How to Play a Ranger in Dungeons & Dragons

Choose whether to specialize with a bow or other weapon. In older editions, rangers were one of the few character classes that could fight with two weapons. Now, there's a feat tree, so rangers can do it, but so can other classes. The best reason to be a ranger is to become a bow specialist. There are several feats required to do it right, but a ranger with a bow is hard to beat in the sheer amount of damage they can pump out.

Focus on your survival skill. Other members of your party may be decent at survival, but only a ranger can use the skill to track. Having a very good tracking ability will make you very useful to your party later on.

Put decent stats in your wisdom, dexterity and strength. If you choose to focus on the bow, dexterity will be your primary stat, but at later levels, rangers are also spellcasters. Their spellcasting comes off their wisdom stat. A good constitution will help with your concentration for spellcasting, and once you can afford a strength bow, a high strength will help up your damage potential.

Wait to choose an animal companion. A ranger can choose an animal to have as a companion, and at higher levels can have very interesting animals accompany them. Depending on the dungeon master, it might be a good idea not to take an animal companion at all. There is almost no good use for the animal companion, and they have lower hit points that the rest of your party and therefore die easily.

Consider your feats well. Point-blank shot and precise shot, as well as weapon focus in the bow, are imperative for a good ranger. The spell arrow mind is also very useful once the ranger can cast spells, as it allows a ranger to shoot without provoking an attack of opportunity.