The Ranger class can be a lot of fun inBaldur’s Gate 3.They have access to magic, plus they’re comfortable with hand-to-hand combat when the need arises. Rangers are skilled trackers in nature’s elements, and are at their best in ranged combat. Here’s our ranked list of the best Ranger subclasses inBaldur’s Gate 3.
Note:You don’t have to limit yourself to one character class. If you would like, you can mix two or three of them. For more information, check out our guide explaininghow to multiclass inBaldur’s Gate 3.
Baldur’s Gate 3:Best Ranger subclasses, ranked
Rangers grow into a lot of useful abilities as they gain experience, regardless of the subclass you ultimately select. You can play around with the overall class until you reach level three, at which point you must settle on your subclass. When you make your Ranger subclass selection, it’s important to choose the one that complements the approach you plan to take. Let’s dive into the best Ranger subclasses inBaldur’s Gate 3, ranked from best to worst.
1. Beast Master (Best)
When you choose the Beast Master subclass, you need never hunt alone.You’ll use theRanger’s Companionaction to bring along an animal ally that fills the role you need in a particular situation. Both in and out of combat, your animal companion can aid you. At level five, this subclass improves thanks toCompanion’s Bond, which improves HP and abilities for your companions.
Further improvements follow at levels seven and eight, in the form ofExceptional Trainingand another boost to the summoned companion’s HP, respectively.Bestial Furythen provides yet another improvement at level eleven. Truly, a Ranger and their companion are nothing to be trifled with. This subclass is rated highest because of the highly-useful summon. Since you’re able to only have four party members at once, summons are crucial for winning tough fights.
2. Gloom Stalker (Good)
The shadows are your friend when you choose the Gloom Stalker subclass.TheDread Ambusherability allows you to take out foes with help from an Initiative bonus. Your movement range increases in the first round of combat, plus you inflict additional damage with the initial strike. With theUmbral Shroudaction, you also become invisible while obscured (until you attack or take damage).
At level seven, the Ranger gainsIron Mind, which improves the ability to strike from the shadows. At level nine, they can also induce high-levelFear. Then at level 11,Gloom Stalkeradds lethality to surprise attacks they launch while enveloped in shadow. They’re basically assassins by that point. If you like the idea of a Rogue-ish Ranger, this is a great subclass. You’ll get a ton of useful abilities and spells, which ranks it second on the list.
3. Hunter (Okay)
The Hunter subclass is especially good if you prefer to attack from a distance.You’ll gain increased proficiency with bows, which are a terrific weapon; except when they miss. I’ll take all the proficiency I can get. As a welcome bonus, you also getHunter’s Prey. From a choice of three abilities, you can get buffs towards specific enemies.
Level seven brings aboutDefensive Tactics, which gives them a better chance of surviving while engaged with some of the fearsome foes they willingly engage. At level 11, they gainVolleyandWhirlwind Attack, which work especially well against adjacent enemies. The abilities launch powerful attack flurries and don’t rely on a surprise attack to inflict significant damage. We ranked this subclass lowest, not because it’s bad, but because it lacks some amazing abilities compared to the other subclasses.
We’ve ranked the subclasses above from best to worst, but any Ranger subclass inBaldur’s Gate 3can be the right one if it suits your chosen style of play. And if you change your mind, check our guide onhow to respec your characterswith a little help from Withers.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available onSteam.
Jason Venter
Jason Venter is a contributing writer for PC Invasion since 2022 who can trace his love for video games back to the Apple IIe port of Mario Bros. in the late 80s. He remains a diehard Nintendo fan to this day and loves JRPGs, adventure games, and platformers in particular, but he still plays games in most genres and on most hardware. After founding indie gaming site HonestGamers in 1998, he served as an editor at Hardcore Gamer Magazine during its entire print run. He has since freelanced for a variety of leading sites including IGN, GameSpot, and Polygon. These days, he spends most of his time writing game guides and entertaining readers with his fantasy novels.
