In D&D 5e, the Ranger can choose at first level to have a Favored Enemy of a single broad type (i.e. fiends, giants, aberrations, etc.) or of two different specific humanoids (such as orcs and gnolls). They gain additional Favored Enemies at 6th and 14th level.
At each of those levels, could they opt to pick two humanoid races? Or would the choice be between one type and one specific humanoid?
Relevant text:
Choose a type of favored enemy: aberrations, beasts, celestials,
constructs, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, giants, monstrosities,
oozes, plants, or undead. Alternatively, you can select two races of
humanoid (such as gnolls and orcs) as favored enemies.
And:
You choose one additional favored enemy, as well as an associated
language, at 6th and 14th level.
(Both quotes from PHB, pg 91.)
Specifically, I'm wondering whether "one additional favored enemy" means one absolutely, or whether the "Alternatively…" sentence means that two humanoid races can be substituted for one type whenever you select a favored enemy.
Best Answer
In this case I would consider the term "Favored Enemy" (from the phrase "one additional favored enemy") as referring to the class feature itself, with the text:
So when you gain that class feature again you would gain exactly what it says, every time you gain it; unless the feature says otherwise, of course (e.g. you may not choose the same favored enemy twice).