Leonine Guardian (40 Ranger)

This is my dex ranger. It's a weak universal tank -- strength of 36 after double demi and stat artifact. I've been very happy playing it in the Hells both pre-demi and single demi. I made it back in June and the only change I'd make to it since the Ranger adjustments are a couple different Favored Enemies. It uses dual Katanas and really comes alive once you can use the Stygian Razor in offhand. It's primary goal was to get as many hits as possible with the weapons, which meant very high AB and Listen. On my runs it typically has more kills than anything other than a brownie assassin or well played imploder. Damage output is extremely high.



Race: Half-Elf Wemic (BUR subrace)
Starting stats
STR 14 -> 18
DEX 16 -> 22
CON 12 -> 14
WIS 14 -> 16
INT 12
CHA 8 -> 4

All stat points into DEX including in LLs.

All levels to Ranger (any order is fine).

Feats from Wemic: Weapon Finesse, Called Shot, ESF Hide, ESF Taunt, ESF Listen. Increases character size to large.

Pre-Epic Feats:
1: Blooded, FE1
3: Weapon Focus: Exotic
5: FE2
6: Weapon Focus: Katana
9: Improved Critical: Katana
10: FE3
12: Toughness
15: Iron Will, FE4
18: Great Fortitude
20: FE5

Epic Feats:
21: Great Dex 1
23: Epic Weapon Focus: Katana
24: Great Dex 2
25: Epic Prowess
26: Bane of Enemies
27: Great Dex 3
29: FE6
30: Armor Skin, FE7
32: FE8
33: Great Dex 4
35: FE9, FE10
36: Great Dex 5
38: FE11 or Blinding Speed
39: Great Dex 6
40: FE12

Base stats at 40: STR 18, DEX 38, CON 14, WIS 16, INT 12, CHA 4.

Legendary Feats:
42: LSA Tumble
45: LWF Katana
48: Great Dex 7
51: Great Dex 8
54: Legendary Will
57: Legendary Fort
60: Epic Will

Read Enchant book for +13 Bladethirst.

Geared stats at 60: STR 30, DEX 62, CON 30, WIS 28, INT 24, CHA 16.
AB: 99. 94, 89, 84, 101, 99, 94 (with full +20 bonus)
Saves: 66 Fort, 67 Reflex, 63 Will
HP: 1110
AC: 132 using UR/Illithid gear, 143 in double demi, BURs, and Asmo item

Skill Points: While leveling max Craft Weapon, Discipline, Hide, and Parry. Once you have LSA Tumble you can start maxing Listen and Tumble. Tumble only needs to be taken to 60 points.

Favored Enemies:
Outsiders
Aberrations
Dragons
Magical Beasts
Constructs
Undead
Monstrous Humanoids
Reptilian Humanoids
Animals
Vermin
Shapechangers

I chose Blinding Speed instead of a 12th FE. You could take Elementals instead, but I like the extra speed to be able to get to a mob quickly. The ordering after the first two is certainly debatable. I took Shapechangers last since I wanted insta-killing on Ely mobs, but they're immune to positive.

You have the choice of either using a strength artifact with what's shown, which means at double demi you'll have STR 36, DEX 64, and get one insta-kill per rest. Alternately you can change the Great Dex feats in LLs to Great Str and use the Dex artifact, getting you the same stats and infinite darkness uses. Up to you which to use, based on what you have and which effect you like.

I highly advise checking out the Beast From Beyond build, which is a strength hybrid very similar in many ways to this one. There are pluses and minuses each way, but definitely give it a hard look.

Some considerations

• I chose Katanas because of Stygian Razor. You'll do plenty of damage without it, but it's a real boost once you have it (more crit range, x3 vs x2 on all crits). There are other choices, such as going dual Rona Warhammer, but IMO the str builds are a better choice for that route.
  
• You have plenty of hit points, so if you're scared about not having Blind Fight, feel free to take it instead of Toughness. You have oodles of Listen so you probably won't need it.
  
• The saves are a bit high, but there isn't a good way to lower them just a little. You could probably get away with dropping Epic Will and taking something else instead. There's certainly an argument for dropping WIS by two, raise STR by 1, then replace Epic Will with a Great Strength. Will save would be 58 (60 at double demi) but two more strength.
  
• Since you don't have 40 strength, you don't get critical immunity. The only time I've felt like I missed it was around dev crit monsters (Zhedi and Quimath basically).
  
• It'd be nice to have some points in Concentration, but I think the existing choices are better.
  

I highly recommend picking a function key and assigning the text macro '!action cs opponent'. Then whenever you're attacking, hit that key every 3-6 seconds and it'll do a called shot attempt on your current target. I rarely use the actual Called Shot function (the one that requires you to pick a target or right click on the target -- both of which I find aggravating to use during dense combat).

I've been using Evelynn's bracers, which adds +5d6 sneak attack. It boosts your damage output which is nice considering you have 7 attacks a round at very high AB and high listen. If you have the PoM ranger gloves for +1 Called shot that may be another option. Rangers Medal is a good amulet. Betar armor pre-60, Shroud after (Swamp Devil Hide works also but Shroud is preferred). Your choice of boots, helm, belt, and cloak. I liked the UR breach boots and Ainefea's Belt. If you're looking for UR rings that work, I found Signet of Set plus Hel's Fury covered me most of the time (always have Minishunt up). Switch Hel's for Anhur or Hellfire if you need sonic. Also pick up one or more of the nice shortbows, such as Tormentil, Mandrake, or Hellebore from Uro or Verbana from PoM. They're nice for ranged sniping and especially for ranged called shots.

Current gear as a demi: DB Katana, Stygian Razor, Shroud of the Earth Mother, Asmo Helm, Cloak of the Elements, PoM Bracers, Legendary Boots of Absorption, Ranger's Medal, Ainafea's Belt, Quaternary Exotica (Nessus set ring), whichever other ring appropriate (e.g. Shimmer of the Styx or Bahamut's Ruination, various UR choices). I have Conservency and a mord ring hotkeyed for use when needed. I have 4 weapon hotkeys: the DB/Stygian which is my usual setup, a Dis Katana + second Stygian for fire mobs, a pair of L35s for acid/elec/pos mobs and as a backup, and Tormentil -- an Uro bow which is used for ranged called shots.

Edit: Changed out Favored Enemy: Humans for Shapechangers
Edit: modified suggested order of favored enemies, current gear