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