So I'm planning on using a Hexblood lineage for my next Ranger build, and because I'm getting Hex from the racial trait and even get a free cast, it's feeling like there's no reason for me to waste a spell choice on Hunter's Mark.
Is there some major advantage Hunter's Mark has over Hex that would justify still taking it in this situation?
The only advantages Hunter's Mark provides over Hex are damage type and the secondary effect that makes it easier to track the marked creature. The damage type is very slightly better, because it is your weapon damage type. If you have a magic weapon, it will bypass the resistances of almost everything, but there are quite a few creatures that resist necrotic damage. The secondary effect rarely comes up.
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One thing to watch is that Hex is VSM, and Hunter's Mark is just V. You can do HM with your hands full and in fact many of the early level Ranger spells are designed this way. Needing a component pouch/focus and a free hand makes hex a little harder to pull off with weapons and shields.
I broadly agree that there's no reason to double up on Hex and Hunter's Mark -with the caveat that you should keep components in mind. That said, I have personally found that Hunter's Mark's tracking attribute is far more commonplace than most would assume. Or at least, I've made it far more commonplace when I've used it. It's not just for tracking fleeing enemies after combat. I've used it to successfully tail suspects or as a 'tracking device' sort of thing to help find kidnapping victims, etc
Hex is a better spell in general. Given the choice I would usually take Hex. I rarely keep Hunters Mark on a Ranger after level 4 where I have Hex as a free cast on a lot of characters and have used it effectively up to 15th level.
Differences:
1. Damage - Hex causes Necrotic, Hunter's Mark causes magical damage of the same type as the weapon. This slightly favors Hunters Mark.
2. Components - Hunters Mark only has a verbal component. Hex has a verbal, somatic and material. For most builds this is irrelevant, but it is huge if you are playing a shield-user or two-weapon-fighter
3. Rider effect - The Wisdom bonus on Hunters Mark is mostly irrelevant. As a matter of fact I have never used it. I use the disadvantage mechanic for Hex a lot. At high levels this becomes one of the main uses of the spell. This heavily favors Hex.
I have an Assasin Ranger...Nothing like casting HM in a taver, causouly leaving after your mark and following/tracking him to his home or casting it on a orc in the wild and tracking them back to the lair plus getting the damage when you do attack,
Another good thing to remember is hunter’s mark lasts for an hour. Hex only lasts for a minute. Plus, hunter’s mark is useful for re-finding hiding enemies - and in chases, if you have fleeing enemies.
VSM isn’t as big an issue as it might seem - you’d generally be casting hex/hunter’s mark at the start of combat, so you’d just unsheathe your weapons afterward.
Another good thing to remember is hunter’s mark lasts for an hour. Hex only lasts for a minute. Plus, hunter’s mark is useful for re-finding hiding enemies - and in chases, if you have fleeing enemies.
Since you already have Hex, you could look for other similar offense spells that add more versatility like Entangle, Ensnaring Strike and Zephyr Strike. I’m already assuming your character already has Absorb Elements and Goodberry, since both are mandatory picks.
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So I'm planning on using a Hexblood lineage for my next Ranger build, and because I'm getting Hex from the racial trait and even get a free cast, it's feeling like there's no reason for me to waste a spell choice on Hunter's Mark.
Is there some major advantage Hunter's Mark has over Hex that would justify still taking it in this situation?
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ModeratorThere really isnt any reason to have both spells.
The only advantages Hunter's Mark provides over Hex are damage type and the secondary effect that makes it easier to track the marked creature. The damage type is very slightly better, because it is your weapon damage type. If you have a magic weapon, it will bypass the resistances of almost everything, but there are quite a few creatures that resist necrotic damage. The secondary effect rarely comes up.
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One thing to watch is that Hex is VSM, and Hunter's Mark is just V. You can do HM with your hands full and in fact many of the early level Ranger spells are designed this way. Needing a component pouch/focus and a free hand makes hex a little harder to pull off with weapons and shields.
I agree huntersmark has its value. It is a great spell but people oversimplify its use and treat it as a "every combat spell" when it isn't.
If you are focusing on hex it will interfere with some equipment but It gives another rider.
I prefer hm but wouldn't take both.
I broadly agree that there's no reason to double up on Hex and Hunter's Mark -with the caveat that you should keep components in mind. That said, I have personally found that Hunter's Mark's tracking attribute is far more commonplace than most would assume. Or at least, I've made it far more commonplace when I've used it. It's not just for tracking fleeing enemies after combat. I've used it to successfully tail suspects or as a 'tracking device' sort of thing to help find kidnapping victims, etc
Hex is a better spell in general. Given the choice I would usually take Hex. I rarely keep Hunters Mark on a Ranger after level 4 where I have Hex as a free cast on a lot of characters and have used it effectively up to 15th level.
Differences:
1. Damage - Hex causes Necrotic, Hunter's Mark causes magical damage of the same type as the weapon. This slightly favors Hunters Mark.
2. Components - Hunters Mark only has a verbal component. Hex has a verbal, somatic and material. For most builds this is irrelevant, but it is huge if you are playing a shield-user or two-weapon-fighter
3. Rider effect - The Wisdom bonus on Hunters Mark is mostly irrelevant. As a matter of fact I have never used it. I use the disadvantage mechanic for Hex a lot. At high levels this becomes one of the main uses of the spell. This heavily favors Hex.
I have an Assasin Ranger...Nothing like casting HM in a taver, causouly leaving after your mark and following/tracking him to his home or casting it on a orc in the wild and tracking them back to the lair plus getting the damage when you do attack,
Another good thing to remember is hunter’s mark lasts for an hour. Hex only lasts for a minute. Plus, hunter’s mark is useful for re-finding hiding enemies - and in chases, if you have fleeing enemies.
VSM isn’t as big an issue as it might seem - you’d generally be casting hex/hunter’s mark at the start of combat, so you’d just unsheathe your weapons afterward.
I can’t remember what’s supposed to go here.
Hex lasts for an hour.
Since you already have Hex, you could look for other similar offense spells that add more versatility like Entangle, Ensnaring Strike and Zephyr Strike. I’m already assuming your character already has Absorb Elements and Goodberry, since both are mandatory picks.