The Ranger’s Beast Master build is a crossover of the Rogue class with the Druid class which has a deep bond with animals in Baldur’s Gate 3. Playing this build can be a bit hard as the game revolves around relying on your trusty furry friends to do all the work. But once you understand the mechanics, this build can be deadly.
As a ranger, you will likely take on the ranged role in the party. Your fellow beasts, therefore, will attack the enemy up close while you engage them from a distance. These beasts are also helpful in lending an extra hand in battle when the enemy outnumbers you.
Starting Abilities and Skills for Ranger Beast Master in Baldur’s Gate 3
Before you get to pick the Beast Master subclass for your build in Baldur’s Gate 3, you need to first make the right choices in character creation. You will need to sort out your background and race before indulging in any other activities.
| Class | Ranger | – |
| Sub-Class | Beast Master | – |
| Race | Drow | The Drow Race is arguably the best choice for any ranger based on stealth. Drows have Superior Darkvision, enabling them to see as far as 24m in-game, and many other proficiency bonuses, including the Drow Weapon Training. |
| Ability Points Distribution | STR 12, DEX 17, CON 13, INT 8, WIS 15, CHA 10 | Dexterity is the main ability modifier for the Ranger class. |
| Skills | Acrobat, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Animal Handling | – |
Background
The background helps with roleplay and provides small bonuses to different skills and attributes. This will serve as the basis of your build. We recommend the following backgrounds for the Beast Master Ranger:
- Folk Hero: Folk Hero is the best background you can choose for the Beast Master Ranger. Folk Hero will provide you with proficiencies in Animal Handling and Survival.
- Criminal: Criminal is the second-best choice we can recommend, as this background will give you the proficiencies in Deception and Stealth necessary for Rangers.
Best Feats for Beast Master Build In Baldur’s Gate 3
Feats are necessary for your beast master build in Baldur’s Gate 3. Feats are first unlocked at Level 4 and then again at Levels 8 and 12. You have the free will to choose either Ability Improvement or a Feat to accompany your build.
| Level | Feat | Description |
| 4 | Ability Improvement | Invest one point in Dexterity and Constitution abilities each. |
| 8 | Ability Improvement | Invest both points in Dexterity to max it out at 20. |
| 12 | Sharpshooter | Allows you to nullify low ground penalty when targeting an enemy on high ground. You deal 10 additional damage to enemies with your ranged weapons but get a –5 penalty on attack rolls. |
Best Spells for the Ranger Beast Master
The Beast Master doesn’t have access to various spells in the spellbook. However, this subclass can amaze you with what it can do, provided with so little.
| Level | Spells | Description |
| 1 | Hunter’s Mark | Allows you to mark an enemy and deal 1-6 damage to it. |
| 3 | Lightning Arrow. Protection from Energy. Plant Growth | Lightning Arrow deals 6-48 lightning damage to enemies and 2-16 damage to surrounding enemies. Protection from Energy grants creature resistance against Fire, Cold, Acid, Lightning, and Thunder attacks. Plant Growth summons weed on the terrain that quarters the movement speed of creatures moving through it. |
Best Armor and Weapons
The Ranger Class in Baldur’s Gate 3 has proficiencies with most of the armory in the game. However, they are only allowed Light and medium armor as heavy armor will affect their Dexterity badly. This also makes it awkward for them to sneak around.
For the weapon choice, we have decided to give this build a bit of melee action along with some ranged action as well;
Helm: Helmet of Grit. Once your HP falls below 50%, you get additional bonus action and a +1 advantage on your DEX saving throws.
Chest Armor: Adamantine Scale Mail. This 16 AC very rare medium armor reduces all incoming damage by 1. You become immune to critical hits, and the melee attacker is sent back, reeling for the next 2 turns.
Gloves: Gloves of Power. You get a +1 bonus on sleight of Hand. The enemy that gets hit receives a -1d4 penalty on their attack rolls and all saving throws.
Boots: Boots of Speed. You get Click Heels class action, which increases your movement speed by 2x.
Necklace: Amulet of Unworthy. You get resistance against slashing damage but become vulnerable to bludgeoning damage.
Ring 1: Ring of Combat Regeneration. You heal by 1-4HP at the start of every turn.
Ring 2: Ring of Absolute Force. Wearing the Absolute’s mark allows you to deal 1 additional damage with thunder attacks.
Main-Hand Weapon: Sorrow. This two-handed glaive deals 2-11 slashing damage. It allows you to cast Sorrowful Lash to pull the enemies 3m closer to you while dealing 1-4 + Int modifier damage.
Ranged Weapon: Darkfire Shortbow. This ranged weapon deals 3-8 piercing damage to enemies. It grants the wielder resistance against fire and cold damage. You also get the Haste spell to gain bonus action or enhance your speed.
Ranger Beast Master Build Level Progression in Baldur’s Gate 3
| Level | Unlocks | Description |
| 1 | Race, Background, and Ability Points Distribution. Find Familiar spell. | Choose from the recommendations above. Find Familiar allows you to summon a fey that takes the form of an animal of your choosing. |
| 2 | Fighting styles. | Archery to gain a +2 bonus on your attack rolls with ranged weapons. |
| 3 | Sub-class selection. | Beast Master to select your animal companions. |
| 4 | The first Feat unlocks. | Ability Improvement to increase both Dexterity and Constitution. |
| 5 | Extra Strike class feature. | Allows you to do a second attack for free on each turn. |
| 6 | Natural explorer and Favored Enemy selection. | Choose Beast Tamer and Bounty Hunter. |
| 7 | The level 2 spell slot unlocks. | Choose Pass without Trace and Protection from Poison spells. |
| 8 | The second Feat unlocks. | Ability Improvement to max your Dexterity ability. |
| 9 | No important unlocks. | – |
| 10 | Natural Explorer and Favored Enemy selection. | Wasteland Wanderer: Cold for Natural Explorer and Ranger Knight for Favored Enemy. |
| 11 | Bestial fury sub-class action. | Allows your beast companion to deal two attacks per turn. |
| 12 | The final Feat unlocks. | Sharpshooter feat to avoid low ground penalty. |
Is Ranger Beast Master any good in BG3?
Ranger Beast Master relies on their beast summons and ranged combat to take down enemies with ease. This build is curated for high-damage output and spells that are easy to use. Its main strength lies in its summons, whether it be a fey or an animal.
However, this build is poor in melee combat. They have low health and require a specialized healer to support the team as compared to the Gloomstalker Ranger.
