Rapid shot and deadly aim questions?

[jk7275]

I am making a ranger and using treatmonk's guide. He recommends deadly aim but based on comments I seen in threads its not worth it as you miss too often

Is there any kind of analysis done of using deadly aim with or without rapid shot? Is it something that should be used a lot or is it good only in certain situations especially at low levels

[Malroth]

It's questionable low levels but really shines High levels when you've got accuracy to spare and enemies start packing meaningful DR.

[Malroth]

Now for some crunch to go with it.


Lv 1 Martial character with 18 Dex and a standard off the shelf longbow.
+5 to hit with standard attacks
+4 to hit with deadly aim
+3 to hit with rapid shot
+2 to hit with both.
Average damage per hit 4.5
Average damage with deadly Aim 6.5


Hits an AC14 CR1 mook
55% of the time with standard attacks averaging 2.474 hp per round
50% of the time with deadly aim averaging 3.25 hp per round
45% of the time with rapid shot meaning he hits twice20.25% of the time, misses twice 30.25% of the time and hits once 49.5% of the time averaging 4.05
damage per round
40% of the time using both. hitting twice 16% of the time missing twice 36% of the time and hitting once 48% of the time averaging 5.2 damage per round

Hits an AC17 CR4 boss creature
40% of the time with standard attacks averaging 1.8 damage per round
35% with deadly aim averaging 2.275 damage per round
30% of the time with rapid shot hitting twice 9% missing twice 49% and hitting once 42% averaging 2.7 damage per round
25% of the time using both hitting twice 6.25% missing twice 56.25% and hitting once 37.5% averaging 3.25 damage per round

[Malroth]

Lv 4 Martial character with +1 bow that allows him to use 3 points of str mod to damage. Somehow grabbed an extra +1 accuracy from somewhere
+10 standard attacks
+8 deadly aim
+8 rapidshot
+6 using both
Hits for
8.5 normal attacks
12.5 deadly aim

Hits an ac17 Cr 4 mook
65% of the time with standard attacks averaging 5.525 dmg per round
55% of the time with deadly aim averaging 6.875 dmg
55% of the time with rapid shot, hitting twice 30.25% missing twice 20.25% and hitting once 49.5% averaging 9.35
45% of the time using both hitting twice 20.25% missing twice 30.25% hitting once 49.5% averaging 11.5

Ac 20 CR 7 Boss fight
50% of the time with standard attacks averaging 4.25
40% of the time with deadly aim averaging 5.0
40% of the time with rapid shot hitting twice 16% missing twice 36% hitting once 48% averaging 6.8
30% of the time using both hitting twice 9% missing twice 49% and hitting once 42% averaging 7.5

[Malroth]

Those figures confirm the initial assumption. At low level play Deadly aim helps but can contribute to a lot of annoying misses and the <50% potential damage increase from deadly aim is overshadowed by the 100% potential damage increase of rapid shot.


But at higher levels the diminishng effect of the extra rapid shot attack is reduced by the extra attacks the character recieves while Deadly aim provides a linear increase on top of the relatively flat damage per arrow.

Lv 11 Martial character 20+2dex 16+2str +2 agile mighty bow, Hasted, Has an extra +3 accuracy from somewhere
attacks at +23/+23/+18/+13
Deadly aim +20/+20/+15/+10
Rapid shot +21/+21/+21/+16/+11

Damage per arrow 16.5
Deadly aim damage 24.5

DR 10/- Ac 27 boss monster
Standard attack
80% chance to hit on first 2 attacks 55% chance to hit on 3rd 30% on 4th. average damage 15.925
Deadly aim
65% chance to hit on first 2 attacks 40% chance to hit on 3rd 15% chance on 4th average 26.825
Rapid shot
70% chance to hit on first 3, 45% chance on 4th, 20% chance on 5th average 17.875

[Malroth]

TLDR version.

Rapid shot: Use unless it casues a 14 to miss or if only a 20 hits
Deadly aim: Use unless it causes your rapid shot to miss on a 15 or anytime the enemy has DR

[Rynjin]

There's also the fact that you're playing a Ranger. That +4-6 to-hit at the most played levels counters out the downsides in most cases.

[jk7275]

Now for some crunch to go with it.


Lv 1 Martial character with 18 Dex and a standard off the shelf longbow.
+5 to hit with standard attacks
+4 to hit with deadly aim
+3 to hit with rapid shot
+2 to hit with both.
Average damage per hit 4.5
Average damage with deadly Aim 6.5


Hits an AC14 CR1 mook
55% of the time with standard attacks averaging 2.474 hp per round


Correct me if I am wrong but shouldn't that be 60%? You miss on 8 or lower so you miss 40%