Verdict
Yes, for rangers. The 2024 ranger always has it prepared and can cast it free several times per long rest, so the slot cost is small. The extra 1d6 lands on every hit, which suits characters who attack twice a turn. It is a poor pick for anyone who needs Concentration for a stronger spell.
What the 2024 version does
| Level and school | 1st-level Divination |
|---|---|
| Casting time | Bonus Action |
| Range | 90 feet |
| Components | V |
| Duration | Concentration, up to 1 hour |
| Effect | An extra 1d6 Force damage whenever you hit the marked creature with an attack roll, plus Advantage on Wisdom (Perception or Survival) checks to find it |
| Higher levels | A 3rd or 4th level slot lets Concentration last up to 8 hours, a 5th level or higher slot up to 24 hours |
"If the target drops to 0 Hit Points before this spell ends, you can take a Bonus Action to move the mark to a new creature you can see within range." System Reference Document 5.2, Hunter's Mark (CC-BY-4.0)
The extra damage never gets bigger with a higher slot. A higher slot only buys a longer duration, which matters for exploration, not for fights.
2014 vs 2024: what changed
| Detail | 2014 (SRD 5.1) | 2024 (SRD 5.2) |
|---|---|---|
| Casting time, range, component | Bonus action, 90 feet, verbal | Same |
| What triggers the extra damage | A hit with a weapon attack | A hit with an attack roll |
| Extra damage | 1d6 (no damage type given) | 1d6 Force |
| Advantage on finding the target | Wisdom (Perception) or Wisdom (Survival) | Same |
| Moving the mark | Bonus action on a later turn once the target is at 0 hit points | Bonus action, to a new creature you can see within range |
| Longer Concentration | 3rd-4th level slot: up to 8 hours. 5th level or higher: up to 24 hours | Same |
| Ranger support | Cast with a slot like any spell | Always prepared, free casts from Favored Enemy, three later features improve it |
The wording shift from "weapon attack" to "attack roll" matters. Spell attacks now carry the bonus too, so a ranger who casts an attack-roll spell adds the extra damage to it. The damage is also now typed as Force, where the 2014 text named no type.
Added damage per turn by ranger level
This table counts only the extra damage from the mark, not your weapon. It assumes a 65% hit chance against the target (a natural 20 included), a 5% chance to crit, and that every attack goes at the marked creature. A crit adds the extra die a second time.
| Ranger level | Attacks per turn | Free casts per long rest | Die | Added damage per turn | Over 3 turns | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | 1 | 2 | d6 | 2.5 | 7.4 | The mark costs your bonus action, then adds to every hit |
| 5-8 | 2 | 3 | d6 | 4.9 | 14.7 | Extra Attack doubles the number of hits that carry the bonus |
| 9-12 | 2 | 4 | d6 | 4.9 | 14.7 | More free casts, so fewer slots spent |
| 13-16 | 2 | 5 | d6 | 4.9 | 14.7 | Relentless Hunter: damage no longer breaks Concentration on the mark |
| 17-19 | 2 | 6 | d6 | 6.8 | 20.5 | Precise Hunter: Advantage on attacks against the marked creature |
| 20 | 2 | 6 | d10 | 10.7 | 32.2 | Foe Slayer: the extra damage die becomes a d10 |
The cost side is Concentration and one bonus action. At level 1, a ranger firing a longbow (1d8 + 3, so 7.5 on a hit) adds about 2.5 expected damage per turn with the mark, which is real but not huge. The bonus action is spent once to cast it, and again each time you move the mark. A damaged caster rolls a Constitution save to keep Concentration against a DC of 10 or half the damage taken, whichever is higher (maximum 30).
At level 13, Relentless Hunter removes that risk for this spell. At level 17 Advantage on attacks against the marked creature pushes the added damage from 4.9 to 6.8 per turn, and it also helps your weapon damage, which the table does not count.
Who gets it
On the SRD 5.2 spell list, Hunter's Mark belongs to the Ranger. The ranger guide lists the free casts by level. Other characters mostly need to multiclass into Ranger to get it.
Common rulings and mistakes
- It needs a hit. A miss adds nothing, and the mark does not add damage to saves-based spells.
- Free casts still use Concentration. Casting it without a slot does not remove the Concentration requirement.
- Moving the mark costs another bonus action. It only works once the target is at 0 hit points.
- Only one Concentration spell at a time. Casting another one ends the mark.
- A higher slot does not add damage. It only extends the duration.
Questions
Does Hunter's Mark work with spell attacks now?
The 2024 text says "attack roll", not "weapon attack", so a spell attack that hits qualifies. The 2014 text said "weapon attack".
How many free casts does a ranger get?
Two at level 1, three at 5, four at 9, five at 13 and six at 17. They come back on a long rest.
Is Hunter's Mark worth casting in a one-round fight?
Rarely. You spend a bonus action and Concentration for a few damage. It pays off over several rounds or several targets.
Does the d10 at level 20 replace the d6?
Yes. Foe Slayer changes the damage die of the mark from a d6 to a d10.
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