5e Yuan-ti Bounty Hunter (Beastmaster Ranger)

When I started to build this character, I started to realize I was making a snaky version of Vex'ahlia Vessar from Critical Role. So I started to change the character concept a little bit. I started the idea of a yuan-ti ranger with a pet snake and built out, when I started shifting away from being Snaky!Vex, I changed her background and the focus of her stats and skills. Instead of an archer, she's going to use dueling and use blunt weapons for the idea of taking people out non-lethally as much as possible. Meaning she will likely use a club, though perhaps instead will use a metal cudgel similar to a baseball bat but with warhammer stats.

In the end, this ended up being pretty much the anti-Vex. This character is so much more strength and resilience than grace and acrobatics.

I would note that the Yuan-Ti stat bonuses don't add to Ranger too much, so this will be a bit tight on Ability Score Improvements.

As to the snake, the suggested limits for a ranger pet in the Revised Ranger are that the default stats fall in the following limits.

• Medium size or smaller.
• 15 Hit Points or smaller
• Cannot deal more than 8 damage in a single attack.

Of course, as soon as the creature becomes a ranger pet, it generally becomes capable of breaking the third, but yeah, these limits are based on default stats. The problem is that there are only a couple of snakes in the game: Constrictor Snake, Flying Snake, Poisonous Snake, Giant Constrictor Snake and Giant Poisonous Snake.

Constrictor Snake

• Large size
• 13 Hit Points
• Two attacks, one at 1d6+2 and one at 1d8+2

Giant Constrictor Snake

• Huge size
• 60 Hit Points
• Two attacks, one at 2d6+4 and one at 2d8+4

Giant Poisonous Snake

• Medium size
• 11 Hit Points
• One attack, 1d4+4 with chance of 3d6 poison damage.

Poisonous Snake

• Tiny size
• 2 Hit Points
• One attack, 1 damage with chance of 2d4 poison damage.

Flying Snake

• Tiny Size
• 5 Hit Points
• One attack, 1 damage with chance of 3d4 poison damage.

All of these snakes fail the standard on attacks and one of them fails on Hit Points and Size. So this will take some little bit of  homebrewing here. There are two options that I am considering here. I am discounting Flying Snake because that is more appropriate as a familiar. Instead I am looking the following modifications:

Constrictor Snake

• Reduced to Medium Size
• Reduced to 11 HP (due to reduction of Hit Dice from d10 to d8)
• Constricting attack reduced to 1d6+2
• Otherwise the same stats for the snake.

Giant Poisonous Snake

• Attack deals 1d4+4 and instead of dealing poison damage, gives the Poisoned status for 1 rd.

I'm partial to the idea of the constrictor snake over the poisonous snake, so I'll go with that.

For this I am using my typical theoretical 30 pt array of 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10.

1st Level Yuan-ti Pureblood Revised Ranger

Str: 14

Dex: 12

Con: 15

Int: 12

Wis: 13

Cha: 12

HP: 12

AC: 17 (Scale Mail + Shield)
Ranger Save DC: 11

Speed: 30 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Darkvision 60ft
Innate Spell Casting at Will: Animal Friendship (Snakes only), Poison Spray
Magic Resistance
Poison Immunity

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: None

Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
Languages: Common, Abyssal, Draconic, and Orcish

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Ranger) +4

Insight (Bounty Hunter) +3
Perception (Ranger) +3
Stealth (Bounty Hunter) +3
Survival (Ranger) +3

Background: Bounty Hunter

Favored Enemy: Humanoids
Natural Explorer

Equipment

Warhammer

Shield 

Scale Mail

Longbow

20 Arrows

Explorer's Pack

Traveler's Clothes

20 GP

Reasoning: The humanoids were the chosen favored enemy because I imagine she mostly tracks down criminals and the like.I'm going more with a hardy and strong ranger than an agile one.

2nd to 5th Level

2nd Level - Fighting Style: Dueling, Spellcasting, +8 HP (20)
Spells: Ensnaring Strike, Hunter's Mark

3rd Level - Primeval Awareness, Conclave: Beastmaster, Animal Companion: Constrictor Snake (Proficient Stealth, Perception), +8 HP (28)
Spell: Cure Wounds

4th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +1 Con, +1 Wis, Snake: +1 Str, +1 Int, +12 HP (40)

5th Level - Proficiency Bonus: +3, Coordinated Attack, +9 HP (49)
Spell: Pass Without Trace

Reasoning: So, to start with, I am increasing some of the odd valued stats on the snake and the ranger. This increases the Hit Points and Save DC for the ranger and attack and damage for the snake. Ensnaring Strike helps capture people and Pass Without Trace helps compensate for the Scale Armor.

5th Level Statistics

5th Level Yuan-ti Pureblood Revised Beastmaster

Str: 14

Dex: 12

Con: 16

Int: 12

Wis: 14

Cha: 12

HP: 49

AC: 17 (Scale Mail + Shield)
Ranger Save DC: 13

Speed: 30 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +3

Darkvision 60ft
Innate Spell Casting at Will: Animal Friendship (Snakes only), Poison Spray
Innate Spell Casting 1/Long Rest: Suggestion
Magic Resistance
Poison Immunity

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: None

Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
Languages: Common, Abyssal, Draconic, Orcish, and Undercommon

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Ranger) +6

Insight (Bounty Hunter) +5
Perception (Ranger) +5
Stealth (Bounty Hunter) +4
Survival (Ranger) +5

Background: Bounty Hunter

Favored Enemy: Humanoids
Natural Explorer
Fighting Style Dueling
Spellcasting
Primeval Awareness
Beastmaster Conclave
Animal Companion
Coordinated Attack

Spell Slots: 4 (1st Level), 2 (2nd Level)

1st Level Spells: Cure Wounds, Ensnaring Strike, Hunter's Mark
2nd Level Spells: Pass Without Trace

Animal Companion: Constrictor Snake

AC: 15 (ranger proficiency bonus)
HP: 22 (4d8+4)
Speed: 30ft, Swim 30ft
Str: 16, Dex: 14, Con: 12, Int: 2, Wis: 10, Cha 3
Saves: Str +6, Dex +5, Con +4, Int -1, Wis +3, Cha -1
Skills: Perception +3, Stealth +5
Bite: Attack +6, Piercing Damage 1d6+6
Constrict: Attack +6, Piercing Damage 1d6+6, target grappled, Escape DC: 14, Restrained while grappled.

Equipment

Warhammer

Shield 

Scale Mail

Longbow

20 Arrows

Explorer's Pack

Traveler's Clothes

20 GP

6th to 10th Level

6th Level - Greater Favored Enemy: Aberrations, +9 HP (58)

7th Level - Beast's Defense, +9 HP (67)
Spells: Spike Growth

8th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Str, Snake: +2 Con, +9 HP (76)

9th Level - Proficiency Bonus: +4, +9 HP (85)
Spell: Water Breathing

10th Level - Hide in Plain Sight, +9 HP (94)

Reasoning: My instinct keeps going toward improving Dexterity because both ranger and yuan-ti, but this build is going towards a Strength and Constitution base. Waterbreathing gives the character more avenues of approach, Spike Growth helps cut off escape. The Greater Favored Enemy was more or less a random selection since none of the greater enemy options really are any more appropriate to the theme than any others.

10th Level Statistics

10th Level Yuan-ti Pureblood Revised Beastmaster

Str: 16

Dex: 12

Con: 16

Int: 12

Wis: 14

Cha: 12

HP: 94

AC: 17 (Scale Mail + Shield)
Ranger Save DC: 14

Speed: 30 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +4

Darkvision 60ft
Innate Spell Casting at Will: Animal Friendship (Snakes only), Poison Spray
Innate Spell Casting 1/Long Rest: Suggestion 
Magic Resistance
Poison Immunity

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: None

Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
Languages: Common, Abyssal, and Draconic

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Ranger) +7

Insight (Bounty Hunter) +6
Perception (Ranger) +6
Stealth (Bounty Hunter) +5
Survival (Ranger) +6

Background: Bounty Hunter

Favored Enemy: Humanoids
Natural Explorer
Fighting Style Dueling
Spellcasting
Primeval Awareness
Beastmaster Conclave
Animal Companion
Coordinated Attack
Greater Favored Enemy: Aberrations
Beast's Defense
Fleet of Foot
Hide in Plain Sight

Spell Slots: 4 (1st Level), 3 (2nd Level), 2 (3rd Level)

1st Level Spells: Cure Wounds, Ensnaring Strike, Hunter's Mark
2nd Level Spells: Pass Without Trace, Spike Growth

3rd Level Spells: Water Breathing 

Animal Companion: Constrictor Snake

AC: 16 (ranger proficiency bonus)
HP: 59 (9d8+18)
Speed: 30ft, Swim 30ft
Str: 16, Dex: 14, Con: 14, Int: 2, Wis: 10, Cha 3
Saves: Str +7, Dex +6, Con +6, Int +0, Wis +4, Cha +0
Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +6
Bite: Attack +7, Piercing Damage 1d6+7
Constrict: Attack +7, Piercing Damage 1d6+7, target grappled, Escape DC: 15, Restrained while grappled.

Equipment

Warhammer

Shield 

Scale Mail

Longbow

20 Arrows

Explorer's Pack

Traveler's Clothes

20 GP

11th to 15th Level

11th Level - Storm of Claws and Fangs, +9 HP (103)
Spell: Wind Wall

12th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Str, Snake: +2 Dex, +9 HP (112)

13th Level - Proficiency Bonus: +5, +9 HP (121)
Spell: Locate Creature

14th Level - Vanish, +9 HP (130)

15th Level - Superior Beast's Defense, +9 HP (139)
Spell: Grasping Vine

Reasoning: Wind Wall, Locate Creature and Grasping Vine all help in track or catching people. I still haven't added any Feats to this build. This is very much due to how tight Ability Score Improvements are for this character.

15th Level Statistics

15th Level Yuan-ti Pureblood Revised Beastmaster

Str: 18

Dex: 12

Con: 16

Int: 12

Wis: 14

Cha: 12

HP: 139

AC: 17 (Scale Mail + Shield)
Ranger Save DC: 15

Speed: 30 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +5

Darkvision 60ft
Innate Spell Casting at Will: Animal Friendship (Snakes only), Poison Spray
Innate Spell Casting 1/Long Rest: Suggestion 
Magic Resistance
Poison Immunity

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: None

Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
Languages: Common, Abyssal, and Draconic

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Ranger) +9

Insight (Bounty Hunter) +7
Perception (Ranger) +7
Stealth (Bounty Hunter) +6
Survival (Ranger) +7

Background: Bounty Hunter

Favored Enemy: Humanoids
Natural Explorer
Fighting Style Dueling
Spellcasting
Primeval Awareness
Beastmaster Conclave
Animal Companion
Coordinated Attack
Greater Favored Enemy: Aberrations
Beast's Defense
Fleet of Foot
Hide in Plain Sight
Storm of Claws and Fangs
Vanish
Superior Beast's Defense

Spell Slots: 4 (1st Level), 3 (2nd Level), 3 (3rd Level), 2 (4th Level)

1st Level Spells: Cure Wounds, Ensnaring Strike, Hunter's Mark
2nd Level Spells: Pass Without Trace, Spike Growth

3rd Level Spells: Water Breathing, Wind Wall

4th Level Spells: Grasping Vine, Locate Creature


Animal Companion: Constrictor Snake

AC: 18 (ranger proficiency bonus)
HP: 91 (14d8+28)
Speed: 30ft, Swim 30ft
Str: 16, Dex: 16, Con: 14, Int: 2, Wis: 10, Cha 3
Saves: Str +8, Dex +8, Con +7, Int +1, Wis +5, Cha +1
Skills: Perception +5, Stealth +8
Bite: Attack +8, Piercing Damage 1d6+8
Constrict: Attack +8, Piercing Damage 1d6+8, target grappled, Escape DC: 16, Restrained while grappled.

Equipment

Warhammer

Shield 

Scale Mail

Longbow

20 Arrows

Explorer's Pack

Traveler's Clothes

20 GP

16th to 20th Level

16th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Str, Snake: +2 Con, +9 HP (148)

17th Level - Proficiency Bonus: +6, +9 HP (157)
Spell: Stoneskin

18th Level - Feral Senses, +9 HP (166)

19th Level - Ability Score Improvement: +2 Con, Snake +2 Str, +28 HP (194)
Spell: Commune with Nature

20th Level - Foe Slayer, +10 HP (204)

Reasoning: Stoneskin and Commune with Nature provide both information and resilience. This build didn't end up with any feats. In actual play I would look for room to add in Medium Armor Master or Magic Initiate: Warlock so I could have both Hex and Hunter's Mark. As it is, this is a very tough ranger who isn't as stealthy as most rangers are. They would likely have upgraded to Half-Plate, but I tend to like scale mail just for the appearance.

20th Level Statistics

15th Level Yuan-ti Pureblood Revised Beastmaster

Str: 20

Dex: 12

Con: 18

Int: 12

Wis: 14

Cha: 12

HP: 204

AC: 17 (Scale Mail + Shield)
Ranger Save DC: 15

Speed: 30 ft

Proficiency Bonus: +6

Darkvision 60ft
Innate Spell Casting at Will: Animal Friendship (Snakes only), Poison Spray
Innate Spell Casting 1/Long Rest: Suggestion 
Magic Resistance
Poison Immunity

Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields

Weapons: Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools: None

Saving Throws: Strength, Dexterity
Languages: Common, Abyssal, and Draconic

Proficient Skills
Athletics (Ranger) +11

Insight (Bounty Hunter) +8
Perception (Ranger) +8
Stealth (Bounty Hunter) +7
Survival (Ranger) +8

Background: Bounty Hunter

Favored Enemy: Humanoids
Natural Explorer
Fighting Style Dueling
Spellcasting
Primeval Awareness
Beastmaster Conclave
Animal Companion
Coordinated Attack
Greater Favored Enemy: Aberrations
Beast's Defense
Fleet of Foot
Hide in Plain Sight
Storm of Claws and Fangs
Vanish
Superior Beast's Defense
Feral Senses
Foe Slayer

Spell Slots: 4 (1st Level), 3 (2nd Level), 3 (3rd Level), 3 (4th Level), 2 (5th Level)

1st Level Spells: Cure Wounds, Ensnaring Strike, Hunter's Mark
2nd Level Spells: Pass Without Trace, Spike Growth

3rd Level Spells: Water Breathing, Wind Wall

4th Level Spells: Grasping Vine, Locate Creature, Stoneskin

5th Level Spells: Commune with Nature

 

Animal Companion: Constrictor Snake
AC: 19 (ranger proficiency bonus)
HP: 143 (19d8+57)
Speed: 30ft, Swim 30ft
Str: 18, Dex: 16, Con: 16, Int: 2, Wis: 10, Cha 3
Saves: Str +10, Dex +9, Con +9, Int +2, Wis +6, Cha +2
Skills: Perception +6, Stealth +9
Bite: Attack +10, Piercing Damage 1d6+10
Constrict: Attack +10, Piercing Damage 1d6+10, target grappled, Escape DC: 18, Restrained while grappled.

Equipment

Warhammer

Shield 

Scale Mail

Longbow

20 Arrows

Explorer's Pack

Traveler's Clothes

20 GP

Some 5e Builds