Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Hunter Build

This guide focuses on the best Ranger build in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Hunter subclass, and includes all components to build a powerful character.

This build page has been updated for thePatch 8 versionof Baldur’s Gate 3.

Everything About the Hunter Ranger Build

The Ranger build in Baldur’s Gate 3 is combines range damage, spellcasting, and high mobility to be one of the most powerful classes in the game. In this guide, we use the Hunter subclass which helps the Ranger thematically, and in combat. Players should play a Ranger if they enjoy ranged combat with bows, medium armour, and limited spellcasting.

The downside of the Ranger is, you don’t have heavy armour proficiency or many spell slots. Moreover, your main ability score is Dexerity, so charisma and influencing dialogue won’t be your strengths. Outside of that, the Ranger has everything you need to excel in combat. The Hunter subclass is unique because Hunter’s Prey allows your target to pick a unique ability. This class blends high mobility with ranged damage and somespellcasting.

Patch 8 Changes to Hunter Ranger for BG3

Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3 brings a major shake-up to character builds with the addition of new subclasses. Each of the game’s 12 core classes now has a fresh option to explore. For Rangers, that new path is the Swarmkeeper. This subclass stands out thanks to its signature feature, Prey’s Scent, which significantly modifies the way Hunter’s Mark functions, offering enhanced tactical advantages. A particularly powerful combo involves using theResonance Stonefrom Act 2 alongside Moth Attacks, greatly amplifying your psychic damage potential. Beyond damage, Prey’s Scent also introduces improved mobility, giving you the freedom to reposition and adjust your approach as combat unfolds.

Beyond this entire new subclass, however, gameplay for the Hunter Ranger remains mostly the game. We do have a suggestion for an alternative build that multiclasses into Rogue and Fighter in the Level Progression section below.

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Hunter Ranger Class Features and Mechanics

The following list presents mechanics for Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Hunter Build:

Ranger Spell Mechanics

The Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Hunter Build allows you to excel in ranged combat, control the battlefield, and adapt to various situations. It offers a versatile and exciting playstyle that can be highly rewarding, particularly for players who enjoy strategic combat and wilderness exploration.

Character Creation for Ranger Hunter Build

Ranger Best Subclass – Hunter

The Best Subclass for the Ranger isHunter, focusing on high damage, mobility, and survivability. In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Ranger class offers various subclasses, each with its unique abilities and strengths. At level three, you can make your decision on which to pick. Here’s a brief description of the ranger’s subclasses and their strengths:

This Ranger Build will focus on range damage; thus the Hunter subclass makes a perfect selection.

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Hunter Subclass Features

The Hunter subclass features Prey Form, Defensive tactics, and two skills unlocked at level 11. Below are all the specific Hunter subclass features.

Recommended Backgrounds

The bestBackgroundfor a Hunter Ranger is Urchinbecause you gain Sleight of Hand andStealth proficiency, both Dexterity skills. In Baldur’s Gate 3, the choice of background can provide additional skills, proficiencies, and role-playing opportunities for your character. Below are additional background choices for the best Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Hunter Build:

Race Choice for Baldur’s Gate 3 Hunter Ranger Build

WoodHalf-Elfis the bestracechoice for the HunterRangerbecause you gain the highest movement, stealth proficiency,Fey Ancestry,and Darkvision.Wood Half-Elf gives you a well-balanced race that aids in movement and protection against crowd control effects.However, the second best racial choice isGithyankidue to increased movement abilities, skill proficiency, and free Misty Step spell at level 5.

The Ranger’s racial choice will not influence ability score, but everyone should get a +2 and +1 to spend regardless. This frees your race choice up to not completely hinder yourself based on ability score, but race features. Each of these races offers unique advantages that can enhance your combat prowess, survivability, or utility. Additionally, consider the roleplaying opportunities and character concepts that resonate with you.

Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Hunter Build

Recommended Skills for Ranger Hunter Build

Animal Handling,Perception,and Survivalare the best skills for the Hunter Ranger in Baldur’s Gate 3 because they complement your class abilities and enhance your effectiveness in various situations. In Baldur’s Gate 3, skills represent the abilities and proficiencies of your character that allow them to perform various actions and interact with the game world. Skills are associated with specific attributes and are used to determine the success or effectiveness of certain actions or abilities. Skills can be edited during character creation or with companions, during respec orreroll screen.

Here are the best skills for the Hunter Ranger in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Best Ranger Ability Scores

The bestability scorefor a Ranger Build in Baldur’s Gate 3 is an ability score is one that prioritizes Dexterity, Wisdom, and Constitution.

The best Ranger ability score is 16 Dexterity with 16 Constitution and 14 Wisdom. This ability score setup ensures you can do good damage, cast spells effectively, and have a high health pool. After you choose the class, subclass, race, and background, the game will automatically distribute your abilities in the character creation abilities tab. You will need to reprioritize the stats for the chart for the Best Ranger build. Simply use the plus-minus in the character creator and make sure you have the suggested race, or the numbers will be off.

Best Companions for Ranger Build

The best companion for a Hunter Ranger Build in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Lae’zeal because she’s a melee-focused damage dealer. She will engage enemies and take the pressure off your ranged-focused build, allowing you to free-cast spells and ranged attacks. Having a heavy focus on melee will keep you in the distance while applying pressure, snaring, and debuffing the opposition.

It’s important to note that party composition and synergy play a significant role in determining the effectiveness of your companions. Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each companion and how they align with your main character’s abilities and playstyle.

Illithid Powers for Ranger Hunter BG3

Illithid Powersare unlocked later in the game when you learn more about the Mind Flayers and Tadpoles. You can gain jars of Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens, and consume them to gain one point. If you decide to advance this skill line, these are the choices we suggest.

Here are the best Illithid Powers for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Hunter Build:

Ranger Spell Slots

Here’s a chart that shows the levels and spell slots the Ranger Unlocks:

Hunter Ranger Level Progression

Alternative Hunter Ranger Build

For our alternative Ranger build, we’ll skip the Beast Master subclass in favor of the more formidableGloom Stalker. We’ll also begin multiclassing earlier, picking up Rogue at Level 6 and adding Fighter by Level 10. This route enhances both your defense and survivability, while granting access to the valuable Action Surge ability. To cap things off, selecting the Champion subclass at Level 12 unlocks the Improved Critical Hit passive, which synergizes with other effects to reduce the die roll required for a critical hit.

At level one, not much happens with your class and you pick a subclass at level 3. You will have access to Find Familiar. Follow our character creator to pick all correct background, race, skills, and ability score distributions focusing on Dexterity and Wisdom.

Favoured Enemyis a unique class feature allowing you to choose a specific Favor. We suggestBounty Hunter: Gain Proficiency inInvestigationand learn the Thieves’ Cant passive. Creatures you Restrain have a harder time escaping.

Natural Exploreris a unique class feature that allows you to choose a specific benefit. We suggest Beast Tamer: you have cultivated a strong bond with animals. You can cast Find Familiar as a ritual. Find Familiar is a level 1 conjuration spell. Gain the service of a familiar, fey spirit that takes an animal form of your choice.

Find Familiar: you can select one of 6 animals to aid you. These don’t help much in combat but can access small holes and other areas you cannot explore. Cast outside of combat and bring to aid you – there’s no downside.

Hunter Ranger Gameplay & Priorities

As you start in BG3, the Ranger should equip a Heavy Crossbow, andMedium Armourand start the game focused on ranged damage. Lae’zel has both of these items, which you can take from her in the Prologue if you don’t intend to use her as a companion. Also, you must use ammunition (special arrows) and spell scrolls. Your class won’t have a lot of crowd control, but Ice Arrow, Sleep, Hold Person, etc. can be obtained through the use of ammunition and scrolls. Fill in the gaps of your build, especially early, with these consumable items.

Your overall priority with the Hunter Ranger build is the following:

Following these steps ensures a strong foundation for her especially if you plan on playingsoloor onHonour Modedifficulty.

At level two you get access to a Fighting Style and two spells. Below are our recommendations.

Archerygives you a +2 bonus to attack rolls you make with ranged weapons. This fits our ranged damage build perfectly. You will want to take Archery to get a +2 to-hit chance when using Bows and Crossbows.

Level two will give you two level 1 spell slots and two level 2 spell slots. Here are the two you should take:

Other spells at this point cost actions and bonus actions or concentration which we will use for Hunter’s Mark.

At level three you unlock a subclass, and we select Hunter. You will then need to pick one spell to add to your arsenal and a Hunter-specific focus.

Also Check:-BG3 Interactive Map

Hunter subclassis unlocked and should be taken for the Range Hunter build. The Hunter subclass will allow you to pick a subclass passive feature.

Prepared Spells: Find Familiar, Cure Wounds, Hunter’s Mark, Ensnaring Strike (Range)

At level four, you get to pick a “feat” or increase of ability score and you can replace a spell. The most damaged setup with range setup is a feat calledSharpshooter.

This essentially means less chance to hit, but a greater chance of damage. Spells like Bless will help augment the lower percentage, but expect massive damage!

Gameplay at this level remains starting from stealth, opening up as the attacker, using Hunter’s Mark and your main bow attack. you’re able to use Ensnaring Strike when needed a crowd control CC that is helpful.

At level five you get anExtra Attack, allowing you to strike twice, one additional level 1 spell slot, and another level 2 spell slot. We suggest picking up Spiked Growth.

Gameplay at this level becomes about applying Hunter’s Mark with your bonus action and then striking for two turns due to Extra Attack. You can also use various elemental arrows for stuns, damage overtimes, and more. Cast additional spells when you need to prevent a target from reaching you.

Multiclass Options

The Ranger and Hunter subclass combat performance fades beyond level 5. Almost all of your power comes from levels 1-5, with Extra Attack unlocked at 5, then diminishes substantially. If you’re playing on higher difficulty, consider multiclassing this build to Rogue or Fight. We have two versions,a simple multiclass Rangerand an ultra-high-performance version (complex)Ranger/Rogue for Honour Mode difficulty.

If combat performance isn’t your build focus, and you don’t mind losing out on some benefits, continue below with relatively the same gear options at the end game.

At level 6 you receive Favoured Enemy and Natural Explorer. These aren’t that important, and mainly add skill proficiency or a cantrip you are most likely not to use. One adds heavy armor, which won’t be an effective build combination but might look good for screenshots. You also get Natural Explorer which helps with resistance. The most lethal to you is cold because it can knock you prone giving a stun.

You can also replace a spell if you made a bad pick originally but should remain the same at this point.

Gameplay and spells remain the same at this level.

Prepared Spells: Find Familiar, Cure Wounds, Hunter’s Mark, Ensnaring Strike (Range), Spiked Growth.

Ending Act 1 with the Hunter Ranger

By about Level 6, you should be close to wrapping up Act 1 content. Be sure to check with vendors and stock up on camp and alchemy supplies. Additionally, verify you’ve collected thebest Act 1 items. There are alsopermanent bonusesyou don’t want to miss in Act 1. Lastly,Grymforgehas powerful armor and weapons (Adamantine) that can aid you well into Act 3. Consider taking the time to craft there before transitioning to Act 2, where you won’t be able to return.

Level 7 you will gain another level 2 spell slot. These spells aren’t that effective at this level. Pass Without Trace is good for stealth groups, Protection from Poison is helpful when poison is an issue and Silence can be a great crowd control spell but it requires concentration. Thus, we recommend going with Lesser Restoration.

You can pick a defensive tactic at this level as well.

Prepared Spells: Find Familiar, Cure Wounds, Hunter’s Mark, Ensnaring Strike (Range), Spiked Growth, Lesser Restoration.

At level 8 you will get to choose another feat and Land’s Stride.

The gameplay remains unchanged, use multi-attack, hunter’s mark and cast spells to crowd control targets.

From levels 9 to 12 the Hunter Ranger diminishes in performance. The only thing that would help is level 11 which gives two melee attacks. Those attacks (Volley and Whirlwind) aren’t going to do much for us in terms of performance with a range build. Moreover, you get one additional favoured enemy and natural explorer, which aren’t that impactful.

What the Fighter Multi-class will do is help with what we lack, crowd control, and additional actions. You will also get another feat at level 12 so there will be no difference there. We can use the Battle Mastersubclassand gain maneuver which will help us crowd control targets without the need for arrows.

If you wish to disregard this choice, the only remaining choices for the Ranger are at level 10, where you can choose another Favoured Enemy and Natural Explorer. Mage Breaker will allow you to wear heavy armor while Urban Tracker will help withSleight of Handproficiency. Both of which, I do not believe outweigh the raw power of four levels in Fighter. Your choice, but will deviate after hours of play testing this subclass (I love disarming attacks).

FighterLevel 1

If you multi-class, this level will feel uneventful, but trust me it’ll be worth it. Prepared Spells remain unchanged from here on out.

With two levels into Fighter, you get access to the awe-inspiring Action Surge. You get an extra action, but the biggest strength is, it doesn’t require any resources to use it. Action Surge is a once-per-fight usage, but it allows you to cast another spell, attack, dash, etc. It gives you that extra oomph that no other class has in the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Hunter Build.

At this level, you want to use Action Surge when you just have to get out another attack and not always the first turn.

At level 11, with 3 levels into Fighter, you get a subclass. Battle Master is a perfect fit for the build because it lets us select Battle Manoeuvre and gives us a new resource Superiority Dice. Each of these new attacks will consume one of 4 dice which recharge on short rest. You will get four, so for each fight you have a lot of options, and don’t be afraid to spend them if you need a crowd control ability or knockback. Below are the maneuvers you want to select:

Disarming Attack: Spend a superiority die to make an attack that deals an additional 1d8 damage and possibly forces the target to drop the weapons they are holding. This essentially shuts down completely weapon-based damage dealer if you drop their weapon. you’re able to use this at melee or range and is super effective against Barbarians, Fighters, and Longbow users. You can disarm and even pick up the weapon immediately following preventing the enemy from using it. This doesn’t work on casters, but amazing skill for the entirety of the game.

Trip Attack: Spend a superiority die to make an attack that deals an additional 1d8 damage and possibly knocks the target Prone. The target must be Large or smaller. This attack is used for a stun in melee or at range. Prone is a status effect and this can be used on casters or non-weapon-based enemies.

Pushing Attack: Spend a superiority die to deal damage type depending on the weapon used and possibly push the target back 4.5m. Usage: this is a simple knockback that can be used in melee or ranged. you’re able to get many kills from knocking enemies off ledges and this gives you more battlefield crowd control.

You’ve reached the maximum level in Baldur’s Gate 3. You will gain another level in the Fighter, which earns you a feat. You want to select +2 in Dexterity getting your main ability to 20. At this stage your Ranger will have a lot of utility both inside and outside of the battlefield so enjoy!

Best Gear for Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Build

In Games like Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll explore the world, loot chests and your enemies’ dead bodies, and complete quests and all those activities can reward you with useful items, potions, armour, weapons, scrolls, and much more. There are three Acts in BG3, and this guide includes suggested sets and alternatives for Act 1 and Act 3.

Beginner: Act 1

Here’s the best beginner gear for Ranger Hunter Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Below is the best Act 1 Armor, Weapons, and Equipment for Hunter Ranger in BG3:

Advanced: Acts 3

The following table presents the best advanced and end-game gear for Ranger Hunter Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:

Below is the best Act 3 Armor, Weapons, and Equipment for Hunter Ranger in BG3:

Best Consumables, Potions, Ammunition, and Items for Ranger Hunter BG3

The following list represents the best individual useconsumableitems that will aid in our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Hunter Build:

Ammunition

The best Ammunition for the Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Hunter Build is listed below:

Ranger Gameplay Tips and Tricks

Remember, this build guide serves as a foundation, and you can always adapt it to suit your preferences and the needs of your campaign. Enjoy playing as a formidable Hunter Ranger!

Hunter Ranger Changes in Patch 7 of BG3

The Hunter subclass and Ranger class received zero changes to combat and gameplay with the release of Patch 7 for Baldur’s Gate 3. Moreover, the overall focus of Patch 7 was adding mods and new endings with more honour mode boss actions.

Read More –Top 10 builds for Baldur’s Gate 3

Consequently, the game now features amodding toolkitand anin-game mod manager. This allows players to create and install mods directly within the game. This update is intended to hand over creative control to the community, enabling players to produce unique content and continue the story in new ways. This best Hunter Ranger Build Guide remains unchanged, mainly in Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 7.