In 2014 , martial characters that focused on ranged damage were among the best builds in the 5e rules. That's sadly no longer the case with the 2024 revision, so players will need to adjust to the best remaining options. Archers and crossbow specialists were the single best argument for the validity of martial characters in the 2014 rules, and the weakening of ranged damage widens the divide between casters and martial characters in the revised rules. While martial characters can no longer keep up with casters in the 2024 rules, archers can still try.
A lot of the ranged builds that yielded excellent results in 2014 5e will need to be unlearned. ’s hand crossbows and polearms excelled due to synergy between a feat that offered a Bonus Action attack, Crossbow Expert in the case of ranged characters, and one that allowed for a “damage gamble,” Sharpshooter. Such characters could take -5 to hit in exchange for +10 added to damage. The 2024 rules have weakened both Feats, for ranged weapon users. Sharpshooter no longer increases damage, and Crossbow Expert now requires the use of two hand crossbows instead of one.
Another popular route to ranged supremacy involved 2014 ’s surprisingly powerful Bard class, which has also been weakened. A 2014 Bard could learn spells from any other class with the Magical Secrets ability gained at level 10. This meant they could learn the Level 5 Ranger spell Swift Quiver at level 10, while a Ranger would have to wait until character level 17. The spell allowed for two ranged attacks as a Bonus Action, which combined well with the College of Valor Bard subclass. In 2024, Magical Secrets no longer allows a Bard to access Ranger or Paladin spells.
Monks and Rangers both get significant reworks in D&D's 2024 Player's Handbook, but the final feature for Monks highlights a big disparity.
Meanwhile, among the many spells in the 2024 , players have already discovered poorly-balanced spells that may reflect a lack of playtesting, like Conjure
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