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Rangers aren’t the best at anything, but they’re good at pretty much everything. Balancing magic, stealth, and combat skills makes Ranger a challenge, so it probably isn’t the best class for new players. You don’t have to use the class’s best build to get incredible value, but it helps to know what you’re doing, especially when it comes to magic. Using the powers of the wild, Rangers can fit almost any role in the party that you need them to. Yet the Ranger’s spells aren’t all created equal. Here are the best Ranger spells in Baldur’s Gate 3.
8. Hunter’s Mark
You can only expect so much from a Level 1 spell, but Hunter’s Mark pulls its weight. This Divination spell allows the player to mark an enemy. All of the character’s weapon attacks against the marked target gain 1d6 additional damage. This spell has its downsides, but when all the player wants to do is add a bit of reliable bonus damage, Hunter’s Mark is the spell for the job. Just be mindful when using it, because it does require Concentration, making it a poor fit for some situations.
7. Fog Cloud
This Level 1 Conjuration spell takes the fog of war literally. Fog Cloud obscures the battlefield, granting all creatures within it the Blind and Heavily Obscured statuses. Strategic spells like this one can be harder to use correctly than simple DPS spells that boil down to “shoot enemy.” That doesn’t mean it’s weak, simply that it takes more work to reveal its power. A well-placed Fog Cloud can shut down enemy archers and spellcasters in an instant and allow you to move stealthy characters about unseen. This tactical potential makes Fog Cloud one of the best Ranger spells.
6. Find Familiar
Rangers and animal companions are a natural fit. Having a friendly feline or skittering spider at one’s side adds important strategic options in battle. For what it’s worth, some of these creatures are also just adorable, which never hurt. Crabs can pinch enemies, slowing their movement. Spiders can poison your foes. Ravens can rend their target’s eyes, blinding them. The Ranger can fit many roles, so it’s appropriate that their companion can do the same. Overall, Find Familiar is a great pet spell.
5. Silence
Silence creates an AoE sphere, granting all creatures within it immunity to Thunder damage. Far more important, however, is its other effect: spellcasters affected by Silence cannot cast. Many of the most devastating and debilitating attacks in the game take the form of spells. Silence ranks amongst the best Ranger spells for its ability to shut enemy spellcasters down in an instant. Deploying it can be tricky business, however, since players must be careful not to afflict their own spellcasters.
4. Cure Wounds
If there is a Cleric or Paladin in the party, most of the healing probably falls on their shoulders. Not every team includes such characters, however. Even the ones that do sometimes find themselves short a medic after an unlucky Fireball or claw attack. Having a Ranger with Cure Wounds can make a big difference in a fight. This spell heals its target for 3-10 HP. Though it requires the Ranger to be close enough to touch the injured creature, that’s not a big deal. This class is typically mobile anyway, which helps make Cure Wounds one of the best Ranger spells.
3. Hail of Thorns
Hail of Thorns is more complicated than the average DPS spell. This Level 1 Conjuration spell deals 1d10 Piercing damage to their target and then explode. The explosion deals an additional 1-10 Piercing damage to the target and surrounding creatures. Even if the initial attack misses, the Thorns still explode. If targets succeed on their Dexterity Save, they still take half damage. This combination means that multiple enemies are all but guaranteed damage, even if it isn’t much. Reliable AoE damage can be hard to come by without a Sorcerer’s Fireball, and this spell delivers.
2. Spike Growth
Spike Growth is an area denial AoE spell. It transforms the ground into hard spikes, halving the Movement of any creature crossing it. Additionally, creatures that walk over the spikes take 2-8 Piercing damage for every 1.5m traversed. Like other lingering AoE spells, Spike Growth is strongest as an area control tactic, zoning enemies out of certain areas. Drop the spell in a valuable chokepoint, and enemies must pay the price if they want to push through. Spike Growth isn’t the most user-friendly, but it still ranks amongst the best Ranger spells.
1. Speak with Animals
Larian Studios is known for its complex worldbuilding. It’s evident in their NPCs and dialog as much as their settings and cutscenes. Some of the best storytelling and worldbuilding moments in Baldur’s Gate 3 are only possible if the player talks to animals. There’s a lot of wildlife to chat with and Speak with Animals is the spell that lets players do the chatting. Some players will always focus on combat first and favor powers with high DPS over everything else. Yet BG3 is first and foremost about the story and Speak with Animals reveals more of it than virtually any other spell.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is available now for PC and will be available for PlayStation 5 on September 6.
