Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Ranger Class Build

Rangers have three very distinct builds available to them in Baldur’s Gate 3: Hunter, Beast Master, and Gloomstalker. When it comes down to it, having more party members with more abilities to throw down in combat is often better than higher single-target damage. As such, the Beast Master is easily the best pure Ranger build in BG3.

Beast Master Rangers are able to summon a companion that’s far stronger, and far more useful, than the Find Familiar spell available to other classes. The Summon Companion skill is the bread and butter of this best Ranger BG3 build, as players are able to control a Bear to keep enemies under their control while firing off arrows from afar without a fear in the world.

Updated December 23, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: To make the best Ranger build BG3 players have to do two things: make the right choices for a character’s stats and spells, and equip them with the best Ranger items BG3 players can get their hands on. A previous version of this guide to the best Ranger BG3 build recommended an endgame-appropriate set of the best Ranger gear. Now, the Best Ranger Equipment section contains Act-appropriate suggestions. The previous endgame item recommendations can still be found in the Act 3 subsection of the Best Ranger Items, but now players can also find a full list of Ranger gear that can be acquired in Acts 1 and 2.

Ranger Class Introduction & Overview

Ranger Playstyle & Signature Abilities

“Rangers are unrivalled scouts and trackers, honing a deep connection with nature in order to hunt their favoured prey.”

Rangers are a damage-oriented class that can either focus on their ability to track, hunt, and kill targeted prey, or summon an Animal Companion as a controllable ally. Despite their name, Rangers aren’t limited to Ranged combat, but just about all of the major BG3 Ranger builds rely on Ranged skills for the majority of their damage. Even if one doesn’t choose the Gloomstalker subclass, which grants a bit of spellcasting ability, Rangers can access a limited number of spells that can help control the battlefield from afar.

Rangers’ unique class features are the Favored Enemy and Natural Explorer traits, which grant bonuses and unique abilities depending on which options players select. These bonuses only apply in specific situations, but as Rangers level up, they gain the benefits of more and more selections. Rangers also are able to become Invisible at will while standing still later on, as well as avoid the negative slowing effects of Difficult Terrain.

Ranger Subclasses

• Beast Master: Grants the ability to summon an Animal Companion, essentially a fifth party member that can be altered depending on what’s needed.
• Gloomstalker: Ranged-damage-focused subclass with a particular emphasis on Stealth. Grants abilities that allow the Ranger to ambush enemies with ease.
• Hunter: Focuses on dealing extra damage to specific enemies. Grants a choice of three Hunter’s Prey perks that hugely benefit the class in ranged and melee.

Ranger Class Proficiencies

• Ranger Armor Proficiencies: Light Armor, Medium Armor, & Shields
• Ranger Saving Throws: Dexterity & Strength
• Ranger Skill Proficiencies: Choose 3 from Animal Handling, Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Perception, Stealth, & Survival
• Ranger Weapon Proficiencies: Simple Weapons & Martial Weapons

Ranger Class Features – Level By Level

Ranger Spell Slots & Prepared Spells – Level By Level

Best BG3 Ranger Build: Beast Master Overview

What Makes Beast Master the Best BG3 Ranger Subclass?

“Beast Masters bind themselves to an animal companion, sharing an intelligent bond that flourishes in and out of combat.”

The Beast Master Ranger is a hybrid ranged support and melee bruiser, capable of dishing out tons of damage and controlling enemy attacks with the Summon Companion ability. Beast Master Ranger is the best Ranger build in Baldur’s Gate 3 right now because it gives players a full-strength extra companion in the party – a Bear, for the purposes of this build.

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During combat, Beast Master Rangers are able to take a turn for both their own character and their summoned animal. The Bear has the ability Goading Roar and a big pool of HP, making them the perfect distraction for melee enemies while the Ranger rains arrows (and other ranged attacks) from afar.

Hunters and Gloom Stalkers technically can do more damage, but players have to be fighting their preferred enemy types or in the right stealthy circumstances. Beast Master Rangers are much more versatile and provide both damage and support for a whole party through their companion and Ranger spells.

Beast Master Subclass Features – Level By Level

Best Companions for a Beast Master Ranger

There are a lot of large animals that Rangers can choose from in the Beast Master build, but only one of them has an ability that forces enemies to focus on them: the Bear. The companion Bear has 19 HP base, which is upgraded to 39 at Level 5, as well as the Goading Roar (the Taunt) and Claws, which deals Cleave damage in a short range. The other companion animals can be more damaging or more useful situationally, but the Bear will generally provide the best utility to a Beast Master Ranger, especially if they plan to fight at a range.

Best BG3 Ranger Build: Roleplay & Character Creation Choices

Best BG3 Ranger Race: Half Wood Elf

The Half Wood Elf is the best Ranger race in BG3 for players who don’t particularly like the idea of playing as a Gnome. The Half Wood Elf has one of the longest movement distances of any Race, and they gain proficiency in Stealth for free, which is really useful for skirting around combat to get the perfect ranged angle. This, plus improved perception from Keen Senses and abilities from Fey Ancestry, makes the Half Wood Elf particularly useful for the Beast Master build playstye.

The Forest Gnome is a viable backup choice for Rangers thanks to Talk With Animals. The Talk With Animals spell is free to cast at will for Forest Gnomes from Level 1, which would usually be one of the Ranger’s many options for a spell at Level 2. It’s great for talking with your companion or other animals out in the world of Baldur’s Gate 3 – plus, Forest Gnomes have the Gnome Cunning passive, granting advantage on INT, WIS, and CHA Saving Throws.

Best BG3 Ranger Favoured Enemy: Bounty Hunter

The Ranger’s Favored Enemy choice is tough, and it works differently than it did in the tabletop Dungeons and Dragons. Of the choices available, the Bounty Hunter is arguably the most useful Favored Enemy when paired with Summon Companion. When the Bounty Hunter Ranger Ensnares an enemy, they gain Disadvantage on their Saving Throw against being rooted, leaving them writhing in agony without being able to move more often. Simply send in your Bear to finish the job.

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Best BG3 Natural Explorer Trait: Beast Tamer

The Natural Explorer traits for Rangers in BG3 have been changed from Fifth Edition D&D, too. There are three versions of Wasteland Wanderer granting different resistances, Urban Tracker for the Sleight of Hand proficiency, and Beast Tamer, which grants the Find Familiar ability. Having yet another companion in combat can be really helpful, but the summons available through Find Familiar aren’t very strong. Choose one with some utility, like the Raven or the Cat, who can inflict status effects on enemies or distract them instead of engaging in direct combat.

Best BG3 Ranger Proficiencies and Background: Folk Hero

The Folk Hero background grants proficiency to Animal Handling and Survival, both skills that are also choices for Ranger proficiencies. Taking the Folk Hero background as a Ranger leaves Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Perception, and Stealth open to take (though Wood Elves get Perception and Stealth proficiency, too). Whether you are a Wood Elf or not, Perception is an important proficiency to have, so prioritize picking it up. Nature, Investigation, and Insight are all very useful in RP situations and for opening up new dialogue choices, too.

Best Beast Master Animal Companion: Wolf Spider

From the moment players unlock their Battle Master Animal Companion, all five options are available, and no additional companion choices unlock at later levels. There is the Wolf, Bear, Dire Raven, Boar, and Wolf Spider – and of the five, the Wolf Spider provides the most utility and damage output.

The Wolf can deal decent single-target damage but lacks helpful abilities at later levels. Bears can be strong, but are a bit bland, and Boars can rage and charge into combat, but don’t offer much additional utility. Ravens can summon allies and cause status effects, but the Wolf Spider can poison enemies, summon an infestation, create webs, and provide meaningful CC to the party through the Cocoon ability.

Best BG3 Ranger Fighting Style for the Beast Master Subclass: Archery

Of the four Fighting Styles that become available to Rangers at Level 2, one makes the most sense for the Beast Master build. Because Beast Master Rangers don’t get into the melee side of things too much, players should choose Archery for their Level 2 Fighting Style.

This BG3 build thrives when the Ranger stays far away from the fight, firing arrows and casting the occasional spell, while their companion Wolf Spider keeps melee enemies’ attention. Pick up this style to empower the Ranger’s ability to deal reliable ranged damage, as the other options just don’t do much for this type of playstyle.

Best Ranger Ability Scores & Stat Distribution

Feats, Spells, & Leveling Choices For Beast Master Builds

Best Ranger Equipment: Armor & Accessories

This section covers the best equipment for Beast Master Rangers in BG3 across all three Acts. Some pieces from early Acts may still be powerful in later ones, though, and will remain equipped through several Acts.

• Items with bolded names are new options for the build in each Act, and may replace older pieces of equipment.
• Items with unbolded names must be acquired in earlier Acts, but are strong enough that they don’t need to be replaced in Acts 2 or 3.

Best Beast Master Ranger Items & Equipment: Act 1

Best Beast Master Ranger Items & Equipment: Act 2

Best Beast Master Ranger Items & Equipment: Act 3

Best Ranger Multiclass Choices & Builds

Rogue Multiclass – Ranger 9/Rogue 3

The Ranger and Rogue multiclass build makes for an exceptionally powerful combination, as long as a character chooses the Gloomstalker and Thief subclasses for each class. The Gloomstalker subclass for the Ranger grants lots of stealth-related abilities, but not Sneak Attack. By multiclassing with the Rogue class, the Gloomstalker gains this powerful Rogue skill, which receives a damage improvement at Level 3.

At Rogue Level 3, players also get to choose their subclass. The best option is the Thief subclass, which grants an extra bonus action – perfect for getting into the right position for a Sneak Attack, or for casting spells like Misty Step.

Fighter Multiclass – Ranger 10/Fighter 2

A multiclass Ranger build that invests two levels into the Fighter class will gain a lot more than it loses from levels 11 and 12. At Fighter 2, a character will gain the Action Surge ability, which costs a Bonus Action and grants an extra standard Action that turn. This ability can be used once per short or long rest, and gives the Ranger a third attack as early as character level 7 (5 points in Ranger, and 2 in Fighter).

At levels 11 and 12, Rangers would normally get their final subclass feature and a choice of Feat (or ability score improvement). It’s worth dipping into Fighter a little bit for the one extra attack, but players can even go as far as Ranger 7/Fighter 5 to get an extra attack every turn, though this mean losing out on more high-level Ranger abilities.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Released

August 3, 2023

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence