Rangers have three very distinct builds available to them in Baldur's Gate 3: Hunter, Beast Master, and Gloomstalker. When it comes down to it, having more party members with more abilities to throw down in combat is often better than higher single-target damage. As such, the Beast Master is going to be the best Ranger choice until players figure out the nuances of the Gloom Stalker subclass.
Beast Master Rangers are able to summon a companion that's far stronger, and far more useful, than the Find Familiar spell available to other classes. The Summon Companion skill is the bread and butter of this best Ranger BG3 build, as players are able to control a Bear to keep enemies under their control while firing off arrows from afar without a fear in the world.
Updated August 4, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: With the full release of Baldur's Gate 3 a lot of things have changed from the Early Access version. Thanks to the new subclasses and expanded maximum level, players' ideas about the best Ranger build in BG3 have changed, and will very likely continue to evolve as fans get deeper into the game. This guide has been updated to be accurate to the full release version of Baldur's Gate 3, but it doesn't recommend build choices past Level 5. Check back regularly for more advice on how to make the best Ranger build as the Baldur's Gate 3 community continues to learn more about how the class plays at higher levels.
As a guide-in-progress, this build will be continually updated with more information about choices in the mid to late game as players make their way through the expansive Baldur's Gate 3.
Best Ranger Build Overview
"Beast Masters bind themselves to an animal companion, sharing an intelligent bond that flourishes in and out of combat."
The Beast Master Ranger is a hybrid ranged support and melee bruiser, capable of dishing out tons of damage and controlling enemy attacks with the Summon Companion ability. Beast Master Ranger is the best Ranger build in Baldur's Gate 3 right now because it gives players a full-strength extra companion in the party – a Bear, for the purposes of this build.
During combat, Beast Master Rangers are able to take a turn for both their own character and their summoned animal. The Bear has the ability Goading Roar and a big pool of HP, making them the perfect distraction for melee enemies while the Ranger rains arrows (and other ranged attacks) from afar.
Beast Mastery Ranger Character Creation
Best Ranger Race: Forest Gnome or Wood Elf
The best Race for Beast Master Rangers is the Forest Gnome for one simple ability: Talk With Animals. The Talk With Animals spell is free to cast at will for Forest Gnomes from Level 1, which would usually be one of the Ranger's many options for a spell at Level 2. It's great for talking with your companion or other animals out in the world of Baldur's Gate 3 – plus, Forest Gnomes have the Gnome Cunning passive, granting advantage on INT, WIS, and CHA Saving Throws.
The Wood Elf is a good backup Race choice for Beast Master Rangers who don't want to play as a gnome. The Wood Elf has one of the longest movement distances of any Race, and they gain proficiency in Stealth for free. This, plus Keen Senses and Fey Ancestry, makes them just as viable as a Forest Gnome – but a cantrip Talk With Animals is pretty handy, too.
Best Ranger Favoured Enemy: Bounty Hunter
The Ranger's Favored Enemy choice is tough, and it works differently than it did in the tabletop Dungeons and Dragons. Of the choices available, the Bounty Hunter is arguably the most useful Favored Enemy when paired with Summon Companion. When the Bounty Hunter Ranger Ensnares an enemy, they gain Disadvantage on their Saving Throw against being rooted, leaving them writhing in agony without being able to move more often. Simply send in your Bear to finish the job.
Best Natural Explorer Trait: Beast Tamer
The Natural Explorer traits for Rangers in BG3 have been changed from Fifth Edition D&D, too. There are three versions of Wasteland Wanderer granting different resistances, Urban Tracker for the Sleight of Hand proficiency, and Beast Tamer, which grants the Find Familiar ability. Having yet another companion in combat can be really helpful, but the summons available through Find Familiar aren't very strong. Choose one with some utility, like the Raven or the Cat, who can inflict status effects on enemies or distract them instead of engaging in direct combat.
Best Ranger Subclass: Beast Master
The Ranger's subclass can be picked at Level 3, and players get to choose between Hunter, Gloom Stalker, or Beast Master. The Hunter subclass grants Hunter's Prey, boosting their attacks against a specific type of target, while Gloom Stalkers play like a ranged Rogue with shadowy powers.
Beast Masters get companions. Hunters and Gloom Stalkers technically can do more damage, but players have to be fighting their preferred enemy types or in the right stealthy circumstances. Beast Master Rangers are much more versatile and provide both damage and support for a whole party through their companion and Ranger spells.
Best Ranger Proficiencies and Background: Folk Hero
The Folk Hero background grants proficiency to Animal Handling and Survival, both skills that are also choices for Ranger proficiencies. Taking the Folk Hero background as a Ranger leaves Athletics, Insight, Investigation, Nature, Perception, and Stealth open to take (though Wood Elves get Perception and Stealth proficiency, too). Whether you are a Wood Elf or not, Perception is an important proficiency to have, so prioritize picking it up. Nature, Investigation, and Insight are all very useful in RP situations and for opening up new dialogue choices, too.
Best Beast Master Fighting Style
Of the four Fighting Styles that become available to Rangers at Level 2, Archery is the most useful for the Beast Master build. This BG3 build thrives when the Ranger stays far away from the fight, firing arrows and casting the occasional spell, while their companion Bear keeps melee enemies' attention. Pick up this style to make your ranged shots much more reliably.
Best Beast Master Spells
Level 2: Ensnaring Strike, Cure Wounds (replace with Speak with Animals if not playing a Forest Gnome)
Level 3: Hunter's Mark
Level 5: Hail of Thorns, Spike Growth, Silence
Best Companions for a Beast Master Ranger
There are a lot of large animals that Rangers can choose from in the Beast Master build, but only one of them has an ability that forces enemies to focus on them: the Bear. The companion Bear has 19 HP base, which is upgraded to 39 at Level 5, as well as the Goading Roar (the Taunt) and Claws, which deals Cleave damage in a short range. The other companion animals can be more damaging or more useful situationally, but the Bear will generally provide the best utility to a Beast Master Ranger, especially if they plan to fight at a range.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available for PC and will release for PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2023. A version for Xbox Series X/S is currently in development.