How to Be a Better Striker: Tips for a 4th Edition D&D Ranger

The ranger is one of the highest damage dealing striker classes. In return for this remarkably high damage, rangers tend to have very little in the way of effects or control powers, tend towards low defenses, and have average hit points. The high damage output of rangers comes primarily from multiple attacks. Presented are a few tips to maximize your striking potential with a ranger.

Critical Hits - Because rangers almost always make multiple attacks each round, rangers are more likely to score critical hits. In order to maximize the benefits of these common critical hits, you should focus on magic weapons that provide high critical damage dice and feats, class features, and magic items that give additional damage or effects on critical hits.

Static Damage Bonus - In addition to causing more critical hits, multiple attacks increase the efficacy of static damage bonuses. Almost all ranger attack powers allow at least two attacks and many allow three or more. Each hit will deal any static damage bonus an additional time. You should get feats, magic items, and class features that maximize this bonus in order to deal higher damage.

Beast Companion - Even if you intend to be a two-weapon fighting ranger or an archery ranger, you should consider taking the beast master ranger class feature. You can place your quarry on the nearest enemy to your beast, rather than the nearest enemy to you. For an archery ranger, this is a great boon. For a two-weapon fighting ranger, by having a beast companion, you have your own flanking partner at all times.

Encounter Powers - Ranger encounter powers are remarkably effective and damaging, often nearly as effective as ranger daily powers. It is a little hard at heroic and paragon, but by epic tier you should get feats or abilities that allow you to recover your encounter powers.

Rangers are simply the best strikers when it comes to dealing sustained damage to enemies. Their powers allow them to either focus on a single target or spread damage around when necessary. Their quarry mechanic is one of the few limits on their damage capabilities, because it restricts them to the nearest enemy. When playing a ranger, you will want to choose a target and focus your attacks efficiently on it. In general, you will have little care for powers that apply status effects at the cost of your damage output.