So i always found it weird that the quintessential Ranger is a Sword slinging Bowman instead of a Spear slinging Bowman, so it made me want to play one.
The only thing i figured out is a single Monk dip to make it use Dex since its a simple weapon and it provides similar benefit to polarm master.
What else can be done to make the humble Spear powerful?
thanks for pointing out the ranged attack spells aspect.
While Flame arrows dont work Lightning Arrow does, so theres that.
Also Spear should work with the scag attack cabrrips like Booming and green flame blade right?
spears will work with those cantrips (in melee) but remember extra attack wont work when you take "cast a spell action" instead of the "attack action". i would almost always rather have the extra attack than the cantrips.
thanks for pointing out the ranged attack spells aspect.
While Flame arrows dont work Lightning Arrow does, so theres that.
Also Spear should work with the scag attack cabrrips like Booming and green flame blade right?
spears will work with those cantrips (in melee) but remember extra attack wont work when you take "cast a spell action" instead of the "attack action". i would almost always rather have the extra attack than the cantrips.
Yeah at 5th level they pretty much do the same damage but once it reaches 11 or higher it hikes up its damage output, but I wonder if it might work with Ki Fueled attack.
I played a strength based Gnome PAM spear and shield through Frostmaiden. He had a level of Arcana cleric to grab Booming Blade.
Good: The Reaction attack got a lot of use. In higher level play I would start first round with just a shield in hand to keep a hand free for Absorb Elements. AC with defensive style was amazing in the mid levels and the fighter in the party was jealous. Breastplate, shield, 14 dex, def fighting style = 19 Still worked well with Hunter's Mark, but found bless worked better. Favored Foe paired nicely since it requires no action/ba/reaction to start
Bad The bonus action economy was a little clogged Some Ranger spells really don't work with spear Having your hands full meant moving between a ranged weapon (bow) and your standard fighting (spear and shield) was complicated. I used Chill touch for a ranged attack from the cleric level. Damage was OK and reliable, but not stellar. The GWF battlemaster outdid me in most combats, but I kept up mostly fine.
Zephyr strike might be a good spell to mix with the spear - not as good as a cantrip in some ways and better in others. You have limited uses as it’s a L1 spell but you don’t need a 3rd class to bring it online. 1D6 from the spear + 1D4 from favored foe + 1d8 force from zephyr strike is not bad damage for one attack. But the great benefit of zephyr strike is the avoidance of opportunity attacks as long as you can hold concentration.
Zephyr strike might be a good spell to mix with the spear - not as good as a cantrip in some ways and better in others. You have limited uses as it’s a L1 spell but you don’t need a 3rd class to bring it online. 1D6 from the spear + 1D4 from favored foe + 1d8 force from zephyr strike is not bad damage for one attack. But the great benefit of zephyr strike is the avoidance of opportunity attacks as long as you can hold concentration.
Unfortunately favored foe is also Concentration so that combo might not be viable for Me 😔
So i always found it weird that the quintessential Ranger is a Sword slinging Bowman instead of a Spear slinging Bowman, so it made me want to play one.
The only thing i figured out is a single Monk dip to make it use Dex since its a simple weapon and it provides similar benefit to polarm master.
What else can be done to make the humble Spear powerful?
The polearm master feat would be nice with a strength ranger, probably either that or monk, not both.
The ranger spells that work with ranged attacks, like hail of thorns and ensnaring strike.
yeah thats why im leaning towards Monk.
thanks for pointing out the ranged attack spells aspect.
While Flame arrows dont work Lightning Arrow does, so theres that.
Also Spear should work with the scag attack cabrrips like Booming and green flame blade right?
spears will work with those cantrips (in melee) but remember extra attack wont work when you take "cast a spell action" instead of the "attack action". i would almost always rather have the extra attack than the cantrips.
Yeah at 5th level they pretty much do the same damage but once it reaches 11 or higher it hikes up its damage output, but I wonder if it might work with Ki Fueled attack.
I played a strength based Gnome PAM spear and shield through Frostmaiden. He had a level of Arcana cleric to grab Booming Blade.
Good:
The Reaction attack got a lot of use. In higher level play I would start first round with just a shield in hand to keep a hand free for Absorb Elements.
AC with defensive style was amazing in the mid levels and the fighter in the party was jealous. Breastplate, shield, 14 dex, def fighting style = 19
Still worked well with Hunter's Mark, but found bless worked better.
Favored Foe paired nicely since it requires no action/ba/reaction to start
Bad
The bonus action economy was a little clogged
Some Ranger spells really don't work with spear
Having your hands full meant moving between a ranged weapon (bow) and your standard fighting (spear and shield) was complicated. I used Chill touch for a ranged attack from the cleric level.
Damage was OK and reliable, but not stellar. The GWF battlemaster outdid me in most combats, but I kept up mostly fine.
Zephyr strike might be a good spell to mix with the spear - not as good as a cantrip in some ways and better in others. You have limited uses as it’s a L1 spell but you don’t need a 3rd class to bring it online. 1D6 from the spear + 1D4 from favored foe + 1d8 force from zephyr strike is not bad damage for one attack. But the great benefit of zephyr strike is the avoidance of opportunity attacks as long as you can hold concentration.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Unfortunately favored foe is also Concentration so that combo might not be viable for Me 😔
Even if all you get is the 1d6+1d8 + stat bonuses it’s not horrible and missing AoO for much of the fight is horrible - for the other side 😁🤪
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
1D8+1D8+2D4+ Dex bonuses if I two hand it and Flurry of Blows with Warcaster which I will get.
That works
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.