Before we get started min-maxing, i should define sniper:
-a sniper is not just somebody who uses a ranged weapon well, they should a). focus on a single target b). attack effectively from max range.
based on these stipulations, a few abilities stick out: the sharpshooter feat, allowing us to attack at maxim range w/o disadvantage, hunters mark, a ranger spell that allows us to deal more damage to a selected target, archery fighting style, and the hunter ranger colossus slayer, another ability allowing us to deal extra damage to a target we are focusing on.
So, based on this, we should take 4 levels of ranger with those choices, taking sharpshooter instead of ability score increase at 4th level. using the longbow for range, or the heavy crossbow for damage (except for between levels 5 and 8, where you have multi attack, but don't have crossbow expert, so the loading property stops you from making both attacks).
Full sorcerer and use all your spell slots on upcasting magic missile. Then use your sorcery points for more spell slots to upcast magic missile even more.
Just play a fighter or rogue with a bow tbh. Maybe rogue scout or similar though I think rogues need longbow prof? I'll double check, so you'd have to get that somehow. Otherwise play fighter, maybe samurai to get advantage on all your shots in a single round, all aimed at the same guy.
Hexblade gives you EB, and along with Hexblades Curse, Hex, Sign Of Ill Omen, Maddening Hex, and Relentless Hex - you can totally single out one enemy and stack damage on them. Agonizing Blast, Eldritch Spear, Lance of Lethargy, and Grasp of Hadar are all EB based Invocations that expand/modify EB effects. Feats - if you do Elven Accuracy, or Spell Sniper, that can really help.
I've never tried this, but i think it's probably on par with Ranger. But, not melee...
Hexblade gives you EB, and along with Hexblades Curse, Hex, Sign Of Ill Omen, Maddening Hex, and Relentless Hex - you can totally single out one enemy and stack damage on them. Agonizing Blast, Eldritch Spear, Lance of Lethargy, and Grasp of Hadar are all EB based Invocations that expand/modify EB effects. Feats - if you do Elven Accuracy, or Spell Sniper, that can really help.
I've never tried this, but i think it's probably on par with Ranger. But, not melee...
Hexblade gives you EB, and along with Hexblades Curse, Hex, Sign Of Ill Omen, Maddening Hex, and Relentless Hex - you can totally single out one enemy and stack damage on them. Agonizing Blast, Eldritch Spear, Lance of Lethargy, and Grasp of Hadar are all EB based Invocations that expand/modify EB effects. Feats - if you do Elven Accuracy, or Spell Sniper, that can really help.
I've never tried this, but i think it's probably on par with Ranger. But, not melee...
you could multi-class warlock/ranger
You could, but why would you bother?
Btw, I was totally going to suggest this, but got beaten to it.
You can also go hexblade, pact of blade, with improved pact weapon, thirsting blade, eldritch smite, and lifedrinker invocations.
The agonizing blast build (assuming rod of the pact keeper, +3) has a max damage of 1d10+1d6+14 ×4 attacks (92), and the pact weapon build (assuming oathbow, and sharpshooter) has a max damage of 1d8+4d6+27 ×2 attacks (91) +6d8 (27)(Smite, 4 per rest) and -5 to hit.
Multiclass Warlock/Sorcerer with the Eldritch Spear Invocation, Spell Sniper Feat, and Distant Spell Metamagic. Your Eldritch Blast now has a range of 1200 feet. The Agonizing Blast Invocation is obligatory, for adding Charisma to every Blast.
Also, take the Quickened Spell Metamagic; within 600 feet you can cast Eldritch Blast at the same target twice on your turn.
The Empowered Metamagic feat can be combined with either of the above to mitigate low damage rolls.
So I'm going with Warlock 2/Sorcerer 10. (or higher)
Hexblade gives you EB, and along with Hexblades Curse, Hex, Sign Of Ill Omen, Maddening Hex, and Relentless Hex - you can totally single out one enemy and stack damage on them. Agonizing Blast, Eldritch Spear, Lance of Lethargy, and Grasp of Hadar are all EB based Invocations that expand/modify EB effects. Feats - if you do Elven Accuracy, or Spell Sniper, that can really help.
I've never tried this, but i think it's probably on par with Ranger. But, not melee...
you could multi-class warlock/ranger
You could, but why would you bother?
Btw, I was totally going to suggest this, but got beaten to it.
You can also go hexblade, pact of blade, with improved pact weapon, thirsting blade, eldritch smite, and lifedrinker invocations.
The agonizing blast build (assuming rod of the pact keeper, +3) has a max damage of 1d10+1d6+14 ×4 attacks (92), and the pact weapon build (assuming oathbow, and sharpshooter) has a max damage of 1d8+4d6+27 ×2 attacks (91) +6d8 (27)(Smite, 4 per rest) and -5 to hit.
because c'mon people,its sniper. Wouldn't a ranger be good for that
Sadly, not really. Ranger gets some magic arrow type spells, but ultimately have the same range, power, and spell level as equivalent wizard spells (which being a half caster, the ranger gets access to at nearly twice the level. Bards can get access to the ranger's best spells 7 levels earlier).
Arcane archer fighters or any rogues are actually better archers than the ranger most of the time. Rangers get little more than a dip for archery fighting style in most archer builds.
Before we get started min-maxing, i should define sniper:
-a sniper is not just somebody who uses a ranged weapon well, they should a). focus on a single target b). attack effectively from max range.
based on these stipulations, a few abilities stick out: the sharpshooter feat, allowing us to attack at maxim range w/o disadvantage, hunters mark, a ranger spell that allows us to deal more damage to a selected target, archery fighting style, and the hunter ranger colossus slayer, another ability allowing us to deal extra damage to a target we are focusing on.
So, based on this, we should take 4 levels of ranger with those choices, taking sharpshooter instead of ability score increase at 4th level. using the longbow for range, or the heavy crossbow for damage (except for between levels 5 and 8, where you have multi attack, but don't have crossbow expert, so the loading property stops you from making both attacks).
you can continue the build from here.
I did NOT eat those hikers.
Full sorcerer and use all your spell slots on upcasting magic missile. Then use your sorcery points for more spell slots to upcast magic missile even more.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
well, i was going for martial, but ok. (and within a small level range)
I did NOT eat those hikers.
Just play a fighter or rogue with a bow tbh. Maybe rogue scout or similar though I think rogues need longbow prof? I'll double check, so you'd have to get that somehow. Otherwise play fighter, maybe samurai to get advantage on all your shots in a single round, all aimed at the same guy.
Hexblade gives you EB, and along with Hexblades Curse, Hex, Sign Of Ill Omen, Maddening Hex, and Relentless Hex - you can totally single out one enemy and stack damage on them.
Agonizing Blast, Eldritch Spear, Lance of Lethargy, and Grasp of Hadar are all EB based Invocations that expand/modify EB effects.
Feats - if you do Elven Accuracy, or Spell Sniper, that can really help.
I've never tried this, but i think it's probably on par with Ranger. But, not melee...
you could multi-class warlock/ranger
I did NOT eat those hikers.
You could, but why would you bother?
Btw, I was totally going to suggest this, but got beaten to it.
You can also go hexblade, pact of blade, with improved pact weapon, thirsting blade, eldritch smite, and lifedrinker invocations.
The agonizing blast build (assuming rod of the pact keeper, +3) has a max damage of 1d10+1d6+14 ×4 attacks (92), and the pact weapon build (assuming oathbow, and sharpshooter) has a max damage of 1d8+4d6+27 ×2 attacks (91) +6d8 (27)(Smite, 4 per rest) and -5 to hit.
Multiclass Warlock/Sorcerer with the Eldritch Spear Invocation, Spell Sniper Feat, and Distant Spell Metamagic. Your Eldritch Blast now has a range of 1200 feet. The Agonizing Blast Invocation is obligatory, for adding Charisma to every Blast.
Also, take the Quickened Spell Metamagic; within 600 feet you can cast Eldritch Blast at the same target twice on your turn.
The Empowered Metamagic feat can be combined with either of the above to mitigate low damage rolls.
So I'm going with Warlock 2/Sorcerer 10. (or higher)
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
the warlock build is melee, remember, max range
I did NOT eat those hikers.
but the above build is godlike range-wise
I did NOT eat those hikers.
wait, rangers can smite?
I did NOT eat those hikers.
A pact of the blade warlock with the eldritch smite invocation can. Honestly the power of the oathbow build surprised me.
Dude, that's not a melee build. (FFS, do you even know what the word "melee" means?)
There's nothing in all of 5E (outside of some broken stuff UA) that can outrange that build. Prove me wrong.
You asked for a sniper build and you got one.
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
yeah warlocks are not melee
I like 2 play spellcasters that can learn misty step.Also I like to play halflings,elves,dragonborn,warforged,teiflingfs, and half elf
Characters I play: Adron Nightbreeze
Help us Fight the godmodder! We need all the help we can get!
https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/user/Orcalord (use link to get to homebrewery)
I say ranger
I like 2 play spellcasters that can learn misty step.Also I like to play halflings,elves,dragonborn,warforged,teiflingfs, and half elf
Characters I play: Adron Nightbreeze
Help us Fight the godmodder! We need all the help we can get!
https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/user/Orcalord (use link to get to homebrewery)
because c'mon people,its sniper. Wouldn't a ranger be good for that
I like 2 play spellcasters that can learn misty step.Also I like to play halflings,elves,dragonborn,warforged,teiflingfs, and half elf
Characters I play: Adron Nightbreeze
Help us Fight the godmodder! We need all the help we can get!
https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/user/Orcalord (use link to get to homebrewery)
Sadly, not really. Ranger gets some magic arrow type spells, but ultimately have the same range, power, and spell level as equivalent wizard spells (which being a half caster, the ranger gets access to at nearly twice the level. Bards can get access to the ranger's best spells 7 levels earlier).
Arcane archer fighters or any rogues are actually better archers than the ranger most of the time. Rangers get little more than a dip for archery fighting style in most archer builds.
How many encounters have you been in where 1200' range made the difference?
"Not all those who wander are lost"
i wasn't talking about your build, there was a different one using pact weapon, which is, by definition, melee.
I did NOT eat those hikers.
Not with Improved Pact Weapon. That adds bows and crossbows as options.