History Main / Ranger

* ''{{Literature/Gate}}'': Itami of all people turns out to have passed Ranger qualifications (with the bare minimum, but still) in the JGSDF. This causes something of a nervous breakdown in some of his squuadmates who have difficulty accepting that such a self-admitted slacker could achieve that.

* ''{{Manga/Gate}}'': Itami of all people turns out to have passed Ranger qualifications (with the bare minimum, but still) in the JSDF. This causes something of a nervous breakdown in some of his squuadmates who have difficulty accepting that such a self-admitted slacker could achieve that.

%%* The ''VideoGame/EarthDefenseForce'' series has the Ranger class.

* The JGSDF has this, but it's more of a soldier's qualification than a unit. It's been coveted since JGSDF soldiers with Ranger training are for the most part either with the Special Forces Group, the JGSDF's counter-terrorist/elite special forces unit or with the elite paratrooper unit, the 1st Airborne Brigade. JGSDF soldiers with Ranger status are also trained to conduct anti-guerrilla/infiltration operations (alongside other special forces-type training) throughout Japan should there be a future conflict involving commandos/soldiers from intruding nations or terrorists inserted into Japan.

* The Malaysian Army's Royal Ranger Regiment. Some of its predecessor include the Sarawak Rangers, which fought against pro-communist guerrillas during the Cold War.

* The Israeli Army has established the 89th "Oz" Brigade under the Central Command, based on experience learned from the Second Lebanon War and Operation Protective Edge.

* The Survey Corps in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''.

* The Rangers in the ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse''.

* Tomahawk's Rangers in ''ComicBook/{{Tomahawk}}''.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory'': Buzz Lightyear, [[RecycledINSPACE Space Ranger!]]
[[/folder]]

* ''Film/PacificRim'': Jaeger pilots are called Rangers.
* ''Film/DerSchuhDesManitu'': Ranger. [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep He has no other name besides that]].
* Cameron Poe from ''Film/ConAir''.

* Captain Miller and his squad (except Cpl. Upham) from ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan''.
* The eight rangers of whom [[Film/TheLoneRanger the Lone Ranger]] was the last surviving member.
* Along with being a highly decorated Delta Force operative. Major Gates from ''Film/ThreeKings'' also has a Rangers tab. Meaning he attended and passed Ranger school.

* The "Ranger Girls", female federal agents in Don Pendleton's ''Literature/TheExecutioner'' novels.

* The ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' in all their forms.
** Some (but not all) of the ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' teams.
*** Specifically: Goranger (1), Turboranger (13), Zyuranger (16), Dairanger (17), Kakuranger (18), Ohranger (19), Carranger (20), Megaranger (21), Timeranger (24), Gaoranger (25), Hurric'''''anger''''' (26), Abaranger (27), Dekaranger (28), Magiranger (29), Bouke'''''nger''''' (30), Gekiranger (31), Go-O'''''nger''''' (32), Shinke'''''nger''''' (33), Gosei'''''ger''''' (34), Gokai'''''ger''''' (35), Kyoryu'''''ger''''' (37), Tokkyu'''''ger''''' (38), zyuoh'''''ger''''' (40), kyuranger (41), and Akibaranger (Unofficial).
* ''Series/WalkerTexasRanger'', [[Creator/ChuckNorris of course.]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* ''Radio/TheLoneRanger''
[[/folder]]

* The ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' class Ranger.
** Particularly in 1st Edition AD&D, where they almost define BadassNormal. Rangers start their career with 2 [[HitPoints Hit Dice]] rather than the 1 everyone else gets, a whompin' 90% base tracking chance (by comparison, a 1st level thief with ''maximum'' Dexterity would have 20-40% in all but one skill), a 50% chance to surprise ''anyone,'' and a huge (by 1st Edition standards) damage bonus to pretty much any humanoid monster. At high levels they can learn magic [[TheRedMage drawn from the spells of two different classes]] (druid and magic-user) and start to attract [[TheBeastMaster loyal followers]], potentially up to ''[[GentleGiant storm giants]] and [[InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons copper dragons]]''. Yeah.

* Subversion: In ''VideoGame/CallOfJuarez'', Ray meets a squad of Texas Rangers and helps them assault a farm, which, they claim, is robbers' base. And [[UnwittingPawn he believes them completely]] until TheReveal.

* The ''VideoGame/EarthDefenseForce'' series has the Ranger class.

* ''VideoGame/NetHack'' has a ranger class, focused on stealth and death from far-off, which is [[strike: a nerfed D&D ranger]] strong but very well-balanced compared to its contemporary in [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons AD&D]]

* The ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' High Elven class Ranger.

* ''Webcomic/QuentynQuinnSpaceRanger'' features quite a group of badasses.

* ''WesternAnimation/ChipNDaleRescueRangers''
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers''

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': ''Bush rangers'' are shown in ''Discworld/TheLastContinent'' as being outlaws. Rincewind, however, [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant makes the mistake]] most of us would probably make if we heard the word "ranger". ''The Last Continent'' is a mishmash of Australian culture, pop culture and nostalgia for things long since abandoned. The term "bush ranger" refers to criminals operating beyond the settled and adequately policed areas of the time, analogous to American Wild West outlaws.

* In ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', during the extended cut of ''The Two Towers'', Saruman has a rather visible OhCrap moment when Gríma Wormtongue mention that one of the men at Edoras, Aragorn, appeared to be a ''Dúnedain Ranger'' (of course, Saruman has a bigger one when Grí­ma mentions he's wearing a ring of entwined serpents and realizes not just what but ''[[KingIncognito who]]'' he is).
** In addition to the Dúnedain, there's also the Ithilien Rangers led by Faramir, who are shown in ''The Two Towers'' to be elite and badass guerilla fighters, conducting raids against Haradrim convoys moving through the region to link up with Mordor's forces.

When applied to military units (such as the US Army 75th Rangers Regiment), they will typically be some form of light infantry Spec-Ops who specialise in mobility , stealth and occasionally guerrilla/counter-guerrilla tactics. The accepted vulnerability in these tactics (reduced armor, firepower, numbers, etc) add to the badass credentials.

When applied to military units (Such as the US Army 75th Rangers Regiment), they will typically be some form of light infantry Spec-Ops who specialise in mobility , stealth and occasionally guerrilla/counter-geurilla tactics. The accepted vulnerability in these tactics (reduced armour, firepower, numbers, etc) add to the badass credentials.

* The ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' High Elven class Ranger.

* ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger''.
* Rangers in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' are defined as being ranged attack masters. Indeed, until a few years ago, Rangers were so far and away the top DPS job it didn't seem possible for anyone else to catch up... at least, until ranged attacks got {{Nerf}}ed. While many see it as being a little bit ''too'' much, Rangers are still a good candidate for any party.
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerGenerals'' where Rangers are the basic infantry unit for the US. Possible DoubleSubversion in that there isn't a single unit on the US side that ''isn't'' elite and the US as a whole is defined by superior skill and technology.
* ''VideoGame/NetHack'' has a ranger class, focused on stealth and death from far-off, which is [[strike: a nerfed D&D ranger]] strong but very well-balanced compared to its contemporary in [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons AD&D]]

** ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' features on the cover a New California Republic Veteran Ranger in their GasMaskLongcoat getup; in the game, they're the best of the NCR's soldiers.
** The NCR Rangers are the best of the NCR (and have been since first seen in VideoGame/{{Fallout 2}}), and mostly handpicked from the army, with only a few especially badass exceptions. The Veteran Rangers are the best of the NCR Rangers, with a fair portion of them inherited from the Desert Rangers of Nevada (if Tycho and what he says is anything to go by, also badasses).

** Going back as far as ''VideoGame/Fallout1'', recruitable companion Tycho states that he's a Desert Ranger as a ShoutOut to ''VideoGame/{{Wasteland}}''. The Desert Rangers were later absorbed into the NCR Rangers prior to the events of ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas''.
** The player can actually join the NCR Rangers in ''VideoGame/Fallout2'' by wiping out some slavers.
* Used by the Ranger skill of Axton in ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}''. [[JackOfAllStats It provides a small boost to numerous statistics]], and has the text "Makes you better at just about '''Everything'''" describing it.

* In ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes'', the Ranger squad is the most powerful infantry squad the Americans get and is good at killing infantry and armor. Their only competition is the Airborne units, British commandos, and German Knight's Cross Holders.
* ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar'': Eldar Rangers, the "invisible sniper" type that does huge morale damage.
* The third VideoGame/RatchetAndClank had Galactic Rangers, who were generally cowardly and preferred to have Ratchet take care of all the work. However, they pull a BigDamnHeroes in the endgame, helping him clear the path to Nefarious and taking out {{Giant Mook}}s in only a few shots.
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2'', we got the Moogle Rangers, which consist of… well, Moogles. And [[FiveManBand five of them]]. However, they have hundreds of counts of breaking the peace [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking (and one of trespassing)]] and need to be taken down by your clan. [[spoiler: At the end of the battle, for no reason whatsoever, they leave by rising into the sky.]]
* The Desert Rangers (the source for Fallout's Desert Rangers) of VideoGame/{{Wasteland}} were (in-universe) inspired by the Texas Rangers, and (once they realized other communities had survived the nuclear war) decided to help rebuild and re-establish human civilization in the wastelands. Your characters belong to the group, and will either die or end up doing many impressive things.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty''
** The 2nd Ranger Battalion appears in ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty2'' as the main (and only) American force in-game.
** Ramirez from ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2'', who [[MemeticBadass DOES EVERYTHING]], is from the 75th Ranger Regiment. [[FourStarBadass General Shepherd]] too, who [[spoiler:stabs Soap in the chest with his own knife]] and nearly manages to beat [[spoiler: Captain Price]] to death with his bare hands shortly after surviving a helicopter crash.
* The Rangers appear in some ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor'' games, particularly ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorAlliedAssault'', ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorFrontline'', and ''Heroes 2''.
* The Rangers in ''VideoGame/Metro2033'' is a faction composed entirely of this trope. Only the most badass gets to become a Ranger.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/CivilizationBeyondEarth'': Far from being EliteMooks, the Ranger is the most basic type of ranged unit.
** Played straight in ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}} VI'', where the lowly Scout unit can be upgraded to a Ranger once the Industrial-era Rifling technology is researched. Rangers can attack enemies without being countered (though they still have to be next to their target), and get a significant Combat Strength boost, allowing then to hold their own in a fight.
* ''VideoGame/BattleForWesnoth'' has the Ranger and Elvish Ranger units. The Ranger is the 3rd level advancement of the bandit Poacher unit, while the Elven Ranger is the 2nd level of the Elvish Archer. In each case the ranger is one of two choices for level advancement, with the other option being a GlassCannon type unit with [[ImprobableAimingSkills Marksmanship]]. Rangers are more of an all around unit having equally good archery and melee skills as well as better movement rate, health, and defense than the Huntsman or Elvish Marksman.
* In ''VideoGame/{{XCOM 2}}'', Rangers specialise in stealth and close-quarters combat, using shotguns and swords to kill the aliens.
* The ''VideoGame/EarthDefenseForce'' series has the Ranger class.
* In the ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series, there have been a few classes called the Ranger. In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'' and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776'', the Ranger is a promoted Free Knight who wields swords and rides on a horse; in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'', they are promotions for the Archer and Mercenary, and act as {{Horse Archer}}s with swords as a backup; in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'', Ranger is Ike's personal base class.
* The main characters of ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles4'', Squad E, are all part of the Ranger Corps of the Federation military. Specifically the 32nd Armored Ranger Corps.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1046975.png]]

[[quoteright:346:[[VideoGame/ModernWarfare https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Rangerslogosp_3240.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:346:Rangers Lead The Way!]]

* The ''Franchise/GhostInTheShell'' franchise mentions Batou's past with the JGSDF as a Ranger-trained soldier. In the ''SACverse'', this has some prominence while he was tasked to hunt a suspected an American Empire commando turned serial killer in Niihama.
** In the ''Ariseverse'', Ishikawa, Saito and Borma are implied to be also Ranger-trained soldiers.

* Rangers in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' are defined as being [[CaptainObvious ranged attack masters]]. Indeed, until a few years ago, Rangers were so far and away the top DPS job it didn't seem possible for anyone else to catch up... at least, until ranged attacks got {{Nerf}}ed. While many see it as being a little bit ''too'' much, Rangers are still a good candidate for any party.

* Ramirez from ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2'', who [[MemeticBadass DOES EVERYTHING]], is from the 75th Rangers Regiment. [[FourStarBadass General Shepherd]] too, who [[spoiler:stabs Soap in the chest with his own knife]] and nearly manages to beat [[spoiler: Captain Price]] to death with his bare hands shortly after surviving a helicopter crash.

* The 2nd Ranger Battalion appears in ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty2'' as the main (and only) American force in-game.

* The 2nd Ranger Battalion appears in ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty 2'' as the main (and only) American force in-game.
* The Rangers appear in some ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor'' games, particularly ''Allied Assault'', ''Frontline'', and ''Heroes 2''.

* The main characters of ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles4'', Squad E, are all part of the Ranger Corps of the Federation military.

* The Earth Defense Force series has the Ranger class.

** A unit raised in Northern ireland for the British Army is called the Royal Irish Rangers; whilst not trained as special forces they have a function as light infantry.

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': ''Bush rangers'' are shown in ''Discworld/TheLastContinent'' as being outlaws. Rincewind, however, [[IThoughtItMeant makes the mistake]] most of us would probably make if we heard the word "ranger". ''The Last Continent'' is a mishmash of Australian culture, pop culture and nostalgia for things long since abandoned. The term "bush ranger" refers to criminals operating beyond the settled and adequately policed areas of the time, analogous to American Wild West outlaws.

* [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Obviously]], the Rangers of the ''Literature/RangersApprentice'' series. They're BadassNormal special forces and investigators, FamedInStory for stealth and archery skills. They're no slouches when it comes to close-quarters combat, either. [[TheDreaded Just the knowledge that a Ranger is in the area is generally enough to make bad guys think twice.]]

'Cause that's where [[Creator/ChuckNorris the Ranger's]] gonna be."''