Ranger Feats


Advice


This character is a heavy archer build. No animal companions. Longbow/Composite Longbow. He's a dwarf with a dwarven waraxe as a backup.

I took the hunted shot as the 1st level feat. Seems like the easy choice, super good.

I'm looking at feats for level 2, 4 and 6 and can't decide.

For level 4 feat, I'm looking at scout's warning (+1 perception checks/ survival checks for initiative). Does this give ONLY your allies the +1 bonus or do you also get this +1 bonus?

How good is favored enemy? You already have hunt prey so I guess you save on 1 action IF it's the right category of enemy.

Any help greatly appreciated.


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There are a few things you can do.

First, you can go for Hunter's Aim. This allows you to still make three attacks when combo'd with Hunted Shot if you've already used Hunt Prey, but it also gives first attack a much better chance to hit and crit. If you get a +1 bow, you'll have a +1 item bonus, +4 proficiency, and +2 circumstance using Hunter's Aim. This lets you crit pretty easily against low AC mobs (on a 15 vs a Zombie Shambler for instance), while making it much more likely you'll hit a tough foe.

4th level, you can consider Far Shot or Favored Enemy. The latter feat allows you to get your Hunt Prey as a free action if you can designate a creature of the chosen type as your target. This is where the above feat is useful, as going Hunt Prey > Hunted Shot > Strike is often going to be your go-to otherwise. This lets you start combat with Hunter's Aim + Hunted Shot, for a +13/+8/+5 attack chain.

6th level Skirmish Strike allows you to get out of the Attack of Opportunity range of a melee opponent with that ability. This can be a lifesaver, but isn't super likely to come up every session.

This is basic "Hunter" path.

Another option is to go the Monster Hunter path. This is similar to the above, but does pick up Monster Hunter at level 6 for later combos. This is more focused on crit-fishing, as it allows you to push your primary attack very high. I'd associate that more with a crossbow build.

However, if you aren't confident in those options you can go for Fighter or Rogue multiclass.

Fighter lets you pickup Point-Blank Shot, and later Double Shot. This effectively removes the volley trait of the longbow, and lets you put out a ton of attacks by going Double Shot + Hunted Shot. You can even take the Attack of Opportunity feat and Snap Shot.

Rogues on the other hand are all about Sneak Attack. You aren't going for the feats here, as Sneak Attack alone is worth a couple feats. This build probably takes Favored Enemy, Rogue Dedication, and Sneak Attack. If you win initiative versus a favored enemy, you can go Hunted Shot + Strike + Strike and potentially get an extra 1d6 on each attack. Plus, those attacks will effectively getting a +2 bonus because the opponent will be flat-footed.


Hunter shot is 1 action. Hunters Aim is 2 actions. Hunted Shot states "make two strikes against your prey with the required weapon" this seems to say I can only strike 2 times. So wouldn't this be 3 actions and 2 attacks?

My composite longbow already has 100 ft range so I don't think I need to take far shot. Unless it has an impact on the volley 30 ft range?

Would you take favored enemy over scouts warning?

Thanks for the great reply!


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
Crexis wrote:

Hunter shot is 1 action. Hunters Aim is 2 actions. Hunted Shot states "make two strikes against your prey with the required weapon" this seems to say I can only strike 2 times. So wouldn't this be 3 actions and 2 attacks?

My composite longbow already has 100 ft range so I don't think I need to take far shot. Unless it has an impact on the volley 30 ft range?

Would you take favored enemy over scouts warning?

Thanks for the great reply!

Hunted Shot is 2 strikes for one action, Hunter's Aim is 1 improved strike for 2 actions. Overall you get 3 strikes for 3 actions, but the aimed one is more accurate. I think it might be better to use Aim first, hoping for a crit with the Deadly d10 longbow, then Hunted Shot.


manbearscientist wrote:

However, if you aren't confident in those options you can go for Fighter or Rogue multiclass.

Fighter lets you pickup Point-Blank Shot, and later Double Shot. This effectively removes the volley trait of the longbow, and lets you put out a ton of attacks by going Double Shot + Hunted Shot. You can even take the Attack of Opportunity feat and Snap Shot.

Do you think Hunted Shot and Hunter's Aim is better then the hunted shot + double shot combo?

How does AoO work with a bow? Or do I need to have a melee weapon for AoO's?


AoO wrote:
...Make a melee Strike against the triggering creature.

AoOs don't work with bows, no.

Hunter's aim then hunted shot: +2/-5/-10
Double shot then hunted shot: -2/-2/-10/-10

The first is better IMO. Actually getting a bonus to attack is likely to give you a noticeable chance of a critical hit.


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You can’t use Hunted Shot + Double Shot in the same round as they are both flourish actions. Nothing wrong with Hunters Aim + Hunted Shot though.


avr wrote:
AoO wrote:
...Make a melee Strike against the triggering creature.
AoOs don't work with bows, no.

Snap Shot [Ranger Feat 6] "You can use a reaction that normally allows you to make a melee weapon Strike to instead make a ranged weapon Strike."


avr wrote:
AoO wrote:
...Make a melee Strike against the triggering creature.

AoOs don't work with bows, no.

Hunter's aim then hunted shot: +2/-5/-10
Double shot then hunted shot: -2/-2/-10/-10

The first is better IMO. Actually getting a bonus to attack is likely to give you a noticeable chance of a critical hit.

With hunt prey/hunters edge those numbers will look a lot better.

If double shot is worst, then I guess it's not a good idea to dip into that fighter feat?

How about point blank shot, is that worth dipping into? I'd have to use an action to use point blank shot, but being in a cramped dungeon will most likely make it worth it since volley 30ft hurts in those settings.


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Crexis wrote:
How about point blank shot, is that worth dipping into?

That takes 2 feats to do and the first feat only gets you training in Acrobatics or Athletics. If you don't mind that and waiting until 4th, it's an ok feat: Just know you'll be spending an action to enter the point blank shot stance and then an action to hunt prey so your 1st round is going to be a single action.


graystone wrote:
Crexis wrote:
How about point blank shot, is that worth dipping into?
That takes 2 feats to do and the first feat only gets you training in Acrobatics or Athletics. If you don't mind that and waiting until 4th, it's an ok feat: Just know you'll be spending an action to enter the point blank shot stance and then an action to hunt prey so your 1st round is going to be a single action.

Which admittedly isn't that bad when you have Hunted Shot for two attacks.

Dark Archive

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You might want to go fighter. I think they'll be ahead in terms of accuracy and thus damage (see the Fighter Vs. Ranger Action/turn comparison below). Note the Fighter is always 1 proficiency level higher (i.e. +2 given all other things being equal). As well they get many of the same feats as the ranger (e.g., incredible aim vs. hunter's aim) and don't require the target to be hunted. Also if you want a longbow, the point-blank stance is important. Further, a fighter bard could do a inspire courage/double shot turn for a (-1/-1) which probably has the highest damage output.

Round 1:
- Fighter: (-2/-2)
- 1 Action(s) - Point-Blank Shot Stance (Extra Damage or Accuracy)
- 2 Action(s) - Doubleshot
or
- Fighter: (+2)
- 1 Action(s) - Point-Blank Shot Stance (Extra Damage or Accuracy)
- 2 Action(s) - Inedible Aim

- Ranger: (-2/-5/-8)
- 1 Action(s) - Hunt Prey
- 1 Action(s) - Hunted Shot
- 1 Action(s) - Strike
or
- Ranger: (0+)
- 1 Action(s) - Hunt Prey
- 2 Action(s) - Hunter's Aim
or
- Ranger fighter: (-2/-5)
- 1 Action(s) - Hunt Prey
- 1 Action(s) - Point-Blank Shot Stance (Extra Damage or Accuracy)
- 1 Action(s) - Hunted Shot

Round 2:
- Fighter: (-2/-2/-10)
- 2 Action(s) - Doubleshot
- 1 Action(s) - Strike
or
- Fighter: (-4/-4/-4)
- 3 Action(s) - Tripleshot
or
- Fighter: (+2/-5)
- 2 Action(s) - Inedible Aim
- 1 Action(s) - Strike
or
- Fighter bard: (-1/-1)
- 1 Action(s) - Inspire Courage
- 2 Action(s) - Doubleshot

- Ranger:(-2/-5/-8/-11)
- 1 Action(s) - Hunted Shot
- 1 Action(s) - Strike
- 1 Action(s) - Strike
or
- Ranger:(-2/-5/-8)
- 1 Action(s) - Hunt Prey
- 1 Action(s) - Hunted Shot
- 1 Action(s) - Strike
or
- Ranger: (+0/-5/-8)
- 2 Action(s) - Hunter's Aim
- 1 Action(s) - Hunted Shot

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