Summary
Rangers are a hot button topic when it comes toDungeons & Dragonsclasses in the 2024Player’s Handbook, but there might not actually be as much cause for concern as it seems. As a notoriously underpowered option in the 2014Player’s Handbook, thestrengths of most Ranger subclassesoften didn’t mesh well with the averageDnDcampaign. Although the new rules are reworking them with the goal of offering more versatility and relevance than before, previews of the redesigned Ranger mechanics haven’t convinced everyone that everything is as it should be.
In an interview withScreen Rant,DnDlead designer Jeremy Crawford confirmed thatsome Ranger spells will be losing the Concentration requirement that they had in the 2014Player’s Handbook, which should go a long way in making the reworked Ranger click. The spellhunter’s markis a key Ranger feature that offers extra damage and perks on chosen targets, and although it still requires Concentration, removing that demand from other spells will make it easier to usehunter’s markwithout sacrificing as many options.
Jeremy Crawford: “[P]eople are going to see that, while there are certain things likehunter’s markthat required Concentration in 2014 and continue to require it in 2024, there are other things that used to require Concentration that no longer do. And we were particularly mindful of that for classes like the Ranger that have key features that require Concentration.”
Less Concentration Means More D&D Ranger Versatility
The 2024 Player’s Handbook Could Add Flexibility
Maintaining Concentration onhunter’s markhas always required some sacrifice on the part of Rangers, andthe newPlayer’s Handbookis incentivizinghunter’s markas a more essential feature than everwith changes like making the Ranger’s capstone Level 20 feature focus on the spell. A solid portion of the community has pushed for the removal of Concentration from the spell, although this would sacrifice some of the strategy in what Crawford refers to as “the Concentration mini-game.”
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Concentration can only be used on one spell at a time, and considering how much of the Ranger’s spell list has traditionally required it, the choice could feel limiting. Getting confirmation that some Ranger spells will have their Concentration requirement removed makes the retooled Ranger feel a lot more viable, although opinions will obviously still vary on justhow good the class rework is.Hunter’s markConcentration also gets a buff with the Level 13 feature Relentless Hunter, which prevents Concentration from breaking when taking damage.
Just how many Ranger spells might lose the Concentration requirement remains to be confirmed, and where somestrongDnDspell optionslikelightning arrowfall could be a big deal. In some cases, likespike growth, removing Concentration wouldn’t make sense in terms of general flavor or balance, so hoping for buffs across the board has its limits. For anyone who remains entirely unconvinced by the Ranger reworks, only a DM’s discretion can ultimately take the old version out of the picture, but there’s good reason to be optimistic about the version in the 2024Dungeons & DragonsPlayer’s Handbook.
Check outScreen Rant’s full interview with Jeremy Crawfordhere.
Dungeons and Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is a popular tabletop game originally invented in 1974 by Ernest Gary Gygax and David Arneson. The fantasy role-playing game brings together players for a campaign with various components, including abilities, races, character classes, monsters, and treasures. The game has drastically expanded since the ’70s, with numerous updated box sets and expansions.
