The 12 Best Armor For Rangers in D&D 5e [Ranked]

The world of D&D lets adventurers pick and choose between various armors, shields, and defensive trinkets.

However, some armors stand out above the rest, fitting an adventurer’s background, build, flavor and simply giving more useful stats to that character.

In the case of Rangers, their backstories and playstyles mainly have them don lighter armor, with the occasional medium armor or shield when they become more melee-focused.

Rangers are much like Rogues, dealing a lot of damage, especially at range, usually taking armor that allows them to silently dispose of their foes and blend into nature as if they were never there.

Ranger Armor Proficiency

• Light armor
• Medium armor
• Shields

Best Armor for the Ranger in 5e

12. Leather

Armor Class (AC): 11 + Dexterity modifier

Strength: –

Stealth: –

Weight: 10 lbs

Cost: 10 GP

Explanation

Leather armor will be your alternative to Scale Mail, as it has less AC but doesn’t impose disadvantage on stealth.

This makes it the best option for Rangers looking to also play the role of a Rogue or just want to be sneaky.

11. Scale Mail

Armor Class (AC): 14 + Dexterity modifier (max 2)

Strength: –

Stealth: Disadvantage

Weight: 45 lbs

Cost: 50 GP

Explanation

Scale Mail has better AC than Leather, but it will impose a disadvantage on stealth.

If you want to be a stealthy Ranger, then don’t take Scale Mail, but if you’d rather have more AC, then pick it up.

10. Bracers of Archery

Rarity – Uncommon (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing these bracers gives you proficiency with the Longbow and Shortbow. You will also gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls on ranged attacks made with these weapons.

Explanation

Rangers primarily use bows, and +2 to damage rolls is nothing to scoff at, especially in the early game where each point of damage counts.

9. Studded Leather

Armor Class (AC): 12 + Dexterity Modifier

Strength: –

Stealth: –

Weight: 13 lbs

Cost: 45 GP

Explanation

Studded Leather will become your best nonmagical armor after hitting a high Dexterity modifier.

It might be a bit lackluster at the start of the game with your Dexterity being lower, but as you raise your Dexterity, it becomes more and more viable.

8. Nature’s Mantle

Rarity – Uncommon (requiring attunement by a Druid or Ranger)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

This cloak shifts texture and color, blending in with the terrain surrounding you. Wearing the cloak lets you use it as a spellcasting focus for your Ranger and Druid spells.

While in an area that’s lightly obscured, you may use Hide as a bonus action, even if being directly observed.

Explanation

The Nature’s Mantle works well for almost any Ranger, as it allows them to cast spells without easing up on the bowstrings.

It also works exceptionally well when you’re out in the wilderness and have to hide from enemies or scout through dangerous territory.

7. Hide of the Feral Guardian

Rarity – Legendary (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Armor (studded leather)

Description

This leather armor is believed to be a gift from Melara, who bestowed it to a long-forgotten archdruid, the champion of the natural world before the terrors of the Calamity.

Dormant (The armor in its dormant state gives the following benefits):

• +1 AC bonus
• Being transformed by an effect replacing your game statistics with a creature gives you a +1 bonus to damage and melee attack rolls, retaining the benefits of this armor
• As an action, you can cast Polymorph on yourself, transforming into a Giant Owl and retaining your Charisma, Wisdom, and Intelligence scores. This ability can’t be used again until the next dawn

Awakened (If the armor reaches its awakened state, it gives the following benefits):

• +2 AC bonus
• Being transformed by an effect replacing your game statistics with a creature gives you a +2 bonus to damage and melee attack rolls
• Casting Polymorph using this armor lets you transform into a Cave Bear (use the Polar Bear statistics)

Exalted (If the armor reaches its exalted state, it gives the following benefits):

• +3 AC bonus
• Being transformed by an effect replacing your game statistics with a creature gives you a +3 bonus to damage and melee attack rolls
• Casting Polymorph using this armor lets you transform into a Guardian Wolf

Explanation

Druids tend to make Rangers feel left out with their fancy spellcasting and shapeshifting, but with the Hide of the Feral Guardian, you can become almost as “cool” as a Druid!

The added AC bonus is very helpful as a Ranger, and when you take into account having a +5 Dexterity bonus and an exalted hide, you’ll be sitting at 20 AC!

6. Dragon Scale Mail

Rarity – Very Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Armor (scale mail)

Description

This armor is made of the scale of one kind of dragon, and while wearing the armor, you will gain a +1 bonus to AC.

You also get advantage on saving throws against Frightful Presence as well as breath weapons of dragons, and have resistance against one damage type on the table below.

You may also focus your senses as an action to magically discern direction and distance to the closest dragon within 30 miles, which is the same type as the armor. This special action cannot be used again until the next break of dawn.

Explanation

Dragon Scale Mail is an easy way for melee-focused Rangers to get a decent AC boost, as well as resistance to one damage type.

Even though it gives you disadvantage on stealth, you could cancel it out with advantage from other items, but if that’s a deal-breaker, this armor might not be for you.

5. Robe of Eyes

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

This robe is adorned with eyelike patterns, and wearing the robe lets you gain the following benefits:

• Lets you see in all directions and gain advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on sight
• Gain darkvision to a range of 120 feet
• See invisible creatures and objects, as well as being able to see into the Ethereal Plane to a range of 120 feet

The robe’s eyes cannot be averted or closed, and even though you can avert or close your own eyes, you aren’t considered to be that so while wearing this robe.

A Light or Daylight (cast within 5 feet) spell cast on the robe causes you to be blinded for 1 minute. At the end of each turn, you may make a Constitution save (DC 11 for Light and DC 15 for Daylight), ending the blindness if successful.

Explanation

With the Robe of the Eyes and your high Wisdom (especially if you go for a spellcasting-focused Ranger), there’s no chance any enemy will ever sneak up on your party ever again.

Though it can be “disabled” quite effectively, remember that most creatures don’t have the means to cast these spells in the early game, but that also depends if your DM isn’t feeling particularly devious in that session.

4. Cloak of the Bat

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing this cloak gives you advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. In areas of dim light or darkness, you may grip the edges of the cloak using both hands to fly at a speed of 40 feet.

Failing to grip to the edges while flying, or if you’re no longer in dim light or darkness, you lose the flying speed.

Wearing the cloak in dim light or darkness lets you use an action to cast the Polymorph spell on yourself, transforming into a bat.

While in the form of a bat, your Charisma, Wisdom, and Intelligence scores are retained. The cloak cannot be used in this way again until the next dawn.

Explanation

The Cloak of the Bat is one of the most interesting yet simple pieces of Ranger equipment, making them one with the night.

While this piece might not always provide the flying speed, if you have good stealth, you could come by without it or get Winged Boots and instead of Boots of Elvenkind since the cloak already gives you an advantage on stealth checks.

3. Mithral Armor

Rarity – Uncommon

Item Type – Armor (medium or heavy)

Description

A Mithral breastplate or chain shirt can be worn under normal clothes, as it is extremely light and flexible.

If the armor usually imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks or has a Strength requirement, its Mithral version doesn’t.

Explanation

Mithral Armor is a great early-game item that allows you to wear high AC armor without sacrificing your stealth.

Since you’ll have high Dexterity, the +2 bonus will also kick in, putting you at 16 or 17 AC, which is high for a Ranger.

Note: Later on, you might want to switch to light armor as your Dexterity increases further, but it might not even make that big of a difference if you don’t get magical light armor.

2. Boots of Elvenkind

Rarity – Uncommon

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing these boots makes your steps make no sound, no matter what surface you move across. You also gain advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks that rely on moving silently.

Explanation

If you’re looking to pick up the Cloak of Invisibility and don’t want to make any noise, take the Boots of Elvenkind.

With it, enemies won’t even know where to look when arrows come flying their way.

Note: In the early game, it might be wise to pair the Boots of Elvenkind with the Cloak of Elvenkind, switching it out for the Cloak of the Bat or the Cloak of Invisibility later in the game.

1. Cloak of Invisibility

Rarity – Legendary (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing the cloak lets you pull down its hood over your head and become invisible. While invisible, anything you’re wearing or carrying is also invisible.

When you stop wearing the hood, you become visible, and pulling the hood up or down requires an action.

The cloak’s maximum duration is 2 hours, so deduct the time you’re invisible using increments of 1 minute.

After being used for 2 hours, the cloak stops functioning. If a period of 12 uninterrupted hours passes without the cloak being used, 1 hour of duration is regained.

Explanation

The Cloak of Invisibility isn’t good on a Ranger. It’s fantastic!

With it, you can play the ultimate cat-and-mouse game, shooting from one spot to another, taking out a low HP enemy, and nailing an enemy in the head, all without ever showing yourself.

Final Thoughts

For the most part, each class in D&D has its most used or beloved armor that is both iconic and functional.

Though some of these armors might not be the best D&D armor overall, they remain the best option for that character at the moment.

A good example would be the choice between a set of medium and light armor, as the medium armor might give you a stealth disadvantage but has a higher AC, while the light armor has a lower AC but doesn’t give a stealth disadvantage.

In the end, whether you decide to take a conventional or unconventional armor, as long as you like it and it fits your playstyle, you should roll with it!