2024 Ranger Full Homebrew -- 2026-06-28
I'd appreciate more feedback on my Ranger homebrew. Posted it a while back, but it's evolved since then.
### Goals of the Revisions:
- Reduce action and concentration constraints of *Hunter's Mark* spell without overpowering it.
- Reduce reliance of Ranger class on *Hunter's Mark* spell. Tried to accomplish by allowing the casting of additional spells with Favored Enemy, following proposal by Treantmonk's Temple.
- Add more nature/wilderness/stalker/tracker utility ability and flavor to the Ranger class.
- Improve Ranger class scaling in Tiers 3 and 4. Tried to accomplish by improving the *Hunter's Mark* spell and buffing of the subclasses.
Revisions were made to the base class, subclasses, and spells. **Note that 'Favored Enemy' is renamed as 'Primal Strike' in this revision.**
### Summary of the Revisions:
Started with the Treantmonk's Temple revisions and worked from there. **Design notes** have been added where most revisions were made.
##### Most notable spell revisions:
- Hunter's Mark spell: Mark now moved using Reaction to improve action economy. Casting with higher spell slot increases the damage to improve Tier 3/4 scaling.
- Swift Quiver and Swift Blade (new): Adjusted so they can be cast as level 2 spells.
##### Most notable base class revisions:
- Level 1: Primal Strike (formerly Favored Enemy): Can cast several martial spells using Primal Strike instead of just Hunter's Mark to make class less one-dimensional. Can expend more than 1 Primal Strike use to increase the spell slot level to improve Tier 3/4 scaling.
- Level 3: Primal Wayfinder: New feature that allows nature utility cantrips and spells to be chosen and cast without limiting use of more powerful spells. Flavor ribbon adapted from Tasha's Ranger that turns the Ranger into a wilderness savant.
- Level 6: Second Nature: New feature that allows Primal Strike spells -- including Hunter's Mark -- to be cast without Concentration. Allows spell stack, which improves scaling in Tiers 3/4.
- Level 10: Primal Tactics. New feature that allows Ranger to split Attack action between weapon attacks and spell casting. Provides a distinctive Ranger ability that better enables it to use support spells during combat. Was wondering if I should allow Entangle and Spike growth to be cast with it.
- Adjusted existing features to reduce reliance on Hunter's Mark.
##### Most notable subclass revisions:
- Generally buffed the subclasses to improve scaling in Tiers 3/4.
- Hunter is the most buffed, with a new, distinctive Level 11 feature.
- Gloom Hunter ability to use Hide action was improved to give it more capability during Bright and Dim light conditions. It's abilities in Darkness were adjusted to make it less overpowered and more interesting to play.
- Added spell lists to Hunter and Beast Master.
- Note: Hunter subclass is the only subclass that makes significant usage of *Hunter's Mark*.
Thanks!
**[Homebrewery Link](https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/J56dtk8XM9Gk)\*\*