect, the creature must take the Dash action and move away from you by the safest available route, unless there is nowhere to move.
• Thorn of Confusion. The creature's mind twists, spawning delusions and provoking uncontrolled action. The creature falls victim to the Confusion spell. It makes its save against your Ranger spell save DC, and you must concentrate on this as if you were concentrating on a spell to have an effect.

• Hypnotic Thorn. You touch the mind of creature with fragments of reality and dancing lights. The creature falls victim to the Hypnotic Pattern spell. It makes its save against your Ranger spell save DC, and you must concentrate on this as if you were concentrating on a spell to continue its effect.

Mark of a Mesmer

6th-level Sylvan Drifter feature

When you hit a creature, you can expend a spell slot to place a Mesmer's Mark on the target, which lasts 1 minute. Anytime you deal damage to the marked target with your Cutdown ability, you to can convert the bonus damage to psychic damage. If you do, you can deal 1d6 additional psychic damage.

Dimension Warp

10th-level Sylvan Drifter feature

After a 1 minute ritual, you step into the border regions of the Ethereal Plane and gain the ability to see through solid objects to a range of 30 feet for 1 minute, or until your concentration ends (as if you were concentrating on a spell). While on the Ethereal Plane, you can only affect and be affected by other creatures on that plane. Creatures that aren't on the Ethereal Plane can't perceive you and can't interact with you, unless a special ability or magic has given them the ability to do so.

Within that time, you can move in any direction, even through solid surfaces, but you move at 1/4 speed. You perceive objects and the world around you as ghostly, transparent images.

When this effect ends, you immediately return to the plane you originated from in the spot you currently occupy. If you occupy the same spot as a solid object or creature when this happens, you are immediately shunted to the nearest unoccupied space that you can occupy and take force damage equal to twice the number of feet you are moved.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Shifting Sands

14th-level Sylvan Drifter feature
Bending reality, your mark lessening their harm done to you.

Anytime you take damage from a creature marked by your Mesmer's Mark, you take 1d8 + your Wisdom modifier less damage.

Mirrored Blade

18th-level Sylvan Drifter feature

As a Bonus Action you can conjure a floating prismatic mirror of your active weapons for the next 10 minutes. Once per turn, after you attack with a weapon, you can make one additional attack against that same or different target within range using a mirrored copy of your active weapon. You are proficient with this mirrored weapon and it has all the properties of your active weapon, except that it deals force or psychic damage instead your weapon's normal damage type. If you use one of your Thorns as part of the originating attack, you can apply the same Thorn to the mirrored attack as well, without expending as use.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest.

Pathfinder

Pathfinders make the maps, blaze the trails, and venture forth into the unknown. They are guided solely by intuition, longing, starlight, and the ancestral knowledge of generations past. The light of the stars do more than guide their way. A Pathfinder understands how to read the threads of fate by observing the shifting movements of the heavenly bodies and the radiant energies derived from a constellation's weave. This drawn energy trues their aim and exposes the weaknesses of their foes. Pathfinders are powerful allies and fearsome foes; guiding their allies in and out of battle.