Tempest rangers for all folks old and new ~ R10 Viable Tempest ranger build

[Strimtom]

[QUOTE=Strimtom;6142047]*Up to date for U53*

Hello and welcome to my quick and dirty tempest ranger builds for those who want a good melee for getting into R10. I will be posting my build, as well as 2 first life viable builds. Note, the first life viable builds are 32 point builds. If you are a 28 point build DONT GO INTO R10! Go get some favor and unlock 32 point builds, it isn't that hard yo.

If you want to do R10 with these builds:

• Get all the items first. The items make your character, go farm them and then try it.
• Be aware you will die a lot. This character takes practice, and so deos R10. Once you get the hang of it it will get easier.
• No, this is not a solo build. This is for grouping. You are a hella strong glass cannon and you need support to make the pieces work.

Video of my build in action

Strimtom's Double Smash

Character name: R10 Tempost Ranger
Classes: 20 Ranger, 10 Epic
Race: Aasimar Scourge · · ·Alignment: Lawful Good

· · ·Start Tome Final · · ·Incorp:· · 15% · · ·Displacement:· ·25%
Str:· · 18· · 2 · ·62 · · ·HP:· · · ·1578 · · ·AC:· · 67
Dex:· · 14· · 2 · ·35 · · ·PRR: · · · 161
Con:· · 16· · 2 · ·49 · · ·MRR: · · · ·54 · · ·+Healing Amp:· ·123
Int:· · 10· · 2 · ·16 · · ·Dodge: · 21/28 · · ·-Healing Amp:· · 30
Wis:· · 12· · 2 · ·30 · · ·Fort:· · ·157% · · ·Repair Amp:· · · 30
Cha:· · ·8· · 2 · ·14 · · ·SR:· · · · · 1 · · ·BAB: · · · · · · 25
DR:
Immunities: Fear, Magic Missiles, Energy Drain, Freedom of Movement, Death Effects, Freedom of Movement

Racial Past Lives
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Past Life: Aasimar
Past Life: Drow


Saves:
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Fortitude:· · · · ·55*
· vs Poison:· · · ·56*
· vs Disease: · · ·56*
Will: · · · · · · ·36
· vs Enchantment: ·37
· vs Illusion:· · ·36
· vs Fear:· · · · ·36
· vs Curse: · · · ·36
Reflex: · · · · · ·48*
· vs Traps: · · · ·49*
· vs Spell: · · · ·48*
· vs Magic: · · · ·48*
Marked with a * is no fail on a 1 if required DC met

Class and Feat Selection
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Level Class · · · · · ·Feats
1 · · Ranger(1) · · · ·Standard: Dodge
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Construct
2 · · Ranger(2) · · · ·
3 · · Ranger(3) · · · ·Standard: Mobility
4 · · Ranger(4) · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
5 · · Ranger(5) · · · ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Evil Outsider
6 · · Ranger(6) · · · ·Standard: Knight's Training
7 · · Ranger(7) · · · ·
8 · · Ranger(8) · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
9 · · Ranger(9) · · · ·Standard: Spring Attack
10· · Ranger(10)· · · ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Human
11· · Ranger(11)· · · ·
12· · Ranger(12)· · · ·Standard: Improved Critical: Bludgeoning Weapons
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
13· · Ranger(13)· · · ·
14· · Ranger(14)· · · ·
15· · Ranger(15)· · · ·Standard: Precision
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Plant
16· · Ranger(16)· · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
17· · Ranger(17)· · · ·
18· · Ranger(18)· · · ·Standard: Quicken Spell
19· · Ranger(19)· · · ·
20· · Ranger(20)· · · ·Favored Enemy: Favored enemy: Elemental
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
21· · Epic(1) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Overwhelming Critical
22· · Epic(2) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Perfect Two Weapon Fighting
23· · Epic(3) · · · · ·
24· · Epic(4) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Toughness
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
25· · Epic(5) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Crush Weakness
26· · Epic(6) · · · · ·
27· · Epic(7) · · · · ·Epic Feat: Epic Damage Reduction
28· · Epic(8) · · · · ·Epic Destiny Feat: Doublestrike
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Strength: +1 Level up
29· · Epic(9) · · · · ·
30· · Epic(10)· · · · ·Epic Feat: Epic Fortitude
· · · · · · · · · · · ·Legendary: Scion of the Ethereal Plane

Skills
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Skill Points· · ·24 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·7· 7 ·7
Skill Name· · · ·01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20· Total Buffed
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Balance · · · · · 2 ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ · · ·11.0 · 43.0
Bluff · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 27.0
Concentration · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 62.0
Diplomacy · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 25.0
Disable Device· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Haggle· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 22.0
Heal· · · · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 56.0
Hide· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 44.0
Intimidate· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 22.0
Jump· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 76.0
Listen· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 42.0
Move Silently · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 44.0
Open Lock · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 32.0
Perform · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 22.0
Repair· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Search· · · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 47.0
Spell Craft · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 23.0
Spot· · · · · · · 4 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· ·23.0 · 65.0
Swim· · · · · · · · ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·1· 1 ·3· ·21.0 · 89.0
Tumble· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 0.0 · 32.0
Use Magic Device· 2 ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ ·½· ½ · · ·11.0 · 33.0
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Available Points· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0· 0 ·0
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Enhancements: 80 APs
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aasimar: Scourge of the Undead - Points spent: 17
Core1 Stronger Bonds I
Core2 Ability I: +1 Strength
Tier1 Scourge Weapons
Tier1 Improved Recovery I
Core3 Stronger Bonds II
Core4 Ability II: +1 Strength
Core5 Stronger Bonds III
Tier2 Improved Scourge Weapons
Tier3 Greater Scourge Weapons
Tier3 Strike Down the Dead - 3 Ranks
Tier4 Destroyer of the Dead
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Tempest - Points spent: 42
Core1 Shield of Whirling Steel
Tier1 Whirling Blades I
Tier1 Improved Defence - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Improved Reaction - 3 Ranks
Core2 Tempest
Tier2 Improved Parry - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Whirling Blades II
Tier2 Improved Dodge - 3 Ranks
Tier2 Action Boost: Haste Boost - 3 Ranks
Tier3 Whirling Blades III
Core3 Graceful Death
Tier3 Improved Mobility - 3 Ranks
Core4 Deflect Arrows
Tier4 Elaborate Parry - 3 Ranks
Tier4 The Growing Storm - 3 Ranks
Tier4 Whirling Blades IV
Tier5 Whirling Blades V
Tier5 Dance of Death - 3 Ranks
Tier5 Dual Perfection
Tier5 Cuts: Tempest: A Thousand Cuts - 3 Ranks
Core5 Whirlwind
Core6 Dervish
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Deepwood Stalker - Points spent: 21
Core1 Far Shot
Tier1 Increased Empathy - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Versatile Empathy - 2 Ranks
Tier1 Stealthy - 3 Ranks
Core2 Sneak Attack
Tier2 Survivalist I
Tier3 Survivalist II
Core3 Called Shot: Exposing Strike
Tier3 Favored Hunter - 3 Ranks
Tier3 Thrill of the Hunt - 3 Ranks
Core4 Advanced Sneak Attack
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Epic Destinies: 40 APs + 12 permanent Destiny Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legendary Dreadnought - Points spent: 34
Core1 Fearless
Tier1 Dread Mantle
Tier1 Dire Attack: Dire Charge
Tier1 Epic Tactics - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Push Through The Line - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Shrug Off Punishment - 3 Ranks
Core2 Weaponmaster
Tier2 Combat Brute
Tier3 Momentum Swing
Tier3 Strike Twice - 3 Ranks
Core3 Thick Skinned
Tier4 Untouchable
Tier4 Kick While They're Down - 3 Ranks
Tier4 Strike with Fear
Tier4 Lay Waste
Tier5 Legendary Rally: Legendary Rally (Melee)
Tier5 Dusk Surge
Tier5 Action Hero
Tier5 Overpower: Pulverizor
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Grandmaster of Flowers - Points spent: 4
Core1 Inner Focus
Tier1 Strike with Poise - 3 Ranks
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shadowdancer - Points spent: 14
Core1 The Darkest Luck I
Tier1 Cover of Darkness - 3 Ranks
Tier1 Stealthy - 3 Ranks
Core2 The Darkest Luck II
Tier2 Dance in the Dark - 3 Ranks
Core3 The Darkest Luck III
Tier3 Shadowcaster: Shadowstriker
Tier3 Grim Precision - 3 Ranks
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Spells· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · School· · · · ·DC
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Ranger Spells
L1: Jump· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Transmutation · 30
L1: Longstrider · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Transmutation · 30
L1: Merfolk's Blessing· · · · · · · · · · · Transmutation · 30
L1: Ram's Might · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Transmutation · 30
L2: Barkskin· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Transmutation · 31
L2: Hold Animal · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Enchantment · · 31
L2: Owl's Wisdom· · · · · · · · · · · · · · Transmutation · 31
L2: Protection From Energy· · · · · · · · · Abjuration· · · 31
L3: Cure Moderate Wounds· · · · · · · · · · Conjuration · · 32
L3: Neutralize Poison · · · · · · · · · · · Conjuration · · 32
L3: Remove Disease· · · · · · · · · · · · · Conjuration · · 32
L3: Wild Instincts· · · · · · · · · · · · · Divination· · · 32
L4: Animal Growth · · · · · · · · · · · · · Transmutation · 33
L4: Cure Serious Wounds, Mass · · · · · · · Conjuration · · 33
L4: Freedom of Movement · · · · · · · · · · Abjuration· · · 33
L4: Longstrider, Mass · · · · · · · · · · · Transmutation · 33
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Spell Like / Special Abilities
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Healing Hands · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Wild Empathy· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Dimension Door· · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
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Equipped Gear Set: Standard
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Armor · · · · Legendary Wildcard· ·Drops in: Quest: Security Detail
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Legendary Part of the Family
Belt· · · · · Direwolf Belt · Drops in: U48: Feytwisted Chest
· · · · · · · Green: +10 Sapphire of Resistance
· · · · · · · Eminence of Winter
Boots · · · · Legendary Deepsnow Boots· ·Drops in: U48 Quest: A Frosty Reception
· · · · · · · Green: +32 Sapphire of Defense
· · · · · · · Eminence of Winter
Bracers · · · Brand of Kalok Shash· ·Drops in: Raid: Too Hot to Handle, Masterminds of Sharn Saga reward
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Yellow: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Blue: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Filigree 1: Sucker Punch/One Against Many: +2 Strength(Rare Version)
· · · · · · · Filigree 2: Prowess: Melee Power(Rare Version)
· · · · · · · Filigree 3: Dreadbringer: Melee Power(Rare Version)
Cloak · · · · Legendary Cloak of Winter · Drops in: U48 Quest: Comabtting Corruption
· · · · · · · Green: Sapphire of Good Luck + 3
· · · · · · · Eminence of Winter
Gloves· · · · Legendary Hammerfist· ·Drops in: Quest: Blown Deadline
· · · · · · · Blue: +12 Diamond of Wisdom
· · · · · · · Legendary Part of the Family
Goggles · · · Legendary Tinkerer's Goggles· ·Drops in: U47 Raid: Legendary Master Artificer
· · · · · · · Nearly Finished (Intelligence EIQ): Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Yellow: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Tyrannical Tinkerer
Helmet· · · · Legendary Crown of Snow · Drops in: U48 Quest: Legend of the Lost Locket
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Eminence of Winter
Necklace· · · The Family's Blessing · Drops in: Raid: Project Nemesis
· · · · · · · Yellow: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Blue: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Legendary Part of the Family
Ring1 · · · · Legendary Celestial Ruby Ring · Drops in: Quest: The Same Old Song
· · · · · · · Nearly Finished (SDI): +13 Dexterity
· · · · · · · Green: +10 Topaz of Melee Power
Ring2 · · · · Legendary Celestial Sapphire Ring · Drops in: Quest: Best Laid Plans
· · · · · · · Nearly Finished (DIC): +13 Constitution
· · · · · · · Yellow: +5 Diamond of Insightful Strength
Trinket · · · Legendary Crocodile Tooth · Drops in: U50: Quest: Swim at your own risk
· · · · · · · Green: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Yellow: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Legendary Saltmarsh Explorer
Weapon1 · · · The Everstorm, Maelstrom Courser· ·Drops in: Raid: Too Hot to Handle
· · · · · · · Red: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Almost There (UD): Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Finishing Touch: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Nearly Finished: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Filigree 1: Sucker Punch/One Against Many: +2 Strength(Rare Version)
· · · · · · · Filigree 2: Sucker Punch: Melee Power(Rare Version)
· · · · · · · Filigree 3: Prowess: Melee Power(Rare Version)
· · · · · · · Filigree 4: Prowess: Strength(Rare Version)
· · · · · · · Filigree 5: Prowess: Attack and Damage(Rare Version)
· · · · · · · Filigree 6: Prowess: Critical Attack and Damage(Rare Version)
· · · · · · · Filigree 7: Dreadbringer: Melee Power(Rare Version)
· · · · · · · Filigree 8: Dreadbringer: Strength(Rare Version)
Weapon2 · · · Lamplighter · Drops in: U47 Raid: Legendary Vision of Destruction
· · · · · · · Red: Empty augment slot
· · · · · · · Orange: Empty augment slot
Trinket2· · · Restricted by another item in this gear set
Trinket3· · · Restricted by another item in this gear set

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Thank you for reading. If you have any questions, please let me know if I made some mistakes or if you need something clarified. There are 100% some typos in here at least.

[Swimms]

Lol @ the video of the build in action. Love your builds even though I will probably never make this one. I did however make both a "forceful hand" and multiple iterations of your AA. Thanks for your efforts.

[Swimms]

Lol @ the video of the build in action. Love your builds even though I will probably never make this one. I did however make both a "forceful hand" and multiple iterations of your AA. Thanks for your efforts.

Edit-watched the rest of the video, initially thought it was 10 minutes of insta death.

[Kaboom2112]

The feat selection is terrible, but the rest of the build is decent

[mikarddo]

The feat selection is terrible, but the rest of the build is decent

Maybe you or someone else would be interested in posting an alternate set of feats then?

[CaptainPurge]

Those Strahd khopeshes would be nice.

[Kaboom2112]

Maybe you or someone else would be interested in posting an alternate set of feats then?

Check the "other" forum.

[Thrudh]

Why maces with the first STR build? Are those really the best weapons in slot?

Why do you say the DEX build only does 70% of the damage of the STR build? Can't one get DEX nearly as high as STR? What else is different?

For the DEX build, I would suggest

Scion of the Ethereal Plane (+1 to sneak attack for every 3 points of Hide) instead of Scion of Arborea (+20 Melee and Ranged Power).

I can get around 130 Hide with maxed out Hide and Camouflage on a Dex build (160 for 3 minutes if you have the Rogue PL feat) and that's some serious extra damage since melee power affects sneak attack...

Probably more than the 20 melee power from Arborea.

[AbyssalMage]

Why maces with the first STR build? Are those really the best weapons in slot?

Because scourge gains huge bonuses using them. It's probably the best weapon set for any Scourge TWF which can dip into their Racial Tree.

Scourge

[Coffey]

Great build Strimtom!

I like the way you use Dire Charge and Improved Trip during R10s good adds to the build.

Dex build is missing Killer. A new player would not have close 100% doublestrike to leave that out of their build.

You have the wrong IC for Dex Scimitar and Str Khopesh builds .9. . . . : Improved Critical: Bludgeoning

Edit: Ghost Touch looks awesome for Reapers!

[Thrudh]

Because scourge gains huge bonuses using them. It's probably the best weapon set for any Scourge TWF which can dip into their Racial Tree.

Scourge

+1 sacred crit multiplier is the main thing (Destroyer of the Dead), and you have to go 17 APs deep into the racial enhancements to get it.

Is +1 crit multiplier really enough to overcome the fact that most maces aren't very good weapons?

[RavenNight91]

Because scourge gains huge bonuses using them. It's probably the best weapon set for any Scourge TWF which can dip into their Racial Tree.

Scourge

lol...scimitars are the best weapons in reaper without gimping yourself

[Ganak]

Much less damage, about 70% of the damage of strength build.

Building and playing a dex based scimitar ranger wrong...



A dex based scimitar ranger is best played as an off-tank and should always be focused on positioning to do sneak attack damage.


Should take DWS to at least 30 AP so as to get the 4th Core for the 10% fort bypass and more so the Mark of the Hunted clickie:

Mark of the Hunted: Activate: Expend a use of Wild Empathy. Your currently selected enemy receives -25% Fortification, -10 Armor Class, -10 Spell Resistance, and suffers a -4 penalty to all ability scores for 3 minutes. This effect also works on bosses and Raid bosses.
Passive: Your attacks bypass an additional 10% Fortification. You also gain +2 Damage when attacking Favored Enemies.
Passive: +10 Positive Spell Power



Mark of the Hunted, for red named and bosses, lasts more than enough time and benefits the ENTIRE party.



A focus should be on getting Fort Bypass as high as possible, which benefits not only the sneak attack damage, but also the expanded crit range of the scimitar.

Passive Sources:
Precision feat (25%)
Armor-Piercing Item (23% cannith crafting / 28% slave lord crafting / or other items or weapons with it.
Advanced Sneak Attack (10%) - DWS core 3
Mark of the Hunted (10%)
Silent Avenger set (25% legendary) - Artifact bonus to Armor-Piercing
Can also Twist in Grim Precision (15%) or Piercing Clarity (10%)

So easy at 30 to run around with a 93% fort bypass or higher. Mark of the hunter will take you north of 100%.




Scion of the Ethereal Plane as the legendary feat is huge, primarily for the +1 point of Sneak Attack damage for every 3 points of Hide, with hide augmented by the max dex build.


Maximize use of items giving sneak attack damage (Deception, Insightful Deception), and get three Sneak Attack Die from DWS tree.



For when you get agro, Exposing Strike DWS clickie is huge in it gives you 4 out of every 6 seconds of sneak attack and as mentioned works on named bosses.


Tis a glass cannon, so invest in high dodge. I don't take the dragonmark feats b/c I have a ton of displace clickies, but do one or the other. This route also means I don't take the Extend feat (only really useful for Dragonmark displace, and since not getting no dragonmark feat, no extend).






I totally dump stat str, max dex and con, and have a few points to dump into either int or wis on my Wood Elf build.

Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . .8. . . .+6. . . .4: DEX
Dexterity . . . 20. . . .+6. . . .8: DEX
Constitution. . 18. . . .+6. . . 12: DEX
Intelligence. . .8. . . .+6. . . 16: DEX
Wisdom. . . . . 10. . . .+6. . . 20: DEX
Charisma. . . . .8. . . .+6. . . 24: DEX
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: DEX

I do have to be careful of weight over encumbrance at lower levels, which consists of avoiding heavy trash gear.

I only take Int to 8 because that's all it takes to get the skills I desire.



Skills
Max Spot, Search, Heal, UMD, Hide

I max move silently, but for no good reason. Guess its nice to be there should I need it.

Jump to 10
1 point in tumble

Note: No concentration skill due to having Quicken feat for healing casting. Concentration would be then left to help with scroll usage, which I don't do.



Feats:
1 Precision
3 Dodge
6 Weapon Focus: Slash
9 Improved Crit: Slash
12 Quicken
15 Empower Heal
18 Mobility
21 OC
24 Spring Attack
27 Blinding speed
28 Elusive target
29 Embodiment of Law
30 Epic Reflex
30 Scion of the Ethereal plane

For feats, I like Empower Healing and Quicken for heals, and find myself to be a very effective single target healer in Reaper. I also make sure I have a devotion item (currently slave lords crafting)

Note: Extend only useful for Dragonmark displace, and since not getting Dragonmark feat, no extend feat.

I take Epic Reflexes (don't automatically fail Reflex saving throws on a roll of 1) being a max dex build and just don't fail. Love dancing in the middle of traps in reaper.

As an alternative to mobility and spring attack, I actual have a hard time deciding between that and toughness and epic toughness. No one does toughness any more. The combo adds 82 hp at cap. Let's say my login hp at cap is about 1500, it adds 5.4% hp, which is significant and can never have enough hp. I think math might say mobility/spring attack leads to a better outcome and survivalist, but I do not know.


The result is a very resilient character with arguably the most under rated dps in the game when built and played right. I don't have numbers, but would take the whole package over a str build tempest any day.

[Coffey]

As an alternative to mobility and spring attack, I actual have a hard time deciding between that and toughness and epic toughness. No one does toughness any more. The combo adds 82 hp at cap. Let's say my login hp at cap is about 1500, it adds 5.4% hp, which is significant and can never have enough hp. I think math might say mobility/spring attack leads to a better outcome and survivalist, but I do not know.


The result is a very resilient character with arguably the most under rated dps in the game when built and played right. I don't have numbers, but would take the whole package over a str build tempest any day.

There is a thread on the Rogue forum about increasing survivability for reaper Dwarf-Rogue-Assassin-Reaper-and-Raid-Focused. Says in there the Dwarf Dex based Rogue build is pushing 2500 HP. May be worth a look. And i see toughness and epic toughness feats added so you may be onto something there.

I do like the tactical feat adds from the strength based version, although costly feat wise. But i like running the poor mans dexterity build. Even a newer player to the game can easily enjoy playing it without a lot of investment.

And you are right about the damage potential when played right. Very similar to the rogue without having to invest in charisma for bluff.

One of the best made character classes for DDO

[GramercyRiff]

Building and playing a dex based scimitar ranger wrong...



A dex based scimitar ranger is best played as an off-tank and should always be focused on positioning to do sneak attack damage.


Should take DWS to at least 30 AP so as to get the 4th Core for the 10% fort bypass and more so the Mark of the Hunted clickie:

Mark of the Hunted: Activate: Expend a use of Wild Empathy. Your currently selected enemy receives -25% Fortification, -10 Armor Class, -10 Spell Resistance, and suffers a -4 penalty to all ability scores for 3 minutes. This effect also works on bosses and Raid bosses.
Passive: Your attacks bypass an additional 10% Fortification. You also gain +2 Damage when attacking Favored Enemies.
Passive: +10 Positive Spell Power



Mark of the Hunted, for red named and bosses, lasts more than enough time and benefits the ENTIRE party.



A focus should be on getting Fort Bypass as high as possible, which benefits not only the sneak attack damage, but also the expanded crit range of the scimitar.

Passive Sources:
Precision feat (25%)
Armor-Piercing Item (23% cannith crafting / 28% slave lord crafting / or other items or weapons with it.
Advanced Sneak Attack (10%) - DWS core 3
Mark of the Hunted (10%)
Silent Avenger set (25% legendary) - Artifact bonus to Armor-Piercing
Can also Twist in Grim Precision (15%) or Piercing Clarity (10%)

So easy at 30 to run around with a 93% fort bypass or higher. Mark of the hunter will take you north of 100%.




Scion of the Ethereal Plane as the legendary feat is huge, primarily for the +1 point of Sneak Attack damage for every 3 points of Hide, with hide augmented by the max dex build.


Maximize use of items giving sneak attack damage (Deception, Insightful Deception), and get three Sneak Attack Die from DWS tree.



For when you get agro, Exposing Strike DWS clickie is huge in it gives you 4 out of every 6 seconds of sneak attack and as mentioned works on named bosses.


Tis a glass cannon, so invest in high dodge. I don't take the dragonmark feats b/c I have a ton of displace clickies, but do one or the other. This route also means I don't take the Extend feat (only really useful for Dragonmark displace, and since not getting no dragonmark feat, no extend).






I totally dump stat str, max dex and con, and have a few points to dump into either int or wis on my Wood Elf build.

Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . .8. . . .+6. . . .4: DEX
Dexterity . . . 20. . . .+6. . . .8: DEX
Constitution. . 18. . . .+6. . . 12: DEX
Intelligence. . .8. . . .+6. . . 16: DEX
Wisdom. . . . . 10. . . .+6. . . 20: DEX
Charisma. . . . .8. . . .+6. . . 24: DEX
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: DEX

I do have to be careful of weight over encumbrance at lower levels, which consists of avoiding heavy trash gear.

I only take Int to 8 because that's all it takes to get the skills I desire.



Skills
Max Spot, Search, Heal, Hide, Balance to 11

I max move silently, but for no good reason. Guess its nice to be there should I need it.

Jump to 10
1 point in tumble

Note: I don't do UMD. UMD to me would be for Raise Dead, and I have clickies. Not optimal by any means, but I dont have to invest the skill points nor buff charisma on the build.

Note: No concentration skill due to having Quicken feat for healing casting. Concentration would be then left to help with scroll usage, which I don't do.



Feats:
1 Precision
3 Dodge
6 Weapon Focus: Slash
9 Improved Crit: Slash
12 Quicken
15 Empower Heal
18 Mobility
21 OC
24 Spring Attack
27 Blinding speed
28 Elusive target
29 Embodiment of Law
30 Epic Reflex
30 Scion of the Ethereal plane

For feats, I like Empower Healing and Quicken for heals, and find myself to be a very effective single target healer in Reaper. I also make sure I have a devotion item (currently slave lords crafting)

Note: Extend only useful for Dragonmark displace, and since not getting Dragonmark feat, no extend feat.

I take Epic Reflexes (don't automatically fail Reflex saving throws on a roll of 1) being a max dex build and just don't fail. Love dancing in the middle of traps in reaper.

As an alternative to mobility and spring attack, I actual have a hard time deciding between that and toughness and epic toughness. No one does toughness any more. The combo adds 82 hp at cap. Let's say my login hp at cap is about 1500, it adds 5.4% hp, which is significant and can never have enough hp. I think math might say mobility/spring attack leads to a better outcome and survivalist, but I do not know.


The result is a very resilient character with arguably the most under rated dps in the game when built and played right. I don't have numbers, but would take the whole package over a str build tempest any day.

Gonna be real I like this build a lot better than Strimtom's.

I can't decide on doing Dex/Scimitar or Str/Khop so I'm probably going to do both and see which I prefer. Right now I don't have any great Khopeshes and I'll never get a Calamity because I don't raid.

[DrawingGuy]

Gonna be real I like this build a lot better than Strimtom's.

I can't decide on doing Dex/Scimitar or Str/Khop so I'm probably going to do both and see which I prefer. Right now I don't have any great Khopeshes and I'll never get a Calamity because I don't raid.

If you don't plan on farming Calamity, I'd definitely go DEX route. Legendary Vulkoor's Edge is competitive DPS wise, does not require any raid farming, and you can farm it with any toon to set up your Ranger as they are BtA. The Heroic versions are pretty solid too for leveling 14+ as vorpal proc weapons work great in heroics.

Though not raiding really hurts as Strahd and Killing Time both provide items that take Ranger from being a top-tier DPS option in parties, to being great soloers and/or much tankier against unCCed trash:

Flow, the Piercer of Hearts - This weapon applies its CC to BOTH of your weapons and has no save. It procs on crit, which if you are taking Imp Crit Pierce and DWS, is 35% of the time on one of the highest attack density classes in the game. Essentially almost every attack interrupts up to 4 targets.

Nightshard (No Wiki page yet) - This weapon comes from Killing Time. This weapon is higher DPS than flow, and Identity Crisis is a salt proc that slows everything down to a crawl.

Both would combo into a complete shutdown of targets, with Nightshard slowing targets enough that you could target shift to spread out the interrupts. Either one of them is a game changer for an unsupported Ranger. And they are both weapons that a DEX Ranger can use.



I really enjoyed playing a DEX based Ranger. It was far from squishy (over 2k HP with over 2500 in Reaper and over 250 PRR and 200 AC), did so much damage I was able to easily hate tank with no hate items, and being able to AOE attack at that DPS just melts mobs. I suspect that I converted a few people to Ranger that saw me in action.

That said, I don't fully agree with all of Ganak's choices. The two biggest are:
- Feat Choices. Sneak of Shadows is a solid DPS boost, and Completionist is universally useful. Imp Crit pierce is key to the use of Flow for CC, and Imp Crit Bludgeon covers a DR tool. "Filler" feats would be weapon focuses to boost your MP. I don't think it is necessary to dump any feats for Toughnesses or Spring Attack. Dodge/Mobility opens up the option for 3 more Dodge cap and 5 more MDB, though as you can easily cap your dodge without the feats and a single T1 twist can bring your MDB to 28 (20 + 2 aug + 6 twist), which is already your dodge cap, Two feats is a pretty hefty price for 3 dodge cap. Though if you don't have the past lives, it is a lot easier to justify.

- UMD. UMD is for more than just "Raise Dead". It allows for "Resurrection" scrolls, which is critical for in-combat raises so whomever you're bringing back up isn't just going to die instantly again. It also allows for strong self-buffs like Shield wands (which boosts AC along with MM immunity and can fill in Nightshield clicky gaps), Tenser scrolls, True Seeing scrolls, and GH scrolls. Resto/Greater resto scrolls to clear neg levels on yourself or others. Fireshield scrolls for half cold or fire damage. There are many other little things, be it quest specific like lighting/putting out torches in Inferno, fireballing hounds in Thrill, etc, or filling in other utility gaps in your setup. UMD is by far the most important skill in the game, and to give it up is to shoot your support abilities in the foot. I'd kick Move Silently to the curb in a nano-second to invest in this. Though putting more points into INT is not a bad thing as it boosts your KtA.



I've been planning on going WIS based Aasimar my next Ranger life, but I hit a roadblock. My DEX life at cap showed me how critical Exposing Strike was from DWS - I don't have the static party that lets me get away with not needing it to qualify for SA damage, and SA damage is too big a part of my DPS to lose it. This means that I have a base point spread of 41 Tempest, 11 DWS, 26 Falconry (as Deadly Instinct and No Mercy were the keys to help make up for the +1 crit range loss)... I simply don't have the points to get Aasimar Ascendant Bond. This puts Aasimar Scourge clearly as the superior option, especially if you're running Calamities like I planned on, and I've already completed all my Aasimar Scourge lives. I'll have to decide if I want to stick with the plan (likely 42/11/27) or do STR instead.

[RavenNight91]

Gonna be real I like this build a lot better than Strimtom's.

I can't decide on doing Dex/Scimitar or Str/Khop so I'm probably going to do both and see which I prefer. Right now I don't have any great Khopeshes and I'll never get a Calamity because I don't raid.

Str/Scimitar is better because Str will end up higher than dex (more dmg + tactic dc) and you can use stunning blow (more cc) and nothing beats a scimitar in reaper atm not even a khopesh because the damage reduction makes the khopesh useless.

[Kaboom2112]

nothing beats a scimitar in reaper atm not even a khopesh because the damage reduction makes the khopesh useless.

Absolute nonsense.

[RavenNight91]

Absolute nonsense.

Critting more felt better and faster for me in reaper than a higher multi weapon with less crits.

[Jimminy]

Building and playing a dex based scimitar ranger wrong...



A dex based scimitar ranger is best played as an off-tank and should always be focused on positioning to do sneak attack damage.


Should take DWS to at least 30 AP so as to get the 4th Core for the 10% fort bypass and more so the Mark of the Hunted clickie:

Mark of the Hunted: Activate: Expend a use of Wild Empathy. Your currently selected enemy receives -25% Fortification, -10 Armor Class, -10 Spell Resistance, and suffers a -4 penalty to all ability scores for 3 minutes. This effect also works on bosses and Raid bosses.
Passive: Your attacks bypass an additional 10% Fortification. You also gain +2 Damage when attacking Favored Enemies.
Passive: +10 Positive Spell Power



Mark of the Hunted, for red named and bosses, lasts more than enough time and benefits the ENTIRE party.



A focus should be on getting Fort Bypass as high as possible, which benefits not only the sneak attack damage, but also the expanded crit range of the scimitar.

Passive Sources:
Precision feat (25%)
Armor-Piercing Item (23% cannith crafting / 28% slave lord crafting / or other items or weapons with it.
Advanced Sneak Attack (10%) - DWS core 3
Mark of the Hunted (10%)
Silent Avenger set (25% legendary) - Artifact bonus to Armor-Piercing
Can also Twist in Grim Precision (15%) or Piercing Clarity (10%)

So easy at 30 to run around with a 93% fort bypass or higher. Mark of the hunter will take you north of 100%.




Scion of the Ethereal Plane as the legendary feat is huge, primarily for the +1 point of Sneak Attack damage for every 3 points of Hide, with hide augmented by the max dex build.


Maximize use of items giving sneak attack damage (Deception, Insightful Deception), and get three Sneak Attack Die from DWS tree.



For when you get agro, Exposing Strike DWS clickie is huge in it gives you 4 out of every 6 seconds of sneak attack and as mentioned works on named bosses.


Tis a glass cannon, so invest in high dodge. I don't take the dragonmark feats b/c I have a ton of displace clickies, but do one or the other. This route also means I don't take the Extend feat (only really useful for Dragonmark displace, and since not getting no dragonmark feat, no extend).






I totally dump stat str, max dex and con, and have a few points to dump into either int or wis on my Wood Elf build.

Stats
. . . . . . . .36pt . . Tome . . Level Up
. . . . . . . .---- . . ----. . .--------
Strength. . . . .8. . . .+6. . . .4: DEX
Dexterity . . . 20. . . .+6. . . .8: DEX
Constitution. . 18. . . .+6. . . 12: DEX
Intelligence. . .8. . . .+6. . . 16: DEX
Wisdom. . . . . 10. . . .+6. . . 20: DEX
Charisma. . . . .8. . . .+6. . . 24: DEX
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28: DEX

I do have to be careful of weight over encumbrance at lower levels, which consists of avoiding heavy trash gear.

I only take Int to 8 because that's all it takes to get the skills I desire.



Skills
Max Spot, Search, Heal, Hide, Balance to 11

I max move silently, but for no good reason. Guess its nice to be there should I need it.

Jump to 10
1 point in tumble

Note: I don't do UMD. UMD to me would be for Raise Dead, and I have clickies. Not optimal by any means, but I dont have to invest the skill points nor buff charisma on the build.

Note: No concentration skill due to having Quicken feat for healing casting. Concentration would be then left to help with scroll usage, which I don't do.



Feats:
1 Precision
3 Dodge
6 Weapon Focus: Slash
9 Improved Crit: Slash
12 Quicken
15 Empower Heal
18 Mobility
21 OC
24 Spring Attack
27 Blinding speed
28 Elusive target
29 Embodiment of Law
30 Epic Reflex
30 Scion of the Ethereal plane

For feats, I like Empower Healing and Quicken for heals, and find myself to be a very effective single target healer in Reaper. I also make sure I have a devotion item (currently slave lords crafting)

Note: Extend only useful for Dragonmark displace, and since not getting Dragonmark feat, no extend feat.

I take Epic Reflexes (don't automatically fail Reflex saving throws on a roll of 1) being a max dex build and just don't fail. Love dancing in the middle of traps in reaper.

As an alternative to mobility and spring attack, I actual have a hard time deciding between that and toughness and epic toughness. No one does toughness any more. The combo adds 82 hp at cap. Let's say my login hp at cap is about 1500, it adds 5.4% hp, which is significant and can never have enough hp. I think math might say mobility/spring attack leads to a better outcome and survivalist, but I do not know.


The result is a very resilient character with arguably the most under rated dps in the game when built and played right. I don't have numbers, but would take the whole package over a str build tempest any day.

Do you have an enhancement list for this? I'm hoping to try this for my next TR.