The Martial Ranger

Mundane Survival Abilities to Replace

Ranger Spells

by MICHAEL KIDD

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The purpose of this revision to the Ranger’s spell list is to satisfy players who wish to have a non-
spellcasting Ranger class. I used the new revised Ranger that was released in Unearthed Arcana,
September 2016.
https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/unearthed-arcana-ranger-revised

I have attempted to rework the spells into a mundane ability set that would be more in line with a
trained scout or survivalist. I have attempted to balance the power of the ability with that of the
original spell, using the same DCs and damage dice. I have changed some of the elemental damages
to better reflect what a survivalist would have access to. I took some liberties with what would be
mundane abilities (such as explosives in the place of lightning damage). Where some abilities
become more constantly useable, such as Hunter’s Quarry (Hunter’s Mark spell), I added a setback
feature to balance the utility of the ability. The abilities are divided up into 4 categories, Abilities
which can be used at will, Salves which need preparation during a long rest, Traps which may be
used repeatedly (balanced by their need for preparation for use rather than spontaneous casting),
and Weapon Modifications which need to be prepared during a long rest. I spaced out the levels at
which the Ranger gains access to the abilities in order to pace the power advancement of the
Ranger.

For the purpose of saving throws which would regularly use the Ranger’s Spell Save DC, we will
rename the Spell Save DC as the Hazard Save DC. 8 + Wisdom Modifier + Proficiency.

I would really love feedback, constructive criticism, and balancing notes. Oh, and if anyone wants to
supply me with some art that I can use for this document, that’s more than welcome too! Reach me
on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/michael.ross.kidd

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The Martial Ranger

Are you frightened? Not nearly frightened enough. I know what
hunts you.
—Strider, Lord of the Rings
Salves
The Ranger is able to collect and store herbs and
reagents for use in medicinal and protective salves.
While the ingredients can be collected, dried, and stored,
the salve itself must be freshly prepared before use. The
prepared herbs are useable for a full 24 hours. The
Ranger can only have one prepared salve per day, but
does gain the ability to prepare more as the Ranger gains
levels.
Level 1
Flameproofing (salve)
While it is called “Flameproofing” the concoction is
actually useful against any kind of elemental damage.
This oil is a translucent orange and is undetectable once
applied to the skin. When applied on the skin, it offers a
one-time protection against the elements. While applied,
when the Ranger suffers elemental damage (acid, cold,
fire, lightning, or thunder), the oil offers immunity to
elemental damage for one round, after which the oil is
spent and offers no further benefit. The oil lasts for 24
hours once applied.
Healing Balm (salve)
This balm is a thick white paste which can be applied to
injuries. It can be divided into separate doses, saving the
unused portion for later use through the day. The balm
has a 24 hour potency, after which it is useless. The
Ranger can prepare enough to heal 10hp worth of
injuries.
Level 2
Traps
The Ranger is able to quickly assemble useful and deadly
traps under pressure. With only 1 minute of preparation
the Ranger is able to assemble and set a trap. Traps may
be used repeatedly through the day. If a Ranger is
proficient with a Poisoner’s Kit, they may apply a poison
to the trap, delivering the poison to the target if they
trigger the trap. The poison’s DC to avoid being
poisoned still applies. If the poison does not have a DC
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to avoid being poisoned, the Ranger uses their Hazard
DC in place.
Rig Alarm (trap)
The Ranger learns to make a cunning alarm that can alert
the Ranger to imminent danger. With 1 minute’s
preparation, the ranger can rig an alarm for a 20 foot
cube. The alarm can detect any creature tiny or larger
that enters the space. The Ranger can rig the alarm to
produce a loud sound, a harmless flash fire effect, or a
silent or disguised notification that only the Ranger
understands.
Sense Poison and Disease
With considerable concentration and effort the Ranger
can detect minute traces of poison and sense the
presence of disease. The Ranger must not be in combat
or concentrating on any other task. With a DC 10
Wisdom (survival) check the Ranger can identify the
signs of poison or their ingredients by sight and smell.
The Ranger can also discern those who suffer from
disease within 30 feet of them. To continue the effort
for longer than 10 minutes, or during any other kind of
activity or interruption requires a DC 20 Wisdom
(survival) check.
Level 3
Hunter’s Quarry
The Ranger learns a level of concentration in battle
beyond what other warriors can achieve. Honing in on
one target, the Ranger is able to deal vicious blows
against a targeted quarry. As a bonus action the Ranger
can elect a target to be a quarry. The Ranger deals an
extra 1d6 weapon damage against the target for the
duration of combat. When the Ranger’s quarry hits 0 hit
points, the ranger may elect a new quarry to take its
place. This focus has a price, the first attack made
against the ranger each round by a creature other than
the Ranger’s quarry is made with advantage. While a
quarry is marked, the Ranger can not activate a trap or
weapon modification for use. If a trap or weapon
modification was already activated for use before a
quarry was marked, the trap or modification effects still
apply along with the quarry effects.
Urban Camouflage (Deep Stalker only)
The Deep Stalker Ranger gains the ability to create a
passable disguise with very little time to prepare. Given
1 minute to construct a disguise, the Ranger can disguise
their identity, construct a passable representation of a
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uniform, or even appear a foot taller or shorter, heavier
or thinner set than their true form. Creatures attempting
to discern whether the Ranger is disguised can use their
action to perform an Intelligence (investigation) check
against your Hazard DC.
Level 4
Weapon Modifications
At the beginning of each day the Ranger may elect to
prepare a weapon modification that can be used in battle
with great effect. The Ranger may have one weapon
modification prepared at a time at 4th level, gaining more
uses at later levels. The Ranger may activate a weapon
modification with a bonus action. Only one
modification can be active at a time.
Shrapnel Arrow (weapon mod)
The Ranger can prepare one piece of ammunition, or
one thrown weapon with a charge capable of delivering
shrapnel damage to the close surrounding area. Whether
you hit or miss the target of your attack, in addition to
the normal effects of the attack, the target and any
creatures in the surrounding 5 feet must make a
Dexterity save. A creature takes 1d10 piercing damage
on a failed saving throw, or half as much on a successful
one.
Searing Sticky Bomb (weapon mod)
The Ranger can rig up one weapon, ranged or melee, to
deliver a burning mess of sticky pitch. Beyond the usual
stickiness of tree pitch, this rendered substance has an
adherent quality that can fix a creature in place while it
burns their skin with an acid-like corrosion. When a
creature is struck with the modified weapon, the target
must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be
restrained. A Large or larger creature has advantage on
the saving throw. While restrained the target suffers 1d6
acid damage at the beginning of each turn. The
restrained creature, or any other creature that can touch
the target, may use its action to make a strength check.
On a success the target is freed.
Level 5
The Ranger is able to prepare 2 Salves per day.
Tripwire Crossbow (trap)
The Ranger can seamlessly hide a minute crossbow into
the surrounding area, running nearly invisible tripwires
and triggers from the deadly rig. The trap requires 1
minute to install properly. The crossbow is equipped
with 4 drawn bows, capable of firing 4 bolts at an
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unlucky creature. Any creature stumbling into the
tripwires or standing among them is likely to set off the
trap. The first time a creature enters within 30 feet of
the crossbow, or ends it’s turn there the crossbow fires a
bolt. The target must make a Dexterity saving throw or
take 1d6 piercing damage.
Antidote (salve)
The Ranger can create an Antitoxin Salve that acts as an
antidote to a poison that the Ranger has detected in a
target. The Antitoxin is prepared ahead of time (usually
at the beginning of the day) as are other salves, but the
reagents involved to use it as an antidote can be applied
just before use, tailoring the antidote to the specific
poison. If more than one poison is present in a target,
the Ranger can elect to use more reagent to cure
additional poisons, eliminating the use of further Salves
(no matter the type of Salve prepared, this uses the
ingredients) if any Salves were remaining in the Ranger’s
inventory.
Level 6
Eye For Pitfalls
The Ranger is able to detect the presence of intentionally
crafted traps that are within line of sight. When the
Ranger makes a Perception roll, on a roll of 20 or higher
this training creates an awareness in the Ranger for
unnatural hazards such as an alarm spell or a glyph or
warding, or a mechanical trap. The Ranger does not
know the exact location of the danger (unless the
perception roll succeeded in finding the danger), but
does have a sense of the danger posed.
Identify Animal and Plant Life
The Ranger has a keen awareness of the surrounding
area and can identify the animal and plant like for the
surrounding 5 miles. If you are tracking a specific type
of animal or plant in that is present within the
surrounding 5 miles, you know the direction and distance
to the closest plant or animal of that kind.
Sense Ambush (Deep Stalker only)
The Deep Stalker is ever vigilant for danger. If the
Ranger, or any of the Ranger’s companions are surprised
while within 30 feet, the Ranger can use a reaction to
impose disadvantage on attacks against the Ranger and
effected companions during the surprise round.
Level 7
The Ranger is able to prepare 2 Weapon
Modifications per day.
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Snares and Spikes (trap)
The Ranger is able to disguise a deadly gauntlet of
snares, spikes, caltrops, and other nasty surprises for any
unlucky creature that wanders into the trap. The Ranger
can cover a 20 foot radius with dangers for other
creatures. The trap requires 1 minute to install properly.
The terrain becomes difficult terrain while the trap is
active. When a creature other than the Ranger moves
into the area, it takes 2d4 piercing damage for every 5
feet it travels (no save). The hazard can be detected with
a Perception check (DC matching your Hazard Save DC)
to identify the terrain as trapped and as difficult terrain.
The Ranger may elect to show other creatures the trap.
Such notified creatures still suffer from normal difficult
terrain effects, but may attempt to navigate the trap with
a DC 10 Dexterity (Acrobatics) save to suffer no
damage).
Level 8
Greater Antidote (salve)
The Ranger is able to expand the use of their Antitoxin
Salve used in preparing an antidote. The Salve can now
be used to treat disease, or to cure a target of blindness,
deafness, and paralysis, as well as poison. The treatment
of poison is now more effective, and the target has
advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and
resistance to poison damage for 1 hour after treatment.
Leave No Sign
The Ranger becomes a greater master of stealth and non
detection. With a great degree of concentration the
Ranger can obscure the passage of traveling companions
as well. While not in combat or performing any kind of
complicated task, the Ranger can increase the stealth of
all companions within 30 feet by +10. The Ranger must
be alert and is unable to do anything but move and guide
companions along the most stealthy route. While
traveling in this state the group can not be tracked except
by magical means. The group leaves no tracks or sign of
passage. The Ranger sacrifices some degree of
awareness due to having to hide and keep low, and while
using this ability the Ranger and all effected companions
suffer a -5 to all perception checks.
Level 9
The Ranger is able to prepare 3 Salves per day.
Scorching Oil (weapon mod)
The Ranger develops a technique for working with
flaming weapons and the modifications to ammunition
and weapons necessary to use this technique swiftly
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when needed. The Ranger attaches a reservoir of a
custom oil to his forearm that can be used to coat
ammunition, or the Ranger can cover up to two weapons
with the solution. The Ranger’s glove is equipped with a
flint pad than can spark the oil into a flaming
conflagration. The ammunition or weapons remain
flaming for one minute. When a target is struck with the
ammunition or weapon, the target suffers an additional
1d6 fire damage. The concoction of oil prepares enough
for a full quiver of ammunition to be coated, or to coat
two weapons.
Level 10
The Ranger is able to prepare 3 Weapon
Modifications per day.
Greater Flameproofing (salve)
The flameproofing salve maintains it’s original effect, but
gains the added benefit of the having a 1 hour lasting
resistance to elemental damage. The 1 hour resistance to
elemental damage (acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder)
begins once the initial use to flameproofing is triggered.
Trap Favoured Enemy (Deep Stalker only)
The Deep Stalker is so adept at knowing the specific
weaknesses of a Favoured Enemy that the Ranger can
elect that only a specific Favoured Enemy can trigger a
trap set by the Ranger. By tailoring the trap to a specific
Favoured Enemy, the trap can be made more potent.
The Ranger may add 2d6 piercing damage to the trap’s
standard effects and any creature resistant to any part of
the trap’s damage suffers damage as they would without
resistance, and any creature immune to any part of the
trap’s damage suffers that damage as if they were
resistant to the damage.
Level 11
Improved Shrapnel Arrow (weapon mod)
The Ranger develops a light weight, high explosive
charge. The arrow can now be rigged to deliver a blast
damaging the target by 2d8 piercing & 2d8 fire on a
failed Dexterity saving throw, or half as much on a
successful save. The blast range for the shrapnel extends
to each creature within 10 feet, who suffer 1d8 piercing,
1d8 fire on a failed Dexterity saving throw, or half as
much on a successful save.
Improved Searing Sticky Bomb
(weapon mod)
The Ranger has developed an even more adherent and
corrosive substance to add to the modification. When
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the target creature is struck with the modified weapon,
they take an additional 2d6 acid damage. The damage
that is inflicted to a restrained creature at the beginning
of each turn is increased to 2d6. The size of creature
with advantage to Strength saving throws to avoid or free
themselves from being restrained is now Huge instead of
Large.
Level 12
Improved Leave No Sign (Deep Stalker only)
Any creature rolling a perception check against the
stealth checks of the Ranger and any companions under
the effects of the Ranger’s Leave No Sign ability roll with
disadvantage. The Deep Stalker gains the use of this
ability during combat, but can not share the benefits with
companions during combat.
Level 13
The Ranger is able to prepare 4 Salves per day.
Track Quarry
The Ranger’s senses have been honed to near perfection.
The Ranger is able to track any type of creature (a
specific kind of creature such as a human or a unicorn)
over immense distances. The Ranger can spot the tracks
or signs of passage of any kind of creature. If one of
the selected type of creature are within 1000 feet of you,
you can sense their direction, movement, and
approximate distance. This ability does not detect
whether the creature is effected by a polymorph spell, or
other such enchantment, and the Ranger would only be
aware of their present form. This ability does not work
if the trail is interrupted by a body of water at least 10
feet wide.
Improved Urban Camouflage
(Deep Stalker only)
The Ranger’s ability to create a quick and passable
disguise becomes preternaturally swift. Given 1 minute
to construct the disguises, the Deep Stalker can disguise
the identities of up to 10 people, constructing passable
representations of uniforms, or even make targets appear
a foot taller or shorter, heavier or thinner set than their
true form. Creatures attempting to discern whether the
Ranger or any companions affected by the ability are
disguised can use their action to perform an Intelligence
(investigation) check against your Hazard DC.
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Level 14
Snare Gauntlet (trap)
The Ranger gains a mastery over quickly laying elaborate
traps. With only 1 minute preparation, the Ranger is able
to lay a web of snares that can hamper the movement of
even the largest quarry and in great numbers. The
Ranger lays snares in a 30 foot radius from a central
mechanism. The Ranger can trigger the trap with a
bonus action. When the trap is triggered, all creatures
within the 30 foot radius must succeed on a Dexterity
saving throw or be pulled 20 feet directly towards the
central mechanism. The targets are restrained until they
succeed on a Strength (Athletics) check to escape their
bonds, or are able to cut their bonds. The bonds of the
snares have an AC 5 and 20 hit points, and are resistant
to non-magical damage.
Level 15
Ironwood Oil (salve)
The Ranger expands their knowledge of Salves with a
dark brown concoction of the root of the ironwood tree,
fish oils, and a rare yellow herb called Sunroot. The
Ranger can mix a Salve to harden their skin against
physical damage. While coated in this Salve the target
has resistance to nonmagical bludgeoning, piercing, and
slashing damage. The effects of this salve last for 1
hour.
Level 16
Deft Movement
The Ranger’s speed and movement can no longer be
reduced by magical effects. The Ranger can no longer be
paralyzed or restrained by magical means. The Ranger
also gains the uncanny ability to escape nonmagical
bonds. Restraints such as nonmagical manacles or a
grappling creature can now be escaped by 5 feet of
movement and a DC 10 Strength (athletics) or Dexterity
(acrobatics) check. Finally, being underwater imposes no
penalties on the target’s movement or attacks.
Level 17
The Ranger is able to prepare 4 Salves per day.
Reloading Grip (weapon mod)
The Ranger develops a modification to their quiver and
glove that allows them unparalleled reloading capability.
The Ranger is able to preload the rig with enough
ammunition for 1 minute’s use (after which time the
Ranger’s hand would fatigue from the strain anyway).
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While the modification is active the Ranger is able to use
a bonus action to make two attacks with a weapon that
uses ammunition from a quiver. The rig allows for the
ammunition to be automatically loaded into the Ranger’s
grip. After the modification has been used it requires a
short rest to preload the ammunition and reset the
rigging. The rigging to this modification is complicated
and requires concentration to use. The Ranger can not
benefit from their Hunter’s Quarry ability while using the
Reloading Grip.

Level 18
Perfected Shrapnel Arrow (weapon mod)
The Ranger perfects the high explosive charge. The
arrow can now be rigged to deliver a blast damaging the
target by 4d8 piercing & 4d8 fire on a failed Dexterity
saving throw, or half as much on a successful save. The
blast range for the shrapnel extends to each creature
within a 40 foot radius, 20-foot-high cylinder, who suffer
4d8 piercing, 4d8 fire on a failed Dexterity saving throw,
or half as much on a successful save.

Perfected Searing Sticky Bomb

(weapon mod)
The Ranger has developed an even more adherent and
corrosive substance to add to the modification. When
the target creature is struck with the modified weapon,
they take an additional 4d6 acid damage. The damage
that is inflicted to a restrained creature at the beginning
of each turn is increased to 4d6. The size of creature no
longer grants advantage on saving throws.

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