Optimizing your Ranger's spell selection is crucial for maximizing their effectiveness in combat, exploration, and support. Here are some of the best spells available:
Foundational Spells
- Hunter's Mark: The cornerstone of Ranger damage. As a bonus action, mark a creature to deal an extra 1d6 damage with your weapon attacks against it. Concentration. Can be moved to a new target without expending another spell slot.
- Ensnaring Strike: A weapon attack that can also attempt to Ensnare the target, restraining them. Excellent single-target control. Concentration.
- Goodberry: Summons four magical berries that each heal 1d4 hit points. Provides efficient out-of-combat healing and can sustain your party.
Battlefield Control & Utility
- Spike Growth: Creates a large area of difficult terrain that deals 2d4 piercing damage for every 5 feet a creature moves through it. Superb for area denial and sustained damage, especially in chokepoints. Concentration.
- Pass Without Trace: Grants a +10 bonus to Stealth checks for you and nearby allies for an hour. Invaluable for ambushes, scouting, and navigating undetected. Concentration.
- Lesser Restoration: Cures one disease or one of several conditions (Blinded, Deafened, Paralyzed, or Poisoned). Essential utility for removing debilitating effects from allies.
- Silence: Creates a sphere where no sound can occur, and creatures within are immune to thunder damage and cannot cast verbal spells. Excellent anti-caster tool. Concentration.
High-Impact Offensive & Advanced Control
- Lightning Arrow: Your next ranged weapon attack deals an extra 4d8 lightning damage to the target and 2d8 lightning damage to other creatures within 10 feet. Potent burst damage with AoE potential.
- Plant Growth: Covers a massive area, reducing movement speed of creatures within by 75% (movement costs 4ft for every 1ft moved). Crucially, this spell does not require concentration, offering long-lasting, powerful battlefield control.
- Conjure Barrage: Unleashes a 60-foot cone of ammunition from your position, dealing your weapon damage (e.g., 2d8 for a longbow) to all creatures within. Strong AoE damage option, particularly effective against groups.
Strategic Considerations: Prioritize Hunter's Mark for consistent damage. Balance your prepared spells with potent control options like Spike Growth or Plant Growth, and essential utility such as Pass Without Trace. Your chosen Ranger subclass (Gloom Stalker, Hunter, Beast Master) will also grant access to specific spells or abilities that can significantly influence your best choices.
