Baldurs Gate 3: Ranger guide in BG3 Baldurs Gate 3 guide, walkthrough

Our guide to BG3 will help you create the perfect Ranger. We explain which race and subclass to choose and how to allocate Ability points.

Last update: 03 August 2023

Are you wondering what background and race to choose for your Ranger in BG3? On this page you'll learn about the Ranger's best subclass and most useful spells. We'll explain which stats to prioritize, and what should you pick for your Favored Enemies and Natural Explorer traits.

• Best background for Ranger
• Best race for Ranger
• Best subclass for Ranger
• Favored Enemies
• Natural Explorer
• Ranger's Ability Scores
• Best spells for Ranger
• Best fighting style for Ranger
• Best build for Ranger

Best background for Ranger

Your Ranger's background should complement the class' two primary abilities, Dexterity and Wisdom, which is why some good choices include:

1. Urchin, granting proficiency in Sleight of Hand and Stealth.
2. Criminal, granting proficiency in Stealth and Deception.
3. Charlatan, granting proficiency in Deception and Sleight of Hand.

Best race for Ranger

When choosing a race for your Ranger, aim for extra points to Dexterity and Wisdom. This means mechanically the best choices are:

1. Wood Elf, with +2 Dexterity and +1 Wisdom.
2. Drow, with +2 Dexterity and +1 Charisma.
3. Strongheart Halfling, with +2 Dexterity and +1 Constitution.
4. Human, with +1 to every ability.

Best subclass for Ranger

Once your Ranger reaches Level 3, you'll have two subclasses to choose from:

1. Hunter grants you the Horde Breaker feature, letting you aim at two creatures standing next to each other. When choosing this subclass, you'll also have one of two additional features to choose from: Colossus Slayer, which lets you deal additional damage on an attack once per turn; or Giant Killer, which gives you reactions when you're being attacked by a larger creature.
2. Beastmaster can summon an animal companion to help in inflitration and combat. There are some available companions to choose from: a bear, a boar, a giant spider, a raven or a wolf.

Favored Enemies

While creating a Ranger, you'll need to choose one of these options, which grant proficiency or unlock spells:

1. Bounty Hunter - grants proficiency in Investigation and the Ensnaring Strike skill, which gives disadvantage on saving throws to creatures attacked by the Ranger.
2. Keeper of the Veil - grants proficiency in Arcana and knows the spell Protection from Good and Evil.
3. Mage Breaker - grants proficiency in Arcana and the True Strike cantrip.
4. Ranger Knight - grants proficiency in History and heavy armor.
5. Sanctified Stalker - grants proficiency in Religion and the Sacred Flame cantrip.

Natural Explorer

When creating a Ranger, you must choose one of the following Natural Explorer types, granting you new abilities:

1. Beast Tamer - knows the Find Familiar spell.
2. Urban Tracker - grants proficiency in Sleight of Hand.
3. Westland Wanderer - grants one of three different resistances: to fire, cold or poison.

Ranger's Ability Scores

When distributing the Ranger's Ability Scores, you should adjust them to your planned subclass at Level 3, as well as to your Natural Explorer and Favored Enemies choices.

1. Dexterity is the most important attribute for all Rangers, affecting how well you handle ranged weapons and some melee weapons. It will let you strike first in combat and increase your Armor Class.
2. Rangers are proficient in Strength Saving Throws, so their Strength shouldn't be lower than 11.
3. The secondary important stat for Rangers is Wisdom, which they use to cast spells. Wisdom also increases their Animal Handling, Medicine and Survival. It will let them recognize the environment and determine the true intentions of encountered creatures.

Best spells for Ranger

Spells unlocked at Ranger Level 2:

1. Animal Friendship - prevents beasts with 3 or less Intelligence from attacking the Ranger for 10 turns.
2. Cure Wounds - heals 1d8 hit points.
3. Goodberry - creates four magical berries for the Ranger and their allies. One berry heals 1d4 hit points. The berries disappear after a Long Rest.
4. Speak with Animal - uses an action to talk to animals.
5. Hail of Thorns - creates an explosion of thorns on a weapon hit, dealing additional 1d10 piercing damage.
6. Hunter's Mark - a concentration spell which marks the creature, letting the Ranger deal additional 1d6 damage on each attack against them. If the target dies before the spell ends, the Ranger can mark another creature without expending a new spell slot.

Spells unlocked at Ranger Level 5:

1. Barkskin - on touch, increases a creature's Armor Class to 16.
2. Darkvision - gives a creature Darkvision for up to 12 meters.
3. Silence - creates a soundproof sphere no creature within which can cast spells. Additionally, everyone inside the sphere is immune to thunder damage.
4. Spike Growth - creates spikes on the ground, dealing 2d4 piercing damage to anyone who moves through them.
5. Pass Without Trace - creates a shadow veil, giving the Ranger and their allies +10 to Stealth checks.

Best fighting style for Ranger

Upon reaching level 2, your Ranger can choose between four fighting styles:

1. Archery - grants +2 to ranged weapon accuracy rolls.
2. Defense - grants +1 to Armor Class.
3. Dueling - grants additional damage when holding a single one-handed weapon.
4. Two-Weapon Fighting - increases damage dealt with an off-hand weapon.

Best build for Ranger

1. Background: Urchin
2. Race: Wood Elf
3. Favored Enemies: Bounty Hunter
4. Natural Explorer: Beast Tamer
5. Ability Scores: Strength 12, Dexterity 17, Constitution 13, Intelligence 8, Wisdom 15, Charisma 10
6. Subclass: Hunter
7. Fighting style: Archery
8. Weapon: Steelforged Sword
9. Ranged weapon: Crossbow +1
10. Armor: Githyanki Half Plate