The Best Ranged Weapons In Baldur's Gate 3, Ranked

Updated on November 24, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Hotfix #29 giving console players of Baldur’s Gate 3 better mod stability and Samantha Beart a 100-mod limit, fans of the acclaimed RPG will have a lot of room to tinker with new additions such as effects, weapons, customizations, and other features to add much-needed spice to their experience. However, before players even venture into adding numerous new effects to their gameplay experience, they may want to equip their characters with the best weapons possible - among which include some of the game’s best ranged weapons. These include upgraded versions of weapons, as well as one that would help characters move furt

This can make them a valuable addition to caster-heavy teams. At level 10, a Wild Magic Barbarian gets the ability "Unstable Backlash." This allows them to create a new Wild Magic surge (replacing the old one) whenever they take damage or fail a saving throw while raging. This helps to increase the chaos they cause in battle.

At sixth level, Giant Barbarians gain Elemental Cleaver. This allows them to add acid, cold, fire, lightning, or thunder damage to their weapon while raging, and also adds the Thrown property to their weapon when used. Additionally, weapons under the effect of Elemental Cleaver will be returned to your hand immediately after being thrown, allowing for greater flexibility in throwing weapon builds. The elemental damage behaves like a damage rider when throwing the weapon, meaning the elemental damage is boosted independently by things like the Rage buff, Tavern Brawler, or the Ring of Flinging. This allows you to achieve much higher damage than expected with weapons enhanced using Elemental Cleaver.

After reaching level seven, Arcane Archers gain access to Curving Shot. This allows them to spend a Bonus action when they miss with any magical ranged attack to immediately make the same attack on the next closest target, once per turn. They also gain Magic Arrow, an ability that makes all of their ranged attacks magical for the purpose of overcoming Resistance. They also get three extra Arcane Arrows per rest and may select one more Arcane Shot. Finally, at tenth level, the Arcane Archer gets three extra Arcane Arrows per rest and learns one more Arcane Shot.

Each of Baldur's Gate 3 's classes offers different abilities and utility to a character in combat, dialog, and exploration. Each class has something different to offer the player and the party, and the Barbarian is no different in that regard.

If you are dead set on including a character in your party, simply talk to Withers to respec them to one of the optimal Warlock companion classes listed above. This way, you won't miss out on that character's questline, and you won't have to suffer from an improperly balanced party.

Updated on April 23, 2025, by Thomas Hawkins: With the release of Patch 8 for Baldur's Gate 3, each class has received a new subclass to use. In the case of the fighter, they can now choose the Arcane Archer subclass, gaining access to arcane arrows with a variety of powerful effects. This allows ranged fighters to apply status effects over a distance and access a wider range of damage types without needing specialized equipment. By pairing Arcane Archer with the game's existing assortment of specialty arrows, this subclass can be incredibly versatile. This guide has been updated to discuss the new subclass, multiclassing options that work well with it, and equipment that works especially well with this new subclass.

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Wizards are the only class that can outright learn new spells directly from Scrolls rather than waiting for a level-up, which costs gold. But this cost is reduced if the spell corresponds with one's chosen BG3 Wizard Subclass, or School.

The Fighter class does not normally start with this ability, meaning that players must invest two levels into it – and lose out on Level 6 Wizard spells. However, the ability to take two actions in one turn is remarkably strong for casters, and the added armor proficiencies granted by the Fighter class are just the cherry on top.

Players looking for more consistent damage, as opposed to the extreme highs and lows of Glaives and Greataxes, should pick up a greatsword. Excellent options in Act 1 are the Everburn Blade, Svartlebee's Woundseeker, and Jorgoral's Greatsword. The Soulbreaker Greatsword and Sussur Greatsword are also decent picks, with the former being especially valuable if playing a Githyanki. During Act 3, non-gith characters should grab the Sword of Chaos or Balduran's Giantslayer for best results, while Githyanki should instead obtain the Silver Sword of the Astral Plane.