Best mobile longbow user build?

[Spacehamster]

So were looking through the xanathars book and read the Kensai, so he gets to use longbow as a monk weapon plus Kensai shot, were thinking a build using Kensai 17, rogue 2 and fighter 1, go variant human and pick up sharpshooter feat, grab mobile at level 9(8monk/1 fighter) then go two rogue for cunning action and then flesh him out with rest in monk maxing DEX and getting WIS to 18.

This character would have insane mobility moving around taking shots at the enemy, decent skills and all saves. Not the highest ranged damage but damn hard to catch, thoughts?

[Rogerdodger557]

So were looking through the xanathars book and read the Kensai, so he gets to use longbow as a monk weapon plus Kensai shot, were thinking a build using Kensai 17, rogue 2 and fighter 1, go variant human and pick up sharpshooter feat, grab mobile at level 9(8monk/1 fighter) then go two rogue for cunning action and then flesh him out with rest in monk maxing DEX and getting WIS to 18.

This character would have insane mobility moving around taking shots at the enemy, decent skills and all saves. Not the highest ranged damage but damn hard to catch, thoughts?

Consider a 3rd level in rogue for the Scout archetype. You can move as a reaction whenever an enemy ends their turn within 5 feet of you.

[Spacehamster]

Consider a 3rd level in rogue for the Scout archetype. You can move as a reaction whenever an enemy ends their turn within 5 feet of you.

Hmmm could even make it Kensai 12, Arcane archer 4, scout 4. Then you would have a possible movement of 60 + bonus action 60 and if you really need to get away 60 more from action surge extra action. xD and the reaction move of 30 lol

[Mortis_Elrod]

If you like that try some of these combos:

Kensai/Arcane archer - Arcane shots added in. Level split is weird 8/12 is good for 3 attacks.


Kensai/GloomStalker- nice stealth options, ranger spells, oh and wisdom to initiative and that extra attack and damage on ambush. If revised then favored enemy is great. Splits weird too.

Kensei/Scout- a very mundane archer with slight mysticisms. Very good at the Skirmishing and scouting.

Kensei/ battlemaster - another non magicky archer. Arguably one of the better long range options with some trick arrow options.

[Spiritchaser]

I can’t speak to the rogue part of this, but F1, Kensei X is pretty slick all on its own.

Great mobility, strong sustained ranged damage with sharpen the blade, archery style and sharp shooter (not top tier but solid) solid survival with decent AC plus bonus action dodge, and eventually with diamond soul

Execute stunning strike with a whip when bored.

[Easy_Lee]

Depends on what you mean by "best." I can beat your damage or your mobility with a different build depending on what you're going for. You looking for consistency, defensiveness, damage, mobility, or some combination?

Just one example on the "mobile" side: arcane tricksters, eldritch knights, and bards can all put Longstrider + Haste on themselves. That's movement of up to 240 feet per round (320 on the rogue). Monks can't match that without magical assistance. The AT also gets his bonus action: hide shenanigans. If combined with crossbow expert and sharpshooter, this rogue will probably beat the Kensei in both mobility and damage, but only for a limited number of encounters per day.

[Spacehamster]

Depends on what you mean by "best." I can beat your damage or your mobility with a different build depending on what you're going for. You looking for consistency, defensiveness, damage, mobility, or some combination?

Just one example on the "mobile" side: arcane tricksters, eldritch knights, and bards can all put Longstrider + Haste on themselves. That's movement of up to 240 feet per round (320 on the rogue). Monks can't match that without magical assistance. The AT also gets his bonus action: hide shenanigans. If combined with crossbow expert and sharpshooter, this rogue will probably beat the Kensei in both mobility and damage, but only for a limited number of encounters per day.

Sorry should have been more clear, meant consistent mobility and decent damage without the use of resources. :)

[Easy_Lee]

Sorry should have been more clear, meant consistent mobility and decent damage without the use of resources. :)

Scout Rogue. Great mobility and good damage at all times with no resource expenditure.

[Spacehamster]

Scout Rogue. Great mobility and good damage at all times with no resource expenditure.

7 gloam ranger and 13 scout would be quite baller or 8/12 if you want 6 ASI’s.

[Gardakan]

Valor bard who picks Swift Quiver from Ranger at level 10 makes very potent archer. Even take 2 levels dip in Fighter for the Archery fighting style and an action surge and you're a pretty mobile longbow user (I mean... use Dimension Door to set you up, walk around invisibile, even fly if you want).

[tieren]

Ranger 5/Rogue 7/druid 8

Fly into the enemy camp as a sparrow, pick a nice firing position up in a tree, summon a pack of wild boars and plink away with sneak attack damage.

[Spacehamster]

Ranger 5/Rogue 7/druid 8

Fly into the enemy camp as a sparrow, pick a nice firing position up in a tree, summon a pack of wild boars and plink away with sneak attack damage.

Curious if you do need 7 rogue or if 8 ranger, 4 rogue 8 Druid would work as good? For sake of 5 ASI’s mostly? :)