Orc Ranger Build Guide

Levels 1-4

Start with the Archery Fighting Style at level 2 for a +2 bonus to ranged attack rolls, which is mathematically the strongest fighting style in 5e. At level 3, select the Gloom Stalker archetype. Dread Ambusher gives you an extra attack and bonus movement on the first turn of combat, turning your Orc into a turn-one executioner. At level 4, take the Piercer feat. This rounds out your odd 15 Dexterity to a 16, maximizing your attack modifier, and lets you reroll one low damage die per turn on your longbow attacks.

Levels 5-10

Level 5 brings Extra Attack and highly impactful second-level spells like Pass Without Trace. Because Gloom Stalkers gain Umbral Sight, your base Orc Darkvision of 60 feet extends to 90 feet, and you become invisible to creatures relying on Darkvision to see you. At level 8, you must take the Sharpshooter feat. The -5 penalty to hit is offset by your Archery fighting style, and the +10 damage transforms you into a premier striker. You can also now ignore half and three-quarters cover.

Levels 11-16

At level 11, Gloom Stalker grants Stalker's Flurry. If you miss an attack (which happens often when spamming Sharpshooter), you get to make another weapon attack as part of the same action. This significantly increases your DPR. At level 12, take the Resilient (Constitution) feat to bump your 13 CON to 14 and gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws, ensuring you don't drop concentration on crucial spells like Conjure Animals. Use your level 16 ASI to cap your Dexterity at 20.

Levels 17-20

Level 17 unlocks fifth-level spells, giving you access to Swift Quiver. While this gives you two attacks as a bonus action, remember that it conflicts directly with your Orcish Adrenaline Rush. Use the latter strictly for survival. The Ranger capstone at level 20, Foe Slayer, is notoriously underwhelming, allowing you to add your Wisdom modifier (+2) to one attack or damage roll per turn. You are often better off multiclassing after level 16, but if you stay pure Ranger, rely on your spellcasting and Sharpshooter barrage to carry you through Tier 4 encounters.

Cantrips

Unless you take the Druidic Warrior fighting style (which you shouldn't, as Archery is mandatory for this build), Rangers do not get cantrips in the 2014 ruleset. Rely on your longbow for resourceless damage.

Level 1-2 Spells

Take Absorb Elements and Hunter's Mark at level 2. Absorb Elements is a reaction, meaning it won't clog your Orcish bonus action. Pass Without Trace at level 5 is non-negotiable; granting the entire party a +10 to Stealth checks guarantees surprise rounds, which heavily synergizes with your Gloom Stalker Dread Ambusher feature. Spike Growth is fantastic for battlefield control; if enemies approach you, you can use Adrenaline Rush to Dash away and pelt them while they navigate the difficult terrain.

Level 3-5 Spells

At level 9, Conjure Animals is your optimal concentration spell. Summoning eight wolves provides massive DPR and battlefield blocking. At level 13, take Guardian of Nature (Primal Beast tree) for advantage on all Dexterity-based attacks, guaranteeing your Sharpshooter hits. Plant Growth is also incredible here, as it doesn't require concentration and stacks with Spike Growth.

High-Level Spells

At level 17, Swift Quiver gives you two attacks as a bonus action. Steel Wind Strike is a flavorful option, but with an optimal Strength of 12 and Dexterity of 20, your spell attack modifier won't be as reliable as your longbow, so stick to ranged weapon buffs and summons.

Piercer

Take this at level 4. Your starting Dexterity is an odd 15; Piercer bumps it to a 16 (+3 modifier). Rerolling a 1 or 2 on a d8 longbow damage die increases your sustained DPR, and the extra critical hit damage triggers nicely on the high volume of attacks you output as a Gloom Stalker.

Sharpshooter

Take this at level 8. This is the engine of your striker build. Ignoring cover and range penalties allows you to stay far away from danger, preserving your d10 hit die. The +10 damage per shot is mathematically optimal to use on almost every attack against an enemy with an AC of 16 or lower, thanks to the +2 from your Archery fighting style.

Resilient (Constitution)

Take this at level 12. Your starting Constitution is 13. This feat rounds it to 14, granting you extra hit points and, more importantly, proficiency in Constitution saving throws. When you are concentrating on Pass Without Trace or Conjure Animals, failing a DC 10 check from a stray goblin arrow is unacceptable. This ensures your key spells stay active.

Tier 1 (Levels 1-4)

Prioritize purchasing a Longbow (1d8 piercing) and Studded Leather Armor as soon as you have the 45 gp. You want to stay out of melee to avoid using your Relentless Endurance too early in the adventuring day. Stock up on normal arrows.

Tier 2 (Levels 5-10)

Seek out a +1 Longbow to offset the Sharpshooter penalty. A Cloak of Elvenkind is a phenomenal uncommon item for a Gloom Stalker; giving enemies disadvantage on Perception checks to see you ensures your Pass Without Trace stealth checks never fail. Bracers of Archery are also a solid uncommon pickup for a flat +2 damage on every shot.

Tier 3 (Levels 11-16)

Hunt down an Oathbow. While it requires you to speak a command word, the advantage on attacks against your sworn enemy almost guarantees your Sharpshooter shots will connect, and the extra 3d6 piercing damage stacks beautifully with Hunter's Mark. Upgrade to +2 Studded Leather Armor for AC.

Tier 4 (Levels 17-20)

A Blood Fury Tattoo is legendary but perfect for an Orc. The extra 4d6 necrotic damage on hits provides massive burst, and the healing effect synergizes with Relentless Endurance. If you drop to 1 HP, you can retaliate with a Bloodthirsty Strike, heal based on the necrotic damage dealt, and pull yourself out of the danger zone without needing a cleric.

This Orc Ranger excels as a ranged Striker but desperately needs a solid frontline to keep enemies from engaging them in melee. An Ancestral Guardian Barbarian is the perfect partner; their Ancestral Protectors feature forces enemies to attack the Barbarian or suffer disadvantage. This allows the Orc Ranger to stand back and rain down Sharpshooter arrows without ever having to waste a bonus action on Adrenaline Rush.

For support, a Glamour Bard or a Peace Cleric works wonders. The Glamour Bard's Mantle of Inspiration allows you to reposition using your reaction instead of your bonus action, bypassing the Orc's primary mechanical weakness. Meanwhile, a Peace Cleric's Emboldening Bond adds a d4 to your attack rolls, further offsetting the -5 penalty from the Sharpshooter feat.

Fighter 2 Dip

Taking two levels of Fighter after Ranger 5 is a legendary combination. You gain a second Fighting Style (take Defense for +1 AC) and Action Surge. On the first turn of combat, a Gloom Stalker/Fighter can take the Attack action (2 attacks + 1 Dread Ambusher attack), then Action Surge to do it again (2 attacks + 1 Dread Ambusher attack). That's six longbow attacks on turn one, deleting a high-priority target immediately.

Rogue 3 (Assassin)

If you commit to the stealth route, taking three levels in Rogue for the Assassin archetype is devastating. Assassinate grants advantage against any creature that hasn't taken a turn yet, and any hit against a surprised creature is an automatic critical. When combined with Pass Without Trace, Dread Ambusher, and your Orc Darkvision, you become a perfect turn-one sniper.

• Wasting Bonus Actions: The biggest mistake with this build is casting Hunter's Mark and using Adrenaline Rush on the same turn. You only get one bonus action. Plan your economy: mark targets early, and only Dash if your life is in immediate danger.
• Forgetting Umbral Sight's Darkvision Boost: Many players forget that Gloom Stalker adds 30 feet to your existing Darkvision. As an Orc, you have 60 feet natively, meaning you effectively have 90 feet of Darkvision. Don't let the DM limit your sight to 60 feet.
• Misunderstanding Relentless Endurance: Relentless Endurance only works if you are reduced to 0 HP but not killed outright. If you take massive damage that equals your HP maximum beyond 0 (like a high-level Disintegrate), you still die. Keep your hit points relatively high; don't treat 1 HP as total invincibility.
• Trying to be a Strength Ranger: It's tempting to use the Orc's flavor to build a greataxe-wielding Ranger, but with the optimal stats provided (STR 12, DEX 15) and the mechanical superiority of the Archery fighting style in 5e, a melee build will severely underperform compared to a longbow Striker.