Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Weapons for Ranger Class

Discover the best Ranger weapons in Baldur’s Gate 3, equipping your class with the top ten early and end-game choices.

Baldur's Gate 3 Ranger Critical — Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranger Critical

The Ranger class in BG3 is a versatile class that can excel in combat. Rangers are proficient in martial and simple weapons, including bows, crossbows, long swords, and short swords. They are also proficient in light and medium armor, and they can cast a variety of spells, including healing spells, buffing spells, and damage spells. Rangers emphasize ranged damage with Longbows but can use melee weapons as well. This Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Weapons for Ranger Class guide and ranking explains and lists the best weapons in BG3 for the Ranger Class and how to utilize them.

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What is the Best Weapon for Ranger Class in Baldur’s Gate 3

Gontr Mael is the best Ranger Class weapon in Baldur’s Gate 3 because it inflicts extra damage with Guiding Bolt, grants Celestial Haste spell, and can deal additional range damage. The Gontr Mael Longbow’s Celestial Haste is an improved version of the level 3 Transmutation Spell Haste which gives 5 turns of an extra action without becoming Lethargic. Combine the added Radiant damage and free Haste spell, every Ranger should use the Gontr Mael.

Without a doubt, the top three weapon choices for Ranger are Gontr Mael, Bloodthirst, and The Dead Shot. Here are the best weapons for the Ranger Class in BG3 from best to worst list:

Spellthief

Spellthief features in BG3:

Damage: 1d8 Piercing damage
Type: Longbow
Requirements: Martial Weapon Proficiency
Rarity: Uncommon
Location: This weapon can be bought from Arron in Druid Grove.

The Spellthief Longbow is an uncommon martial ranged weapon used in both hands. You can purchase the Spellthief in Act 1 from Arron in Druid Grove. What makes this bow useful is the Arcane Vehemence special perk. Once per Short Rest, you regain a Level 1 spell slot when you land a Critical hit with the Spellthief.

This is useful in the early stages of your Ranger build because of limited spell slots. Typically, your Ranger will use Hunter’s Mark and drain your spell slots which limits your versatility. Spellthief is a priority for early Ranger weapons to keep your spell slots full and your utility high.

Harold

Harold features in BG3:

Damage: 1d10 + 1 Piercing damage
Type: Heavy Crossbows
Requirements: Martial Weapon Proficiency
Rarity: Rare
Location: Zarys Zhentarim Hideout Find the Missing Shipment quest.

The Harold Heavy Crossbow is a rare martial ranged weapon used in both hands. This heavy crossbow can be found in Act 1 of the Missing Shipment quest. The damage is significantly higher than early Longbows, doing 1d10 + 1 Piercing damage.

The Haroldish Doom special perk forces the enemy to perform a Charisma DC 13 save or be Baned for two turns. Bane debuffs a target by a -1d4 penalty to attack rolls and saving throws. This weapon is a powerful way to do damage and passively debuff a target in Act 1 and should be a priority to upgrade your damage early.

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Titanstring Bow

Titanstring features in BG3:

Damage: 1d8 +2 Piercing damage
Type: Longbow
Requirements: Martial Weapon Proficiency
Rarity: Rare
Location: Brem in the Zhentarim Hideout after completing Find the Missing Shipment, Act 1

The Titanstring Longbow is a rare martial ranged weapon used in both hands. This weapon’s unique feature sets it apart, adding your Strength modifier to your damage output. Rangers typically prioritize Dexterity, but you can temporarily boost your Strength to 21 using consumables like the Elixir of Hill Giant Strength, which lasts until a Long Rest.

Baldur's Gate 3 Elixir of Hill Giant Strength tooltip

This boost to Strength will provide a +5 to damage and some builds respect their ability score to take advantage of this weapon. Consider the Titanstring Bow a powerful Longbow to increase damage passively based on your Strength.

Knife of the Undermountain King

Knife of the Undermountain King features in BG3:

Damage: 1d6 + 2 Piercing damage
Type: Shortsword
Requirements: Martial Weapon Proficiency
Rarity: Very Rare
Location: Sold by A’jak’nir Jeera in Crèche Y’llek, Act 2.

The Knife of the Undermountain King is a very rare martial melee one-hand Shortsword. Regardless of whether you play range or melee, this weapon enhances your chances of landing critical hits by reducing the required roll from 20 to 19. Additionally, when you roll a 2 or lower, you gain the ability to reroll the dice, taking the highest result.

This reduction in critical dice roll can stack with other reductions lowering it even further. The Dead Shot bow is another weapon with the Improved Critical perk further reducing your critical roll by 1. You want to prioritize and pick up this weapon in your main hand to lower the critical roll regardless of your build type.

Hellfire Engine Crossbow

Hellfire Engine Crossbow features in BG3:

Damage: 1d10 + 2 Piercing damage
Type: Heavy Crossbow
Requirements: Martial Weapon Proficiency
Rarity: Very Rare
Location: Crafted in the Security Office of Steel Watch Foundry Act 3.

The Hellfire Engine is a very rare martial ranged Heavy Crossbow. The base damage of 1d10 + 2 piercing damage is high with the ability to cast Lighting Arrow. Once per long rest, Lighting Arrow fires an arrow of electricity that bursts on impact, dealing 4d8 lighting damage to creatures in the vicinity.

This spell is only accessible from Level 9 Rangers. However, if you Multiclass your build at level 8, you can still take advantage of a powerful lighting-based damage spell.

Infernal Rapier

Infernal Rapier features in BG3:

Damage: 1d8 + 2 Piercing Damage
Type: Rapier
Requirements: Martial Weapon Proficiency
Rarity: Very Rare
Location: Potential reward During Wyll’s quest from Mizora, The Blade of Frontiers, Act 2.

The Infernal Rapier is a very rare melee Rapier one-handed weapon. This rapier possesses a unique feature that allows you to cast a level 6 Conjuration spell Planar Ally Cambion. This weapon is worth picking up and used even on a melee build to get an extra summon in combat.

One of the downsides of the Infernal Rapier is its reliance on Act 2 Wyll’s quest decision. Once you complete Act 2, if you complete Wyll’s quest correctly, you can equip this in your main hand and use a bow just for an extra summoning spell.

Crimson Mischief

Crimson Mischief features in BG3:

Damage: 1d6 + 2 Piercing Damage, 1d4 Necrotic damage
Type: Shortsword
Requirements: Martial Weapon Proficiency
Rarity: Legendary
Location: Dropped by Orin during Get Orin’s Netherstone in Chapter Three, Act 3

The Crimson Mischief is a legendary versatile Shortsword. This versatile weapon can be effectively wielded in either the main hand or off-hand, making it exceptionally adaptable. As a Shortsword, it allows Rangers to dual-wield two powerful weapons, unlocking incredible damage and bonuses in close combat situations.

Crimson Mischief grants additional damage when attacking with Advantage and against targets with lower than 50% health. While this weapon is designed around the Advantage mechanic from the Rogue class, it can be combined with a Ranger Rogue multiclass build for one of the best Ranger weapons in BG3.

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The Dead Shot

The Dead Shot features in BG3:

Damage: 1d8 + 4 Piercing damage
Type: Longbow
Requirements: Martial Weapon Proficiency
Rarity: Very Rare
Location: Sold by Fytz the Firecracker at the Stormshore Armoury in Lower City, Act 3

The Act 3 Longbow weapon The Dead Shot is a potent weapon. The Longbow has improved Critical and Keen Attack special features. With an increased chance to critically hit, and a double proficiency bonus when attacking from a Ranger, this is one of the best weapons for the Ranger in Baldur’s Gate 3.

It offers a significant advantage by reducing the chance you need to roll a critical hit by 1. For an added benefit, you can pair The Dead Shot with the Knife of the Undermountain King, which further lowers the critical hit chance as the effects of these items stack.

Another strength of this bow is that you can purchase it in Act 3 via Stormshore Armoury in the Lower City. While not the best overall weapon, it makes an easy early Act 3 pickup that can carry you until the end of the game.

Bloodthirst

Bloodthirst features in BG3:

Damage: 1d4 + 2 Piercing damage
Type: Dagger
Requirements: Simple Weapon Proficiency
Rarity: Legendary
Location: Defeat Orin during Get Orin’s Netherstone.

The legendary dagger Bloodthirst is wielded by Orin. This weapon comes late in Act 3 by defeating Orin but also has the Improved Critical special perk. That means you can stack a Shortsword in the main hand (Knife of the Undermountain King), a Longbow in your ranged weapon (The Dead Shot), and Bloodthirst for additional critical reduction.

The Dagger also allows for True Strike riposte, casting this spell if a melee attack misses you. Even if you’re using a Longbow or a ranged weapon, consider Bloodthirst one of the best Ranger weapons in BG3.

Gontr Mael

Gontr Mael features in BG3:

Damage: 1d8 + 3 Piercing damage
Type: Longbows
Requirements: Martial Weapon Proficiency
Rarity: Legendary
Location: Looted from the Steel Watcher Titan in Steel Watch Foundry.

The Gontr Mael is a legendary Longbow that can possibly inflict a Guiding Bolt on its target and grants the Celestial Haste and Bolt of Celestial Light actions. This Longbow can be obtained in Act 3 and adds a lot of damage via Guiding Bolt proc and Bolt of Celestial Light.

The main benefit of this weapon is Celestial Haste. Unlike Haste the spell, this version provides 5 turns of an additional action without becoming lethargic when your turn ends. Lethargic essentially skips your turn, and is a big disincentive for using the spell if your concentration breaks. On turn one, you can cast Haste on yourself and still use your action along with +2 AC, double movement, and Advantage on Dexterity saving throws.

Consider Gontr Mael the best weapon in Baldur’s Gate 3 for the Ranger class and a strong addition for any build.

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Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Weapons for Ranger Class