Hiya all.  I'd like to make a Beast Master Ranger with a primary stat of Wisdom.  And I'm looking for a bit of advice on how to build one?  Are there features, skills, or abilities that would pair well with a high wisdom?   Is there a way to make my primary attack use wisdom instead, or is Shillelagh the only way (thus missing out on Nick)?  Any advice or tips using the 2024 rules would be helpful, though I'm open to older subclasses as well (assuming my DM approves).  Thanks!

Shillelagh using a Club or Quarterstaff is probably the best solution to going all-in on Wisdom. Another option would be to get True Strike, but that would require you to lose the benefit of Extra Attack (though at higher levels, the spell will deal up to an extra 3d6 radiant damage on hit, so it might not bother you too much).

Personally, I would take Magic Initiate Druid as an origin feat to get Shillelagh, then use a Quarterstaff and Shield, getting Polearm Master at level 4 for an extra bonus action attack. It is a little unclear on what the damage of the bonus action attack from Polearm Master is when Shillelagh is active, so talk to your DM about that.

Thanks!  I'm trying to figure out how to build a wisdom based ranger, but I'm wondering if that is even the right way to go.  I mainly want to use wisdom to make my companion more effective.  But I also realized this makes the ranger less effective with weapons.  So I've been trying to weigh the Pros and Cons of being a Dex vs Wis based rangers.

Here is what I have so far, but additional thoughts welcome:

1. PROS for being Wisdom Based
   • Companion has better AC
   • Companion has better Att & Damage
   • Ranger can use Shillelagh cantrip w/ a shield (better AC & damage)
   • Ranger has better spell casting
   • Ranger can take Wisdom based feats (Inspiring Lead, War Caster, Fey Touched, etc) 
2. PROS for being Dex Based
   • Ranger has better Att & Damage with melee weapons (if going with a two-weapon fighting focus)
   • Ranger can use lighter armor and still have an okay AC (for better stealth for stealth)
   • Ranger has better Att & Damaged with ranged weapons (if going with a ranged focus)
   • Ranger has better Dex saves, which are usually more common
   • Ranger can take weapon focused feats (Sentinel, Crossbow Expert, Defensive Duelist, etc.)

So I'm wondering what the right balance is.  I'm also wondering if I should go with a ranged build or melee build.

1. PROS of a melee build with two weapon-fight 
   • Higher overall damage (with two-weapon fighting and nick)
   • Tactical synergies with companion when next to each other (such as Sentinel feat or flanking)
2. PROS of a melee build with Shillelagh + Shield
   • Better AC
   • Better single weapon damage
   • Can better protect companion (Protection fighting style and/or Sentinel)
3. PROS of a ranged build
   • Takes less damage and aren't in melee (generally)
   • Hit more often (Archery fighting style and/or Sharpshooter)

What did I miss?  Would you go with a ranged or melee Ranger?  Dex or Wis for a Beast Master?  

I am not sure an archer really works without Sharpshooter taken at level 4.  Without it you lose the main advantage for ranged combat, which is always being able to attack.  Maybe your DM plays without keeping track of cover and you will be fine.  If so Archer is generally better, because ignoring cover they attack in round 1 almost always.  Melee combatants start combat out of range to attack about 30-50% of the time in my experience.  I played a melee gloom stalker for 13 levels and hardly ever got to use the extra attack in turn 1 that 2014 had.

If your DM plays with cover than Melee is in.  Now you need to know how the DM will handle shillelagh.  If you need to cast it turn 1 you may be clogging your bonus action, but when you start out of range for melee you can lay down a control spell like entangle BA cast shillelagh and then move in with your animal.  The AC boost needed to play melee is kind of important.

Quote from Sequilonis >>

Shillelagh using a Club or Quarterstaff is probably the best solution to going all-in on Wisdom. Another option would be to get True Strike, but that would require you to lose the benefit of Extra Attack (though at higher levels, the spell will deal up to an extra 3d6 radiant damage on hit, so it might not bother you too much).

Personally, I would take Magic Initiate Druid as an origin feat to get Shillelagh, then use a Quarterstaff and Shield, getting Polearm Master at level 4 for an extra bonus action attack. It is a little unclear on what the damage of the bonus action attack from Polearm Master is when Shillelagh is active, so talk to your DM about that.

 An SAC clarified this.

If I cast shillelagh on my quarterstaff and have the Polearm Master feat, does the bonus attack use a d4 or a d8 for damage?

The benefit from Polearm Master applies to the opposite end of the weapon and always uses a d4 for damage rather than the weapon’s normal damage die. This is true for a quarterstaff enhanced with shillelagh just as it is for a normal one.

Some thoughts
1) a ranged ranger staying out of melee may have a hard time commanding their beast to attack. It’s not strictly in the rules but if you are back 40+ feet is your beast even going to hear your commands amidst the din of battle? The land and sea beasts (2024) are melee fighters ant to be useful in combat need to be at/near the forefront of battle. You are some distance back shooting arrows. A beast of the air at least has flyby attack and a 60’ fly speed so it can potentially fly in and out attacking whom ever your shooting arrows at. A Beastmaster ranger should probably be a melee ranger rather than an archer to be sure of getting the most out of the beast.
2) AC and armor+ Dex. - assuming your not an archer first then you have to consider your options for armor. Since you want a wisdom based build your Dex is probably no better than a 14 (+2) so let’s compare: leather + Dex (+shield): 11+ 2 (+2) = 13 (15) ( and stealth); studded: 12 + 2 (+2) = 14 (16) (and stealth; scale - 14 + 2 (+2)= 16 (18) ( disadvantage on stealth); Breastplate: 14 + 2 (+2) = 16 (18) (and stealth, but costs 400 GP). Scale and studded are roughly the same price so how stealthy do you want to be?  For the best of both worlds you want to get that breastplate ASAP. Personally, I would start with studded, shield and staff(shillelagh) and upgrade my armor to a breastplate as quickly as I could afford it.anything other than mithril half plate or a magic breastplate/shield is wasted after that.