Baldurs Gate 3 Ranger Build Guide Subclasses Feats Races Skills Stats

The Ranger might not steal the spotlight in Baldur’s Gate 3, but the right subclass and build can turn this quiet explorer into a tactical powerhouse. From pinpoint archery to devastating ambushes, we break down the feats and specializations that make the Ranger one of the game’s most versatile forces on the battlefield.

Rangers focus on using techniques to track and hunt their favored foes. They protect the borderlands by defeating the beings that pose a threat on the edge of civilization. As Rangers are agile hunters that must trek the dangerous wilderness, their primary ability score is Dexterity.

There’s no single best class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and the game gives you as many opportunities for creative problem solving as it does for punching. Finding the best class really just boils down to how you want to play. Even when playing solo, you’ll still manage the rest of your party, so you’ll get to experiment with multiple classes at once.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about the Ranger class in Baldur’s Gate 3, and learn all about the best Ranger subclass, feats, and build.

Update (April 15): Added details of the new subclass introduced in Patch 8, which also adds cross-play support and a photo mode.

Is Ranger the best class for you in BG3?

The Ranger suits players who enjoy flexibility, tactical positioning, and a balance between ranged and melee combat. It’s an excellent choice for exploring the wilderness, tracking enemies, and using clever strategy rather than brute force. With access to both martial skills and nature-based magic, the Ranger adapts to many party compositions and playstyles, offering strong mobility and utility throughout Baldur’s Gate 3.

The Ranger class is a bit of a mixed bag both in the pen-and-paper version of D&D and in Baldur’s Gate 3. At its core, the Ranger class is about exploring the wildness while armed with a bow – and it’s still largely that – but it’s become a lot more on top of that. Rangers even get a few spells.

Rangers are, frankly, tricky to get the hang of and play well – trickier than other classes, at least. That said, they’re the best option for a non-magical, ranged character. Plus, they get an animal sidekick.

Ranger class features

Rangers specialize in tracking, survival, and ranged combat, making them adaptable warriors in nearly any environment. Their core features include the ability to mark favored enemies for extra damage, gain advantages in specific terrains, and summon animal companions or nature-based powers depending on their subclass. With access to both martial skills and spellcasting, Rangers can combine stealth, precision, and tactical support to fit many playstyles, from long-range archers to melee skirmishers who thrive in close combat.

Hit Points

• Hit Dice – 1d10
• Hit Points at 1st level – 10 your Constitution modifier
• Hit Points at higher levels – 6 your Constitution modifier per ranger level after 1st

Favored Enemy

At level one, your Ranger is an expert at a one type of enemy. Studying and tracking a certain set of creatures will grant you specific abilities.

• Bounty Hunter – Find Familiar (Summon a familiar, a fey spirit that takes an animal form of your choosing)
• Keeper of the Veil – Protection from Evil and Good (Protect an ally against the attacks and power of aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead) and Find Familiar
• Mage Breaker – True Strike (Gain Advantage on your next Attack Roll) and Find Familiar
• Ranger Knight – Find Familiar
• Sanctified Stalker – Sacred Flame (Engulf a target in a flame-like radiance) and Find Familiar

Natural Explorer

Your Ranger is adept at traveling and surviving in one specific natural environment. You can gain a cantrip, a spell, or maybe even both depending on your particular region.

• Beast Tamer – Sacred Flame and Find Familiar
• Urban Tracker – Sacred Flame
• Wasteland Wanderer: Cold – Sacred Flame
• Wasteland Wanderer: Fire – Sacred Flame
• Wasted Wanderer: Poison – Sacred Flame

Proficiencies

• Weapons – Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons
• Armor – Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields
• Skills – Choose three from Animal Handling, Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Perception, Stealth, and Survival
• Saving Throws – Strength, Dexterity

Ranger subclasses

Ranger subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3 define how your character approaches combat, exploration, and interaction with the wild. The Hunter excels at adaptability, granting access to specialized abilities for crowd control and precision attacks. The Beast Master forms a bond with an animal companion, offering tactical flexibility and extra battlefield presence. The Gloom Stalker dominates from the shadows, striking first and vanishing into darkness, perfect for stealth-oriented builds. Each path provides a distinct flavor, making your choice heavily dependent on preferred playstyle and party composition.

The Ranger has a total of four subclasses, which are unlocked at level three.

Beast Master

Beast Masters act as a bridge between civilization and the beasts lying in the wilderness. You’ll build a bond with an animal companion where in and out of combat. Beast Masters gain one action – Ranger’s Companion. This will let you gain a beast companion that will fight alongside you.

Gloom Stalker

Gloom Stalkers stay in the shadows and embrace the darkness. They swiftly ambush their foes without leaving a trace. Gloom Stalkers gain a multitude of subclass features, actions, and spells.

Subclass Features

• Dread Ambusher – You gain a 3 bonus to Initiative, and on the first turn of combat, your movement speed increases by 3m, and you can make an attack that deals an additional 1d8 damage.
• Superior Darkvision – Can see in the dark up to 24 meters.

Actions

• Dread Ambusher: Hide – Hide from enemies by succeeding Stealth checks.
• Umbral Shroud – Wrap yourself in shadows to become Invisible if you are obscured.

Spells

• Disguise Self – Magically change all aspects of your appearance.

Hunter

Hunters are expert slayers that use specialized techniques to face any threat. If you choose to be a Hunter, you’ll need to pick your specialization with Hunter’s Prey:

• Colossus Slayer – Once per turn, your weapon attack deals an extra 1d8 damage if the target is below its hit point maximum.
• Giant Killer – If a Large or bigger creature attacks you, you can use your reaction to make a melee attack.
• Horde Breaker – Target two creatures standing close to each other, attacking them in quick succession.

Swarmkeeper

Added in April 2025’s Patch 8, Swarmkeepers can utilize swarms of nature spirits to increase their combat abilities:

• Cloud of Jellyfish – Deal lightning damage or shock a target.
• Flurry of Moths – Deal psychic damage or blind a target.
• Legion of Bees – Deal piercing damage or push a target away.

However, that’s not all as the swarms of nature spirits also provide Swarmkeepers with the ability to teleport at five meters away.

Best Ranger subclass and build in BG3

The Hunter subclass stands out for Rangers in Baldur’s Gate 3 due to its Colossus Slayer and Horde Breaker options, which add consistent extra damage against wounded foes and let you strike multiple nearby targets with one attack. Pair it with a Dexterity/Wisdom focus, prioritizing feats like Sharpshooter for +10 ranged damage at the cost of -5 to hit and Alert for +5 initiative to strike first. Use longbows or hand crossbows, light armor, and abilities like Hunter’s Mark to maximize output in prolonged fights.​

Baldur’s Gate 3 races don’t really have any direct impact on your class, but certain races and subraces come with features that play well with certain classes like extra movement or proficiency with certain weapons. For Rangers, it’s best to focus on useful skills and weapons:

• Wood Elves (and High Elves, for that matter) have proficiency with longbows and have that extra 5 feet of movement. Wood Elves are also proficient in Stealth
• Lightfoot Halflings are Naturally Stealthy and get advantage on Stealth checks
• Forest Gnomes don’t offer much mechanically, but the Speak with Animals cantrip fits thematically.

When you’re creating and leveling up your Baldur’s Gate Ranger, Dexterity is your most important stat (for ranged attacks – or finesse melee attacks, if you choose to go that way). Wisdom is your second most important skill for things like tracking your Favored Enemy and spellcasting. Make Dexterity your highest stat, followed by Wisdom.

Rangers choose their subclass at level 3. Beast Master is great if you want to have (and manage) an animal companion that fights by your side, but Hunter is the most straightforward. Both the Colossus Slayer and the Horde Breaker specializations are great to have.

Best Ranger Feats in BG3

Sharpshooter, Crossbow Expert, and Alert stand out as top feats for Rangers who focus on ranged combat, boosting accuracy, damage, and initiative. Great Weapon Master suits melee builds using two-handed weapons, while Dual Wielder enhances dual-weapon styles. Mobile can help maintain distance or reposition easily in fights. Choosing feats that complement your playstyle-whether ranged or melee-can turn a Ranger into a versatile and deadly combatant in any situation.

Every four levels, you’ll get the option to either increase your stats or choose a Feat. Feats are special talents that add features to your character. If you’re happy with your stats and start taking Feats, Rangers can benefit from:

• Crossbow Expert. When you make crowssbow attacks within melee range, the Attack Rolls do not have Disadvantage. Your Piercing Shot also inflicts Gaping Wounds for twice as long.
• Mobile. Your movement speed increases, and difficult terrain doesn’t slow you down when you Dash. If you move after making a melee attack, you don’t provoke Opportunity Attacks from your target.
• Sharpshooter. Your ranged weapon attacks do not receive penalties from High Ground Rules. Ranged weapon attacks with weapons you are Proficient with ahve a -5 penalty to their Attack Roll, but deal an additional 10 damage.

Which subclass is best for a stealth archer build

Gloom Stalker is the best Ranger subclass for a stealth archer build in Baldur’s Gate 3.​

Why Gloom Stalker Excels

It grants Umbral Sight for invisibility in darkness, Dread Ambusher for a first-turn attack burst from stealth, and superior darkvision-perfect for ambushing from shadows with a longbow. This outshines Hunter’s Colossus Slayer (steady damage) or Beast Master’s pet distractions, as stealth demands burst and evasion.​

Multiclass Synergy

Pair with 3-5 levels of Assassin Rogue for auto-crits on surprised foes and Sneak Attack dice, plus Cunning Action to hide as a bonus action-maximizing high-ground sniping. Pure Gloom Stalker works too, but Rogue amps turn-one nova damage in Honour Mode.​

Essential Choices

• Race: Deep Gnome (Stealth advantage) or Wood Half-Elf (extra movement).​

• Feats: Sharpshooter (+10 damage), Alert (+5 initiative).​

• Fighting Style: Archery (+2 to hit).​

This setup dominates stealth archery through invisibility, surprise crits, and consistent ranged output.​

Compare Gloomstalker and Scout Rogue for stealth archery

Gloom Stalker Ranger outperforms Scout Rogue for stealth archery in Baldur’s Gate 3, especially in combat burst and dark ambushes.​

Core Strengths Comparison

Gloom Stalker offers Umbral Sight (invisibility to darkvision in shadows), Dread Ambusher (extra first-turn attack with +1d8 damage), and spells like Pass Without Trace (+10 Stealth group-wide), enabling reliable surprise shots from hiding. Scout Rogue provides Skirmisher (Disengage/Dash as bonus action) and expert mobility for hit-and-run, plus Sneak Attack scaling, but lacks true invisibility or multiattacks until multiclassing.​

Damage and Stealth Breakdown

Build Recommendation

Multiclass Gloom Stalker 5/Rogue (Scout or Assassin) 3-7 for hybrid perfection: Ranger’s burst + Rogue’s Sneak and Hide, using Archery style and Sharpshooter. Pure Gloom Stalker dominates Honour Mode archery; pure Scout suits non-combat sneaking but lags in fights.​