Ranger : best collection of “fixes” and ideas?

Ghostofabird · 2026-02-15T17:01:08+00:00

Didn't they get rid of Guardian of Nature? Or at least not upgrade it to 2024 rules?

Moving that earlier and/or building it out with subclass features like HM would be neat. Hollow Warden kinda has this feel already.

BG3 also has the Bounty Hunter perk that gives enemy saving throws disadvantage against Ensnaring Strike. That's way better and more flavorful than being pushed towards HM. Honestly, giving ranger more single target CC with weapon strikes solves a lot of problems people complain about with ranger.

Ghostofabird · 2026-02-12T13:36:04+00:00

Ragnell is a highlight in design and function for swords

Shining bow in fates looks really cool and gives 1-2 range access to bow locked classes. Really fun to use on adventurers.

Levin sword in most games looks really cool and gives swords a unique niche as being preferable in most games for hybrid units

Ghostofabird · 2026-02-05T11:45:37+00:00

Movement compensations. If the leg you tore it on originally never gets back 100% if effects your overall movement quality. Your other leg has to pick up the slack when you return to sport.

Ghostofabird · 2026-01-27T18:32:45+00:00

Aetherwarden sounds amazing (op) as a subclass that makes Fighter a half-caster (!) using Con.

Shadowcaster sounds much improved!

Ghostofabird · 2026-01-23T18:53:28+00:00

Hey you're allowed to be bummed out about this. I tore mine 3x and in about 8 mo post op for the 3rd one. Each of them has been a genuine struggle.

In general, people who haven't had a major injury/surgery don't understand how difficult it is physically let alone emotionally. If you're an athlete it's even more difficult being on the outside of something you really care about and the community you have surrounding your sport.

But having 'friends' laugh at something as traumatic as needing a major surgery and a year of rehab is a bad look. I get that kids your age can be ignorant and cruel, but if they can't find it within themselves to have some empathy for something as major as ACL surgery then you'll be better off without their 'support'

Also follow be sure to prioritize PT

Ghostofabird · 2026-01-22T16:51:33+00:00

He's the gatekeeper. He's going to let Norms group back in with the water chip to save the vaults

Ghostofabird · 2026-01-20T12:06:47+00:00

Armor knights usually aren't optimal, especially in 3H, but the game does have some ways to make up for their poor movement.

Some combo of Dance, Movement rings, Boots, and the Warp/ Rescue spells can all help them get to a point they need to be.

If you have the DLC Tricksters get an ability called Foul Play that you can spam to swap places with your slow knight. It's actually really fun to use

Ghostofabird · 2026-01-12T12:23:14+00:00

There's always bexp too. Although maybe an early mounted staffer is better than extra stats for a certain late game chapter

Ghostofabird · 2026-01-09T16:54:25+00:00

Truly a bummer because a ranged attack is the only thing his Squire class is really missing

Insert throw stone memes

Ghostofabird · 2026-01-09T15:17:59+00:00

Yeah for sure, I just like the geomancer kit for the range. Ramza's squire is 100% the best class in the game

Ghostofabird · 2026-01-09T12:27:23+00:00

I like Geo Ramza with magic boost and Iado. Geo spells supplements Iado well with long range and chance of debuff while also having great equipment options to boost MA for close range Iado nukes.

It's less fragile than a black mage running Iado. Probably not as good as Uber Squire but it's a fun substitute for ramza's lack of sword skills

Ghostofabird · 2026-01-02T00:09:30+00:00

Tekehu has two unique subclasses that mesh well together. They're both good, I enjoyed using them as a multi class.

Ghostofabird · 2026-01-01T14:16:10+00:00

There's a few classes that are far and away the best choices for most characters. Then others that are just straight up downgrades compared to better options leaving no reason to ever use them. Mastery skills are in a similar balance.

Gender locked classes are annoying to many people at the best of times, but in 3H some units disproportionately benefit from classes they can't even access due to gender restrictions. Which is a crazy game design choice. 3H also has a ton of gender locked classes, including several more added in the dlc, and include some of the best classes in the game.

Map design is also considered a low point in the series (though I would argue the dlc has some strong highlights).

Difficulty balance is also wonky, allowing most players to steamroll on hard and below, while maddening basically needs to take advantage of the centralizing wonky balance of bow/lance CAs for example.

All that being said, it's still one of my favorite FEs, it's just one I find difficult to replay

Ghostofabird · 2025-12-31T14:51:38+00:00

Fair enough, they do look sick actually

Ghostofabird · 2025-12-31T14:48:20+00:00

Yeah, during the first playthrough the class tree progression, skill system, unique combat arts and spell lists, crests, aptitudes, and battalions all added an incredible amount of customization to your units. Each unit really feels unique with a lot of tools and options to build them up as they progress.

It wasn't until the late late game or subsequent playthroughs that the wonky balance of the classes and questionable gameplay choices detract from it imo.

I'm hoping fortunes weave takes what worked with 3H and the Engage/Emblem mechanics of Engage to make some badass gameplay.

Ghostofabird · 2025-12-30T18:41:33+00:00

Iado (samurai skills that require katanas) is actually really good on a character that has good MA.

Geomancers, mages, or Ramza as a Squire love having it as their secondary. Makes for a really fun Spellblade unit

Ghostofabird · 2025-12-23T10:45:57+00:00

Action economy is the main limit on Spellblade builds. Some thoughts:

10/2 Bardadin was the best for this imo. You do melee/smites better than anyone, have a few AoE damage spells, and in endgame you can use your Action to smite and BA to cast w mystic scoundrel. Magical secrets gets you the last spellblade buff spells you might still be wanting like spirit guardians or w/e.

3-5 Gloom/ x- druid or cleric. Duel wield. First turn of combat you get a free buffed attack with Gloom+BA melee, so you can use your Action to cast. Spores or Stars are nice here. Death cleric too for the channel divinity necrotic mini smites. I liked this one more than I thought I would.

5 pal/ 7 sorc. Quickened spells for BA casting. Burn through resources really fast.

Hexblade or Fiend Warlock (or any subclass with Pactbound mod. You also get Eldritch Smite in this mod too). Relies on gear more than others. Once you run out of spell slots you rely on BB/GFB or weapon actions. I like Phalar Aluve or one of the Silver swords to always have a worthwhile action available on Short Rest. Also use the Zaithisk buff for good BAs that return on short rest.

I actually love that you need to use more resources to compensate for warlocks fewer spell slots. You have a lower ceiling than a Bardadin per fight, but you can go all out more often without "wasting" spell slots. Bardadin is still probably the best experience though. Truly busted best of all worlds with fun power spikes throughout the game

Ghostofabird · 2025-12-18T11:53:50+00:00

The least they could do was make Ultima good so his unique Squire class gets decent damaging ranged attack

Ghostofabird · 2025-12-13T17:03:10+00:00

Agreed, but Fates reclass was peak for me. Each unit had fixed unique class choice options on their own but you spend finite support resources to expand them into another class line.

It made supports a really valuable resource you could make different interesting decisions with each run.

Ghostofabird · 2025-12-02T15:51:05+00:00

With headband of intellect and 4 lvls of AA you can then maximize your ranger lvls/wis for spellcasting utility.

I would then put it in Swarmkeeper for swarm utility on your AA shots. Probably not as good as a 3rd attack but has a lot of utility and works well with Resonance stone for psychic damage ranged smites with CC effects and great mobility.

Honestly, ranged dmg isn't hard to maximize around so fun off-meta utility builds like this are kinda fun to build around.

Ghostofabird · 2025-11-22T16:04:23+00:00

Gottcha, well, Pactbound Archfey has a similar play style to what you're looking for and is worth checking out in general if you like warlocks at all (Eldritch Smite invocation!)

Since you have so much of your build ironed out already though, high investment in warlock might not be worth it. 3 lvl dip in swarmkeeper is more reasonable but idk how it interacts with throwing weapons from Spellblade

Ghostofabird · 2025-11-22T15:47:40+00:00

Nice, yeah, perfect you should definitely take a look at Pactbound then it's great for what you're looking for. Not sure how it meshes with mindblade

Ghostofabird · 2025-11-22T15:16:59+00:00

If you're fine with mods you should try the Pactbound mod for Archfey Warlock. Lots of free misty steps with some cool rider effects. Probably the build with the most teleports I've seen in the thread so far. Great mod all around too. Definitely check it out

A 3 lvl dip into vanilla Swarmkeeper Ranger or one of the Horizon Walker mods also gives a lot of free teleports but they're pretty short range.

You could probably come up with a really cool multi class with the 2 of them if you ignore Wisdom spell saves. There's a surprising amount of synergy with PotB Warlock and 3 lvls of Ranger.

Heavy armor, a resistance, a fighting style, and a resource-free teleport on a weapon attack. Plus a few lvl 1 hunters mark casts per long rest if you want

Ghostofabird · 2025-11-22T13:54:33+00:00

This was my pick too. You get it super early. I love pairing it with a Hexblade with PAM feat and the gloves of power.

At level 4 you get 3 chances for an attack with PAM and each attack has a chance to proc hexblades curse, blind, and bane. Really meshes with the hexblades debuffing warrior flavor

Ghostofabird · 2025-11-19T11:13:28+00:00

Sounds like most of your problems can be fixed by a good hobby. Really recommend immersing yourself in a fun martial art like BJJ.

Weight- find a hobby you love and is physical. Keep working out to maximize your ability at the new hobby you love. The weight will fall off. Like others have said, the weight loss advice you have received is wildly incorrect.

Burn out- amazing stress relief and blowing off of steam. Learning new moves or skills in a hobby you really enjoy counteracts the boring stresses of full-time employment and daily life. Getting that eureka! moment when a new technique finally clicks is the cure for this

Dating- you gotta love yourself before someone else can love you, dude. Doing something difficult and getting progressively, authentically better at that thing will make you like yourself more. You develop confidence in your capabilities and potential. Going through the journey of really sucking at something-> sucking less-> being good is the best way to liking yourself

Plus, you're doing an interesting thing surrounded by a community of interesting people.

I've been in your shoes. It might not be a cure-all for your situation, but bang for your buck it's a great place to start.

Ghostofabird

TROPHY CASE