Dungeons & Dragons: Best Bow Builds For Archery

The best Dungeons & Dragons parties tend to have a good balance of character types, and an effective archer should always be welcome to the group. Being able to deal consistent damage while staying out of the fray is a major advantage, since it allows the group’s healer to focus more on the well-being of frontline characters. Although Rangers are traditionally seen as D&D‘s go-to archery class, they aren’t only option for players looking to utilize a bow.

With access to martial weapons from the start, Rangers can utilize longbows and make an impact from a distance. Longbows deal 1d8 damage and, unlike crossbows, can be reloaded during the player’s turn (crossbows require a feat to do so). Rangers also have access to the “Archery” Fighting Style, which provides them with a +2 bonus to hit with ranged attacks. Their ability to cast spells such as Ensnaring Roots and Swift Quiver allows rangers to take full advantage of their ranged prowess.

For players looking to incorporate stealth into their encounters, Rogues are the perfect choice. Rogues are already the best dual wielders in Dungeons & Dragons, and the ability to combine this with effective range makes them powerful from any position. Although they are often limited to shortbows, a Rogue’s real damage comes from their sneak attack ability, and this damage can easily be added on to their ranged attacks. Should the player choose the Assassin D&D subclass, they can also use their shortbow to score early hits that might have been impossible with only melee attacks.

How To Make A Ranged Fighter In D&D

For a pure Dungeons & Dragons archer that ignores both spellcasting and stealth, there is no better choice than a Fighter. Although Xanathar’s Guide to Everything gave Fighter’s access to the Arcane Archer subclass, it is far from the only option for ranged Fighters. The Battle Master is actually quite viable for a player looking to use bows, since most of the maneuvers do not require melee attacks. Playing as a Battle Master allows an archer to be more versatile in combat, and all of the D&D Fighter’s extra attacks can provide more than enough damage for a player to contribute to the party.

No matter what class a D&D player chooses for their archer, there is a key feat that should always be considered. The Sharpshooter feat allows a player to sacrifice 5 points to their hit in return for adding 10 to their damage. Since characters with the archery Fighting Style already have a great chance to hit their targets, the increased damage is almost always worth the risk. In addition, the feat allows players to attack from even farther away without disadvantage, meaning they have an even better chance of avoiding damage.

Archery is a broad term in Dungeons & Dragons, and there are plenty of other ways to build a ranged character. Players could opt for a crossbow build, or even attempt to make something out of D&D‘s worst weapon, but bows are the most common choice. Being able to equip a bow is only half the battle, however, and it is important for a player to choose features that can compliment a long-ranged lifestyle.

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