My little goblin beastmaster ranger has just hit level 10 and stumbled across a scimitar of speed as an upgrade to his +1 shortsword. Much to his chagrin, he's thinking that given his Beast of the Land is great at killing things already on his bonus action and is about to get even better he should probably give it away. The only other player without a great weapon already is the druid who has a pretty useful staff that he uses with Shillelagh. However, he rarely uses it as he's often casting with his full action but doesn't have much to do with his bonus action.
Would you keep it, or give it away?
Goblin Beastmaster (Tasha's) Ranger lvl 10: Str 10, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8 (not 18, oops)
Kalashtar Circle of Spores Druid lvl 10: Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 20, Cha 12
Keep it! It is a +2 weapon, which if you never use its bonus action ability is still a power increase. And when those rare occasions come up when you’re not using your bonus action for your buddy, now you’ll have a back up option.
What’s your fighting style? This weapon is the dream of any Dueling user. Get a shield to improve your AC and attack 3 times with a lovely +2 damage bonus.
Keep it for the times your companion dies or something.
My little goblin beastmaster ranger has just hit level 10 and stumbled across a scimitar of speed as an upgrade to his +1 shortsword. Much to his chagrin, he's thinking that given his Beast of the Land is great at killing things already on his bonus action and is about to get even better he should probably give it away. The only other player without a great weapon already is the druid who has a pretty useful staff that he uses with Shillelagh. However, he rarely uses it as he's often casting with his full action but doesn't have much to do with his bonus action.
Would you keep it, or give it away?
Goblin Beastmaster (Tasha's) Ranger lvl 10: Str 10, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 18,
Kalashtar Circle of Spores Druid lvl 10: Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 20, Cha 12
Holy crap your statline. That Charisma... did you spend all your ASIs on stats, no feats? What fighting style did you pick?
Definitely keep the scimitar, that Druid is only Dex 14 and just not built to hit things in melee without using their Wisdom to do it.
Frankly the only lack of synergy here is that you're a Goblin, so your Bonus Action is deeply overloaded, on two things you don't really need - you don't need to Disengage (you have a Beast of the Land, so you can Bonus Action Disengage from its back) and you can't usually Hide (you're not a Lightfoot Halfling, so you can't hide behind your own beast while observed). If we ignore those, at a bare minimum it's a +2 scimitar and melee murder is apparently your job. I don't know your fighting style, so ignoring it, this is how you work right now and how you'll work at L11:
Now: You swing at +11 to hit for on average 11.5 damage. Your Beast swings at +6 to hit for 10.5 damage; on the charge, instead this is 14 damage and the target has to pass a DC 14 Str save or be knocked prone.
Level 11: Your Beast simply swings twice, which is huge for knocking targets prone.
As you can see, when not charging, you're radically better off using the scimitar and having the Beast Dodge. When Charging, you need to decide how likely you are to knock the target prone. But since your Wis is only 16 (lower than your Charisma!), your Beast isn't very accurate.
That's really useful, thanks. And sorry, the goblin's charisma is 8 not 18! Total typo there. Both ASIs on stat increases, and fighting style is duellist using a shield and sword.
So start with a charge from the Beast of the Land when there's a realistic chance of knocking it over, and otherwise I have a Beast hanging around doing nothing but flanking if the ref goes with that optional rule. Seems a waste of a ranger archetype, is all - it's basically a hardy familiar?
That's really useful, thanks. And sorry, the goblin's charisma is 8 not 18! Total typo there. Both ASIs on stat increases, and fighting style is duellist using a shield and sword.
So start with a charge from the Beast of the Land when there's a realistic chance of knocking it over, and otherwise I have a Beast hanging around doing nothing but flanking if the ref goes with that optional rule. Seems a waste of a ranger archetype, is all - it's basically a hardy familiar?
I just want to touch on the sub optimal comment. I don’t think it is. You’re bonus action is weaponized from your great magic item and fighting style. Count that as a win. When your beast isn’t commanded it dodges automatically! That’s not nothing. You now have a dodging, moving, tactical body on the battlefield that can take opportunity attacks. That is not just more chances for opportunity attacks, but likely chances as more often than not, beast is solely focused on setting them up. I know it’s not as “sexy” as having the beast attack, but this dodge and tactical move strategy is sound and part of how the handbook beast master should be played before level 11. The beast has an AC equal to many of the party members, even better while dodging, hit points equal to or exceeding the lower half of the party, and hits hard. It is also always there as an option or backup action/attack.
Thanks for the upbeat comment. In addition he’s a body on the pitch who can help block a 10ft corridor, distract and worry casters, engage additional mobs and keep them locked down even if he isn’t doing a whole lot of damage to them.
Remember just having a creature in melee makes all ranged attacks at disadvantage. This is good for preventing attacks on the parties back row members. Also sometimes spreading out is great. With a phb beastmaster and flying snake I would be able to attack anything on the battle field on a given turn. Tasha's beasts can almost preform the same function.
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My little goblin beastmaster ranger has just hit level 10 and stumbled across a scimitar of speed as an upgrade to his +1 shortsword. Much to his chagrin, he's thinking that given his Beast of the Land is great at killing things already on his bonus action and is about to get even better he should probably give it away. The only other player without a great weapon already is the druid who has a pretty useful staff that he uses with Shillelagh. However, he rarely uses it as he's often casting with his full action but doesn't have much to do with his bonus action.
Would you keep it, or give it away?
Goblin Beastmaster (Tasha's) Ranger lvl 10: Str 10, Dex 20, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 16, Cha 8 (not 18, oops)
Kalashtar Circle of Spores Druid lvl 10: Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 12, Wis 20, Cha 12
Keep it! It is a +2 weapon, which if you never use its bonus action ability is still a power increase. And when those rare occasions come up when you’re not using your bonus action for your buddy, now you’ll have a back up option.
But would it be better for the druid to have, gaining a whole extra attack for the group every round and using an otherwise wasted bonus action?
Maybe. Does the druid wade into hand-to-hand combat often?
Almost never - he'd have to lurk, ready for an opportunity to dart in and stick it to them.
Keep it :)
You could keep it, use the attack action to command the beast to attack, freeing up your bonus action for the scimitar.
What’s your fighting style? This weapon is the dream of any Dueling user. Get a shield to improve your AC and attack 3 times with a lovely +2 damage bonus.
Keep it for the times your companion dies or something.
Holy crap your statline. That Charisma... did you spend all your ASIs on stats, no feats? What fighting style did you pick?
Definitely keep the scimitar, that Druid is only Dex 14 and just not built to hit things in melee without using their Wisdom to do it.
Frankly the only lack of synergy here is that you're a Goblin, so your Bonus Action is deeply overloaded, on two things you don't really need - you don't need to Disengage (you have a Beast of the Land, so you can Bonus Action Disengage from its back) and you can't usually Hide (you're not a Lightfoot Halfling, so you can't hide behind your own beast while observed). If we ignore those, at a bare minimum it's a +2 scimitar and melee murder is apparently your job. I don't know your fighting style, so ignoring it, this is how you work right now and how you'll work at L11:
As you can see, when not charging, you're radically better off using the scimitar and having the Beast Dodge. When Charging, you need to decide how likely you are to knock the target prone. But since your Wis is only 16 (lower than your Charisma!), your Beast isn't very accurate.
That's really useful, thanks. And sorry, the goblin's charisma is 8 not 18! Total typo there. Both ASIs on stat increases, and fighting style is duellist using a shield and sword.
So start with a charge from the Beast of the Land when there's a realistic chance of knocking it over, and otherwise I have a Beast hanging around doing nothing but flanking if the ref goes with that optional rule. Seems a waste of a ranger archetype, is all - it's basically a hardy familiar?
I just want to touch on the sub optimal comment. I don’t think it is. You’re bonus action is weaponized from your great magic item and fighting style. Count that as a win. When your beast isn’t commanded it dodges automatically! That’s not nothing. You now have a dodging, moving, tactical body on the battlefield that can take opportunity attacks. That is not just more chances for opportunity attacks, but likely chances as more often than not, beast is solely focused on setting them up. I know it’s not as “sexy” as having the beast attack, but this dodge and tactical move strategy is sound and part of how the handbook beast master should be played before level 11. The beast has an AC equal to many of the party members, even better while dodging, hit points equal to or exceeding the lower half of the party, and hits hard. It is also always there as an option or backup action/attack.
Thanks for the upbeat comment. In addition he’s a body on the pitch who can help block a 10ft corridor, distract and worry casters, engage additional mobs and keep them locked down even if he isn’t doing a whole lot of damage to them.
A much more positive take on things, thank you!
Remember just having a creature in melee makes all ranged attacks at disadvantage. This is good for preventing attacks on the parties back row members. Also sometimes spreading out is great. With a phb beastmaster and flying snake I would be able to attack anything on the battle field on a given turn. Tasha's beasts can almost preform the same function.