Hunter of Evil (3.5e Optimized Character Build)

Introduction

This build is the Paladin's cousin that wanted to wander in the forests but found despicable evil in his way. Eventually, the Ranger joins the Paladin's path to righteousness but without any code of conduct other than that any Evil creature must be hunted down and put to the blade.

References

<- Rule books and/or other sources used in this build ->

Game Rule Components

Items

<- items used in this build ->

Progression

Starting Ability Scores (Before Racial Adjustments): Strength: As High as possible. Dexterity: A good score provides more AoO. Constitution: More HP is always welcome. Int: Dump. Wisdom: Dump. Charisma: Dump.

Race (Templates): Human

Starting Racial Traits: Extra Feat, One extra skill point per level.

ECL	Class/HD/LA	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Feats	Class Features	Skills
			Fort	Ref	Will
1st	Ranger 1	+1	+2	+2	+0	Favored of the Companions, Alertness	1st favored enemy: Any, Track, Wild Empathy	+28 skill points (10 Int), -16 Skill Points(12 remaining): 4 Ranks in Hide, Move Silently, Survival and Jump
2nd	Cleric 1	+2	+2	+2	+2	-	Turn or rebuke undead, Travel Domain, War Domain, Weapon Focus(Falchion)	+3 skill points (10 Int), -5 Skill Points(10 remaining): 5 Ranks in Hide(CC), Move Silently(CC) and Survival
3rd	Fighter 1	+2	+4	+2	+2	Travel Domain	Bonus Fighter Feat: Power Attack	+3 skill points (10 Int), -6 Skill Points(7 remaining): 6 Ranks in Hide(CC), Move Silently(CC) and Jump
4th	Fighter 2	+3	+5	+2	+2	-	Bonus Fighter Feat: Bull Rush	+3 skill points (10 Int), -5 Skill Points(5 remaining): 7 Ranks in Hide(CC), Move Silently(CC) and Jump
5th	Fighter 3	+4	+5	+3	+3	-	-	+3 skill points (10 Int), -5 Skill Points(3 remaining): 8 Ranks in Hide(CC), Move Silently(CC) and Jump
6th	Stalker of Karash 1	+5	+5	+5	+3	Leap Attack	Scent of Evil	+7 skill points (10 Int), -7 Skill Points(3 remaining): 9 Ranks in Hide, Move Silently, Survival and Jump
7th	Stalker of Karash 2	+6	+5	+6	+3	-	Favored Enemy: Evil	-
8th	Fighter 4	+7	+6	+6	+3	-	Bonus Fighter Feat: Shock Trooper	-
9th	Fighter 5	+8	+6	+6	+3	Favored Power Attack (Evil)	-	-
10th	Fighter 6	+9	+7	+7	+4	-	Bonus Fighter Feat: Improved Critical (Falchion)	-
11th	Fighter 7	+10	+7	+7	+4	-	-	-
12th	Fighter 8	+11	+8	+7	+4	Favored Critical (Evil)	Bonus Fighter Feat: Combat Reflexes	-
13th	Fighter 9	+12	+8	+8	+5	-	-	-
14th	Fighter 10	+13	+9	+8	+5	-	Bonus Fighter Feat: Robilar's Gambit	-
15th	Fighter 11	+14	+9	+8	+5	Murderous Intent (Evil)	-	-
16th	Fighter 12	+15	+10	+9	+6	-	Bonus Fighter Feat: Defensive Sweep	-
17th	Fighter 13	+16	+10	+9	+6	-	-	-
18th	Fighter 14	+17	+11	+9	+6	Nemesis(Evil)	Bonus Fighter Feat: Greater Weapon Focus (Falchion)	-
19th	Fighter 15	+18	+11	+10	+7	-	-	-
20th	Fighter 16	+19	+12	+10	+7	-	Overpowering Attack	-

Other Components

<- anything not covered by the previous sections ->

Overview

This build starts kind of slow. Taking two bad feats which will help you qualify for the Stalker of Karash PRC (This will provide you with Favored Enemy: Evil).

1st Level: Ranger 1

Favored of the Companions(Book of Exalted Deeds, p. 43): Once per day, while performing an act of good, you may call upon your guardian patron to gain a +1 luck bonus on any one roll or check.

Alertness(Player's Handbook v.3.5, p. 89): You get a +2 bonus on all Listen and Spot checks.

1st favored enemy: Pick any Favored Enemy you like.

Track: Needed to enter the Stalker of Karash PRC and to find all the baddies you'll be slaying.

Wild empathy: Doesn't do anything for this build.

2nd Level: Cleric 1

You lose a point in BaB but earn Weapon Focus(War Domain) to make up for it and also this sets you up for Travel Devotion(Travel Domain).

3rd Level: Fighter 1

Travel Devotion lets you devastate select opponents like dungeon bosses because it lets you move AND be able to use the full-round action.

Travel Devotion(Complete Champion, p. 62): Once per day as a swift action, you can activate this ability to move up to your speed as a swift action each round. Thus, you can move your speed and then take a full-round action, or move and take two other actions (two move actions or one move action and one standard action). This effect lasts for 1 minute.

Bonus Fighter Feat: Power Attack(Player's Handbook v.3.5, p. 98): Power Attack.

4th Level: Fighter 2

Bonus Fighter Feat: Improved Bull Rush(Player's Handbook v.3.5, p. 82): Improved Bull Rush sets you up for Shock Trooper.

6th Level: Stalker of Karash 1

This PRC will get you Favored Enemy: Evil at 2nd level. (Book of Exalted Deeds variant, p. 75)

Scent of Evil (Su): Like Scent but only for baddies. They should wash more often.

7th Level: Stalker of Karash 2

Favored Enemy(Evil): This provides you with a +1 equivalent of the Ranger's Favored enemy but against all creatures with the Evil alignment. Doesn't sound like much until you buff it with all the Favored Enemy Feats.

8th Level: Fighter 4

Bonus Fighter Feat: Shock Trooper(Complete Warrior, p. 112): Shock Trooper lets you subtract from your AC instead of your BaB when delivering a Power Attack while charging.

9th Level: Fighter 5

Favored Power Attack(Complete Warrior, p. 98): Favored Power Attack against creature with the Evil alignment means that when dual wielding your Falchion you are getting a +3 bonus to damage for each point you subtract from your BaB or AC when using Shock Trooper.

10th Level: Fighter 6

Bonus Fighter Feat: Improved Critical(Player's Handbook v.3.5, p. 95): Improved Critical means your Falchion increases its threat range from 18-20/2 to 15-20/x2.

12th Level: Fighter 8

Favored Critical(Masters of the Wild: A Guidebook to Barbarians, Druids, and Rangers, p. 23): Favored Critical that against creatures with the Evil alignment your Falchion increases its threat range from 15-20/2 to 12-20/x2.

Bonus Fighter Feat: Combat Reflexes(Player's Handbook v.3.5, p. 92): This sets you up for Robilar's Gambit and Defensive Sweep.

14th Level: Fighter 10

Bonus Fighter Feats: Robilar's Gambit(Player's Handbook II, p. 82) Robilar's Gambit gets you attacks of opportunity when being targeted by enemies in combat.

15th Level: Fighter 11

Murderous Intent(Elder Evils, p. 14): Murderous Intent does some thematic intimidation but also makes all your critical threats confirmed against Favored Enemies. Looking at you Evil creatures!

16th Level: Fighter 12

Bonus Fighter Feat: Defensive Sweep(Player's Handbook II, p. 78): Defensive Sweep means that anyone who has the audacity to begin his round adjacent to you and not move attack provokes an attack of opportunity from you.

18th Level: Fighter 14

Nemesis(Book of Exalted Deeds, p. 44): Adds 1d6 damage against Evil creature but also give you the ability to sense their location within 60ft.

20th Level: Fighter 16

Overpowering Attack(Player's Handbook II, p. 45): You sacrifice all your iterative attacks to deal double damage. This is a full-round action. The double damage effect is in place until the start of your next round so all of your attacks of opportunity from Robilar's Gambit and Defensive Sweep are giving hell to all of those who trigger their conditions.

Side Notes

<- overview of additional info about this build ->

Limitations

<- conditions of when this build works ->

DM Counters

As with any Power Attack build a DM may effectively counter it by using the Elusive Target feat on an important character like a dungeon boss etc.

Miscellaneous

<- Any other side notes that don't fit in the above sections. ->

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