If you’re in Pathfinder, one of the most important questions you’ll be asking is: do you add dex to ranged damage? You’ve got a few options, including Weapon Focus, Fencing Grace, and Piranha Strike. Read on for more information. Whether to add dex to your damage rolls or not depends on what type of attack you’re using.

Weapon Focus

Ranged damage Pathfinder adds a new feat known as Weapon Focus to characters with this power. This feat allows a character to use special exceptions to the normal weapons requirement. For example, it gives a +1 attack roll when casting a ray of exhaustion. However, it does not grant the benefit of the mark of reptile god or other similar effects. This spell is a rare find in Pathfinder, and only the most powerful characters with the feat can make use of it.

Deadly Agility

Ranged damage pathfinders benefit from the Weapon Finesse feat, which allows you to apply a Dexterity bonus to your offhand weapon. This means you can easily stab enemies with slashing weapons without wasting precious BAB. This feat is gained by earning Weapon Focus, a prerequisite for Deadly Agility. Taking this feat increases your damage by 3%, and you can use it on a light weapon, such as a rapier. It also increases your damage by a fraction of your Dexterity.

Fencing Grace

The Swashbuckler class came out with Slashing Grace in ACG, which adds dex to damage done with a single light slashing weapon, treated as One Handed Piercing weapons. It is now possible for swashbucklers with just one level to use this feat, though errata has made it less awesome. To use it, the off-hand must be empty.

Piranha Strike

If you’re looking to increase your damage while using a ranged weapon, Piranha Strike may be the weapon for you. It adds dex to all damage rolls made with a two-handed weapon. This feat is also available as a powerful ability, granting the user +5 damage. It is also possible to make a character with rapier weapons gain the piranha strike feat. It works the same way as Power Attack, but it requires 13 STR.