A Fighter built for Archery has more combat abilities at their disposal than a Ranger. Fighters are just generally better at combat regardless of Melee or Range to be honest, however the Ranger is supposed to bring non combat abilities to the table to make up for it. Whether it successfully does that is debatable.
Better archer based on what? Damage? Utility? Cool factor?
Damage/Combat wise.
I've heard that if you want to play a pure archer character, Fighters outshine Rangers. It's like Ranger is more about roleplaying Robin Hood than actually being one.
Better archer based on what? Damage? Utility? Cool factor?
Damage/Combat wise.
I've heard that if you want to play a pure archer character, Fighters outshine Rangers. It's like Ranger is more about roleplaying Robin Wood than actually being one.
Generally they are about the same on levels 1-5 depending on the subclass you choose.
Hunter or Gloomstalker ranger will keep up DPR wise.
Battlemaster with Crossbow Expert and Sharpshooter with Precision attack is mostly on top for DPR period.
Outside of subclass jank such as a Gloom Stalker's first-round nova, fighters will outperform rangers as pure-combat archers. At higher levels it's difficult to beat attacking more often, and most fighter subclass's special abilities apply to bows as readily as they do swords. A Battle Master archer is morbidly terrifying, and easily the best way for a non-spellcaster player to get their DM pulling their hair out.
Rangers aren't as far behind as many players think they are, but they don't hold up as Damage Masters in a straight DPR comparison. Not outside subclass jank - and if one is including things like Gloom Stalker nova, then they cannot ignore things like a Samurai's Fighting Spirit or the Battle Master's Superiority dice, either.
Outside of subclass jank such as a Gloom Stalker's first-round nova, fighters will outperform rangers as pure-combat archers. At higher levels it's difficult to beat attacking more often, and most fighter subclass's special abilities apply to bows as readily as they do swords. A Battle Master archer is morbidly terrifying, and easily the best way for a non-spellcaster player to get their DM pulling their hair out.
Rangers aren't as far behind as many players think they are, but they don't hold up as Damage Masters in a straight DPR comparison. Not outside subclass jank - and if one is including things like Gloom Stalker nova, then they cannot ignore things like a Samurai's Fighting Spirit or the Battle Master's Superiority dice, either.
Yeah after level 5 its fighter all the way. Before its actually fairly close if you assume Hunter's Mark damage. Fighters just get that feat at 6th level and leave them in the dust for the most part.
Yeah after level 5 its fighter all the way. Before its actually fairly close if you assume Hunter's Mark damage. Fighters just get that feat at 6th level and leave them in the dust for the most part.
What starting abilities are you assuming? I expect 6th level is 'fighter has 20 Dex, ranger has 18 Dex' and feats at level 8.
Yeah after level 5 its fighter all the way. Before its actually fairly close if you assume Hunter's Mark damage. Fighters just get that feat at 6th level and leave them in the dust for the most part.
What starting abilities are you assuming? I expect 6th level is 'fighter has 20 Dex, ranger has 18 Dex' and feats at level 8.
My assumption would be:
Level 5 Battlemaster Fighter with Archery Style Sharpshooter or CBE as their feat at level 4
Level 5 Hunter/Gloomstalker Ranger with Sharpshooter or DEX Increase at level 4
At level 6 the fighter picks up the other feat they didnt pick up and the ranger....doesn't really get much.
Even with a DEX of 16 the fighter will be better at DPR thanks to Archery Style and Precision Attack with Sharpshooter and CBE if you expect an average AC of about 15 at that level.
If you go up to AC 18 it starts to be a bit better for the ranger assuming they can get Hunters Mark damage all the time.
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Who's the better archer?
Better archer based on what? Damage? Utility? Cool factor?
A Fighter built for Archery has more combat abilities at their disposal than a Ranger. Fighters are just generally better at combat regardless of Melee or Range to be honest, however the Ranger is supposed to bring non combat abilities to the table to make up for it. Whether it successfully does that is debatable.
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Damage/Combat wise.
I've heard that if you want to play a pure archer character, Fighters outshine Rangers. It's like Ranger is more about roleplaying Robin Hood than actually being one.
Generally they are about the same on levels 1-5 depending on the subclass you choose.
Hunter or Gloomstalker ranger will keep up DPR wise.
Battlemaster with Crossbow Expert and Sharpshooter with Precision attack is mostly on top for DPR period.
Outside of subclass jank such as a Gloom Stalker's first-round nova, fighters will outperform rangers as pure-combat archers. At higher levels it's difficult to beat attacking more often, and most fighter subclass's special abilities apply to bows as readily as they do swords. A Battle Master archer is morbidly terrifying, and easily the best way for a non-spellcaster player to get their DM pulling their hair out.
Rangers aren't as far behind as many players think they are, but they don't hold up as Damage Masters in a straight DPR comparison. Not outside subclass jank - and if one is including things like Gloom Stalker nova, then they cannot ignore things like a Samurai's Fighting Spirit or the Battle Master's Superiority dice, either.
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Yeah after level 5 its fighter all the way. Before its actually fairly close if you assume Hunter's Mark damage. Fighters just get that feat at 6th level and leave them in the dust for the most part.
What starting abilities are you assuming? I expect 6th level is 'fighter has 20 Dex, ranger has 18 Dex' and feats at level 8.
My assumption would be:
Level 5 Battlemaster Fighter with Archery Style Sharpshooter or CBE as their feat at level 4
Level 5 Hunter/Gloomstalker Ranger with Sharpshooter or DEX Increase at level 4
At level 6 the fighter picks up the other feat they didnt pick up and the ranger....doesn't really get much.
Even with a DEX of 16 the fighter will be better at DPR thanks to Archery Style and Precision Attack with Sharpshooter and CBE if you expect an average AC of about 15 at that level.
If you go up to AC 18 it starts to be a bit better for the ranger assuming they can get Hunters Mark damage all the time.