Discover the best Ranger Armour in Baldur’s Gate 3, equipping your class with the top 10 early and end-game choices.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, Rangers are powerful combatants with capabilities to fight in melee and ranged. This versatile class thrives at ranged combat with light and medium armour proficiency unlocked. Moreover, the Ranger can learn heavy armour proficiency with the Ranger Knight Favoured Enemey passives. Thus, allowing the class to have a wide range of armour and weapon options to fully customize their build. In this guide, we discuss and explain how to use the best Armour for the Ranger class in BG3.
Best Armour for Ranger Class in Baldur’s Gate 3
The best armors for the Ranger class in Baldur’s Gate 3 are the Armour of Agility, Helldusk Armour, and Unwanted Masterwork Scalemail. The Armour of Agility allows for full use of your Dexterity Modifier, drastically increasing your Armour Class in addition to having +2 Saving Throws. The Helldusk Heavy Armour gives a variety of benefits including 21 AC and Fire Resistance and comes in heavy armour with automatic proficiency. Lastly, the Unwanted Masterwork Scalemail is a relatively cheap medium armor that gives 16 AC, plus fire resistance and can be purchased directly early in Act 3. Overall, we recommend the Armour of Agility as the best Ranger Armour in BG3 due to its high AC, Saving Throw Bonus, and ease of access.
Best Armour for the Ranger Class in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3):
- Armour of Agility: Best overall offensive and defensive
- Helldusk Armour: Heavy armor any class can wear
- Unwanted Masterwork Scalemail: Second-best medium armor
- Bhaalist Armour: Powerful light armor for melee builds
- Dark Justiciar Half-Plate: Best Act 2 medium armor
- Yuan-Ti Scale Mail: Adds all Dexterity to AC
- Adamantine Scale Mail: best Act 1 medium armor
- Hide Armour +2: helps initiative and dexterity rolls
- The Jolty Vest: Uses Lighting Charges
- Githyanki Half Plate: Best starter armor
Related:
10 Githyanki Half Plate
Githyanki Half Plate features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Armour Type: Medium
- Armour Class: 15
- Proficiency Requirement: Medium Armour Proficiency
- Rarity: Common
- Weight: 12 kg / 24 lb
- Value: 180 gp
- Where to Find: From Lae’zel or Githyanki on Risen Road.
- Special Bonus: None
The quickest way to boost your Ranger Build Armour Class (AC) is through Githyanki Half Plate armour. During the Prologue, you meet Lae’zel who comes with this powerful 15 AC Medium armor. Upon completion, you can take this armour from her and equip it immediately. Combined with high Dexterity, this armour will provide 17 AC immediately which will be more than early heavy armour builds.
Additionally, you can then equip one hand and shield with your Ranger if you intend on using Longbows or Heavy crossbows. That will give you an additional +2 AC, boosting your overall to 19 within a few minutes of playing BG3. This combination is one of the fastest, and simplest ways to boost your survivability for those interested in playing solo or on Honour Mode. If you want to use Lae’zel, you can find additional GIthyanki armour on the Risen Road in Act 1.
9 The Jolty Vest
The Jolty Vest features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Armour Type: Medium
- Armour Class: 14
- Proficiency Requirement: Medium Armour Proficiency
- Rarity: Rare
- Weight: 9 kg / 18 lb
- Value: 510 gp
- Where to Find: Sold by Brem in the Zhentarim Hideout after completing Find the Missing Shipment.
- Special Bonus: Superior Material, Countershock
Early in Act 1, you can acquire a formidable medium armour from Brem in Zhentarim Hideout called The Jolty Vest. This medium armour benefit is Lighting Charges, which can be paired with the Joltshooter for a powerful combination. The Joltshooter Longbow triggers 2 Lighting Charges when the wielder does damage, and the Jolty Vest provides a defensive counter to attackers. While not the best armour in BG3, it can help if you combine the Lighting Charge Longbow and Medium armour to gain additional protection when attacked.
8 Hide Armour +2
Hide Armour +2 features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Armor Type: Medium
- Armour Class: 14
- Proficiency Requirement: Medium Armour Proficiency
- Rarity: Rare
- Weight: 5.4 kg / 12 lb
- Value: 310 gp
- Where to Find: Grat the Trader in the Goblin Camp
- Special Bonus: Balanced, Ambusher
The best medium armour to purchase in Act 1 is Hide Armour +2, sold by Grat the Trader in the Golbin Camp. What makes this armour powerful is an additional +1 to initiative rolls. Initiative determines the combat order, and as a Ranger, you want to go first to incapacitate or outright kill enemies. The Gloom Stalker Ranger is built to go first with high initiative, and this armour can ensure you are likely to go first.
The only disadvantage of this armour is that it has one less AC than Lae’zel Githyanki Half Plate. However, Hide Armour +2 has the Balance special feature as well. This gives a +1 bonus to Dexterity Saving Throws and checks, in combination with the Ambusher special features outweighs the benefit of +1 AC. Moreover, you can then use Lae’zel armour or pass it to another character like Shadowheart who can wear medium armour and could benefit from higher AC at the start of Baldur’s Gate 3.
7 Adamantine Scale Mail
Adamantine Scale Mail features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Armour Type: Medium
- Armour Class: 16
- Proficiency Requirement: Medium Armour Proficiency
- Rarity: Very Rare
- Weight: 12 kg / 26 lb
- Value: 1300 gp
- Where to Find: Crafted at the Adamantine Forge.
- Special Bonus: Magical Plate, Adamantine Backlash
The best Ranger Armour in Act 1 is the Adamantine Scale Mail which can be found in the Grymforge, via the Adamantine Forge. Crafted with Mithral, this armor provides 16 AC and two special features. With Magical Plate, you will reduce damage by 1, and attackers cannot land critical hits on the wearer. This prevents incoming burst damage and aids in survivability. Additionally, the Adamantine Backlash imposes a debuff of Reeling on incoming attackers for 2 turns.
The only downside of this armor is it requires an annoying boss fight to unlock the Adamantine Forge, and Disadvantage on Stealth Checks. However, it’s worth the time to unlock and craft this armour as you can use it until Act 3 or pass it to another party member. Also consider crafting the Adamantine Shield as well, and using that with one hand and shield for even further protection.
6 Yuan-Ti Scale Mail
Yuan-Ti Scale Mail features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Armor Type: Medium
- Armour Class: 15
- Proficiency Requirement: Medium Armour Proficiency
- Rarity: Rare
- Weight: 12 kg / 24 lb
- Value: 640 gp / 960 gp
- Where to Find: Sold by Quartermaster Talli in Last Light Inn in Act 2.
- Special Bonus: Exotic Material, Ambusher
Early in Act 2, consider purchasing Yuan-Ti Scale Mail Armour from Talli in the Last Light Inn for your Ranger. Unlike Adamantine Scale Mail, Yuan-ti Scale Mail doesn’t impose a Disadvantage on Stealth or Ability checks. This is helpful when using the multiclass Ranger/Rogue build combination. Additionally, this armour provides a +1 bonus to initiative rolls, helping you go sooner in the attack order.
Lastly, the Yuan-ti Scale Mail Exotic Material special feature allows you to use your full Dexterity Modifier when calculating Armour Class. Most medium armour in BG3 only allows for +2, however, this is the first introduction of “uncapped” Dexterity and AC. This means, with 16 Dexterity, you will gain a +3 AC, for a total of 18. This will provide the same amount of AC as the Adamantine Scale Mail in Act 1, without the need for an annoying boss fight or disadvantage on stealth checks. That’s why, you should consider Yuan-Ti Sclae Maile one of the best Ranger Armour in Baldur’s Gate 3.
5 Dark Justiciar Half-Plate
Dark Justiciar Half-Plate features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Armor Type: Medium
- Armour Class:
- Proficiency Requirement: Medium Armour Proficiency
- Rarity: 17
- Weight: 12 kg / 24 lb
- Value: 2900 gp
- Where to Find: Rewarded for killing the Nightsong in Shadowfell during Act 2.
- Special Bonus: Shar’s Umbrae, Shar’s Protection, Shar’s Aegis spell
During Act 2, your character will have to make a critical decision with Shadowheart in her side quest. Do you liberate or destroy the Nightsong? The reward for destroying Nightsong is the ultra-powerful medium armour Dark Justiciar Half-Plate. This Ranger armor comes in two forms, Rare, and Very Rare. The one we highlight here is the more powerful version requiring Nightsong’s death.
This armour gives 17 AC and +2 for Dexterity, likely boosting you to 19 AC overall. Moreover, it provides a free Shield of Faith spell, which gives you or another party member 2 AC. But the added effect of Shar’s Aegis (shield of faith essentially) is that it reduces and reflects damage at attackers! And if that weren’t enough, you gain an Advantage on Constitution saving throws and checks. However, Nightsong remains one of the most popular characters in BG3, and the sacrifice might not be worth seeing this character throughout the rest of the game so choose wisely.
4 Bhaalist Armour
Bhaalist Armour features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Armor Type: Light
- Armour Class: 14
- Proficiency Requirement: Medium Armour Proficiency
- Rarity: Very Rare
- Weight: 5.85 kg / 12.8 lb
- Value: 2000 gp / 2700 gp
- Where to Find: Become an Unholy Assassin in the Temple of Bhaal, then sold by Echo of Abazigal in the Murder Tribunal.
- Special Bonus: Aura of Murder, Ambusher
The best overall melee damage armour in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Bhaalist Armour, found in Act 3 by Bhaal’s Unholy Assassin. The Aura of Murder special features make any enemy within 2 meters vulnerable to piercing damage. Vulnerability is a condition that doubles damage from that type! Piercing damage is common in Daggers and Shortsword and is typically a dual-wielding playstyle.
The downside of this armour is it requires you to play in melee, with a specific loadout and build for the Ranger. Moreover, it comes in Light Armour and only 14 AC. So, you can expect less survivability at the benefit of incredible melee damage. While not every Ranger will vie for a melee build, if you do, this is the most damage-producing armour in Baldur’s Gate 3.
3 Unwanted Masterwork Scalemail
Unwanted Masterwork Scalemail features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Armour Type: Medium
- Armour Class: 16
- Proficiency Requirement: Medium Armour Proficiency
- Rarity: Rare
- Weight: 12 kg / 24 lb
- Value: 640 gp
- Where to Find: Sold by Dammon at Forge of the Nine during Act 3.
- Special Bonus: Exotic Material, Resistance to Fire
Early in Act 3, consider purchasing the Unwatned Mastework Scalemail medium armour for your Ranger. For a relatively cheap price, this armour provides 16 AC and an uncapped Dexterity Modifier via Exotic Material. Moreover, the armour doesn’t impose a disadvantage on stealth ability checks, so it’s similar to the Yuan-Ti Scalemail from Act 2. However, the Unwanted Master Work Scalemail armour comes with Fire Resistance. Resistances in BG3 essentially halve the damage taken from that element. Fire resistance is particularly useful in Act 3 with many fights including fire element heavy bosses.
Overall, Unwanted Masterwork Scalemail is one of the strongest for the Ranger due to its cost, ease of access, and good AC rating.
Related:
2 Helldusk Armour
Helldusk Armour features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Armor Type: Heavy
- Armour Class: 21
- Proficiency Requirement: None
- Rarity: Legendary
- Weight: 20 kg / 40 lb
- Value: 8000 gp
- Where to Find: Looted from Raphael in Act 3 in the House of Hope.
- Special Bonus: Helldusk Armour, Infernal Retribution, Prime Aegis of Fire, Fly spell
The best heavy armour for the Ranger class is the Helldusk Armour, found in the House of Hope by defeating Raphael. Helldusk automatically grants proficiency for equipping it, a free fly spell, damage reduction, and more. The strength of the item is, that the Prime Aegist of Fire grants resistance to fire, cannot be burned, and you reduce all damage by 3! Moreover, when you succeed in saving throw, you cause the caster to burn for 3 turns. Giving the Helldusk Armour an all-around defensive feel for your Ranger.
Well then, what’s the downside? The downside of Helldusk Armour is it comes later in Act 3 and requires you to beat Raphael. He is considered to be one of the hardest bosses in Baldur’s Gate 3. Moreover, your Ranger class should have incredible survivability already. Most likely, other classes like the Cleric, or Paladin will want to wear this heavy armour when fighting on the front lines. It’s hard not ranking Helldusk Armour the best overall for every class, but because it comes late in Act 3, and there are easier-to-obtain options that retain high survivability, we rank it second.
1 Armour of Agility
Armour of Agility features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Armor Type: Medium
- Armour Class: 17
- Proficiency Requirement: Medium Armour Proficiency
- Rarity: Very Rare
- Weight: 12 kg / 24 lb
- Value: 2900 gp
- Where to Find: Sold by Gloomy Fentonson at Stormshore Armoury during Act 3.
- Special Bonus: Exotic Material, Saving Throws +2
Overall, the best medium armour for the Ranger class is the Armour of Agility sold in Stormshore Armoury during Act 3. What makes this armour helpful to the ranger is 17 AC, and Exotic Material gives you more AC the higher your Dexterity goes. With 20 Dexterity, you will gain a +5 modifier, allowing this armour to provide 22 AC, one higher than Helldusk Armour! Additionally, Armour of Agility provides +2 Saving Throws and does not impose a disadvantage on stealth checks.
What’s nice about Armour of Agility is the ease of access. No difficult boss fights, or mind-numbing hard puzzles, just enter Act 3, move to Stormshore Armoury and purchase. This is likely a massive upgrade from Act 2 armour, allowing your party to make use of Helldusk Armour on a melee fighter. Consider Armour of Agility the all-around simplest, and easiest way to increase your Rangers survivability without sacrificing any of its offensive power.
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