Hunter 5e ranger subclass

The ranger as a specialist monster killer, with a choice of tricks for fighting giants, hordes or anything in between.

Jump to: Features by level · Playing the Hunter · 2014 features · What changed in 2024 · 2024 features · Common questions

Hunter at a glance

Class: Ranger
Subclass type: Ranger Archetype, chosen at 3rd level
2024 rules: Same name, revised in the SRD 5.2
Key abilities: Dexterity, then Wisdom
Source: System Reference Document 5.1 and 5.2 (Player’s Handbook 2014 and 2024)

The ranger class page has the class features this subclass builds on, and the ranger spell list the rest of your spells come from.

Hunter features by level

The ranger subclass features you gain at each ranger level, in the 2014 rules and the 2024 rules. Each one links to its full text below.

Level	2014 rules (SRD 5.1)	2024 rules (SRD 5.2)
3	Hunter's Prey	Hunter's Lore, Hunter's Prey
7	Defensive Tactics	Defensive Tactics
11	Multiattack	Superior Hunter's Prey
15	Superior Hunter's Defense	Superior Hunter's Defense

Who the Hunter suits

The Hunter is for players who want a ranger that fights well with a bow or blades and adapts to its enemies. It has no companion to manage, and its features are straightforward damage and defense, which makes it a good first ranger.

In the 2014 rules the Hunter is about choosing: each feature offers two or three options, picked once. In the 2024 rules there are fewer options, but you can swap them after a rest, so the character keeps changing with the adventure.

How the Hunter plays

2014 rules. At 3rd level, Hunter’s Prey offers Colossus Slayer (1d8 extra damage once per turn against a creature below its hit point maximum), Giant Killer (a reaction attack when a Large or larger creature within 5 feet attacks you) or Horde Breaker (an extra attack against a second creature within 5 feet of your target). At 7th level, Defensive Tactics offers Escape the Horde, Multiattack Defense (+4 AC against a creature’s later attacks after it hits you) or Steel Will (advantage on saves against being frightened). At 11th, Multiattack gives Volley (a ranged attack against every creature within 10 feet of a point) or Whirlwind Attack (a melee attack against every creature within 5 feet). At 15th, Superior Hunter’s Defense gives Evasion, Stand Against the Tide or Uncanny Dodge.

2024 rules. Hunter’s Lore (level 3) tells you whether a creature marked by your Hunter’s Mark has any immunities, resistances or vulnerabilities, and what they are. Hunter’s Prey keeps Colossus Slayer and Horde Breaker, and Defensive Tactics keeps Escape the Horde and Multiattack Defense (now disadvantage on the attacker’s other attacks that turn); you can swap either choice on a short or long rest. Superior Hunter’s Prey (level 11) spreads Hunter’s Mark’s extra damage to a second creature within 30 feet once per turn, and Superior Hunter’s Defense (level 15) is a reaction that gives you resistance to a damage type until the end of the turn.

Ability scores for a Hunter

Dexterity first for bows, finesse weapons and Armor Class; Wisdom second for your spells and Perception and Survival; Constitution third. A Strength ranger in heavier armor works too, but most Hunters use a longbow.

With the standard array: Dexterity 15, Wisdom 14, Constitution 13, Strength 12, Intelligence 10, Charisma 8.

Spells and feats to pair with it

Hunter’s Mark is the ranger’s signature spell and the center of the 2024 Hunter: rangers always have it prepared and can cast it without a slot a few times per long rest. Goodberry, Pass without Trace, Spike Growth and Conjure Animals are strong ranger spells in both editions.

For feats, Sharpshooter and Crossbow Expert suit an archer, and a Dexterity increase is rarely wrong. In 2024, Archery is the fighting style for a bow, and Alert helps you mark your prey before it moves. Horde Breaker and Volley (2014) reward fighting groups of weaker foes; Colossus Slayer rewards focusing one big one.

Hunter features (2014 rules, SRD 5.1)

Emulating the Hunter archetype means accepting your place as a bulwark between civilization and the terrors of the wilderness. As you walk the Hunter's path, you learn specialized techniques for fighting the threats you face, from rampaging ogres and hordes of orcs to towering giants and terrifying dragons.

Hunter's Prey

3rd level

At 3rd level, you gain one of the following features of your choice.

Colossus Slayer

Your tenacity can wear down the most potent foes. When you hit a creature with a weapon attack, the creature takes an extra 1d8 damage if it's below its hit point maximum. You can deal this extra damage only once per turn.

Giant Killer

When a Large or larger creature within 5 feet of you hits or misses you with an attack, you can use your reaction to attack that creature immediately after its attack, provided that you can see the creature.

Horde Breaker

Once on each of your turns when you make a weapon attack, you can make another attack with the same weapon against a different creature that is within 5 feet of the original target and within range of your weapon.

Defensive Tactics

7th level

At 7th level, you gain one of the following features of your choice.

Escape the Horde

Opportunity attacks against you are made with disadvantage.

Multiattack Defense

When a creature hits you with an attack, you gain a +4 bonus to AC against all subsequent attacks made by that creature for the rest of the turn.

Steel Will

You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Multiattack

11th level

At 11th level, you gain one of the following features of your choice.

Volley

You can use your action to make a ranged attack against any number of creatures within 10 feet of a point you can see within your weapon's range. You must have ammunition for each target, as normal, and you make a separate attack roll for each target.

Whirlwind Attack

You can use your action to make a melee attack against any number of creatures within 5 feet of you, with a separate attack roll for each target.

Superior Hunter's Defense

15th level

At 15th level, you gain one of the following features of your choice.

Evasion

When you are subjected to an effect, such as a red dragon's fiery breath or a lightning bolt spell, that allows you to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, you instead take no damage if you succeed on the saving throw, and only half damage if you fail.

Stand Against the Tide

When a hostile creature misses you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to force that creature to repeat the same attack against another creature (other than itself) of your choice.

Uncanny Dodge

When an attacker that you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the attack's damage against you.

What changed in 2024

The 2024 Player’s Handbook revised the Hunter, and the System Reference Document 5.2 has the new version. The biggest differences in play:

New Hunter’s Lore at level 3 reveals a marked creature’s immunities, resistances and vulnerabilities.
Hunter’s Prey and Defensive Tactics each keep two options (Giant Killer and Steel Will are gone), and you can swap your choice on a short or long rest.
Multiattack (Volley and Whirlwind Attack) becomes Superior Hunter’s Prey, which spreads Hunter’s Mark damage to a second creature, and Superior Hunter’s Defense becomes a single reaction that grants resistance.

Feature by feature

New features: Hunter's Lore (level 3), Superior Hunter's Prey (level 11).
2014 features with no 2024 feature of the same name (some were reworked into others): Multiattack.

Hunter features in the 2024 rules (SRD 5.2)

Protect Nature and People from Destruction

You stalk prey in the wilds and elsewhere, using your abilities as a Hunter to protect nature and people everywhere from forces that would destroy them.

Level 3: Hunter's Lore

You can call on the forces of nature to reveal certain strengths and weaknesses of your prey. While a creature is marked by your Hunter's Mark, you know whether that creature has any Immunities, Resistances, or Vulnerabilities, and if the creature has any, you know what they are.

Level 3: Hunter's Prey

You gain one of the following feature options of your choice. Whenever you finish a Short or Long Rest, you can replace the chosen option with the other one.

Colossus Slayer. Your tenacity can wear down even the most resilient foes. When you hit a creature with a weapon, the weapon deals an extra 1d8 damage to the target if it's missing any of its Hit Points. You can deal this extra damage only once per turn.

Horde Breaker. Once on each of your turns when you make an attack with a weapon, you can make another attack with the same weapon against a different creature that is within 5 feet of the original target, that is within the weapon's range, and that you haven't attacked this turn.

Level 7: Defensive Tactics

You gain one of the following feature options of your choice. Whenever you finish a Short or Long Rest, you can replace the chosen option with the other one.

Escape the Horde. Opportunity Attacks have Disadvantage against you.

Multiattack Defense. When a creature hits you with an attack roll, that creature has Disadvantage on all other attack rolls against you this turn.

Level 11: Superior Hunter's Prey

Once per turn when you deal damage to a creature marked by your Hunter's Mark, you can also deal that spell's extra damage to a different creature that you can see within 30 feet of the first creature.

Level 15: Superior Hunter's Defense

When you take damage, you can take a Reaction to give yourself Resistance to that damage and any other damage of the same type until the end of the current turn.

Common questions

How does Colossus Slayer work?

Once per turn, when you hit a creature with a weapon, it takes an extra 1d8 damage if it is below its hit point maximum (2014) or missing any of its hit points (2024). Once anyone has damaged it, every one of your turns can add the die.

Colossus Slayer or Horde Breaker?

Colossus Slayer adds reliable damage against single tough enemies; Horde Breaker gives an extra attack when enemies stand close together. In 2024 you can swap between them after a short or long rest.

Can you change your Hunter’s Prey choice?

Not in the 2014 rules, where the choice is permanent. In the 2024 rules you can replace it with the other option whenever you finish a short or long rest; the same goes for Defensive Tactics.

What does Hunter’s Lore reveal?

While a creature is marked by your Hunter’s Mark, you know whether it has any immunities, resistances or vulnerabilities, and what they are.

When does a ranger become a Hunter?

At 3rd level in both editions, with more features at levels 7, 11 and 15.

The Hunter compared with other options

Page	How it compares
Ranger class	Spellcasting, Favored Enemy and Extra Attack, the base every conclave uses.
Champion	A fighter with more attacks and armor but no spells or tracking.
Thief	The other Dexterity skirmisher, with more skills and one big hit a turn.
Hunter’s Mark	The ranger spell the 2024 Hunter is built around.

How to build a ranger with the Hunter

Open the builder, choose the 2014 or 2024 rules on the first step, pick Ranger as your class, and choose the Hunter as your ranger archetype once your character is 3rd level. The builder works out everything the rules can: hit points, Armor Class, attack bonuses and saving throws.

Other SRD subclasses

Back to the Ranger class or all classes.