Baldur's Gate 3: Best Swarmkeeper Ranger Build

Unleash the Power of Swarms in Baldur's Gate 3: A Swarmkeeper Ranger Guide

Ever dreamed of commanding swarms of jellyfish or bees to decimate your foes? Patch 8's Swarmkeeper Ranger in Baldur's Gate 3 makes this a reality. This highly mobile class excels in both damage and battlefield control. However, mastering the Swarmkeeper requires dedication, as it can lag behind other Ranger subclasses like the Gloomstalker. This guide will help you optimize your Swarmkeeper for maximum effectiveness.

The Swarmkeeper's reliance on swarm attacks minimizes the advantage of martial-focused races. Their innate mobility is further enhanced by spells like Fly and Teleportation, making other racial bonuses more valuable.

Optimal Races and Backgrounds

Prioritize races offering superior resistances, saving throw advantages, and useful spells. Top choices include:

• Strongheart Halfling: Access to Lucky, Brave, and Poison Resistance.
• Duergar Dwarf: Poison Resistance, resistance to Charm and Paralysis, Darkvision, Invisibility, and Enlarge/Reduce.
• Forest Gnome: Advantage on mental saving throws (Wisdom, Intelligence, and Charisma), Darkvision, and Speak with Animals.

Backgrounds that boost Wisdom or Dexterity skills are highly beneficial:

• Charlatan
• Criminal
• Entertainer
• Folk Hero
• Outlander
• Urchin

Multiclassing Options

Multiclassing a Swarmkeeper should complement the Ranger's high Dexterity and Wisdom. The Druid class is a natural fit.

Druid Subclass	Strengths and Weaknesses
Moon Druid	Shapeshifting offers frontline tanking potential, but may not synergize with a crossbow-focused build.
Land Druid	Spell-focused, prioritizing Wisdom over Dexterity, reducing crossbow effectiveness.
Spore Druid	Supports with spells and conjured creatures, enhancing swarm capabilities.
Star Druid	Alters the outcome of rolls, providing tactical advantages.

Consider replacing the Shifting Corpus Ring with something like the Caustic Band for enhanced damage.

Essential Spells

Spell selection for the Swarmkeeper is relatively straightforward.

Spell Level	Recommended Spells
One	Hunter's Mark, Ensnaring Strike (Ranged)
Two	Spike Growth, Silence
Three	Lightning Arrow, Conjure Barrage

Hunter's Mark is crucial, while Ensnaring Strike (Ranged) and Spike Growth offer excellent crowd control. Lightning Arrow and Conjure Barrage are situationally useful, particularly in Act Three.

Ability Scores and Feats

Dexterity and Wisdom are paramount.

Ability	Base Score	Target Score	Method
Strength	8	8	--
Dexterity	16	18	2 Ability Score Improvement
Constitution	14	14	--
Intelligence	10	10	--
Wisdom	16	16	--
Charisma	10	10	--

Dexterity enhances AC, hit chance, and damage, while Wisdom improves spell DCs. Prioritize these ability score improvements and feats:

Level	Upgrade
4	Ability Score Improvement: Dexterity 2
8	Crossbow Expert
12	Sharpshooter

Crossbow Expert and Sharpshooter combine for devastating crossbow damage.

Swarm Type Selection: Bees, Jellyfish, or Moths?

The swarm type is a critical decision.

1. Bees: Piercing damage, knockback.
2. Jellyfish: Lightning damage, removes reactions, disarms.
3. Moths: Psychic damage, blinding.

While changeable, Moths offer the best overall utility, followed by Jellyfish for their control effects. Jellyfish lightning damage is amplified by the Wet condition.

Consider the prevalence of damage resistances:

Damage Type	Number of Resistant Enemies
Piercing	61
Lightning	80
Psychic	19

Recommended Equipment

Equipment Type	Item	Act Available	Effect	Acquisition
Helm/Hat	Circlet of Hunting	2	1d4 to hit with marked targets.	Araj at Moonrise Towers.
Armor	Sharpened Snare Cuirass	2	Full Dexterity to AC, disadvantage to restrained enemies.	Roah Moonglow at Moonrise Towers.
Gauntlets	Legacy of the Masters	3	2 to hit and damage, 1 Strength saving throws.	Dammon at Forge of the Nine.
Boots	Disintegrating Night Walkers	1	Free Misty Step, immunity to restraint.	Nere in Grymforge.
Cape	Cindermoth Cloak	3	Inflicts Burning on attackers.	Aelis Siryasius in Lower City Sewers.
Ring #1	Shifting Corpus Ring	2	Casts Invisibility and Blur.	Fist Marcus at Last Light Inn.
Ring #2	Strange Conduit Ring	1	1d4 Psychic damage while concentrating.	Chest in Rosymorn Monastery Creche.
Amulet	Broodmother's Revenge	1	Poison damage on next attack after healing.	Kagha in Druid's Grove.
Melee Weapon	Phalar Aluve	1	Sing/Shriek abilities, 1 Performance.	Stone in Underdark.
Off-Hand Shield	Justiciar's Greatshield	2	Casts Darkness Cloak, advantage on Perception, knock prone reaction.	Lyrthindor in Gauntlet of Shar.
Ranged Weapon (Left)	Firestoker	1	1d4 Slashing damage to Burning targets.	Chest in Grymforge.
Ranged Weapon (Right)	Hellfire Hand Crossbow	2	Inflicts Burning while hidden/invisible, Scorching Ray.	Yurgir in Gauntlet of Shar.

By following this guide, you can transform your Swarmkeeper Ranger into a formidable force on the battlefields of Baldur's Gate 3. Remember to adapt your strategy based on the specific challenges you encounter.

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