So it’s no secret that INT Ranger kinda… sucks.
It doesn’t have the burst potential that Assassins. STR Rangers, Sorcerers and many more have, it doesn’t have the constant DPS that DEX Rangers, Berserkers, and some Warlocks have, and worst of all, it doesn’t have any proper support to exist as a class, while having modifications to allow it to “exist”, as to say.
For example, all but one of Ranger’s abilities, as well as Barrage, can scale off of INT. The problem is: why would you want it to? You get almost no benefit aside from ignoring block chance/physical defense, in which case you run into another problem of warding, and the fact that your own M1’s don’t scale off of INT, and never can.
You can play INT Ranger, but you’ll do next to nothing with it. (Below 10k DPS on a good day) Meanwhile, modern classes with even mid-tier equipment can reach upwards of 100k+ burst every so few seconds.
It isn’t something extremely niche/stupid like INT Assassin, STR Mages, Support Assassin, etc.
You can actively build into INT as a Ranger, have abilities scale into INT without the new rebirth weapons, have equipment suited well for INT Ranger, and even have an endgame perfect-scrolled set, and it would STILL be less damage/value overall than even Adventurers, who have limited options to deal damage. They at least get modifiers/extra abilities that would benefit them.
So I have a few suggestions to at least make INT Ranger usable while not full on reworking Ranger for an easy balance.
1: Make Arrows Scale Off Strongest Stat (STR/INT)
I mean this one’s pretty simple. It wouldn’t fix much, as Phantom Bow DEX Ranger would still be omnipresent everywhere, but it would at least give way for the true INTheads to exist and not feel like a waste of space.
1a: Add Back Explosive INT Arrows To M1
INT Arrows back then had what Spellslinger has now; explosive magical properties. Again, wouldn’t fix much in terms of what’s more viable/easier to get value out of (DEX Phantom/Molten/Ice Pick/Moko/Tuaa), and it would make Spellslinger extremely redundant, but having your M1’s not scale with INT seems like such a change that’d be so easy for INT Ranger to get off of the ground to do something.
2: Have Spellslinger Have Better Attack Speed Scaling, Or Increase Its Power
Spellslinger being the main gimmick of INT Ranger, and it not even rivaling normal bow M1s on DEX/STR Ranger is tragic, to say the least. the AOE it gets is nice, as it is intended for better crowd control, but every Ranger has access to Hail of Arrows, and they can build it to be as wide as the center of Colosseum, and still have it invested in some damage, so it’s redundant. (Plus Dustwurm Longbow exists; It’s just STR version of Spellslinger realistically.) Increasing either the power of Spellslinger, or increasing/removing the Attack Speed Multiplier would benefit Spellslinger significantly.
3: Increase Ranger’s INT Scaling Overall
This change comes with the inevitable comparison to Tricksters & Bards, both of which have great AOE/Burst abilities that compliment their own classes, but INT Ranger is more focused on Magic Damage & AOE sustain regardless. Increasing that, so it can actively be on par with other high-INT scaling classes would help it establishing a niche.
INT Ranger is, and has been in a sad state in terms of playability. The worst part is, it’s been brushed off constantly as “a niche set that wasn’t supposed to really exist.” yet it does. It still has in-game support, and has weapons that can benefit its existence. It’s just been neglected and unrecognized for several years. I obviously don’t want to bash the developers, CM, and moderators over the head with something they’ve probably heard hundreds of times, however I’m as passionate about a certain way to play Ranger as I am frustrated that the form of player expression for INT Ranger has been all but null and void because it’s not the “intended” way to play Ranger.
Outside of a rework, which of course takes time and effort in the midst of the content storm we’re having, I’d at least hope to have my favorite class have more ways to play than just funny pbow m1 merchant.
Massive side tangent but I want to express it anyway:
For the love of GOD revert or at least buff Flintlock from the massive hit it got several years ago. That, along with the INT change that soon followed butchered it from ever existing in any class, mostly affected by and was caused by Rangers. At least decrease the attack speed incremental so it doesn’t cap out as hard.
Also make Ricochet INT scaled like everything else at least.