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The Ranger class can be a lot of fun in Baldur’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 in Baldur’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 explaining how to multiclass in Baldur’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 in Baldur’s Gate 3, ranked from best to worst.
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1. Beast Master (Best)
When you choose the Beast Master subclass, you need never hunt alone. You’ll use the Ranger’s Companion action 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 to Companion’s Bond, which improves HP and abilities for your companions.
Further improvements follow at levels seven and eight, in the form of Exceptional Training and another boost to the summoned companion’s HP, respectively. Bestial Fury then 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 can 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. The Dread Ambusher ability 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 the Umbral Shroud action, you also become invisible while obscured (until you attack or take damage).
At level seven, the Ranger gains Iron Mind, which improves the ability to strike from the shadows. At level nine, they can also induce high-level Fear. Then at level 11, Gloom Stalker adds 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 get Hunter’s Prey. From a choice of three abilities, you can get buffs towards specific enemies.
Level seven brings about Defensive Tactics, which gives them a better chance of surviving while engaged with some of the fearsome foes they willingly engage. At level 11, they gain Volley and Whirlwind 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 in Baldur’s Gate 3 can be the right one if it suits your chosen style of play. And if you change your mind, check our guide on how to respec your characters with a little help from Withers.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on Steam.