Rangers are one of the most archetypal characters in Dungeons & Dragons. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's Aragorn, who was known as "Strider" when he wandered Middle Earth, this is a character with a lot of potential for flavor, with an extensive selection of lore behind them. The class remains a favorite among players and continues to be the focus of lore, party support, and special abilities.
Technically, in 5e, rangers can use all the same weapons as fighters, so you could argue that the ten best weapons for rangers would be the same as the best weapons for fighters. However, since it's the flavor that sets rangers and fighters apart, this list also takes into account a weapon's ability to help you create a ranger character that is unique.
Updated by Dace McNally on December 1st, 2022: Since the release of the rules supplement "Tasha's Cauldron of Everything," the ranger class has received some much-needed attention, allowing for some general class abilities to be swapped out with revised versions, buffing the Ranger's capabilities in and out of combat, and generally just giving the class more of its own identity alongside the other twelve options. Lists like these continue to serve those players fresh and familiar to the ranger class. To better suit those players, this list has been revised with options supported by the official rules, with information that can easily be further accessed for use in a game. Happy rolling!
10 Trident of Fish Command
Similar to the spear, a trident is a solid weapon; it can be thrown and is versatile, so you can switch from one-handed to two-handed fighting as needed. Of course, a spear also has these capabilities, but a DM may rule that a trident's underwater capabilities are less limited.
However, if you happen upon a Trident of Fish Command, you'll be remiss not to take it. Though the weapon does not grant the user any bonuses to their attack or damage rolls, it does provide an attuned wielder with three charges of the spell Dominate Beast, which can be used on any creature with a swim speed. Situational as it may be, this is an invaluable tool for your Ranger, should the need arise to venture beneath the waves.
9 Weapon of Warning
Having high wisdom and proficiency in skills like survival and nature means the rangers are usually the ones making camp and foraging for food. When the party is on the road, traveling from one town to the next, the Ranger plays a key role in ensuring the safety of the group, which is why having a Weapon of Warning becomes a near necessity.
Any weapon may have the Warning enchantment applied to it, which means expressing your interest to your DM, ensuring that the weapon you loot for that awesome thing you did is suitable for your build. A Weapon of Warning grants you advantage on initiative rolls, negates the surprised condition for anyone within thirty feet of you, and magically wakes you if you're asleep when combat begins; This one weapon will grant you and your party some piece of mind on your next journey.
8 Net Proficiency
Similar to a Trident of Fish Command, a net is another situational item that rangers should have on their person at all times. It has some drawbacks in terms of how to use it in your action economy; you can use any action to throw the net, restraining your target on a successful hit, but it forgoes all other attacks that turn, so you'll have to plan a spell or something else terms of utility to complement this. However, don't let this small drawback dissuade you.
Taking a feat like Crossbow Expert can rectify some of the net's triviality by allowing you to attack a creature next to you with a ranged weapon without imposing disadvantage. This feat can also benefit your Ranger if they choose to have a hand crossbow as a sidearm. And it's important to consider that a ranger probably won't be alone, so while you restrain the target, your rogue buddy can swoop in for the finishing blow.
7 Hooked Shortspear
One of the more underutilized weapons, the hooked shortspear is a light weapon that packs a lot of potential. It deals as much damage as a dagger, but it allows you to forgo your damage to instead attempt to trip your target, knocking them prone.
Since it's light, characters can wield it in their offhand, using a bonus action for the attack. More importantly, this allows you to then use your other attack to deal damage to a prone target, which means you have advantage on the attack roll (and so does everyone else).
6 Dual-Wielding Handaxes
When considering two-weapon fighting as a ranger, handaxes are by far the best option in terms of damage potential. Adding your attack bonus to two attacks, each for a d6 of damage, can really add up. Handaxes can also make ranged attacks, which can be benefited from some of the feats you may have already taken for the other options above.
It's important to keep in mind that you'll want to actively hunt down upgrades for your handaxes to keep them a viable option in later levels. A powerful upgrade for these is either the Viscious enchantment or the Certain Death enchantment, which will not only add extra magic modifiers to your attack and damage but have extra effects that make the damage you do really count.
5 Ephixis, Bow of Nylea
The short bow is often neglected. True, it does come with some limitations. It's two-handed, but it only does the same damage as a handaxe. The range is much less than a longbow but it has the same weight and firing speed. Obviously, short bows are better for smaller races, but that's not all they're good for.
For a really overpowered short bow, Rangers should wield the legendary Ephixis, Bow of Nylea introduced in the Mythic Odysseys of Theros pack. Some of the bow's special abilities are associated with this module's specific lore, specifically pertaining to the worship of the deity of Nylea. It's ideal for any class close to nature to the woodlands and perfect for your Ranger.
4 Vorpal Longsword
It's hard to deny the longsword's association with rangers, because of Aragorn and Anduril. There's no denying that the makers of D&D love longswords and give them about the best stats of any melee weapon; 1d8 slashing damage, with the option to go 2-handed for d10, is pretty good.
Take that a step further with the Vorpal Longsword, a magical weapon that grants a +3 to your attack rolls and ignores any resistance to slashing damage your opponent might have. As a special bonus, if you roll a twenty on your attack roll and happen to be fighting a creature with at least one head, you chop it off. Neat, right?
3 Spear Proficiency
If we conceptualize rangers as hunters, there's no more basic hunting weapon than a spear except for maybe a club. From the Neanderthal until the invention of firearms, a spear was our go-to weapon for taking down large prey, especially if you could get them to rear or charge onto the spear.
While its damage is less than a longsword, it is also versatile, switching from one hand to two, and it can be used at range, which you can't do with swords. It seems that spears are the real winner regarding weapon proficiency.
2 Dancing Shortsword
For many experienced D&D players, putting a shortsword above a longsword might seem a travesty. But for rangers, the shortsword is indubitably better. Shortswords have a similar benefit to handaxes since you can use them with your two-weapon style.
The Dancing Shortsword actually moves on its own, flying into the air and attacking any enemy within five feet. If your Ranger has a shortsword proficiency, it also applies to attacks made with this magical weapon.
1 Oathbow
Speaking of dexterity, there's no better way to take advantage of that dexterity than shooting your enemy with your bow from a long way away. While there are some situations where a short bow might be superior, the longbow generally wins out from the standpoint of sheer damage.
The Oathbow isn't just a special log bow and magical weapon; it actually speaks to you. Notch an arrow in it, and it says, "Swift defeat to my enemies." Answer with the Command phrase, "Swift death to you who have wronged me," and your target becomes your Sworn Enemy. You have bonuses to all of your attacks against this target for a week.