Ranger
A Ranger is a traveler and a trailblazer. We thought that the aspect of norse mythology better embodying these characteristics would be the world-tree Yggdrasil, which connects the realms through its branches and offers infinite paths to journey through.
The Treestrider can teleport attacks, items, allies and spells through summoned branches of Yggdrasil. Even the legendary squirrel Ratakoskr gives a helping hand, carrying messages and items across the realms for the party. At high levels, the Treestrider is able to fully channel the powers and wisdom of Yggdrasil, having access to a single daily cast of either the Teleport, Divination or Legend Lore spells.
Having tested the archetype in combat, we found that these features have a profound impact on both the fight and the playstyle of the class. The Ranger stops being a jack-of-all-trades and assumes the mantle of a commander or supporting presence, playing with the battlefield and enriching combat opportunities for the whole party. Keep in mind: this class might not be the best suited for you if you don't like the role.
Ranger Conclave
Treestrider
Treestriders have ventured beyond the boundaries of their world by communing with Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Within its roots and branches, these rangers find countless doors to cross over to other realms and obtain a newfound awareness, provided they are capable enough to brave the twisting paths. These mystical travelers can be warriors, manipulating the battlefield to their advantage by summoning projections of the World Tree; knowledge-seekers, walking the paths of Yggdrasil to uncover its wisdom; or even caretakers, tending to their companions through their all-reaching magic. Their home is everywhere, and their own roots keep growing deeper.
Yggdrasil Magic
3rd-level Treestrider feature
You learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Yggdrasil Spells table. Each spell counts as a ranger spell for you, but it doesn't count against the number of ranger spells you know.
Yggdrasil Spells
| Ranger Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | comprehend languages, message |
| 5th | misty step |
| 9th | clairvoyance |
| 13th | banishment |
| 17th | scrying |
Branches of the Ash
3rd-level Treestrider feature
Your connection with the World Tree allows you to invoke its extensions to take advantage of their ubiquity. As an action, you can conjure a number of Branches of Yggdrasil equal to your Wisdom modifier (minimum of 1) within 60 feet of you. A Branch of Yggdrasil has the following properties:
- It occupies a 5-foot-radius, 10-foot-high cylinder.
- It is considered a magical effect for all rules purposes.
- Objects and creatures can move through it and can occupy the same space it occupies as though it wasn’t there.
- It can be targeted by attacks and spells and can be subjected to any damaging effect or spell. It has an AC of 10 + your proficiency bonus, and taking any amount of damage causes it to disappear. It is immune to psychic damage.
- If, at any time, it's more than 120 feet away from you, the Branch of Yggdrasil disappears.
For 1 minute after you expend a use of this feature, you can conjure one Branch of Yggdrasil in a space within 60 feet of you without expending a use of this feature. You can do this once per turn, as part of any other action. After this minute, all Branches of Yggdrasil disappear. You can make any or all Branches disappear at any time (no action required).
You can't conjure a Branch of Yggrasil behind total cover.
When you expend a use of this feature, any Branch of Yggdrasil previously conjured disappears.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Branching Connections
3rd-level Treestrider feature
The Branches of Yggdrasil that you conjure connect the spaces they touch, allowing you and your allies to move items across the battlefield and deliver attacks from one branch to the other. Any creature of your choice (including you) can interact with your Branches of Yggdrasil in the following ways:
- If there is a Branch of Yggdrasil within 5 feet of you, you can use it to teleport a melee attack to another Branch of Yggdrasil and target a creature within 5 feet of that Branch. You see your target as if you were occupying the space of the delivering Branch. Once you make an attack in this way, one Branch within 5 feet of you disappears.
- You can use Branches of Yggdrasil to teleport a projectile or thrown weapon. When you make a ranged weapon attack, you can choose a Branch of Yggdrasil to receive the attack, and another Branch of Yggdrasil to deliver the attack. The effective distance of the attack equals the distance that separates you and the receiving Branch of Yggdrasil, plus the distance that separates the delivering Branch of Yggdrasil and your target. You have to be able to see your target to make an attack this way, but you check for cover considering the new direction of the projectile or weapon. Once you make an attack this way, the Branch of Yggdrasil that received the projectile or weapon disappears. When you reach 11th level in this class, you can use this benefit to teleport a ranged spell attack as well.
- If there is a Branch of Yggdrasil within 5 feet of you, you can take a bonus action and use it to teleport an item that can be held in one hand. The item disappears and immediately reappears in the space occupied by another Branch of Yggdrasil of your choice, falling on the ground. A creature within 5 feet of the delivering Branch that sees the item apparating can take a reaction to snatch the item, provided they have a free hand to do so. If more that one creature take this reaction, they make a contested Dexterity check, and the winner manages to grab the item.
Channelling Connections
7th-level Treestrider feature
Your bond with the World Tree deepens: you can now physically travel through its extensions, and use them to channel magic. Any creature of your choice (including you) can interact with your Branches of Yggdrasil in the following additional ways:
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If there is a Branch of Yggdrasil within 5 feet of you, you can take a bonus action to instantly teleport to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of another Branch of Yggdrasil. After you teleport, the Branch from which you teleported disappears.
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When you cast a spell with a range of touch, you can choose a Branch of Yggdrasil as the target of the spell. If you do, another Branch can deliver the spell to a new target within 5 feet of the Branch. When you cast a spell this way, the Branch that you chose as the target of the spell disappears.
Manifestation of Ratatoskr
7th-level Treestrider feature
You can call upon the legendary messenger of Yggdrasil to aid you. As an action, you can summon a magical squirrel, which you can command to perform one of the following actions:
- The squirrel can send a short message of twenty-five words or less to a creature with which you are familiar. You tell the message to the squirrel, which disappears and instantly reappears before the recipient, speaking in your voice. The creature recognizes you as the sender if they know you, and can answer in a like manner immediately. The squirrel makes it so creatures with Intelligence scores of at least 1 can understand the meaning of your message. The squirrel can send the message across any distance and even to other planes of existence.
- The squirrel can deliver an object to a creature with which you are familiar. The object must fit in a 5-foot-cube. You give the object to the squirrel, which instantly teleports to the recipient. The squirrel can wait for up to 1 minute for someone to take the object. If no one does, the squirrel teleports back to you bringing the object along with it.
- The squirrel can bring you a simple object. The object can be a shield, a weapon from the Weapons table, an item from the Adventuring Gear table, or any one non-magical item that costs no more than 50 gp. When you make your request, the squirrel magically disappears, reappearing 24 hours later with the object you requested.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus. You regain expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Undying Connections
11th-level Treestrider feature
The extension you conjure are difficult to sever and grant you even more possibilities, as your grip on the World Tree strengthens. Any creature of your choice (including you) can interact with your Branches of Yggdrasil in the following additional way:
- When you cast a spell, you can choose a Branch of Yggdrasil within 5 feet of you that you can see and another Branch within 60 feet of you that you can see. The spell is cast as if you were occupying the same space of the chosen Branch that is within 60 feet of you. Once you cast a spell this way, the chosen Branch of Yggdrasil that is within 5 feet of you disappears.
Additionally, when a Branch of Yggdrasil would disappear as a result of taking damage, make a Constitution saving throw. On a successful save, the Branch of Yggdrasill doesn't disappear. The DC of the save equals 10 or half the damage inflicted to the Branch of Yggdrasil, whichever is higher.
The Wells of Mímir, Urdr and Hvergelmir
15th-level Treestrider feature
Yggdrasil is held by three strong roots, each of which reaches one distinct well in three different Realms. You are able to use your connection to the World Tree to briefly tap into the powers of those wells. When you use this feature, choose one of the following options:
- As you reach into the immense wisdom of the Well of Mímir, you can cast the legend lore spell once without expending a spell slot. You don’t need material components to cast the spell.
- As you reach into the Well of Ur∂r, from which the Norns tend to the World Tree, you can cast the divination spell once without expending a spell slot. You don’t need material components to cast the spell. The spell puts you in contact with one of the Norns.
- As you reach into the Well of Hvergelmir and follow its world-spanning rivers, you can cast the teleport spell once without expending a spell slot. You don’t need material components to cast the spell.
Once you have used this feature, you can't use it again until you finish a long rest.
