Deadeye Sharpshooter

“Patience, precision, and a steady hand—these are the marks of the Deadeye Sharpshooter.”

The Deadeye Sharpshooter is more than a ranger with firearms—they are tactical experts who leverage their surroundings, marksmanship, and adaptability to control the battlefield. Their skills blend seamlessly with the ranger’s wilderness expertise, making them deadly in both urban and wild settings.

Subclass Features

Level 3: Gunfighter's Grace

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with firearms and the Tinker's Tools required to maintain them. Additionally, you learn to fight with firearms in harmony with your ranger training.

• Sharpshooter’s Instinct: You can ignore disadvantage on ranged attack rolls imposed by being within 5 feet of a hostile creature.
• Gun Maintenance: You can spend 1 hour during a short or long rest to clean, repair, and calibrate your firearms. Doing so grants one firearm of your choice an enhanced critical range for the next 24 hours (a natural 19 or 20 counts as a critical hit).

At 3rd level, you gain a suite of abilities that set the foundation for your firearm mastery:

• Firearm Proficiency: You gain proficiency with all firearms, and you can use your bonus action to draw or stow a firearm.
• Crafting Ammunition: During a long rest, you can craft ammunition for your firearms if you have Tinker's Tools and raw materials. You can produce 20 rounds of ammunition or up to 5 specialized rounds (e.g., incendiary, armor-piercing). These specialized rounds require DM approval for effects and cost additional resources.
• Enhanced Critical Range: Your ability to repair and calibrate firearms grants one firearm you work on during a rest an enhanced critical range of 19-20 for 24 hours.

Roleplay Note: The calibration rituals of your firearms reflect your bond with them. Are you meticulous and mechanical, or do you approach them with reverence as tools of destiny?

 

Level 3: Mark the Target

Your keen eye allows you to identify weak points in an enemy's defense. As a bonus action, you can designate a creature you can see within 90 feet as your marked target.

• You gain advantage on the next ranged attack roll you make against this creature before the end of your next turn.
• The marked target takes additional damage equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1) when you hit it.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses after a long rest.

Expanding upon your ability to single out a target, Mark the Target gains the following enhancements:

• Hunter's Precision: When you attack a marked target, your critical hits deal an additional die of damage.
• Expanded Duration: Your mark lasts for 1 minute or until the target drops to 0 hit points.

Additionally, you can now mark a target stealthily. If you are hidden when you use Mark the Target, the target does not immediately realize it is marked unless it succeeds on a Wisdom (Perception) check against your spell save DC.

Level 7: Tactical Precision

You’ve honed your ability to place shots with pinpoint accuracy, even in difficult situations.

• Enhanced Aim: Once per turn, when you make a ranged weapon attack, you can choose to add your Wisdom modifier to the attack roll.
• Ricochet Shot: You can use your firearm to make a ricochet attack. Choose a point within your firearm's range that you can see. Any creature within 5 feet of that point must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Dexterity modifier) or take damage equal to your weapon's base damage.

At 7th level, your combat awareness and precision grow sharper:

• Enhanced Aim: Your ability to add your Wisdom modifier to attack rolls can now be used a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
• Ricochet Shot: When using this feature, you can target up to two points, allowing you to manipulate the trajectory of your shots to strike multiple creatures or hit a creature hiding behind cover.

Additionally, your understanding of the battlefield allows you to act with uncanny foresight. When you roll initiative, you can choose one firearm or ranged weapon attack to make as part of your initiative roll.

Level 11: Sniper's Gambit

Your mastery of firearms allows you to execute daring and high-risk maneuvers.

• Deadeye Focus: As a bonus action, you can enter a state of heightened focus. For 1 minute, you gain the following benefits:
• Attacks you make with firearms ignore half and three-quarters cover.
• Your critical hits deal an additional die of damage.
• You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed.

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

At 11th level, your sniper instincts transform the battlefield into your hunting ground:

• Deadeye Focus (Enhanced): While in this heightened state, your attacks against creatures marked by Mark the Target deal an additional 1d6 damage. This damage increases to 2d6 if the creature is within half the weapon's normal range.

Additionally, the benefits of Deadeye Focus now include:

• Ignore all cover, including total cover, as long as you are aware of the target’s position.
• Once per turn, you can reduce the recoil of a firearm, allowing you to make one additional firearm attack as part of the Attack action.

Level 15: Apex Hunter

At the pinnacle of your skill, you become an unmatched marksman and battlefield tactician.

• Killing Shot: When you hit a creature with a ranged weapon attack, you can choose to deal an additional 6d6 damage. You can use this feature once per short or long rest.
• Shadow Step Stance: After making a ranged weapon attack, you can use your bonus action to move up to half your speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

At 15th level, your mastery with firearms makes you a legend:

• Killing Shot (Expanded): When using this feature, you can choose to shoot a critical weak point. Instead of rolling 6d6 extra damage, you can roll 4d6 and impose one of the following conditions (your choice) for 1 minute:
• Blinded
• Deafened
• Frightened

A creature can make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns to end the effect.

• Shadow Step Stance (Enhanced): After firing your weapon, you can move your full speed without provoking opportunity attacks. If you move into an area of dim light or darkness, you can attempt to hide as part of the same bonus action.

This Ranger: Deadeye Sharpshooter subclass offers an exciting blend of firearm mastery and traditional ranger abilities, bringing new versatility and tactical depth to campaigns while maintaining compatibility with D&D 2024 rules.

Expanded Roleplay Hooks

The Deadeye Sharpshooter can be much more than a combat archetype. Consider these roleplaying options:

• Silent Protector: Your skills make you an unparalleled bounty hunter, vigilante, or law enforcer. Who or what do you protect, and what lines will you cross to uphold justice?
• Wandering Marksman: A lone traveler with a firearm and a code. Do you hunt dangerous creatures, or are you searching for redemption for a tragic past?
• Artisan of War: You see firearms as works of art, honing your skill with the pride of a master craftsman. How do you react to others who misuse firearms or dishonor their potential?

Integration with Campaigns and Worldbuilding

The Deadeye Sharpshooter is an ideal fit for worlds like Aetheris, where firearms are rare, secretive, and powerful. Incorporate these elements to enrich the subclass:

1. Ties to Guilds: The character might have ties to the Gunsmith’s Guild or seek to protect its secrets. Their firearm could be a gift, stolen property, or an experimental design.
2. Exploring Wilds: As a ranger, this subclass retains the versatility of tracking, survival, and exploration. They might specialize in hunting magical beasts or safeguarding ancient ruins.
3. Cultural Conflict: Firearms could be controversial or feared in your world. How does society view your character, and what consequences arise from their weaponry?

This expansion elevates the Deadeye Sharpshooter subclass to a full narrative and mechanical experience, blending ranged combat with the classic ranger themes of precision, survival, and versatility.

Level 3: Gunfighter's Grace

When you choose this archetype at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with firearms and the Tinker's Tools required to maintain them. Additionally, you learn to fight with firearms in harmony with your ranger training.

• Sharpshooter’s Instinct: You can ignore disadvantage on ranged attack rolls imposed by being within 5 feet of a hostile creature.
• Gun Maintenance: You can spend 1 hour during a short or long rest to clean, repair, and calibrate your firearms. Doing so grants one firearm of your choice an enhanced critical range for the next 24 hours (a natural 19 or 20 counts as a critical hit).

At 3rd level, you gain a suite of abilities that set the foundation for your firearm mastery:

• Firearm Proficiency: You gain proficiency with all firearms, and you can use your bonus action to draw or stow a firearm.
• Crafting Ammunition: During a long rest, you can craft ammunition for your firearms if you have Tinker's Tools and raw materials. You can produce 20 rounds of ammunition or up to 5 specialized rounds (e.g., incendiary, armor-piercing). These specialized rounds require DM approval for effects and cost additional resources.
• Enhanced Critical Range: Your ability to repair and calibrate firearms grants one firearm you work on during a rest an enhanced critical range of 19-20 for 24 hours.

Roleplay Note: The calibration rituals of your firearms reflect your bond with them. Are you meticulous and mechanical, or do you approach them with reverence as tools of destiny?

Level 3: Mark the Target

Your keen eye allows you to identify weak points in an enemy's defense. As a bonus action, you can designate a creature you can see within 90 feet as your marked target.

• You gain advantage on the next ranged attack roll you make against this creature before the end of your next turn.
• The marked target takes additional damage equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1) when you hit it.

You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, regaining all uses after a long rest.

Expanding upon your ability to single out a target, Mark the Target gains the following enhancements:

• Hunter's Precision: When you attack a marked target, your critical hits deal an additional die of damage.
• Expanded Duration: Your mark lasts for 1 minute or until the target drops to 0 hit points.

Additionally, you can now mark a target stealthily. If you are hidden when you use Mark the Target, the target does not immediately realize it is marked unless it succeeds on a Wisdom (Perception) check against your spell save DC.

Level 7: Tactical Precision

You’ve honed your ability to place shots with pinpoint accuracy, even in difficult situations.

• Enhanced Aim: Once per turn, when you make a ranged weapon attack, you can choose to add your Wisdom modifier to the attack roll.
• Ricochet Shot: You can use your firearm to make a ricochet attack. Choose a point within your firearm's range that you can see. Any creature within 5 feet of that point must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Dexterity modifier) or take damage equal to your weapon's base damage.

At 7th level, your combat awareness and precision grow sharper:

• Enhanced Aim: Your ability to add your Wisdom modifier to attack rolls can now be used a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest.
• Ricochet Shot: When using this feature, you can target up to two points, allowing you to manipulate the trajectory of your shots to strike multiple creatures or hit a creature hiding behind cover.

Additionally, your understanding of the battlefield allows you to act with uncanny foresight. When you roll initiative, you can choose one firearm or ranged weapon attack to make as part of your initiative roll.

Level 11: Sniper's Gambit

Your mastery of firearms allows you to execute daring and high-risk maneuvers.

• Deadeye Focus: As a bonus action, you can enter a state of heightened focus. For 1 minute, you gain the following benefits:
• Attacks you make with firearms ignore half and three-quarters cover.
• Your critical hits deal an additional die of damage.
• You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed.

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

At 11th level, your sniper instincts transform the battlefield into your hunting ground:

• Deadeye Focus (Enhanced): While in this heightened state, your attacks against creatures marked by Mark the Target deal an additional 1d6 damage. This damage increases to 2d6 if the creature is within half the weapon's normal range.

Additionally, the benefits of Deadeye Focus now include:

• Ignore all cover, including total cover, as long as you are aware of the target’s position.
• Once per turn, you can reduce the recoil of a firearm, allowing you to make one additional firearm attack as part of the Attack action.

Level 15: Apex Hunter

At the pinnacle of your skill, you become an unmatched marksman and battlefield tactician.

• Killing Shot: When you hit a creature with a ranged weapon attack, you can choose to deal an additional 6d6 damage. You can use this feature once per short or long rest.
• Shadow Step Stance: After making a ranged weapon attack, you can use your bonus action to move up to half your speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

At 15th level, your mastery with firearms makes you a legend:

• Killing Shot (Expanded): When using this feature, you can choose to shoot a critical weak point. Instead of rolling 6d6 extra damage, you can roll 4d6 and impose one of the following conditions (your choice) for 1 minute:
• Blinded
• Deafened
• Frightened

A creature can make a Constitution saving throw at the end of each of its turns to end the effect.

• Shadow Step Stance (Enhanced): After firing your weapon, you can move your full speed without provoking opportunity attacks. If you move into an area of dim light or darkness, you can attempt to hide as part of the same bonus action.