Rules edition: This is a 2014 Strength-based melee Ranger using the legacy Earth Genasi from Elemental Evil Player’s Companion (2015). Its focus is front-line weapon tactics, not a second all-purpose species/class build. For a general Ranger overview, see the 2014 Earth Genasi Ranger build.
The legacy Earth Genasi’s fixed +2 Constitution and +1 Strength make a sturdy melee Ranger possible, though Dexterity and Wisdom still matter. Strength supports weapon attacks and Athletics; Constitution supports hit points and concentration; Wisdom supports Ranger spellcasting and Perception. The build works best as a durable skirmisher who controls space with a shield, careful positioning, and occasional terrain spells—not as a dedicated tank with a way to force enemies to attack them.
Ability scores and prerequisites
With the 2014 standard array, assign 15 to Strength, 14 to Constitution, 13 to Wisdom, 12 to Dexterity, 10 to Intelligence, and 8 to Charisma before species increases. The legacy Earth Genasi increases Strength and Constitution by 1 and 2 respectively, giving this example Strength 16 and Constitution 16. Wisdom 13 meets the class’s spellcasting needs, while Dexterity 12 contributes to initiative and medium-armor AC. Point buy can produce a similar spread.
The Ranger’s d10 Hit Die and Constitution investment help with durability, but medium armor caps the Dexterity contribution to AC at +2. Scale mail and a shield give a solid baseline; half plate improves AC but imposes disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. The Defense fighting style adds +1 AC only while wearing armor. Choose it if defense is the priority; choose Dueling if you want a one-handed weapon and shield to deal more damage. These bonuses do not make the character immune to focus fire or control effects.
Why the legacy Earth Genasi fits melee
The legacy Earth Genasi has Earth Walk and Merge with Stone, not a racial cantrip. Earth Walk lets you cross difficult terrain made of earth or stone without extra movement. It does not let you ignore every spell-created hazard. Merge with Stone grants one free pass without trace casting per long rest, with no material components; the spell still requires concentration and boosts the group’s Dexterity (Stealth) checks by +10. Constitution is the spellcasting ability for this racial casting.
If your table uses Tasha’s optional origin-customization rules, ask the DM before moving the legacy ability increases. Otherwise keep the published +2 Constitution and +1 Strength. Do not combine those fixed increases with revised Genasi traits or spell options unless the table is deliberately using a separate version.
Subclass and fighting style
The 2014 Hunter from the Player’s Handbook is the simplest melee fit. At level 3, Colossus Slayer adds 1d8 once per turn when its injured-target condition is met. At level 7, Defensive Tactics offers options such as Multiattack Defense; it does not grant blanket resistance. Choose the feature for the threats your campaign actually uses.
The optional 2014 Gloom Stalker from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything can open with an extra attack and bonus damage through Dread Ambusher, but it does not require a melee build and gains no automatic benefit from Earth Walk. Horizon Walker is another optional Xanathar’s subclass for planar themes. Swarmkeeper from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything can push or pull targets, but movement and concentration effects still follow their own rules. These subclass recommendations describe separate 2014 options, not features to stack together.
At level 2, Defense helps protect an armored front-liner; Dueling is a strong one-handed-and-shield choice. Two-Weapon Fighting can work with light weapons, but it uses your bonus action for the off-hand attack. Tasha’s optional Druidic Warrior offers two Druid cantrips instead of a fighting style; it does not grant a bonus to melee weapon attacks.
Feats and action economy
Resilient (Constitution) can grant Constitution-save proficiency and increase Constitution by 1 when its score increase is useful, improving concentration protection. Resilient (Wisdom) helps with Wisdom saves, not concentration. The 2014 Polearm Master can add a bonus-action attack with its listed weapons and an opportunity attack when a creature enters your reach. Sentinel can reduce a creature’s speed to 0 when you hit it with an opportunity attack. Together they can control an approach lane, but they compete with other reaction uses and do not stop ranged enemies or teleportation.
Keep bonus actions in view. Casting or moving hunter’s mark uses a bonus action, as does a Polearm Master butt-end attack or a two-weapon attack. You cannot take all of those bonus actions on the same turn. The 2014 Alert feat gives +5 initiative and prevents surprise while you are conscious; the revised 2024 feat has different benefits, so use the one matching the campaign’s rules.
Spells and positioning
The 2014 Ranger learns spells rather than preparing a new list each day. Spellcasting starts at Ranger level 2; the class table sets spells known, and on gaining a Ranger level you can replace one known Ranger spell with another for which you have slots. Wisdom is the spellcasting ability. At level 5, the Ranger gains access to 2nd-level spells and can learn spike growth or pass without trace.
Hunter’s mark adds damage against its marked target but requires concentration and uses a bonus action to cast or move. Spike growth creates a damaging difficult-terrain area and also requires concentration. Earth Walk does not automatically bypass the spikes or their damage, even if the spell is cast over stone; ask the DM how the trait applies to a particular surface and effect. Goodberry is a useful out-of-combat resource, while the Genasi’s free pass without trace can support a group approach before combat. Do not try to maintain two concentration spells at once.
Backgrounds and table use
Choose three Ranger skills and two background skills with overlap in mind. Athletics supports climbing, swimming, and grappling checks when the rules call for them; it does not replace attack accuracy. Perception and Survival fit scouting, while Stealth can help set up a careful approach. Outlander, Soldier, or a custom background can support the character’s story, subject to the campaign’s allowed background rules.
Use Earth Walk when rocky ground genuinely slows other characters. It does not grant a general charge through magical thorns, difficult terrain of every material, or an enemy’s space. In a melee, use cover, terrain, and your party’s control effects to choose where to stand. Your job is to pressure a reachable target and protect an approach—not to absorb every attack just because your Constitution is high.
Official Rules Sources: Elemental Evil Player’s Companion: legacy Genasi traits; 2014 Basic Rules: Ranger class; 2014 Basic Rules: spells; 2014 Basic Rules: feats and optional multiclass rules; Xanathar’s Guide to Everything: Ranger subclasses; Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything: optional Ranger features and subclasses.
