Keyleth/Player Guide

This is a beginner-friendly guide for playing Keyleth. For full character details, see Keyleth.

Overview

Role in the Party: Ranged Damage Dealer, Tracker & Swarm Controller

Core Strengths:

• Consistent ranged damage with archery fighting style
• Unique Gathered Swarm for extra damage and battlefield control
• Hunter's Mark for sustained damage boost
• Excellent tracker and wilderness expert
• Versatile ranger spells for utility and damage
• Best ranged accuracy in the party

Key Stats to Know:

• AC: ~16 (studded leather + Dex)
• HP: ~52 (moderately durable)
• Attack Bonus (ranged): +7 (very accurate with archery style)
• Hunter's Mark: +1d6 damage per hit (lasts 1 hour)
• Gathered Swarm: 1d6 extra damage or movement (once per turn)
• Spell Slots: 4/3/0/0 (1st and 2nd level only)
• Spell Save DC: ~14

COMBAT - What Can I Do On My Turn?

Your Turn (Main Action)

1. Longbow Attack (Your Bread and Butter)

• To hit: +7 (archery fighting style gives +2)
• Damage: 1d8+4 piercing
• Range: 150 feet (600 feet max)
• + Hunter's Mark: +1d6 per hit (if active)
• + Gathered Swarm: +1d6 piercing (once per turn)
• Full damage with both: 1d8+4+1d6+1d6 = ~18 average damage per hit
• When to use: Almost always - this is your primary attack

2. Extra Attack (Two Attacks per Turn)

• At level 7, you attack TWICE when you take the Attack action
• Total damage potential: 2 attacks × (1d8+4+1d6) + 1d6 swarm = ~30 damage per turn
• Remember: Gathered Swarm only triggers once per turn, not per attack

3. Cast a Spell (Ranger Spells)

Offensive Spells:

• Hunter's Mark (1st, bonus action) - Add 1d6 to each hit for 1 hour, track target
• Hail of Thorns (1st) - Next ranged attack triggers 1d10 AoE damage
• Spike Growth (2nd) - 20-ft radius difficult terrain, 2d4 damage per 5 feet moved
• Gust of Wind (2nd) - 60-ft line pushes creatures, difficult terrain
• Lightning Arrow (3rd, when you get it) - Next ranged attack deals 4d8 lightning AoE

Utility Spells:

• Cure Wounds (1st) - Heal 1d8+3
• Goodberry (1st) - Create 10 berries, each heals 1 HP
• Pass Without Trace (2nd) - Party gets +10 to Stealth for 1 hour
• Lesser Restoration (2nd) - Cure disease or condition
• Locate Animals or Plants (2nd, ritual) - Find specific creatures
• Locate Object (2nd) - Find a specific object you've seen

Swarmkeeper Spells (Always Prepared):

• Faerie Fire (1st) - Outline enemies in light, attacks have advantage
• Web (2nd) - 20-ft cube restrains creatures
• Mage Hand (cantrip) - Your swarm forms a hand to manipulate objects at range

4. Gathered Swarm (Once Per Turn)

When you hit with an attack, you can activate your swarm (no action required):

Option A: Extra Damage

• Deal an additional 1d6 piercing damage to the target
• Use when: You want maximum damage on a single target

Option B: Move the Target

• Move the target 15 feet horizontally in any direction
• Use when: Push enemy off cliff, into hazard, away from ally, or closer to melee allies

Option C: Move Yourself

• Move yourself 5 feet horizontally (doesn't provoke opportunity attacks)
• Use when: Escape melee, get better positioning, stay mobile

5. Melee Attack (Emergency Only)

• Shortsword: +6 to hit, 1d6+4 piercing
• Generally avoid melee - you're a ranged specialist

Bonus Actions

• Hunter's Mark: Mark a target for +1d6 damage per hit (1 hour duration)
• Favored Foe (Alternative): Mark a target for 1d4 extra damage (if you chose this variant)
• Transfer Hunter's Mark: Move mark to new target when current target dies (no spell slot)

Reactions

• Opportunity Attack: When enemy leaves your reach
• Writhing Tide (Level 7 Feature): Gain flying speed equal to walking speed until end of turn (proficiency bonus times per long rest, currently 3/day)

Passive Abilities (Always On)

• Gathered Swarm: Your swarm is always with you, can be used once per turn
• Archery Fighting Style: +2 to ranged attack rolls (already included in your +7)
• Natural Explorer: Benefits in favored terrain (advantage on Initiative, difficult terrain doesn't slow you, etc.)
• Primeval Awareness: Detect creature types within 1 mile (6 miles in favored terrain)
• Land's Stride: Non-magical difficult terrain doesn't slow you, advantage on saves vs magical plants

SOCIAL SITUATIONS - How Can I Interact?

Skill Proficiencies:

• Survival: +7 (best tracker - finding trails, foraging, predicting weather)
• Nature: +4 (knowledge of plants, animals, terrain)
• Perception: +7 (spotting hidden things, ambushes)
• Stealth: +6 (sneaking and hiding)
• Animal Handling: +6 (calming and controlling animals)
• Athletics or Acrobatics: Moderate (depends on build)
• Insight: +6 (reading people)

Special Abilities:

• Favored Enemy: Advantage on tracking and Intelligence checks about certain creature types
• Natural Explorer: Expert in your favored terrain (advantage on Initiative, difficult terrain doesn't slow you, party can't get lost)
• Primeval Awareness: Sense presence of creature types within miles
• Gathered Swarm: Your swarm can scout, carry messages, or create distractions (at DM discretion)

Roleplay Strengths:

• Master tracker and wilderness guide
• Deep connection to nature
• Member of Emerald Enclave - protector of natural order
• Wood Elf heritage - wisdom and connection to forests
• Swarmkeeper flavor - insects, birds, or fey spirits as constant companions

EXPLORATION - How Can I Help Outside Combat?

Skills for Exploration:

• Survival: +7 (tracking, foraging, navigation - you're the expert)
• Perception: +7 (passive likely 17) - excellent for spotting danger
• Nature: +4 - identifying plants, animals, environmental hazards
• Stealth: +6 - sneaking (+16 with Pass Without Trace!)

Special Abilities:

• Natural Explorer: In favored terrain:

 * Difficult terrain doesn't slow your group
 * Party can't get lost (except by magic)
 * Remain alert to danger even while foraging or tracking
 * Double proficiency on Survival checks
 * Learn exact number, size, and time since creatures passed

• Primeval Awareness: Detect creature types (aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, undead) within 1 mile (6 miles in favored terrain)
• Land's Stride: Move through non-magical difficult terrain at normal speed
• Writhing Tide: Fly for one turn (3/long rest) - great for scouting or crossing gaps

Utility Spells:

• Pass Without Trace: Give party +10 to Stealth for 1 hour (AMAZING for group sneaking)
• Locate Animals or Plants: Find specific creatures or plants
• Locate Object: Find a specific object within 1,000 feet
• Speak with Animals: Talk to beasts (if prepared)
• Goodberry: Create food that heals
• Mage Hand (Swarmkeeper): Your swarm manipulates objects at 30 feet

Movement:

• Speed: 35 feet (Wood Elf speed)
• Writhing Tide: Fly 35 feet (3/long rest, lasts one turn)
• Mask of the Wild (Wood Elf): Can hide when lightly obscured by natural phenomena

Other Abilities:

• Darkvision: See in dim light as bright, darkness as dim (60 feet)
• Fey Ancestry: Advantage vs charm, can't be magically put to sleep
• Trance: Only need 4 hours of rest instead of 8

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Resource	Total Available	Recharges On
Spell Slots (1st)	4 slots	Long Rest
Spell Slots (2nd)	3 slots	Long Rest
Gathered Swarm	Unlimited	Once per turn (always available)
Writhing Tide (Flight)	3 uses	Long Rest
Primeval Awareness	1 spell slot per use	Until you use it again

Important Notes:

• Hunter's Mark lasts 1 hour and only uses one spell slot - VERY efficient
• Gathered Swarm costs nothing - use it every single turn
• Pass Without Trace lasts 1 hour - one 2nd-level slot gives party massive Stealth boost for exploration
• Writhing Tide is limited (3/day) - save for important moments
• Extra Attack means you attack twice but only use one action

COMMON TACTICS

1. The Marked Hunter (Maximum Single-Target Damage)

• Turn 1: Cast Hunter's Mark (bonus action) on priority target
• Attack twice with longbow
• Use Gathered Swarm for +1d6 damage on one hit
• Damage: 2 attacks × (1d8+4+1d6) + 1d6 swarm = ~30 damage
• Duration: Lasts up to 1 hour - keep dealing +1d6 per hit
• When target dies, move mark to new target (bonus action, no spell slot)

2. The Crowd Controller (Area Denial)

• Cast Spike Growth or Web to lock down an area
• Position yourself 60+ feet away from the affected area
• Attack enemies stuck in the hazard with longbow
• Use Gathered Swarm to push enemies back into the hazard if they escape
• Why: Control the battlefield while dealing ranged damage safely

3. The Skirmisher (Mobile Archer)

• Attack twice with longbow
• Use Gathered Swarm (Option C) to move yourself 5 feet away
• If enemies close in, use Writhing Tide (reaction) to fly 35 feet away
• Why: Stay mobile, never get pinned down in melee

4. The Team Buffer (Support Role)

• Before combat: Cast Pass Without Trace (+10 Stealth to party)
• In combat: Cast Faerie Fire to give allies advantage on attacks
• Use Gathered Swarm to push enemies away from allies or into flanking positions
• Use Cure Wounds or Goodberry to heal allies
• Why: Support the party while still dealing damage

5. The Precision Striker (High-Value Target Elimination)

• Use Faerie Fire to outline enemies (advantage on attacks)
• Attack enemy spellcasters or archers twice with advantage
• Use Gathered Swarm for extra damage or to push them off elevated positions
• Expected damage with advantage: 30+ damage, very likely to hit
• Why: Take out dangerous enemies quickly with high accuracy

6. The Scout (Information Gathering)

• Use Primeval Awareness to detect creature types within miles
• Use Survival expertise to track enemies
• Use Writhing Tide to fly and scout from above
• Cast Pass Without Trace and lead party in stealth
• Why: You're the best scout with tracking, awareness, and stealth tools

QUICK REFERENCE

On Your Turn, Usually Do One Of These:

1. Hunter's Mark (bonus action) → Attack twice with longbow → Gathered Swarm
2. Attack twice with longbow → Gathered Swarm (if Hunter's Mark already active)
3. Cast Faerie Fire or Spike Growth → Position yourself at range
4. Attack twice → Use Gathered Swarm to move enemy or yourself
5. Cure Wounds on injured ally → Move to safe position

Gathered Swarm Options (Choose One Per Turn):

• Damage: +1d6 piercing (most common)
• Push/Pull Enemy: 15 feet in any horizontal direction
• Reposition Yourself: Move 5 feet (doesn't provoke opportunity attacks)

Spell Preparation Strategy:

• Always prepare: Hunter's Mark, Cure Wounds, Pass Without Trace
• Combat control: Spike Growth, Faerie Fire (Swarmkeeper spell)
• Utility: Goodberry, Lesser Restoration, Locate Object
• Don't forget: Web (Swarmkeeper spell - auto-prepared)

Bonus Action Options:

• Hunter's Mark: Mark target for +1d6 per hit
• Transfer Hunter's Mark: Move mark when target dies
• Healing Word (if you have it): Heal ally at range

Reaction Options:

• Opportunity Attack: Standard melee attack
• Writhing Tide: Fly 35 feet (3/long rest)

Remember:

• You attack TWICE per Attack action - don't forget Extra Attack!
• Gathered Swarm triggers once PER TURN, not per attack
• Hunter's Mark lasts 1 HOUR - you can mark many enemies with one spell slot
• When Hunter's Mark target dies, you can move it to a new target as bonus action (FREE!)
• Archery fighting style gives you +2 to hit (already in your +7 attack bonus)
• Pass Without Trace gives WHOLE PARTY +10 Stealth for 1 hour
• Writhing Tide doesn't provoke opportunity attacks and costs only a reaction
• Your swarm can be reflavored however you want: insects, birds, fey spirits, nature spirits
• Use Gathered Swarm EVERY TURN - it costs nothing!

Damage Breakdown:

• Without buffs: 2d8+8 = ~17 damage per turn
• With Hunter's Mark: 2d8+8+2d6 = ~24 damage per turn
• With Hunter's Mark + Gathered Swarm: 2d8+8+3d6 = ~27-30 damage per turn
• With advantage (Faerie Fire): ~35+ damage per turn (higher crit chance)

Best Combat Routine: 1. Turn 1: Hunter's Mark (bonus) + Attack twice + Gathered Swarm 2. Turn 2-X: Attack twice + Gathered Swarm (Hunter's Mark persists) 3. When target dies: Move Hunter's Mark (bonus) + Attack twice + Gathered Swarm 4. Repeat until combat ends or Hunter's Mark runs out (1 hour)