Best Ranger build in Baldur’s Gate 3: Race, skills, subclass & more

❘ Updated: 2024-03-07T08:45:00

Larian Studios

The best Ranger build in Baldur’s Gate 3 will have you defeating enemies from a distance with ease in the RPG. Here’s exactly how you can create the strongest possible build in the game, including the ideal race, and best spells to use.

Rangers can be pretty tough to master in Baldur’s Gate 3 and require a strong build to prosper. After all, they’re often seen as a pretty weak class in Baldur’s Gate 3, but if they’re built and played carefully, then the Ranger can be one of the strongest classes in the game.

So, to ensure your aim always stays true, your damage is high, and your health or AC is good enough to keep you alive, here’s the best Ranger build in Baldur’s Gate 3 including the best race, spells, and so much more.

Contents

Best race
Best subclass
Best background
Best Ability Score spread
Best spells
Best Illithid powers
Best multiclass options
Best build for a Ranger in Baldur’s Gate 3

Best race to choose for a Ranger in Baldur’s Gate 3

The Ranger can be pretty powerful in the game, but choosing the right race is imperative. There are two that work well for this class:

Wood Elf
Strongheart Halfling

It’s up to you which one you choose, but we recommend using the Wood Elf for the bonuses to saving throws against Charmed, Fey Ancestry, and Darkvision.

Best subclass for a Ranger in Baldur’s Gate 3

Currently, as of the early access, the best Subclass to choose is the Hunter.

This is due to the higher damage, mobility, and therefore easier kills. The subclass comes with some great spells and allows you to mark enemies so you can deal damage over time, it’s also the Subclass that grants you an extra attack later on.

Best background for a Ranger in Baldur’s Gate 3

Screenshot of Minsc from Baldur's Gate 3

The best background for your Ranger Build is Urchin. This is primarily due to the proficiency in Stealth and Sleight of Hand the background grants you.

Once you’ve chosen this background, choose from these selections for your other skills, as they’ll be imperative:

Acrobatics
Survival
Perception
Insight

Best Ability Score spread for a Ranger

When creating your Ranger, you can always go for the recommended Ability Score spread, alternatively, if you want to optimize in every aspect, these are the scores to choose:

Strength: 12
Dexterity: 17
Constitution: 14
Wisdom: 14
Intelligence: 8
Charisma: 10

The Ranger’s main focus is Dexterity, but Constitution is always worth a focus too, thanks to the extra health it will give you. On top of these, Wisdom saves are pretty important in BG3 so a higher Wisdom will aid you and it’ll increase those skill proficiencies, as the Ranger is usually proficient in a lot of Wisdom skills.

Best spells for a Ranger in Baldur’s Gate 3

Spellcasting isn’t the key element for a Ranger, but it can alter the way you play. Here are some of the best to choose from:

Level 1: Ensnaring Strike
Level 1: Hunter’s Mark
Level 1: Hail of Thorns
Level 1: Cure Wounds
Level 2: Spike Growth
Level 2: Lesser Restoration
Level 2: Pass Without Trace
Level 3: Lightning Arrow
Level 3: Conjure Barrage

Best Illithid powers for a Ranger

Displacer Beast Shape

Rangers can be a little weak at times, so having a few extra hitpoints, and the ability to mix up your combat style is extremely useful. This power will come in handy if you need to handle a little upfront fighting or if ranged just isn’t going to work in a certain environment.

Fracture Psyche

Sure, Rangers can be pretty fun, but not being able to actually hit an enemy during combat is far from enjoyable. That’s where Fracture Psyche comes in, granting you the ability to reduce a target’s armor class by one, and then allowing you to transfer it to another target once they die, almost like Hunters Mark.

Psionic Dominance

Rangers are notoriously squishy, so having the ability to simply use your reaction to nullify a spell cast within 18m of you is just fantastic. It’ll help keep you safe and those around you, making it a power most classes shouldn’t go without.

Best multiclass options for the Ranger

Ranger and Rogue

Who says Rogues have to be strictly melee classes? They have an equally as powerful ranged sneak attack that can let you deal some fantastic damage from far away. Combine this with the class that’s literally designed for ranged attacks, and you’ve got a match made in heaven.

However, we recommend only leveling your Ranger to level 3 for Beast Master, just to grab that companion.

Ranger and Paladin

The Ranger isn’t exactly the most powerful class in Baldur’s Gate 3, but it usually works well when complimenting another class. So, you could combine the Ranger with the Paladin, to grab a few more spells and the ability to deal with close combat.

Combining the Ranger and Paladin essentially fills any weaknesses you can have, making it an ideal multiclass if you want to be a jack-of-all-trades.

Best build for a Ranger in Baldur’s Gate 3

Race: Wood Elf

Background: Folk Hero (Animal Handling & Survival)

Skills: Perception, Insight

Ability order from highest to lowest: Dexterity, Constitution, Wisdom, Charisma, Intelligence, Strength

Build layout:

Level	Feature
1	Favored Enemy: Bounty Hunter — Natural Explorer: Beast Tamer
2	Fighting Style: Archery — Spells: Hunter’s Mark, Ensnaring Strike
3	Subclass choice: Hunter — Hunter’s Pray: Colossus Slayer — Spells: Cure Wounds
4	Ability Improvement: Dexterity +2
5	Extra Attack — Spell: Lesser Restoration
6	Favored Enemy: Sanctified Stalker or Mage Breaker — Natural Explorer: Wasteland Wanderer
7	Spell: Pass Without Trace
8	Land’s Strice: Difficult Terrain — Ability Improvement:
9	Spell: Lightning Arrow
10	Hide in Plain Sight — Favored Enemy: Sanctified Stalker or Mage Breaker — Natural Explorer: Wasteland Wanderer
11	Spell: Conjure Barrage
12	Feat: Sharpshooter

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