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Maintaining a swarm is much easier than you think as a ranger inDungeons & Dragons. Unlike the Beast Master archetype, the swarm provided as a Swarmkeeper grants you additional abilities in combat that you would otherwise not have access to. This can mean doing additional damage, sliding in and out of attack range, and even gaining additional spells.
As a Ranger, your role is to support your party by filling various gaps. Whether it’s the need for extra damage, another front-line warrior, or nature expertise, the Ranger, especially a Swarmkeeper, offers unique utility and long-range damage abilities.
What Are The Swarmkeeper Ranger Features?
At third level, you gain the Swarmkeeper archetype along with the variety of abilities it comes with. This comes in two forms; yourGathered SwarmandSwarmkeeper Magic. To start, you not only gain a first level spell, but also theMage Hand cantrip. Take a look at the spells granted to you:
13th
17th
Each of these spells provide you with additional ways to manipulate the battlefield. ThroughFaeire FireandWeb, it becomes easier to lockd own and damage enemies in a wide array.Gaseous Form is a powerful escape tool, andArcane Eyeis excellent forsurveying nearby terrainfrom a safe distance.Insect Plaguecan be used to not onlydamage your enemies, but also toobscure your environmentto deadly effect.
All of these spells are provided with the idea that they resemble a swarm, chosen by you. This can take the form of a swarm of bees, flies, rats, pixies or insects, along with whatever other swarms you can think of.
TheGathered Swarmprovides needed variety to help you sway the tide of combat. Every round, you can use your swarm todeal additional damage, move five feet, or move the damaged enemy 15 feetin any horizontal direction.
If you choose to move five feet yourself, itdoes not provoke attack of opportunity, as the swarm is moving you. This can be helpful to get in and out of combat with ease.
At seventh level you can use your swarm toprovide yourself a flying speed of ten feet, as well as theability to hover. It lasts for one minute and can be used several times each long rest, allowing you to circumvent certain puzzles and strike your enemies from unintended angles.
11th levelimproves your Gathered Swarm feature,increasing damage from a d6 to a d8,allowing you toknock enemies prone, and providing you with half coverafter having the swarm move you. Without a doubt, effectivelyknocking enemies prone with a ranged weapon is an easy way to help your alliesin melee range guarantee their attacks strike true.
Finally, 15th level provides a fun way of circumventing damage. You canuse your reaction to gain resistance to damage received and teleport anywhere within 30 feet of your location. Since you’re able to use it a few times each long rest, you can even have allies strike at you to easily traverse short distances in a pinch.
What Are The Best Species For A Swarmkeeper Ranger?
Key advantages of a Swarmkeeper is keeping an effective range while dishing out damage. This can mean moving in and out of combat and melee range, as well as peaking around corners and utilizing Stealth effectively. Here are several options to utilize this archetype to its fullest:
Eladrin
An absolute powerhouse, theEladrin lets you teleport 30 feet a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and adds a potent effective depending on which of the four seasons you’ve chosen to encompass that day. This matched with Elven features such asDarkvision,Fey Ancenstryto gain sleep immunity and advantage to charm, and thePerception skillfor free makes this a solid choice.
Firbolg
Want to turn invisible after an attack?You can with the Firbolg, a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus each long rest. That with yourPowerful Buildto carry and lift more on top of yourability to speak with Beasts, Plants, and vegitationmake for an effective ranger and stealthy assailant.
Half-Elf
Rangers as a whole arebest when utilizing your skills to the fullest. Half-Elves canprovide additional skillswhile alsoDarkvisionto see up to 60 feet away in darkness, as well asFey Ancestryfor sleep immunity and advantage against the charm condition.
Harengon
As a bonus action,the Harengon can jump a distance five times their proficiency bonus without provoking an attack of opportunity, allowing them to skirt around the battlefield with ease.
They alsoadd their proficiency bonus to their initiative scoreanda d4 to failed Dexterity saving throws, making them a difficult creature to nail down.
Tiefling - Levistus
Assuming your table is using the newer system to allow versatility when improving ability scores,any race that grants you a free damaging cantrip is worth taking. Since theGathered Swarm feature needs only for you to hit with an attack,cantrips are includedin that wheelhouse.
Theirray of frost can activate your swarmto great benefit. This on top ofDarkvisionand fire resistance make an effective combo for a Swarmkeeper.
Yuan-Ti
Any damaging cantrip can activate your Gathered Swarm feature, making the Yuan-Ti’spoison spraya welcome addition to your arsenal. Along with theirDarkvision,resistance to poison and advantage against the poison condition, they also haveadvantage on saving throws against all spells. All of them.
What Are The Best Attributes?
Rangersprioritize their Dexterityto provide them with ample damage and the ability to avoid combat in damage, anda healthy Wisdomto influence their spells and features. After that,a high Constitution doesn’t hurt, andthe other abilities can be ultimately ignored.
Through the point buy system used for D&D, you can get a better idea of an ability score spread, such as this one:
8(-1)
17(+3)
14(+2)
10(+0)
16(+3)
Starting Equipment
Unless you’re planning on entering and staying in melee combat, starting withLeather Armorallows you aslight bonus to ACwhile maintaining yourability to Stealth effectively. From there, twoShortswordsallow you to dual wield well for consistent damage.
The differences between a Dungeoneer’s Pack and Explorer’s Pack is negligable, allowing you to pick either without missing out.
Fighting Style
Playing a Swarmkeeper means staying near combat, but not too close.Archeryallows you to gain consistent damage when using a ranged weapon, although selectingDruidic Warriorallows you to choose through a variety of cantrips,including ones that allow you to use your Gathered Swarm feature.
You can also select druid staplesGuidance,MendingandThorn Whip.
What Are The Best Spells For A Swarmkeeper Ranger?
Keeping on this theme of maintaining heavy ranged support,selecting spells that allow you to both maintain and capitalize on distancecan help you make the most of your Swarmkeeper abilities.Here are a variety of suggestionsto help get you started:
What Are The Best Feats For A Swarmkeeper Ranger?
Elven Accuracyis always a great choice if you areplaying an elf looking to prioritize ranged damage. Otherwise,Sharpshootercan be a great way to maintain effective damage from afar on top ofincreasing your Dexterity.
After that,Fey TouchedandAlertare great choices to keep the momentum going.Fey Touchedallows you to choose another spell on top of Misty Step, which is already a great escape tool, whereasAlertgives you asolid bonus to initiative rollsandprevents hidden enemies from gaining advantage against you.
