Simply put, I have another character concept (Forever DM problems): A mountain climbing archaeologist. They'd be a Wood Elf, Tabaxi, or Custom Origin. I'd take the ranger as my class (I don't know which subclass, and I'd use the optional rules from Tasha's), and have the Archaeologist background. My main problem is the fact that I'd like to be a melee ranger, but I'm not sure whether to go with a STR or DEX build, and I'm divided between "Sword and Board" or "Dual Wielding" for my style of fighting. What would you do? I know that rangers are typically at their best when using ranged weapons, but I want to see if a melee build is feasible.
EDIT: I'm aware that Ranger is a DEX class. I recognize that going STR would be sub-optimal without min-maxing, and DEX would be an easier route. I still am divided on which path I'd take, given that STR would fit the mountain-climbing better, but DEX is a better stat overall. But part of me is leaning towards taking both and investing a little less in WIS because I'm not a full-caster.
EDIT: After comparing the Elf and Half-Elf races, I've begun to think that it might be better to be a Half-Elf with the Wood Elf heritage Fleet of Wood for 35 speed (40 with Deft Explorer at 6th level). The +2, +1, and +1 ability score improvements would be more beneficial than the +2 and +1 that an elf gets, especially given that this build, if it uses STR, would rely on many ability scores. Using point buy, customizable Half-Elf, and a STR build, I could have this array of ability scores: 17, 15, 14, 8, 13, 8. This would get me close to maxed STR, while keeping the other ranger stats decent. Of course, I'd use medium armor, likely either a Chain Shirt or Scale Mail, depending on whether or not I'd like to implement stealth or a higher AC. The Archaeologist background makes History checks in dungeons next to useless, and I could grab Expertise (Deft Explorer) in Perception to improve my "Hidden-Door finding abilities." My level 4 ASI could get STR and WIS to their next modifier, and level 8 would take STR to max. This is of course, unless I grab a feat (Which is unlikely if I go sword-and-board).
Are people still trying to make Revised Ranger happen?
It already exists. Tasha's introduced a set of optional rules that replace some existing ranger features with new, more powerful ones. For example, Natural Explorer is replaced with Deft Explorer. Instead of choosing a terrain and being able to find more food in that region plus a few other features (All of which are next to useless), you instead gain Expertise at 1st level, a Climbing & Swimming Speed at 6th level, and a feature that grants temporary hit points and allows you to reduce exhaustion on short rests at 10th level. There are other optional rules, but this one is one of the reasons why I decided to go with Ranger for the class, as it grants a climbing speed and my character is a Mountain-Climber/Archaeologist.
Strength is feasible. You might not be the best at ranged fighting, but it can be done.
Another alternative though: wisdom based melee Ranger. Pick up Shilleighly through the Druidic Warrior fighting style (or better yet, grab dueling and then get Shilleigeiaghly through magic initiate) and you'll have a super observant who fights using a walking stick or club.
You could also grab Pole Arm Master or use your Hunter's Mark on subsequent turns to further turn up the damage.
If you are going full optimization, you almost have to go Str for melee. As a ranger, you don’t really get fighting styles that help this mode of play, but blind fighting might be a good option for this type of character.
For melee, really the optimization comes from feats. If you want to use GWM/PAM, you are limited to a str build, and this is really the only way to get on par with an XBE/SS dex ranger. If you aren’t going full optimization, then dex will probably give you more bang for the buck. Between the two weapon fighting style, dex saves, and initiative, dex just will provide more.
If you don’t go great weapon master, the extra ability mod on the bonus action attack will probably make up for any damage gain from bigger dice on non-finesse weapons.
Are people still trying to make Revised Ranger happen?
It already exists. Tasha's introduced a set of optional rules that replace some existing ranger features with new, more powerful ones. For example, Natural Explorer is replaced with Deft Explorer. Instead of choosing a terrain and being able to find more food in that region plus a few other features (All of which are next to useless), you instead gain Expertise at 1st level, a Climbing & Swimming Speed at 6th level, and a feature that grants temporary hit points and allows you to reduce exhaustion on short rests at 10th level. There are other optional rules, but this one is one of the reasons why I decided to go with Ranger for the class, as it grants a climbing speed and my character is a Mountain-Climber/Archaeologist.
The optional features are situationally more useful, but they're not more powerful. If I were playing a ranger in Rime of the Frostmaiden, I'd absolutely want Natural Explorer over Deft Explorer because of the advantages of choosing artic and mountain as favored terrains. That said, let's take another look at your mountain climbing archeologist:
A wood elf won't see any use out from Elf Weapon Training, and even Nature's Veil is situationally useful.
A tabaxi who already has a climb speed of 20 isn't getting as much with the 6th-level Deft Explorer improvement as other races would.
You might be better off with customizing the origin of whatever race you choose, instead of creating a Custom Lineage.
All those weapons from Elf Weapon Training could be turned into proficiency with tools.
That +1 Charisma with the tabaxi could be +1 Wisdom, and you could swap their +2 Dex for +2 Strength.
You could also try talking your DM into letting you play a variant human with Heavily Armored and start with ring mail, a shield, and a wooden staff in place of scale mail. You might have to roll for gold, instead, in which case the average is 120. But maybe the DM will let you start with the max of 200. Or you could keep the mail, buy the staff with the starting gold from your background, and play a Wisdom melee ranger. With Tasha's, you'll have access to shillelagh at 2nd level. And with a Dexterity score of 14 to 15, you won't stink with a finesse weapon at 1st level.
I also think its worth asking if you're rolling for statistics or sticking to the standard array or point-buy. Rolling can be unpredictable, but it may open up avenues you didn't consider before.
If you can find a way to get heavy armor (As suggested V. Human or a dip into 1 level fighter) then you can make a STR build work.
Otherwise you are going to have to use medium armor and get DEX to 14 if you want decent AC for a frontline melee build. While this is far from impossible it makes your build MAD as heck unless you are ok with a low WIS on your ranger (you need 13 at least to MC FYI). And if you are taking DEX to 14 anyway....why not just make a DEX build at that point since you would have better ranged options then?
I would suggest going the v.human route if you want to do STR build.
14 dex on a str build ranger is completely achievable. A ton of ranger spells, including most of the best ones do not depend on ability modifier at all. Hunters mark, goodberry, fog cloud, absorb elements, zephyr strike (not to mention alarm, detect magic, detect poison and disease); darkvision, locate spells, lesser restoration, pass without trace, protection from poison, silence, spike growth; conjure animals, daylight, flame arrows, lightning arrow, nondetection. I'm getting bored of writing examples. More than half the ranger list doesn't depend on spellcasting modifier.
14 dex on a str build ranger is completely achievable. A ton of ranger spells, including most of the best ones do not depend on ability modifier at all. Hunters mark, goodberry, fog cloud, absorb elements, zephyr strike (not to mention alarm, detect magic, detect poison and disease); darkvision, locate spells, lesser restoration, pass without trace, protection from poison, silence, spike growth; conjure animals, daylight, flame arrows, lightning arrow, nondetection. I'm getting bored of writing examples. More than half the ranger list doesn't depend on spellcasting modifier.
Lightning Arrow depends on Wisdom - there's a whole Dexterity saving throw involved. It's also not a very good spell - it's quite similar to Divine Smite, but worse in some very meaningful ways in exchange for benefits which are often less than meaningful. Alarm, on the other hand, is a truly excellent spell most Rangers can't afford to take, because spells known is at a major premium and they can't cast the spell ritually. Meanwhile, [spell[Daylight[/spell] is awful.
Avoiding spells that care about your Wisdom is usually good advice for any Ranger, of course.
Ah yeah, i did miss that about lightning arrow. Mistakes happen, I guess, eh quindraco? But you ARE right. there is a premium on spells known and that fact coupled with the wealth that don't require your spellcasting mod sorta solidifies my point.
Sure, all of those spells aren't the top tier spells on their list, but they are (with the exception of lightning arrow) some examples. But again, something like lightning arrow isn't likely to come up on a melee build often. On that note, many of the ranger spells that require your wisdom are probably better used from range anyway.
There are a few great spells that do require wisdom, don't get me wrong. But you certainly can more than fill your known spells on a ranger easily without ever choosing a spell that needs a save or a spell hit.
I would not go STR on Ranger unless my concept revolved around something that required Strength - basically a STR-based weapon or heavy armor.
WIS-based melee ranger is great in concept, but in play Rangers tend to be so reliant on their BA that casting shillelagh every combat can be really frustrating. It also hard limits you to two types of weapons that don't have a lot of useful magic item versions.
I suppose magic item availability is another point in favor of a STR build. An awful lot of magic items are longswords and hammers and axes, and a STR build could use magical finesse weapons too.
14 dex on a str build ranger is completely achievable. A ton of ranger spells, including most of the best ones do not depend on ability modifier at all. Hunters mark, goodberry, fog cloud, absorb elements, zephyr strike (not to mention alarm, detect magic, detect poison and disease); darkvision, locate spells, lesser restoration, pass without trace, protection from poison, silence, spike growth; conjure animals, daylight, flame arrows, lightning arrow, nondetection. I'm getting bored of writing examples. More than half the ranger list doesn't depend on spellcasting modifier.
It highly depends on your build if Wisdom is a big negative loss or not.
Wisdom also effects several other ranger features depending on your build....
Gloomstalker it relates to how much bonus you get to initiative and since the first round of combat is most important to you as a Gloomstalker that's a pretty big deal. Especially since you are stopping at dex 14 most likely...you are not even making up the difference there likely much less actually having a higher than normal initiative bonus.
Fey Wanderer adds several spells from their list that require a save and thus your DC and not to mention the WIS bonus to your social skill checks.
Monster Slayer gets Hunter’s Sense equal to their WIS mod so having a low WIS is going to hurt there as well.
Swarmkeeper adds Web, Faerie Fire which both rely on your DC along with the DC for your Gathered Swarm is based on your spellcasting DC.
Entangle, Ensnaring Strike, Any healing spell (cure wounds/ healing spirit), and the Attack Bonus from your Summon Beast (and other) spells.
Not to mention that WIS Saves are a big deal in general:
Being the third most plentiful saves from creatures and almost always imposing a major/minor status or condition.
So yes its a big deal to drop WIS for ranger most of the time.
The one that would be least impacted would be Horizon Walker as none of their added spells really do much with DC and none of their abilities rely on DC as well. So if you did go the dump WIS route it would be a good one to take a look at.
I mean, if you want to build a str ranger, you have to put up with some of these drawbacks, and as I pointed out in my first post that is not the best route UNLESS you are going full optimization PAM/GWM route. In that case, of course you're going to have weak areas, that is inherent with optimizations.
I mean, if you want to build a str ranger, you have to put up with some of these drawbacks, and as I pointed out in my first post that is not the best route UNLESS you are going full optimization PAM/GWM route. In that case, of course you're going to have weak areas, that is inherent with optimizations.
Of course...my intent is to only show all information so one can make an informed decisions on the pros/cons of the build.
Overall you surely can do it (and I am sure it would be fun) but you would have the drawbacks listed which may affect your decision either way.
I mean, most Rangers get by with 14 wisdom just fine, and if you're not planning on multiclassing... 8 really wouldn't hurt? Just use your spell slots on non-save-based spells, like Hunter's Mark, Absorb Elements, etc. that help you be a martial combatant better, and you'll never know the difference. Pushing Str, Dex at 14, Con at 16, rest at 8 is a totally viable way to build a Ranger.
Why would you sacrifice Ranger spell DC and some occasional wis-based class features? Well, GWM is pretty tasty (even without PAM), and usually needs a strength build to use it unless you're a Warlock or Artificer MC. Yes, Sharpshooter is objectively better for DPR... but depending on party composition, a GWM front liner may be better for the group than another blaster.
Or, strength is pretty important for a Sword-n-board Shield Expert user who inflicts prone on an important target (or two, or three) every round.
There isn't a lot about the Ranger or its subclasses that make either of these builds particularly suited for Ranger rather than Fighter (other than a Ranger having an optional feature to pick up Expertise Athletics, for the Shield Expert), but if you want to play them, they work!
I think it was mentioned above, but instead of being a Str-based ranger, the Druidic fighting style pretty much lets you play a Wisdom based one too, who uses a Shillelagh quarterstaff and PAM for really decent damage. 8 Str, 14 Dex, 16 Con, push Wisdom is a very easy start to justify, and you'll be wielding a spell focus (wooden staff) as your weapon which makes being a sword cudgel-n-board fighter even easier. Shield Expert still has some value, but you won't have the Athletics to justify pushing folks prone with your bonus, and will be making bonus action butt attacks (which very arguably are d8 when shillelaghed) instead.
Dex is essential for archers, and archer rangers are probably the best rangers. But if you're a melee build, Str or Wisdom will suit you just as well, and in some ways better.
I would talk to your DM and ask if he/she will let you use acrobatics for your climbing ability. It arguably fits as well, especially if you go with Tabaxi. You can build a perfectly playable strength-based melee ranger, but there's a lot of reasons you would want to go with Dex.
What you would be asking the DM for is small and reasonable.
I mean, most Rangers get by with 14 wisdom just fine, and if you're not planning on multiclassing... 8 really wouldn't hurt? Just use your spell slots on non-save-based spells, like Hunter's Mark, Absorb Elements, etc. that help you be a martial combatant better, and you'll never know the difference. Pushing Str, Dex at 14, Con at 16, rest at 8 is a totally viable way to build a Ranger.
Why would you sacrifice Ranger spell DC and some occasional wis-based class features? Well, GWM is pretty tasty (even without PAM), and usually needs a strength build to use it unless you're a Warlock or Artificer MC. Yes, Sharpshooter is objectively better for DPR... but depending on party composition, a GWM front liner may be better for the group than another blaster.
Or, strength is pretty important for a Sword-n-board Shield Expert user who inflicts prone on an important target (or two, or three) every round.
There isn't a lot about the Ranger or its subclasses that make either of these builds particularly suited for Ranger rather than Fighter (other than a Ranger having an optional feature to pick up Expertise Athletics, for the Shield Expert), but if you want to play them, they work!
I think it was mentioned above, but instead of being a Str-based ranger, the Druidic fighting style pretty much lets you play a Wisdom based one too, who uses a Shillelagh quarterstaff and PAM for really decent damage. 8 Str, 14 Dex, 16 Con, push Wisdom is a very easy start to justify, and you'll be wielding a spell focus (wooden staff) as your weapon which makes being a sword cudgel-n-board fighter even easier. Shield Expert still has some value, but you won't have the Athletics to justify pushing folks prone with your bonus, and will be making bonus action butt attacks (which very arguably are d8 when shillelaghed) instead.
Dex is essential for archers, and archer rangers are probably the best rangers. But if you're a melee build, Str or Wisdom will suit you just as well, and in some ways better.
14 would be fine not optimal.....8 would be be pretty bad depending on the subclass.
Fey Wanderer, Gloomstalker, Monster Hunter, Swarmkeeper all have subclass features that are based on WIS so you would have very limited use of your subclass abilities either from a number of times you can use it, the bonus you get from it, or the DC associated with your abilities.
Also these subclasses get spells that rely on your DC as well so I would very very strongly suggest against dumping WIS for those subclasses.
Hunter and Horizon Walker would be OK to dump if you didn't mind having a terrible WIS save ( I personally never would if I could avoid it).
Lastly (and very much the most unlikely reason to consider overall) is that the level 20 feature for rangers procs from WIS...which means you would not get a capstone if you dumped WIS and since you cannot MC out if its dumped then you are stuck with getting mostly nothing at level 20.
Granted this is extremely unlikely to happen anyway so its the last thing to consider but is true none the less.
"Minimum once" means an 8 is as good as a 13. Two of the Fey Wanderer's features and one of the Monster hunter's features have such a minimum. Yes, of course your spell save DC won't be great.
Also, I don't know if you've heard of the patented "bitterness bounce", but the Ranger capstone is probably not something you should strive to get anyway. You can get more out of taking a single level in a lot of other classes than you can out of that 20th level of Ranger. Of course, you are right that dumping wis means you cannot MC, but since you can add the ability mod, you haven't lost anything by dumping, you just haven't gained anything.
"Minimum once" means an 8 is as good as a 13. Two of the Fey Wanderer's features and one of the Monster hunter's features have such a minimum.
Also, I don't know if you've heard of the patented "bitterness bounce", but the Ranger capstone is probably not something you should strive to get anyway. You can get more out of taking a single level in a lot of other classes than you can out of that 20th level of Ranger.
Sure but that 13 is going to cost you somewhere else then just to make sure you CAN MC.
So one use of a subclass feature per day is even worth it? I would just play another subclass rather than play a stripped down version of one.
1 vs 4 or 5 uses of something is a big deal especially if its during the meat of the game (5 -10th level).
It also depends on if your DM is cool with floating racial ASI. If not then finding the right combo could be difficult as STR/WIS/DEX is not a common combo.
Bugbear would work well as you could get a 16 in STR, 14 in DEX, 14 in CON, and 14 in WIS with point buy.
But if you really wanted a specific race (like V. human), then you will be stuck with a 12 in WIS most likely. (13 if you want to burn one of the racial ASI to improve so you can Multiclass)
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Simply put, I have another character concept (Forever DM problems): A mountain climbing archaeologist. They'd be a Wood Elf, Tabaxi, or Custom Origin. I'd take the ranger as my class (I don't know which subclass, and I'd use the optional rules from Tasha's), and have the Archaeologist background. My main problem is the fact that I'd like to be a melee ranger, but I'm not sure whether to go with a STR or DEX build, and I'm divided between "Sword and Board" or "Dual Wielding" for my style of fighting. What would you do? I know that rangers are typically at their best when using ranged weapons, but I want to see if a melee build is feasible.
EDIT: I'm aware that Ranger is a DEX class. I recognize that going STR would be sub-optimal without min-maxing, and DEX would be an easier route. I still am divided on which path I'd take, given that STR would fit the mountain-climbing better, but DEX is a better stat overall. But part of me is leaning towards taking both and investing a little less in WIS because I'm not a full-caster.
EDIT: After comparing the Elf and Half-Elf races, I've begun to think that it might be better to be a Half-Elf with the Wood Elf heritage Fleet of Wood for 35 speed (40 with Deft Explorer at 6th level). The +2, +1, and +1 ability score improvements would be more beneficial than the +2 and +1 that an elf gets, especially given that this build, if it uses STR, would rely on many ability scores. Using point buy, customizable Half-Elf, and a STR build, I could have this array of ability scores: 17, 15, 14, 8, 13, 8. This would get me close to maxed STR, while keeping the other ranger stats decent. Of course, I'd use medium armor, likely either a Chain Shirt or Scale Mail, depending on whether or not I'd like to implement stealth or a higher AC. The Archaeologist background makes History checks in dungeons next to useless, and I could grab Expertise (Deft Explorer) in Perception to improve my "Hidden-Door finding abilities." My level 4 ASI could get STR and WIS to their next modifier, and level 8 would take STR to max. This is of course, unless I grab a feat (Which is unlikely if I go sword-and-board).
Are people still trying to make Revised Ranger happen?
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
It already exists. Tasha's introduced a set of optional rules that replace some existing ranger features with new, more powerful ones. For example, Natural Explorer is replaced with Deft Explorer. Instead of choosing a terrain and being able to find more food in that region plus a few other features (All of which are next to useless), you instead gain Expertise at 1st level, a Climbing & Swimming Speed at 6th level, and a feature that grants temporary hit points and allows you to reduce exhaustion on short rests at 10th level. There are other optional rules, but this one is one of the reasons why I decided to go with Ranger for the class, as it grants a climbing speed and my character is a Mountain-Climber/Archaeologist.
Strength is feasible. You might not be the best at ranged fighting, but it can be done.
Another alternative though: wisdom based melee Ranger. Pick up Shilleighly through the Druidic Warrior fighting style (or better yet, grab dueling and then get Shilleigeiaghly through magic initiate) and you'll have a super observant who fights using a walking stick or club.
You could also grab Pole Arm Master or use your Hunter's Mark on subsequent turns to further turn up the damage.
If you are going full optimization, you almost have to go Str for melee. As a ranger, you don’t really get fighting styles that help this mode of play, but blind fighting might be a good option for this type of character.
For melee, really the optimization comes from feats. If you want to use GWM/PAM, you are limited to a str build, and this is really the only way to get on par with an XBE/SS dex ranger. If you aren’t going full optimization, then dex will probably give you more bang for the buck. Between the two weapon fighting style, dex saves, and initiative, dex just will provide more.
If you don’t go great weapon master, the extra ability mod on the bonus action attack will probably make up for any damage gain from bigger dice on non-finesse weapons.
The optional features are situationally more useful, but they're not more powerful. If I were playing a ranger in Rime of the Frostmaiden, I'd absolutely want Natural Explorer over Deft Explorer because of the advantages of choosing artic and mountain as favored terrains. That said, let's take another look at your mountain climbing archeologist:
You could also try talking your DM into letting you play a variant human with Heavily Armored and start with ring mail, a shield, and a wooden staff in place of scale mail. You might have to roll for gold, instead, in which case the average is 120. But maybe the DM will let you start with the max of 200. Or you could keep the mail, buy the staff with the starting gold from your background, and play a Wisdom melee ranger. With Tasha's, you'll have access to shillelagh at 2nd level. And with a Dexterity score of 14 to 15, you won't stink with a finesse weapon at 1st level.
I also think its worth asking if you're rolling for statistics or sticking to the standard array or point-buy. Rolling can be unpredictable, but it may open up avenues you didn't consider before.
If you can find a way to get heavy armor (As suggested V. Human or a dip into 1 level fighter) then you can make a STR build work.
Otherwise you are going to have to use medium armor and get DEX to 14 if you want decent AC for a frontline melee build. While this is far from impossible it makes your build MAD as heck unless you are ok with a low WIS on your ranger (you need 13 at least to MC FYI). And if you are taking DEX to 14 anyway....why not just make a DEX build at that point since you would have better ranged options then?
I would suggest going the v.human route if you want to do STR build.
14 dex on a str build ranger is completely achievable. A ton of ranger spells, including most of the best ones do not depend on ability modifier at all. Hunters mark, goodberry, fog cloud, absorb elements, zephyr strike (not to mention alarm, detect magic, detect poison and disease); darkvision, locate spells, lesser restoration, pass without trace, protection from poison, silence, spike growth; conjure animals, daylight, flame arrows, lightning arrow, nondetection. I'm getting bored of writing examples. More than half the ranger list doesn't depend on spellcasting modifier.
Lightning Arrow depends on Wisdom - there's a whole Dexterity saving throw involved. It's also not a very good spell - it's quite similar to Divine Smite, but worse in some very meaningful ways in exchange for benefits which are often less than meaningful. Alarm, on the other hand, is a truly excellent spell most Rangers can't afford to take, because spells known is at a major premium and they can't cast the spell ritually. Meanwhile, [spell[Daylight[/spell] is awful.
Avoiding spells that care about your Wisdom is usually good advice for any Ranger, of course.
Ah yeah, i did miss that about lightning arrow. Mistakes happen, I guess, eh quindraco? But you ARE right. there is a premium on spells known and that fact coupled with the wealth that don't require your spellcasting mod sorta solidifies my point.
Sure, all of those spells aren't the top tier spells on their list, but they are (with the exception of lightning arrow) some examples. But again, something like lightning arrow isn't likely to come up on a melee build often. On that note, many of the ranger spells that require your wisdom are probably better used from range anyway.
There are a few great spells that do require wisdom, don't get me wrong. But you certainly can more than fill your known spells on a ranger easily without ever choosing a spell that needs a save or a spell hit.
I would not go STR on Ranger unless my concept revolved around something that required Strength - basically a STR-based weapon or heavy armor.
WIS-based melee ranger is great in concept, but in play Rangers tend to be so reliant on their BA that casting shillelagh every combat can be really frustrating. It also hard limits you to two types of weapons that don't have a lot of useful magic item versions.
I suppose magic item availability is another point in favor of a STR build. An awful lot of magic items are longswords and hammers and axes, and a STR build could use magical finesse weapons too.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
Dex hands down! It's not the best stat in the game for nothing! ☺
It highly depends on your build if Wisdom is a big negative loss or not.
Wisdom also effects several other ranger features depending on your build....
Gloomstalker it relates to how much bonus you get to initiative and since the first round of combat is most important to you as a Gloomstalker that's a pretty big deal. Especially since you are stopping at dex 14 most likely...you are not even making up the difference there likely much less actually having a higher than normal initiative bonus.
Fey Wanderer adds several spells from their list that require a save and thus your DC and not to mention the WIS bonus to your social skill checks.
Monster Slayer gets Hunter’s Sense equal to their WIS mod so having a low WIS is going to hurt there as well.
Swarmkeeper adds Web, Faerie Fire which both rely on your DC along with the DC for your Gathered Swarm is based on your spellcasting DC.
Entangle, Ensnaring Strike, Any healing spell (cure wounds/ healing spirit), and the Attack Bonus from your Summon Beast (and other) spells.
Not to mention that WIS Saves are a big deal in general:
Being the third most plentiful saves from creatures and almost always imposing a major/minor status or condition.
So yes its a big deal to drop WIS for ranger most of the time.
The one that would be least impacted would be Horizon Walker as none of their added spells really do much with DC and none of their abilities rely on DC as well. So if you did go the dump WIS route it would be a good one to take a look at.
I mean, if you want to build a str ranger, you have to put up with some of these drawbacks, and as I pointed out in my first post that is not the best route UNLESS you are going full optimization PAM/GWM route. In that case, of course you're going to have weak areas, that is inherent with optimizations.
Of course...my intent is to only show all information so one can make an informed decisions on the pros/cons of the build.
Overall you surely can do it (and I am sure it would be fun) but you would have the drawbacks listed which may affect your decision either way.
I mean, most Rangers get by with 14 wisdom just fine, and if you're not planning on multiclassing... 8 really wouldn't hurt? Just use your spell slots on non-save-based spells, like Hunter's Mark, Absorb Elements, etc. that help you be a martial combatant better, and you'll never know the difference. Pushing Str, Dex at 14, Con at 16, rest at 8 is a totally viable way to build a Ranger.
Why would you sacrifice Ranger spell DC and some occasional wis-based class features? Well, GWM is pretty tasty (even without PAM), and usually needs a strength build to use it unless you're a Warlock or Artificer MC. Yes, Sharpshooter is objectively better for DPR... but depending on party composition, a GWM front liner may be better for the group than another blaster.
Or, strength is pretty important for a Sword-n-board Shield Expert user who inflicts prone on an important target (or two, or three) every round.
There isn't a lot about the Ranger or its subclasses that make either of these builds particularly suited for Ranger rather than Fighter (other than a Ranger having an optional feature to pick up Expertise Athletics, for the Shield Expert), but if you want to play them, they work!
I think it was mentioned above, but instead of being a Str-based ranger, the Druidic fighting style pretty much lets you play a Wisdom based one too, who uses a Shillelagh quarterstaff and PAM for really decent damage. 8 Str, 14 Dex, 16 Con, push Wisdom is a very easy start to justify, and you'll be wielding a spell focus (wooden staff) as your weapon which makes being a
swordcudgel-n-board fighter even easier. Shield Expert still has some value, but you won't have the Athletics to justify pushing folks prone with your bonus, and will be making bonus action butt attacks (which very arguably are d8 when shillelaghed) instead.Dex is essential for archers, and archer rangers are probably the best rangers. But if you're a melee build, Str or Wisdom will suit you just as well, and in some ways better.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
I would talk to your DM and ask if he/she will let you use acrobatics for your climbing ability. It arguably fits as well, especially if you go with Tabaxi. You can build a perfectly playable strength-based melee ranger, but there's a lot of reasons you would want to go with Dex.
What you would be asking the DM for is small and reasonable.
14 would be fine not optimal.....8 would be be pretty bad depending on the subclass.
Fey Wanderer, Gloomstalker, Monster Hunter, Swarmkeeper all have subclass features that are based on WIS so you would have very limited use of your subclass abilities either from a number of times you can use it, the bonus you get from it, or the DC associated with your abilities.
Also these subclasses get spells that rely on your DC as well so I would very very strongly suggest against dumping WIS for those subclasses.
Hunter and Horizon Walker would be OK to dump if you didn't mind having a terrible WIS save ( I personally never would if I could avoid it).
Lastly (and very much the most unlikely reason to consider overall) is that the level 20 feature for rangers procs from WIS...which means you would not get a capstone if you dumped WIS and since you cannot MC out if its dumped then you are stuck with getting mostly nothing at level 20.
Granted this is extremely unlikely to happen anyway so its the last thing to consider but is true none the less.
"Minimum once" means an 8 is as good as a 13. Two of the Fey Wanderer's features and one of the Monster hunter's features have such a minimum. Yes, of course your spell save DC won't be great.
Also, I don't know if you've heard of the patented "bitterness bounce", but the Ranger capstone is probably not something you should strive to get anyway. You can get more out of taking a single level in a lot of other classes than you can out of that 20th level of Ranger.Of course, you are right that dumping wis means you cannot MC, but since you can add the ability mod, you haven't lost anything by dumping, you just haven't gained anything.Sure but that 13 is going to cost you somewhere else then just to make sure you CAN MC.
So one use of a subclass feature per day is even worth it? I would just play another subclass rather than play a stripped down version of one.
1 vs 4 or 5 uses of something is a big deal especially if its during the meat of the game (5 -10th level).
It also depends on if your DM is cool with floating racial ASI. If not then finding the right combo could be difficult as STR/WIS/DEX is not a common combo.
Bugbear would work well as you could get a 16 in STR, 14 in DEX, 14 in CON, and 14 in WIS with point buy.
But if you really wanted a specific race (like V. human), then you will be stuck with a 12 in WIS most likely. (13 if you want to burn one of the racial ASI to improve so you can Multiclass)