Ranger Archetype – Rat-Catcher

The Rat-Catchers are a sinister collection of rangers, commonly found in Void. The benevolent among them focus their efforts on the solving of rodent-related problems but many fall prey to greed and begin using the very vermin they are trained to kill as effective tools of murder, spreading the sicknesses they once helped prevent. Whether they act to help or hurt, Rat-Catchers are mistrusted travellers and experts in the slaughter of smaller creatures.

Rat-Catcher Features

Level	Features
3rd	Disease-Proof, Ratter, Rat-Catcher Spells
7th	Slayer of Tiny Things
11th	Rat Plague, Relentless Ratter
15th	Bigger is Better

Disease-Proof
(3rd-level Rat-Catcher feature)

At 3rd level, you prove to be exceptionally resistant to the diseases that vermin typically carry. You are immune to non-magical diseases that can be caught from living creatures.

In addition, you are resistant to poison damage.

Ratter
(3rd-level Rat-Catcher feature)

At 3rd level, as a bonus action, you can summon a small, magical creature to act as your Ratter. Your Ratter may take the form of any size small beast.

Your Ratter cannot be destroyed or otherwise damaged. It cannot attack or take normal actions.

While summoned, your Ratter can move up to 40ft during your turn. When your Ratter is within 5ft of a size small or smaller creature, you can use your bonus action to cause one of the following effects:

• The target creature must immediately move half its speed towards you.
• You gain advantage on your next attack against the target creature.
• The target creature’s movement speed is reduced by half until the start of your next turn.

Your Ratter lasts until it is dismissed, which you can do at will.

Rat-Catcher Spells
(3rd-level Rat-Catcher feature)

Starting at 3rd level, you learn an additional spell when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Rat-Catcher Spells table. The spell counts as a ranger spell for you, but it doesn’t count against the number of ranger spells you know.

Ranger Level	Spell
3rd	Cause Fear
5th	Enlarge/Reduce
9th	Bestow Curse
13th	Aura of Purity
17th	Destructive Wave

Slayer of Tiny Things
(7th-level Rat-Catcher feature)

At 7th level, you become skilled in dispatching small creatures. When attacking a creature that is size small, you gain a bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to your proficiency bonus. When attacking a creature that is size tiny, you gain a bonus to attack and damage rolls that is equal to twice your proficiency bonus.

In addition, Swarm type creatures are not resistant to Bludgeoning, Piercing, or Slashing damage from your attacks.

Rat Plague
(11th-level Rat-Catcher feature)

At 11th level, you understand that your services are only required when there is a vermin problem. As an action, you can target a creature within 30ft and have them make a Constitution saving throw (DC = 8 + Wisdom modifier + PB). On a failure, the creature is infected by a disease of your choice (options listed below).

The disease spreads to 1d4 creatures per infected creature in the local area per day.

Relentless Ratter
(11th-level Rat-Catcher feature)

At 11th level, your Ratter becomes highly proficient in its work. The Ratter feature can now be used on size medium creatures.

In addition, the Ratter gains the following new options:

• The target creature is knocked prone.
• The target creature gains the Bleeding condition for a number of rounds equal to your PB.
• The target creature is grappled until they use an action to end the condition or you use the Ratter feature again.

Bigger is Better
(15th-level Rat-Catcher feature)

At 15th level, you learn to use your size to your ultimate advantage. You have advantage against any creature that is a smaller size category than your own.

Final Thoughts

Thanks for taking the time to read about the Rat-Catcher subclass! This began life as a goofy joke idea but has turned into a ranger archetype that could prove very effective in the right campaign! I’m particularly partial to the Ratter as a fun, circumstantial pet!

Thank you for reading and may your next session be filled with glory!