Character building is the key feature of any RPG, but it is useless without having a deep knowledge of the suitable weapon builds. While character classes play a huge role in defining your builds in Baldur’s Gate 3, weapons are just as important. If you prefer ranged damage with crossbows, then this BG3 dual wield Crossbow build for the Ranger class is perfect for you.
Is Dual Wield Crossbow any good in BG3?
Crossbows can deal a lot of damage to enemies. When you dual hand the crossbows, unlike other dual hand weapons, their damage is not reduced. Both crossbows in your hands output the maximum amount of damage. There is no drawback to choosing a dual wield crossbow over a single-hand crossbow one. We strongly recommend that you follow our guide and equip your character with crossbows in both hands.
Starting Abilities and Skills for Dual Wield Crossbow
| Class | Ranger | The Crossbows can be considered the king of ranged attacks. This makes the Ranger class most suitable to fit with the weapon when it comes to our dual crossbow build in BG3. Rangers have the highest chance for exact target hits along with the critical single target damage. |
| Sub-Class | Gloom Stalker | Selecting the Gloom Stalker subclass works like a cherry on top by providing better eyesight in the dark, along with swift movement and avoiding enemy sightlines. |
| Race | Drow or Half-Elf | Picking up the Drow or Half-Elf race enhances the movement speed and further strengthens the ability to see in the dark. |
| Ability Points Distribution | 15+2 DEX, 14+1 WIS, 13 CON, 12 STR, 8 INT, 10 CHA | – |
| Skills | Animal Handling, Athletics, Investigation, Perception, Stealth, Survivor |
Best Background for dual wield crossbow
Well, after choosing the Class and Sub-Class for the build, the next important thing to be selected is the background. Our recommendation for the best background for a dual-wield Crossbow build in BG3 is the Outlander.
The Outlander has proficiencies in Survival and Athletics, which you learned while growing up in the wilds away from civilization. It helps our aim of building a dark, dominant character. Growing up in backward and wild areas also improves the sense of detecting unusual hazards.
Best Feats for dual wield crossbow
After progressing through four levels for the dual-wield crossbow build in BG3, you can pick a Feat from the list for your character each time. Picking up the right ones aids your character build, embarking on the journey of getting undefeatable. Following are our best feat recommendations for the BG3 dual-wield Crossbow build.
| Level | Feat | Description |
| 4 | Alert | This level 4 feat adds +5 to the Initiative along with the immunity against getting surprised. |
| 8 | Crossbow Expert | This feat unlocks at level 8. It possesses the Point Blank and Wounding Crossbow Expert Features allowing it to deal long gaping wounds along with negation of the attack rolls disadvantages in the melee range combat. |
| 12 | Dungeon Delver | This feat unlocks at level 8. It possesses the Point Blank and Wounding Crossbow Expert Features, allowing it to deal long gaping wounds along with negation of the attack rolls disadvantages in the melee range combat. |
Best Class Features for Dual Wield Crossbow
Ranger class gains a Favored Enemy type and Natural Explorer Environments as their class feature upon leveling up for our BG3 Dual Wield Crossbow build. There are some useful spells for this build, but they are unlocked automatically with the Gloom Stalker sub-class, so the progression is explained in the progression section below.
Level 1: Unlock Bounty Hunter and Beast Tamer.
Level 6: Ranger Knight and Wasteland Wanderer: Cold. This grants you resistance to Cold damage, and you automatically gain proficiency in Heavy Armor without spending a Feat point on it.
Level 10: Mage Breaker and Urban Tracker. You gain Sleight of Hand and Arcana proficiency while unlocking the True Strike cantrip.
Best Armor and Weapons
Helm: Shadow of Menzoberranzan. This is a rare helmet with the Light Armor Proficiency. It can be obtained during the Protecting the Myconid Circle quest.
Armor: Drow Studded Leather Armor. Having the Light Armor Proficiency, this armor helps the wearer gain +1 Stealth.
Hands: Gloves of Archery. It helps gain an additional +2 damage for the ranged weapons.
Boots: Disintegrating Night Walkers from True Soul Nere. The boots are immune to Enwebb, Entangle, or Ensnare. Along with it, they also protect the character on the slippery or greasy surface from slipping down.
Amulet: Amulet of Selune’s Chosen. This amulet allows the character to force an enemy to sleep after touching it. However, it also let them regain 1d8-1 hit points as well.
Rings: Emerald Ring and Caustic Band.
Weapon: Hellfire Hand Crossbow and Firestoker. You can dual wield both these crossbows in BG3. Hellfire Hand Crossbow has a chance to Burn enemies, and if they get burnt, Firestoker can deal additional damage to them.
Dual Wield Crossbow build level progression in BG3
| Level | Unlocks | Description |
| 1 | Bounty Hunter, Beast Tamer | Creatures restrained by you have a difficult time escaping. You also get proficient in Investigation. |
| 2 | Level 1 Spell slots, Archery, Hunter’s Mark, Cure Wounds | The extra attack allows you to deal with an additional attack with your off-hand weapon (dual hand). You can move between places as a mist with Misty step, avoiding all damage while Spike Growth summons dangerous spikes on a terrain. |
| 3 | Level 1 spell slot, Ranger subclass, Dread ambusher spell, Darkvision spell, umbral sound spell | You get heavy armor proficiency with Ranger Knight and massive resistance against cold with Wasteland Wanderer Cold. |
| 4 | First feat unlocks | – |
| 5 | Level 1 Spell slot, Level 2 Spell slots, Extra Attack class feature, Misty Step spell, Spike Growth spell | You gain Sleight of Hand and Arcana proficiency while unlocking True Strike cantrip with these Favored Enemy and Natural Explorer environments. |
| 6 | Ranger Knight, Wasteland Wanderer Cold class features | This spell cures any creature from poison, disease, and paralysis. |
| 7 | Level 2 Spell slot, Lesser Restoration spell | Get an additional free strike on your enemy in case of a missed melee attack. |
| 8 | Second Feat unlocks | – |
| 9 | Level 3 Spell slots, Fear spell, Stoneskin spell, Lightning Arrow spell | You can terrify enemies with astral projection and turn any creature’s skin into stone, reducing all non-magical damage by half. |
| 10 | Mage Breaker, Urban Tracker | You gain Sleight of Hand and Arcana proficiency while also unlocking True Strike cantrip with these Favored Enemy and Natural Explorer environments. |
| 11 | Level 3 Spell slot, Stalker’s Fury class feature | Get an additional free strike on your enemy in case of a miss melee attack. |
| 12 | Final Feat unlocks | – |
