Summary
The Ranger is an RPG class that lives in the wilderness and forms a deep kinship with animals.Baldur’s Gate 3includes the Ranger in its list of choices for building a daring adventurer, and as of Patch 8, there’s a new subclass that prefers the company of bees, jellyfish, or moths.
TheSwarmkeeperRanger is strong in terms of mobility, and the versatility of the class means that they have spellcasting abilities that can be used as support, healing, or DPS. A few careful choices when it comes to spell choices build on the strengths of this subclass and make the Swarmkeeper even more dangerous.
7Lightning Arrow
Transmutation Level 3
There are many great AoE abilities available to this class, andLightning Arrow is one of the best. For every spell slot the character uses above 3rd level, it deals an extra 1d8 of damage, and only by passing a Dexterity saving throw can the target reduce that damage to half.
Lightning Arrow doesn’t need a physical arrow or to be cast on a ranged weapon, and other classes can learn to cast it from a scroll, but only Rangers have it as part of their dedicated spell list. Another way to learn this spell is by equipping theHellfire Engine Crossbow, a crafted weapon that players can find in the Steel Watch Foundry.
6Fog Cloud
Conjuration Level 1
Fog Cloudis a defensive spell that doesn’t do any damage, but it is one of the best spells available when it comes to crowd control. It lasts for ten turns, provided that the Ranger can hold their Concentration, and enemies within have their attack rolls reduced and roll at a Disadvantage.
Meanwhile, any attack rolls against Blinded enemies are made at an Advantage, but they can’t be targeted if they’re Heavily Obscured. This is where the other AoE powers of the Ranger or party come in handy, with aspecial shout-out to Wizardsand Druids.
5Cure Wounds
Evocation Level 1
Rangers can replace Clerics or Druids at this point when it comes to healing, and although the Swarmkeeper isn’t a healing build, their spellbook has room for a few useful support spells.Cure Woundsis ideal for healers who also engage in melee combat because it’s cast at arm’s length.
Wizards and Warlocks are the only spellcasting classes that don’t have access tothis basic healing spell at level one, and for every additional spell slot used, another 1d8 is restored. Any class can learn this spell by taking the Magic Initiate Feat for Druids, Clerics, or Bards.
4Hail Of Thorns
Even when this spell misses the target, the explosions still do an impressive amount of AoE damage. Having the power to cast a spell likeHail of Thornsat level 2 feels overpowered, especially given the damage it does at this early point in the game.
The radius of the damage is 7 feet, and even if the targets have to pass a Dexterity saving throw, they still get half damage. For every spell slot the Ranger uses, an additional 1d10 of damage is added, which can take out some enemies in one shot early in the game.
3Conjure Barrage
Conjuration Level 3
Conjure Barrage isa level 9 spell, so players won’t be able to access it until later in the game, but it’s worth getting to complement the damage of the swarm for Rangers that engage in melee combat. The Ranger also has the option to use this spell at a ranged distance if their build is more about bows than blades.
A downside to this ability is that it damages anything that comes within its cone-shaped range, which includes friends as well as foes. It’s better if the Ranger is in front of the party when using this spell to keep any allies safe from its deadly strikes.
2Lesser Restoration
Abjuration Level 2
Players tend to underestimate the importance of certain spells dedicated to curing ailments and conditions, which is why it’s useful for any Ranger to be able to useLesser Restoration. This is another way a Ranger can replace the party healer or back them up, and any build can use a few defensive and healing spells.
Lesser Restoration can heal the Conditions of Diseased, Poisoned, Paralysis, Blinded, andBloodless for those romancing Astarion. It’s even possible to have access to this spell early in the game with theAmulet Of Silvanus, which is found under a rock on the beach near the sad bear in the Druid Grove.
1Daylight
Evocation Level 3
The usefulness ofDaylightdepends on the environment, and the setting of the game makes it indispensable. If the Ranger doesn’t have it, players should verify someone does, because in every Act of Baldur’s Gate 3, players are faced with the denizens of the Shadow-cursed Lands, the undead, and vampires.
When the party first enters the Shadow-cursed Lands, they need some kind of light and haven’t found a Moonlantern yet. Daylight can be used to enchant an area or an item, so players should cast this on a character’s helm or weapon, and the party will be able to proceed safely. It’s also handy when fighting Cazador, a vampire, and Baltazar’s minions don’t like it either.
