Expanding 5E D&D Ranger Spells Beyond Unearthed Arcana

Over on Nerdarchy the YouTube channel, Nerdarchists Dave and Ted discussed 5 essential 5E D&D ranger spells for tier 1 characters. For a 1st-4th level ranger this means 1st level spells only, with two spells known beginning at 2nd level and a third known at 3rd level. Whenever a ranger gains a level, they can choose one of the ranger spells they know and replace it with another spell from the ranger spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots. Not a lot of wiggle room for a tier 1 ranger when it comes to spellcasting. There’s 17 1st level spells to choose from in official 5E D&D material, and with the video highlighting five standout spells, where do we go from here to continue the discussion?

Unearthed Arcana and 5E D&D ranger spells

The most recent Unearthed Arcana — Class Feature Variants presents a whole bunch of enhanced and replacement class features with the ranger boasting the most new toys to play with. The meatier of the Unearthed Arcana ranger options offer alternatives for Natural Explorer, Favored Enemy, Primeval Awareness and the Beast Master Ranger’s Companion.

But I’m most excited about the options for ranger spellcasting. I’ve always enjoyed the idea of a ranger’s magic representing their canny knowledge of the wild (notwithstanding first edition AD&D rangers casting wizard spells). Up until now in 5E D&D, a ranger’s choice of spells represented the handful of wily tricks they know to keep themselves and companions safe in the wilderness. Some of the more overtly magical spells maybe not so much — there’s probably not a “natural” procedure to create a rain of thorns that sprouts from your ranged weapon or ammunition. But spells like cure wounds, detect poison and disease and snare fit my idea of what ranger spells exemplify.

More specifically, the Spell Versatility enhancement for 5E D&D rangers from Unearthed Arcana — Class Feature Variants speaks to me as my favorite of all the various ranger enhancements and replacements shared in the playtest document. This feature may change before it sees print in an official product, or might not even make the cut at all but in my own games it’s 100% a standard class feature now.

Spell Versatility

2nd-level ranger feature (enhances Spellcasting)

Whenever you finish a long rest, you can replace one spell you learned from this Spellcasting feature with another spell from the ranger spell list. The new spell must be the same level as the spell you replace.

The ranger spell list in 5E D&D contains a lot of terrific, useful spells. And now rangers can use more of them! While I understand many people feel rangers needed a boost in their combat capabilities, and found a lot to love in this Unearthed Arcana, I’ve enjoyed rangers as exploration experts. To me, Spell Versatility gives players an opportunity to lean more into this role. When the need arises for more combat abilities, swapping out a spell makes a big difference. In this regard, as much as I dig Spell Versatility I’m going to take it a step further. Here’s my version of Spell Versatility for a 5E D&D ranger.

Spell Flexibility

2nd-level ranger feature (enhances Spellcasting)

You prepare the list of ranger spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the ranger spell list. When you do so, choose a number of ranger spells equal to your Wisdom modifier + your ranger level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of ranger spells requires time spent studying the environment and consulting a field manual: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.

See the difference? Now your ranger can change up their entire spell loadout every time they take a long rest. If you suspect a lot of combat coming your way spells like absorb elements, cure wounds and hail of thorns make the cut. Still got miles to go before you sleep (or enter the dungeon)? Animal friendship, longstrider and speak with animals might be more appropriate.

To go along with our Spell Flexibility, it’s worth taking a look at another Unearthed Arcana Class Feature Variant

Ranger Spells

2nd-level ranger feature (enhances Spellcasting)

The following spells expand the ranger spell list. (There are 15 new spells added to the ranger spell list.)

Some of the spells fit my idea of a ranger, and some don’t. Here’s a list of spells I’d use to expand the ranger spell list instead.

1st level: comprehend languages, create or destroy water, detect evil and good, entangle, feather fall, find familiar, grease, ice knife, protection from evil and good, purify food and drink and sleep

2nd level: acid arrow, aid, augury, dust devil, enhance ability, find steed, magic mouth, see invisibility, spider climb and warding wind

3rd level: catnap, create food and water, elemental weapon, haste, meld into stone, phantom steed, sending, stinking cloud, and tongues

4th level: divination, dominate beast, faithful hound, find greater steed, giant insect and stone shape

5th level: awaken, greater restoration, insect plague, mislead, reincarnate and scrying

Lastly, there’s a Fighting Style Option in Unearthed Arcana — Class Feature Variants to round out our magically flexible 5E D&D ranger.

Druidic Warrior

2nd-level ranger feature (enhances Fighting Style)

You learn two cantrips of your choice from the druid spell list. They count as ranger spells for you, and Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for them. Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of these cantrips with another cantrip from the druid spell list

Now we’re cooking! At the risk of making a 5E D&D ranger suffer from sameness, I like the idea of a ranger spellcaster using their knowledge of the wilds to produce magical effects enhancing their exploration abilities. (I’d remove the last part of Druidic Warrior though — you pick your two cantrips and stick with them!) I did include a few combat-oriented spells on my expanded spell list because they feel on brand for a ranger. I can imagine them producing these effects through natural means. At the end of the day, of course your 5E D&D game can include anything you want from any of the countless official or third party sources out there and your own imagination. One of the coolest things about any Unearthed Arcana is the ideas they inspire in players to create their own new content.

A heavy spellcaster ranger is certainly a character I’d enjoy playing, perhaps in a Mandalorian-style bounty hunter campaign? What do you think? Do you like the Class Feature Variants from Unearthed Arcana? Have you made your own tweaks to the ranger class in your games? Did Dave and Ted pick the winners for the 5 essential 5E D&D ranger spells for tier 1?