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Subclass Fighter Arcane Archer
The Arcane Archer is a Fighter subclass that infuses physical ranged attacks with arcane magic through Arcane Shots — a limited pool of magical arrow effects that layer debuffs, damage, and control on top of standard weapon attacks. Arcane Shot at Level 3 provides 2 uses per Short Rest and access to multiple different arrow types. Magic Arrow at Level 7 makes all ranged weapon attacks magical. Ever-Ready Shot at Level 10 ensures you always start combat with at least 1 Arcane Shot available.
| LEVEL | FEATURE |
|---|---|
| 3 | Arcane Archer Lore, Arcane Shot |
| 7 | Magic Arrow, Curving Shot |
| 10 | Ever-Ready Shot |
Arcane Archer Lore You gain proficiency in the Arcana or Nature skill, and you learn the Prestidigitation and Druidcraft cantrips.
Arcane Shot Once per turn when you fire a ranged weapon attack, you can apply one of your Arcane Shot options to it. You use the shot directly after the attack hits a creature, unless the shot's description says otherwise. You have 2 uses of this ability, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Short or Long Rest.
Choose 2 Arcane Shot options when you gain this feature, and choose 2 more at Levels 7 and 10:
- Banishing Arrow — Force a Charisma save or banish target to the Feywild until end of your next turn.
- Beguiling Arrow — Force a Wisdom save or the target is Charmed by one of your allies.
- Bursting Arrow — Deal 2d6 Force damage in a 10-foot burst around the target (no save).
- Enfeebling Arrow — Force a Constitution save or the target's attacks deal only half damage until end of your next turn.
- Grasping Arrow — Target takes 2d6 Poison damage immediately and 2d6 slashing damage per turn while poisonous vines grapple it (Strength check to break free).
- Piercing Arrow — Shoot in a line, passing through up to 6 creatures (Dexterity save for half Force damage).
- Seeking Arrow — The arrow curves around obstacles to seek a chosen creature within 1 mile, ignoring cover and long-range penalties.
- Shadow Arrow — Force a Wisdom save or the target can't see beyond 5 feet until end of your next turn.
Magic Arrow You gain the ability to infuse arrows with magic. Whenever you fire a nonmagical arrow from a shortbow or longbow, you can make it magical for the purpose of overcoming Resistance and Immunity to nonmagical damage.
Curving Shot You learn how to direct an errant arrow toward a new target. When you make an attack roll with a magic arrow and miss, you can use a Bonus Action to reroll the attack roll against a different target within 60 feet of the original target.
Ever-Ready Shot Your magical archery is available whenever combat starts. If you roll Initiative and have no uses of Arcane Shot remaining, you regain 1 use of it.
The Arcane Archer is the control-focused ranged Fighter. Unlike other Fighter subclasses that primarily enhance damage, the Arcane Shot options lean toward debuffs and battlefield manipulation — Banishing Arrow removes a target from the fight entirely for a turn, Shadow Arrow blinds, Enfeebling Arrow halves damage output, and Grasping Arrow creates sustained damage plus movement restriction.
The 2-use-per-Short-Rest limit makes Arcane Shot a precision resource. In a typical Short-Rest adventuring day with two Short Rests, you get 6 total Arcane Shot uses. Choosing when to spend them — on the initial alpha strike, on the BBEG, or to handle a specific threat — determines the subclass's effectiveness.
Curving Shot at Level 7 reduces wasted shots: miss on one target, redirect to another. Against enemies with high AC, this converts a miss from a lost Arcane Shot to a second chance.
Magic Arrow ensures that at Level 7, every arrow bypasses nonmagical resistance — relevant for enemies immune to nonmagical attacks. Combined with Arcane Shots, this makes the Arcane Archer effective even against physically resistant enemies.
Fighter, Arcane Archer, Banneret, Battle Master, Cavalier, Champion, Eldritch Knight, Psi Warrior, Rune Knight, Viking