Fighter: Arcane Archer | D&D Subclass Review

My updated breakdown of the Arcane Archer from Xanathar's Guide to Everything.
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[@timovandervalk679]

Grasping Arrow is hands down the best option, even if the enemy manages to free itself, because to do that, it has to use its entire action, and is still able to fail.

[@havocsheart]

Arrows scaling by proficiency bonus times per Long Rest just seems like a given for this class. That would sort out a lot, plus reworked/more shot types.

[@nuclearbirds]

D4: D&D Deep Dive did a fantastic in depth view of this and highlighted some overlooked features that make this a really cool and viable option. Looking forward to your perspective!

[@momqabt]

Don't forget treantmonk, he did go into it deep as well🤷‍♂️

[@ekkys04]

I like the idea of your arcane shot amount being the same amount as your proficiency bonus

[@Trekiros]

I've had an arcane archer at my table for the past two years, levels 3 through 12, and it's been a blast. Here are the changes we've made to it (which I've 100% copy pasted from someone else): -The arcane archer can prepare different shots after a long rest -The arcane archer gets PB shots per short rest From my experience, the best shots would be shadow arrow & banishing arrow, with beguiling arrow being a bit behind but still very good. Although I should say, this was in a pirate campaign, which means a lot of humanoid (and spellcaster) enemies. Shadow arrow in particular was great in that it cut spellcasters and pistol-using enemies' visions, but might not do as well against a dragon, for instance. Bursting arrow was... nice, I guess, but not great. This is a subclass you take because it can do wacky magical things - if all you want is damage, there's usually better options, and bursting arrow is not really that good at it. It only really gets good if you can get 3+ creatures in the area, but that's pretty situational. And it definitely hit our 2 melee guys more often than not. As for curving shot, the subtext reason of why it's so good is that it has a GREAT combo with sharpshooter. Sharpshooter makes you miss more attacks, curving shot makes that not matter. And since you likely have the archery fighting style which has a similar interaction, the entire subclass is basically screaming at you to get sharpshooter. Overall a cool subclass, but yeah, it just needs to get to do more of the fun things it gets to do.

[@toufexisk]

Great feedback! Thank you! I was thinking the same about sharpshooter. However what do you this: - Preparing Int mod of different shot types after a Long Rest + any extras you get with level - The arcane archer gets PB shots per short rest (just like you) - Ever Ready Shot: Regain you Int Mod number of Arcane shots if you have 0 when initiative is rolled - I was also thinking to allow bursting arrow should be able to be targeted at a point, allowing you to miss your allies. AC for this shot will probably have to be up to the DM.

[@JoshuaSmith-hl1xj]

For my fix I tied the number of arrows to equal your intelligence modifier to allow people to decide if they want to focus more on arrow hit or arcane uses since the saving throws are based on int.

[@timovandervalk679]

I am plannig an Arcane Archer type character for my next campaign and I gotta say, that the limited ressources of this subclass really make it unattractive. However, Treantmonk did a very viable full build with it and D4: DND Deep Dive made another cool build wit it, so it still works as long as you get your party to short rest after most encounters. For me personally, I am planning to play mainly a Ranger with just a dip in Arcane Archer, since Rangers can feell like good spellbows, if built right, and you do not necessarily need much int if you choose certain shots (grasping arrow, bursting arrow will alwas be good.), Since I get fighting styles from both, I plan to take archery alongside superior technique and later on also get the martial adept feat. If you flavour your battle maneuvers to be arcane shots, you basically get 4 per short rest and some maneuvers lend themself to be flavoured as involving arcane magic (a wind infused arrow for pushing attack, a dark enchantment infused arrow for menacing attack.) This way you get 2 Arcane Shots, 3 Battle Meneuvers with 2 uses and all are resetting on a shortrest, while you are basically a Ranger, to add spellcasting to your kit.

[@RioDrake]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, reflavoring Battle Master is how you play an Arcane Archer.

[@jfast8256]

I would rather have arcane archer be a wizard subclass

[@RioDrake]

Would be a good Bard one too

[@minine6508]

With how poor my rolls are, Curving Shot sounds like a blessing from the gods! 😂

[@croydd]

The DMG expects two short rests per day (p. 84). I believe this should be taken into account, as regaining short-rest features after every fight may be unrealistic to expect.

[@patricks2645]

I think a 3 lvl splash into Arcane Archer and going the rest of the way with Oath of the Ancients paladin and you have a great Legolas build imo

[@CleopatraKing]

Honestly they need to just add the arcane shot effects to battle master and merge the 2

[@SharinganVizard07]

I was so excited when I first read the subclass in Xanathars but it’s disappointing. They need more than two uses, maybe scale off Int or prof bonus with the uses. I think that could help

[@SharinganVizard07]

Plus if you wanna be a crazy good archer, Samurai fighter isn’t limited to melee attacks for its features or an Eldritch Knight with a bow

[@Missillenia]

I like the idea behind the subclass but it does desperately need more uses per rest. It does provide some interesting options but i honestly feel like samurai fulfills my idea of a martial archery character better.

[@Xtra_Medium]

I just had a thought 🤔 Would this subclass work better on the Sorcerer? The focus on ranged combat means you could make a more martial Sorc and we could just change the hook for the subclass to the ability to infuse a certain number of arrows with your spells each short rest. Hell, we could even keep the Arcane shots and just make them a unique meta magic for the subclass

[@IsohelXII]

I was thinking exactly this, it feels more like a way for a caster class to go "martial-like" than for a Fighter to be "caster-like". Either sorcerer or wizard would be way better imo

[@JoshuaSmith-hl1xj]

I don't see that working unless you have the arrows use charisma to attack and would have to give ur sorcerer armor proficiency, and there is already a subclass that does something similar. The hexblade with the improved pact weapon invocation. And we say how many people see it as a mistake they made that subclass.

[@Xtra_Medium]

@@JoshuaSmith-hl1xj Agree to disagree I have quite a few ideas I'm tinkering with right now to try and make this work but I doubt you'd appreciate the wall of text that I would have to inflict on you to try and make my case

[@kennywolfjr.6413]

​@@Xtra_MediumI would appreciate the wall of text if you still have it.

[@SavageGreywolf]

The problem with Arcane Archer is just that only a handful of classes are incentivized to take short rests more often than like, once a day- and those classes are almost always lacking in power in the meta (Warlock, Monk, etc).

[@DvirPick]

Let's compare this with Battlemaster who also has short rest resources to buff attacks and is at a reasonable power level (looking at you, Rune Knight). The effects of the shots are stronger than Battlemaster's Maneuvers (especially a ranged Battlemaster). So to counterbalance this, they limited it to 2 uses per short rest, AND limited the number of options known, AND have the save DC scale of a tertiary stat (that you might wanna choose as your secondary over Constitution, which is less than ideal). Boy, that is a lot of counterbalance. Granted, the level 7 feature also helps the Arcane Archer but still, way too much. I think just having the save DC scale off Dex like Maneuvers is enough of a buff that might make niche Shot options see play while also buffing the subclass as a whole to a reasonable power level. Remember that these recharge on a short rest. From my experience, it's not every fight, but every two fights. So once per fight to do an awesome thing (that now has a much better chance to succeed) to turn the tide of battle is alright.

[@konradjesionkowski6334]

I believe that arcane shot should be like superiority from battle master, flavor wise it is super similar

[@nickmccarter2395]

imo the number of arcane shots should be INT modifier

[@4midble]

Yo watch Chris’s video at Treantmonk about Grasping Arrow, he may change your opinion to purple!

[@JoshuaSmith-hl1xj]

It is very amazing but the best way to get the most out of it requires the rest of the party to build their pcs around moving enemies with shove checks, telekinesis, or repelling blast. I don't want to force others to play their pcs a certain way.

[@4midble]

@@JoshuaSmith-hl1xj Sure, but in such a case, just ask first if they want to synergize that way

[@Year2047]

I give them 4 shots per short rest in my games and I make sure my players get the chances for short rests. It’s a good subclass and it becomes and amazing subclass once you give them more shots.

[@mikestory2272]

I have thr same lightning guitar strap in my 5 string bass.

[@nicka3697]

Too few uses and also too few options. Nowhere near as flexible as an eldritch Knight and nowhere near as interesting as a battlemaster. Nearly all the options boil down to here's a little extra damage for you unless you get the cheese grater working it's all just bland. Getting your DC high enough to pull of banish when you really need it is going to be hard. This needs more fun arrows to create features on the battlefield, buff allies, dispel effects, knock multiple creatures prone etc. Hawkeye would be very upset if this was all he got... Sorry I can't help with the tier list position. I need more than an empty tier list it's a bit like being asked to rate playtest material with only 10 percent of the rules. 😉

[@momqabt]

Here's an idea: arcane shots: int mod or PB times per day LR and regain 1 later 2 on a short rest🤷‍♂️

[@damian6660]

A ranged battlemaster has more resources and options.