5.5 2024 Archer builds?

In light of the updated Arcane Archer release, wondered which builds folks prefer?

How does Arcane Archer stack up against Gloomstalker or Assassin or Battlemaster in your mind in 5.5/2024?

In light of the updated Arcane Archer release, wondered which builds folks prefer?

Only having the 2024 PHB, can you say what has the updated release? What are the other builds you are referring to?

Quote from Character77006 >>

In light of the updated Arcane Archer release, wondered which builds folks prefer?

Only having the 2024 PHB, can you say what has the updated release? What are the other builds you are referring to?

It's included in the upcoming Arcana Unleashed, which hasn't been released yet. There was a playtest version of it last fall which you can find here.

I found the updated version a bit underwhelming. The problem the Arcane Archer always had was that it's built heavily around a central core feature, but you get very few uses of that feature, and once those are gone you're pretty much just a Fighter with no subclass. The playtest version didn't do much to improve that aspect of it. It really feels like you could make a more fun Arcane Archer by picking Battle Master instead and just choosing all the maneuvers that work with ranged weapons.

I don't recall ever seeing an Arcane Archer as part of a build.  I believe they aren't well-regarded overall.  I'm hoping Arcana Unleashed improves them greatly.

Quote from Character77006 >>

In light of the updated Arcane Archer release, wondered which builds folks prefer?

Only having the 2024 PHB, can you say what has the updated release? What are the other builds you are referring to?

Here's a reposting from DnDBeyond: Arcane Archer (UA8 - 18.09.25) - D&D 5e (2024)

Colby also posted a detailed breakdown today: The New (and Improved!) Arcane Archer: D&D Build #263

Quote from wagnarokkr >>

Quote from Character77006 >>

In light of the updated Arcane Archer release, wondered which builds folks prefer?

Only having the 2024 PHB, can you say what has the updated release? What are the other builds you are referring to?

It's included in the upcoming Arcana Unleashed, which hasn't been released yet. There was a playtest version of it last fall which you can find here.

I found the updated version a bit underwhelming. The problem the Arcane Archer always had was that it's built heavily around a central core feature, but you get very few uses of that feature, and once those are gone you're pretty much just a Fighter with no subclass. The playtest version didn't do much to improve that aspect of it. It really feels like you could make a more fun Arcane Archer by picking Battle Master instead and just choosing all the maneuvers that work with ranged weapons.

That was kinda what I was worried about. You'd think a subclass dedicated to one thing shouldn't be worse than another more general subclass. To be fair, it does seem like there are a number of improvements, just not sure if there are enough for me to want to play that over something else like Battlemaster or Gloomstalker, which seem to have more resources (Battlemaster) or more utility (Gloomstalker). I get they felt they had to nerf archers from 5e/2014, but still curious to find a good archer class in current rules.

Frankly, I find Battlemaster overrated to Baator & below because I don't think Maneuvers are THAT good apart from, like...1 or 2. & Maneuvers tend to be a thing for hyper-optimization, a valid playstyle that's not for me.

So I'll take Arcane Archer because it appeals more to me.

Makes total sense. Arcane Archers & Battlemaster seem to have the most dynamic choices for each attack (compared to Rangers or Rogues, etc.), so I can see the appeal. It's cool Battlemaster it'd be nice for an actual archer subclass to rise above the rest. I've never played either, so.

On the other hand, Ranger appeals to me for the out of combat utility, even with Fighters' and Arcane Archers' improvements in that.