Kobold Ranger 5e D&D Guide

The Kobold Ranger is a master of survival, blending into the natural world like a chameleon on a quest for shiny baubles.

Equipped with a bow that seems to have been crafted by ancient forest spirits, the Kobold Ranger darts through the underbrush like a nimble fox. 

They possess an uncanny ability to track their prey, utilizing keen senses that can spot a squirrel sneezing from miles away.

Kobold Ranger’s resourcefulness extends beyond the realm of magic and archery. They are masters of traps and ambushes, cunningly setting up snares that would make a spider green with envy.

With their sharp wit, sharp arrows, and even sharper teeth, they’ll guide you through the treacherous paths your party might take.

Creating a Kobold Ranger

Kobolds

Kobolds are often considered to be cowardly, weak, and foolish, but you shouldn’t underestimate their unification. 

Even though they’re small compared to the Dragonborn, Kobolds have an advanced social structure which signifies a strong devotion to their tribe.

Kobolds excel at working with their hands, and anything they can’t do alone, they viciously overcome with their tribe.

Note: These features can be slightly changed or modified if some variations don’t fit your character.

Kobold Subraces

Kobolds have one other subrace, which comes as an alternative to the traditional Kobold race.

Kobold (UA) – The Kobolds described in the Unearthed Arcana show strong ties to dragons, much like the Dragonborn.

While traditional Kobolds focus on fighting as a unit, these more draconic Kobolds focus on destroying their enemies with draconic powers.

They have similar stats to traditional Kobolds but are generally well-suited for any class because of their nature.

Ranger Class Features

Hit Points

Proficiencies

Ranger Conclaves

Upon reaching level 3, Rangers can choose to emulate the training and ideals of a specific conclave, granting them certain conclave-only features.

Beast Master – Becoming a Beast Master is to be the embodiment of friendship between the civilized races and the beasts throughout the world.

You’ll be united with a beast, focusing on fighting monstrous foes that threaten civilization and the wilderness as Ranger and beast.

Join the Beast Master conclave means committing yourself to this very simple ideal as you establish a partnership with an animal, becoming its companion and friend.

Fey Wanderer – Fey Wanderers are surrounded by the mystique of the fey, which could’ve come from various events such as eating a shining fruit, swimming in a magic spring, or acquiring a boon from an archfey.

How you acquired your magic doesn’t matter, all that matters is that you’re now a Fey Wanderer, a Ranger representing both the fey and the mortal realms.

You are filled with joy enough to brighten the hearts of those around you while also possessing great martial powers which strike fear in your enemies. You are the embodiment of the fey, their mirth, and their fury.

Gloom Stalker – Gloom Stalkers feel at home in the darkest places in the world, often found in primeval forests, deep under the earth, in gloomy alleyways, or anywhere else the light dims.

While most people enter these areas with trepidation, Gloom Stalkers venture bravely into the darkness, destroying threats before they can reach the outside world.

Many Gloom Stalkers can often be found in the Underdark, but they are willing to go to any place where evil hides in the shadows.

Horizon Walker – Rangers known as Horizon Walkers guard the world against threats that originate from distant planes or those who seek to destroy the mortal realm with fierce magic.

You’ll often hear of them seeking out planar portals, keeping watch over them, and even venturing into the Inner and Outer Planes to pursue their foes.

Horizon Walkers are great allies to many forces found in the multiverse – especially benevolent dragons, elementals, and fey – that work together to preserve life and the order of each plane.

Hunter – Hunters seek to master weapons in order to protect civilization from terrors that live in the wilderness.

These Rangers are taught specialized fighting techniques to use against these threats, ranging from terrifying dragons, hordes of orcs, towering giants, and rampaging ogres.

Monster Slayer – Monsters Slayer Rangers have dedicated themselves to hunting down wielders of grim magic and creatures of the night. They’ll often seek out dragons, evil fey, fiends, vampires, and other magical threats to vanquish.

Monster Slayers were trained in supernatural techniques for the sole reason of destroying and overcoming the powers of these monsters, becoming experts at defeating and unearthing mighty, mystical foes.

Swarmkeeper – Swarmkeepers are Rangers who feel a deep connection to the environment around them, reaching out through the magical connection they have to the world and bonding with swarms of nature spirits.

Many Swarmkeepers are hermits or outcasts, keeping mostly to themselves and attending to their swarms rather than taking on the burdens and discomforts of others.

Other Swarmkeepers enjoy building bustling communities they see as mutually beneficial to all those who form a part of their swarm.

Drakewarden – Drakewardens have their link to the natural world embodied by a draconic spirit, with the physical form of a drake.

As your power grows, so does your drake, turning from a meager four-legged companion to a majestic winged creature, strong and large enough to be ridden. The Drakewarden will also gain powerful draconic powers.

Combining Ranger With Kobold

Determining Your Ranger Subclass

Choosing your ideal subclass is subjective, but if your objective is optimization, try understanding what your character wants to do and what stats fit best with their subclass.

Optimal Kobold Subrace

If you’re looking to optimize your character, picking the Kobold (UA) subrace will work the best, as it comes with one extra ability score point and allows you to choose your ability scores to synergize with what a Ranger needs.

Now you won’t only get access to its abilities, Draconic Legacy and Draconic Roar, but you get to choose one bonus ability score that’ll be of use to you in the early game.

If you, however, like the abilities of the standard Kobold, you can obviously stick with it, as it provides a good Dexterity (2) score. 

Note: Just keep in mind the Sunlight Sensitivity feature for standard Kobolds will be a big problem for you as a Ranger, as it gives you a disadvantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on your sight when the target is in direct sunlight.

Your Kobold Ranger Background

Your Kobold Ranger needs a unique background that will affect its choices, as well as the way it sees the world and what it wants to achieve.

Start by asking yourself some basic questions: Where were they born, and where did they come from? Do they have any goals, bonds, or ideals, and what are their flaws? Where do they belong in social circles and society as a whole? What inspires them?

Place of Birth

Think of the environment a Kobold Ranger grew up in and how it affected them physically and emotionally and eventually shaped their view of the world.

Try to make their place of birth and upbringing correspond with their personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws – this will truly bring their character alive.

Note: The birthplaces of races are usually mentioned in the Player’s Handbook or some of its expansion books.

Characteristics and Personality Traits

(Short outline of characteristics; are they proud, violent, or angry, and how does their class affect their personality).

Kobold Ranger Examples:

• I have a lesson for each situation drawn from observing nature.

• I’m always picking things up, absently fiddling with them, and sometimes accidentally breaking them.

Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws

Ideal – Express one ideal that is a driving force in a Kobold Ranger’s life – their conviction, ethical principle, and moral standing (probably something about nature).

When I become deathly hungry, my eyes turn white, sometimes blinding me in the process.

Bonds – Think of a single bond that your Kobold Ranger has to an event, person, or place. Bonds will tie them to their background and can inspire bravery or stimulate memories driving them against their ideals.

My weapons are symbols of my past life. I must carry them so that I will never forget my roots.

Flaws – Choose a single flaw for a Kobold Ranger – their unhealthy compulsion, greatest fear/weakness, or most vile vice.

I have a ‘tell’ that reveals when I’m lying.

Inspiration

Inspiration can be used by the DM to reward you for playing according to your bond, personality traits, ideals, and flaw.

I remember the days I was with my people. I can never forget them, and my weapons bring back memories from my past that force me to break down in tears sometimes.

Note: If you’re struggling to create your background or just don’t want to think, the Player’s Handbook has well-thought-through backgrounds that you can use for your character or use as a mold.

Supplies and Gear For Kobold Rangers

Rangers start with the following equipment, together with the equipment from their background. Choosing equipment based on your situation and your character’s proficiencies is the easiest way to go about things.

• (a) Scale mail or (b) Leather armor
• (a) Two shortswords or (b) Two simple melee weapons
• (a) Dungeoneer’s pack or (b) Explorer’s pack
• Longbow and quiver of 20 arrows

You can decide how your character came about these goods – whether they stole, inherited, or purchased them some time back – adding to your character’s background.

Note: By using your starting wealth, you can buy your own equipment (5d4 x 10 GP for Rangers).

Final Thoughts

Kobolds make surprisingly efficient Rangers, assisted quite a bit by their darkvision and small size.

Underestimating a Kobold Ranger will lead to a quick death, as their natural agility will prove too much for even seasoned foes.

If your party needs a quick, small, and extremely loyal companion, then look no further than a Kobold Ranger.

You might also be interested in:

• Changeling Bard
• Changeling Rogue
• Dragonborn Druid
• Dragonborn Warlock
• Firbolg Cleric
• Firbolg Druid