Ranger

The Ranger is a hybrid mix between a Warrior and a Druid, sharing the skills of both. He's most at home in the great outdoors.
- EverQuest manual

Description

The ranger is a hybrid class combining the combat skills of the Warrior, with the magical abilities of a Druid.

Like a Rogue, Rangers are a lightly armoured offensive class which focuses more on delivering damage than tanking. In terms of combat skills they can use all types of weapons and get dual wield, double attack, and kick. They also get a number of defensive skills including dodge, parry, riposte and disarm. However, because they are Hybrids Rangers learn most of these combat skills a few levels later than pure melee classes.

Rangers have higher offensive skill caps than any other hybrid class. However, they are significantly lower in a number of defensive skill areas. They have a much lower taunt, riposte, disarm, dodge and parry. Because of this Rangers get hit a lot more, and should not be left to tank for significant periods. Unlike the Rogue they have no skill to reduce the monsters hate for them and must rely on their magical abilities or their party to reduce the damage inflicted on them. [ add :until lvl 51, jolt spell ]

Rangers get the highest tracking skill in the game, which helps to find people or enemies within the area. This is particularly useful in the large outdoor zones of Kunark.

Rangers are one of only two classes that can do critical blows with archery starting at level 17. However, this skill is only useful in very limited circumstances, and by no means the primary damage dealer for the class. [ add: can become primary damage with the trueshot ability at 55 ]

In terms of magic Rangers get a range of nice utility spells. They receive both Spirit of Wolf and later Wolf Form itself. They also get spells to reduce monster frenzy ranges, and this enables them to single pull out of a group. They have both healing spells and damage shields (the latter of which inflicts unresistable damage). This is coupled with a solid series of HP and AC increasing buffs, as well as some minor stat buffs. Damage wise they receive both direct damage and damage over time spells. They can also snare and root mobs. You can view the full ranger spell list here.

The major challenge in the ranger class is staying alive. Rangers can die very easily because of their high damage output and low armour class, hitpoints and defense capabilities [ add : in fact, they got better hp gain per stamina than other dps class ]. The limited variety in armour can also be frustrating. Also, despite their magical power they do not have the ability to bind or gate. This means that Rangers, like any other melee, may have long runs back to their corpses if they die.

If you are looking for a class with decent damage output, the best tracking in the game, and a little bit of magic to spice things up this class could be the one for you. Just be warned that you will need a lot of patience before you reach Level 60. Also note that rangers have low priority on group invites due to getting overshadowed by other classes. This class is not for the faint of heart but still fun nonetheless.

Class Titles

Level 1-50	Level 51-54	Level 55-59	Level 60
Ranger	Pathfinder	Outrider	Warder

Server Specific Ranger Perks

• Start with endless Quiver
• @level 20 Archery master I
• @level 50 Archery master II

Picking the Right Race

The first thing you have to pick then is your race. Which race you pick will determine the foundation of you character for the rest of your life in Norrath so it is kind of important you pick one you like.

Wood Elves are quite a good race for rangers. They have naturally high agility, and can wear both small and medium armour. They also start with the ability to forage, which can help save a lot of funds at low levels, although all rangers get this skill later in life. Wood Elves also have natural infravision, and start in the tree city of Kelethin.

Half-Elves are limited to medium sized armour. They are very well balanced, and have slightly better starting stats than the wood elf, though they lack some of the natural abilities. They have the highest natural dexterity of any ranger race, and also have infravision. However, the druid part of a ranger is let down with a low natural wisdom. Half Elves start in Surefall Glade near Qeynos.

Human rangers have very balanced stats, across the board. They have the highest natural strength of any ranger race, and all other stats are certainly in an acceptable range. However their natural agility is quite low compared to the other classes. Humans have no night vision, which is perhaps the largest reason that many people decide against playing a Human Ranger. Rangers do however receive an infravision spell at level 30, and an ultravision spell at level 56. Human rangers start in Qeynos.

All of the ranger races level at the same rate, and faction wise are all well received in any town with a neutral or good alignment.

Race	Str	Sta	Agi	Dex	Wis	Int	Cha	Bonus
Half Elf	75	80	100	85	65	75	75	20
Halfling	75	85	105	90	85	67	50	20
High Elf	65	70	85	80	100	92	80	20
Human	80	85	85	75	80	75	75	20
Wood Elf	70	75	105	80	85	75	75	20

Spending Your Bonus Points

Rangers have to keep in mind that even though Stamina gives more hit points it is not a huge amount. It is certainly not going to be enough to make any significant difference between life and death; even at higher levels 10 extra points in Stamina only give 20-30 extra hit points. Also, while Agility increases armour class, the amount is very minimal (for reference - at level 38 with 190 points in the Defense skill, a +18 Agility buff raises AC by four points). Rangers are very different to the Shadowknight and Paladin hybrids. Like a Rogue, they are a lightly armoured offensive class, and may wish to focus on this offensive side rather than attempting to buffer a defensive ability they will never match the other hybrids in. With this in mind here are some suggested starting statistics:

Religion

Religion does not have a large impact upon the Ranger class. The two choices are Karana or Tunare (except for Wood Elves who must choose Tunare). Picking one will not alienate you from another, although only followers of Tunare can equip the Helm of the Tracker. Choose whichever appeals to you more.

Spells

Spell Name	Level	Mana	Skill	Target Type
Salve	1	8	Alteration	Single target
Glimpse	2	5	Divination	Self only
Flame Lick	3	12	Evocation	Single target
Lull Animal	4	10	Alteration	Animal
Tangling Weeds	5	15	Alteration	Single target
Snare	6	15	Alteration	Single target
Skin like Wood	7	10	Abjuration	Single target
Minor Healing	8	10	Alteration	Single target
Endure Fire	9	20	Abjuration	Single target
Dance of the Fireflies	10	10	Conjuration	Self only
Hawk Eye	11	125	Alteration	Self only
Feet like Cat	12	40	Alteration	Single target
Cure Poison	13	20	Alteration	Single target
Thistlecoat	13	25	Abjuration	Self only
Burst of Fire	14	7	Evocation	Single target
Camouflage	14	15	Divination	Single target
Grasping Roots	15	35	Alteration	Single target
Invoke Lightning	15	32	Evocation	Area of effect around the target
Panic Animal	16	10	Alteration	Animal
Ward Summoned	16	6	Evocation	Summoned beings
Bind Sight	17	15	Divination	Single target
Firefist	17	30	Evocation	Self only
Endure Cold	18	20	Abjuration	Single target
Ignite	19	21	Evocation	Single target
Enduring Breath	20	35	Alteration	Single target
Light Healing	21	28	Alteration	Single target
Skin like Rock	21	60	Abjuration	Single target
Cure Disease	22	20	Alteration	Single target
Harmony	22	25	Abjuration	Area of effect around the target
Shield of Thistles	24	40	Abjuration	Single target
Stinging Swarm	25	71	Conjuration	Single target
Strength of Earth	26	40	Alteration	Single target
Eyes of the Cat	27	35	Divination	Self only
Spirit of Wolf	28	40	Alteration	Single target
Flaming Arrow	29	57	Evocation	Single target
Riftwind's Protection	29	40	Abjuration	Single target
Barbcoat	30	50	Abjuration	Self only
Cancel Magic	30	30	Abjuration	Single target
Calm Animal	31	45	Alteration	Animal
See Invisible	32	25	Divination	Single target
Dismiss Summoned	33	73	Evocation	Summoned beings
Bramblecoat	34	75	Abjuration	Self only
Levitate	35	30	Alteration	Single target
Call of Sky	36	50	Alteration	Self only
Careless Lightning	37	37	Evocation	Single target
Nature's Precision	37	50	Evocation	Self only
Healing	38	65	Alteration	Single target
Skin like Steel	38	100	Abjuration	Single target
Burning Arrow	39	86	Evocation	Single target
Harmony of Nature	39	100	Abjuration	Single target
Swarm of Pain	40	167	Conjuration	Single target
Spirit of the Shrew	41	80	Alteration	Single target
Spikecoat	42	110	Abjuration	Self only
Shield of Brambles	43	80	Abjuration	Single target
Immolate	44	72	Evocation	Single target
Ensnaring Roots	45	60	Alteration	Single target
Resist Fire	46	50	Abjuration	Single target
Superior Camouflage	47	40	Divination	Single target
Force of Nature	48	100	Alteration	Single target
Wolf Form	48	60	Alteration	Self only
Call of Flame	49	106	Evocation	Single target
Pack Shrew	49	320	Alteration	Group teleport
Call of Earth	50	50	Abjuration	Single target
Jolt	50	0	Alteration	Single target
Jolt	50	60	Alteration	Single target
Ensnare	51	35	Alteration	Single target
Resistant Discipline	51	0	Defense	Self only
Strength of Nature	51	125	Abjuration	Single target
Tangle	51	60	Alteration	Single target
Falcon Eye	52	375	Alteration	Self only
Firestrike	52	138	Evocation	Single target
Icewind	52	186	Evocation	Single target
Storm Strength	53	85	Alteration	Single target
Drones of Doom	54	145	Conjuration	Single target
Fearless Discipline	54	0	Defense	Self only
Jolting Blades	54	120	Conjuration	Self only
Skin like Diamond	54	200	Abjuration	Single target
Call of Fire	55	50	Alteration	Self only
Chloroplast	55	200	Alteration	Single target
Cinder Jolt	55	60	Alteration	Single target
Fire Swarm	55	203	Conjuration	Single target
Resist Cold	55	50	Abjuration	Single target
Trueshot Discipline	55	0	Offense	Self only
Chill Sight	56	75	Divination	Self only
Greater Wolf Form	56	90	Alteration	Self only
Mark of the Predator	56	100	Abjuration	Group
Greater Healing	57	115	Alteration	Single target
Call of Ice	58	50	Alteration	Self only
Eagle Eye	58	500	Alteration	Self only
Nullify Magic	58	50	Abjuration	Single target
Shield of Spikes	58	100	Abjuration	Single target
Dustdevil	59	162	Evocation	Single target
Skin like Nature	59	300	Abjuration	Single target
Call of the Predator	60	200	Abjuration	Group
Enveloping Roots	60	80	Alteration	Single target
Thorncoat	60	175	Abjuration	Self only
Warder's Protection	60	350	Abjuration	Self only
Weapon Shield Discipline	60	0	Defense	Self only