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There are lots of ways to stay well back from the action in Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition. You could be a spellcaster and sling fireballs from dozens of feet away. You couldꦗ b♚e a sneaky rogue who slashes in and out of the shadows. Or you could be an arcane archer, firing magically-infused arrows from afar.
As the name implies, the arcane archer fighter subclass specializes in archery. With their trusty short or longbow, an arcane archer is able to infuse their arrows with magic, giving them both extra effects and extra damage. Being ꦇan arcane archer can let you rain death from afar,🧔 keeping yourself safe from harm. Read on to learn how to build this versatile and powerful ranged subclass.
Arcane Archer Fighter Features
Your journey to becoming an arcane archer should actually start at the first fighter level as you choose your fighting style. Since arcane archers exclusively use ranged attacks, you should choose the Archery fighting style for an additional +2 to your ran✅ged weapon attaꦆcks.
Once you become an arcane archer at level three, you'll gain access to the arcane archer's signature Arcane Shot feature. This allows you to imbue one arrow per turn with magical energies. You start with two uses of the Arcane Shot ability, and you regain all expended uses after f🎃inishing a short or long rest.
You start with two known Arcane Shots, but ga🔯in an additional Arcane Shot option at se🍰venth, 10th, 15th, and 18th level. The shot options are listed below:
Banishing Arrow |
Banishes creatures hit by these arrows |
Beguiling Arrow |
Deal an extra 2d6 psychic d🍸amage and potentially charm the target |
Bursting Arrow |
Deal an extra 2d6 force ♌damage to bo𒅌th the target and any creature within 10 feet |
Enfeebling Arrow |
Deal an extra 2d6 necrotic damage and potentially debuff the target's damage output |
Grasping Arrow |
Deal an extra 2d6 poison damage and create damaging brambles at the target's feet |
Piercing Arrow |
Fire an arrow that pierces thꦐrough the initial target in a straight line |
Seeking Arrow |
Fire a magical arrow that tracks down its target, reveali✃ng thei𒆙r location |
Shadow Arrow |
Deal an extra 2d6 psychic damage and pote💃ntially inflic♎t blindness on your target |
At third level, Arcane Archer Lore provides your fighter with your choice in either Arcana or Na🦂ture proficiency, and either the Prestidigitation or Druidcraft cantrips.
At level seven, your non-magical arrows become magical for the purposes of resistance or immunity. The Curving Shot feature also allows you to redirect missed arrows at nඣew targets as a bonus action.
And finally, Ever-Ready Shot at level 15 ensures you ꧅always have at least one Arcane Shot at the beginning of every combat.
Best Species For Arcane Archer Fighters
You can play as almost any species in D&D and still be relatively effective as an arcane archer. That said, there are a few species that make slightly better arcane archers. Here are a few suggested species for your arcane archer.
Aarakocra |
Gust of Wind can be a handy spell to keep enemies away from you, but flying is likely to be your first choice to put distance between you and you𝓡r opponents. |
Elf |
Elves are natural bow users, and they also gain access to the Elven Accuracy feat. Other than that, Darkvision and charm resistance are nice things to have. |
Half-Elf |
It pretty much has the same benefits as the elf but with an extra ability score point. |
Human |
Starting off as a variant human gives you access to perhaps the most prized feat of any arcane archer: Sharpshooter. Since fighters get ability score improvements all the time, you won't even notice your low ability scores after a few levels. |
Aasimar |
Healing Hands can make you a backup healer, but the real draw here is the Celestial Revelation ability. Pick either Necrotic Shroud or Radiant Soul for bo𓂃th extra damage 🅷and either crowd control or a flying speed. |
Goblin |
Being a small creature limits you to using a short bow, but Fury of the Small makes up for the drop in damage and then some. Darkvision and Nimble Escape are also useful�🐓� features for a slightly sneaky arcane archer. |
Autognome |
Built for Success is an amazing feature that's hard to ignore. Not needing to sleep or eat is cool too, as is Armored Casing for some free AC when not wearing armor. |
Owlin |
Instead of Gust of Wind, Owlin gets stealth proficiency and massive Darkvision. Dealer's choice whether you go with Owlin over Aarakocra. |
Shadar-Kai |
Darkvision and resistances are nice to have, but the real draw here is a bonus action teleport. Great way to keep your distance or get into a𒉰 good firing position. |
Just avoid any tiny or small-sized species so you can use longbows without disa🌳dvantage and you should be fine.
Best Ability Scores For Arcane Archer Fighters
As a bow user, you'll want to maximize your Dexterity score to ensure maximum damage. Intelligence is your next most important ability score as it determines the efficacy of your Arcane Shots. Constitution is third as it determines your hitpoints. Everything else can be sa๊fely ignored.
If using the points buy system for determining your starting ability scores, a good spread might look something like this:
Strength |
Dexterity |
Constitution |
Intelligence |
Wisdom |
Charisma |
10(0) |
16(+3) |
14(+2) |
16(+3) |
10(0) |
8(-1) |
Best Starting Equipment For Arcane Archer Fighters
Since you'll be maximizing your Dexterity, pick leather armor as your starting armor option. Expect to make good use of the longbow and 20 arrows you start with as a fighter.
Although your preferred damage-dealing weapon will be the longbow, you'll want a sword in case you're fighting in an enclosed space. A longsword and a shield can make for a good backup, or a longsword and a shortsword.
You won't need the light crossbow or the two handaxes, but you can at least g🔯ive them to a party member or sell them later on.
A dungeoneer's pack is more useful than an explorer's pack for adventurers, so pick that as your starting pack.
Best Feats For Arcane Archer Fighters
As a fighter, you'll gain lots of ability score increases that can also be swapped for feats. Some of these feats can be extremely useful for an arcane archer. Here are some suggestions:
Elven Accuracy |
If you're playing an elf or a half-elf, then Elven Accuracy can drastically improve your attacks൲. Being able to re-roll a d20 also improves your chances of a criജtical hit. |
Sharpshooter |
Perhaps the most important feat for an arcane archer, Sharpshooter lets you attack at long range without disadvantage and ignore cover. You can also choose to take a penalty to your attack rolls for a potential +10 damage. |
Alert |
Never being surprised by enemies can help maintain your distance. Also handy to go earlier in the turn order. |
Mobile |
Also useful for keeping your distance from enemies and for avoiding opportunity attacks when you're repositioning away from crowds. |
Piercer |
Arrows deal piercing damage, and this feat makes your damage more consistent. An easy pick up. |