Baldur's Gate 3: Best Swarmkeeper Ranger Build

Have you ever wanted to kill your enemies with jellyfish? Bees? Well, in Baldur's Gate 3, that's now possible with Patch 8's Swarmkeeper Ranger. With versatility in mobility and damage, the Swarmkeeper is a highly mobile threat on any field.

Baldur's Gate 3: All Honour Mode Boss Fight Changes

Honour Mode makes some brutal changes to the boss fights you'll take on in Baldur's Gate 3. Here's every change - let's hope you can prepare for them.

That said, the Swarmkeeper takes a lot of getting used to and can fall behind in performance against more mainstream ranger options, such as the ever-strong Gloomstalker. This build seeks to put the jellyfish on top.

Best Swarmpkeeper Ranger Races And Backgrounds

The Swarmkeeper will do most of its melee fighting with its swarms, so martial-dominant races no longer have the edge here. Mobility isn't as important with access to free teleportation and Fly.

As such, races that give extra resistances, edges for your saving throws, and handy spells will be superior. Some of the best races for the Swarmpkeeper are:

• Strongheart Halfling - Acess to Lucky, Brave, and Poison Resistance.
• Duergar Dwarf - Poison Resistance, Resistance against 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 featuring a Wisdom or Dexterity skill will always serve you:

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

Dark Urge can benefit from being a Wisdom-based class thanks to the Medicine proficiency. The Deathstalker's Mantle is very useful for this build (like any), but it can be redundant if playing a Duergar Dwarf.

Multiclassing As A Swarmkeeper Ranger

Any multiclass with a Swarmkeeper will need to be a class that plays into Ranger's high Dexterity and Wisdom. The first obvious choice is Druid.

Moon Druid

Moon druids will likely want to shapeshift into a beast of their choice and take Tavern Brawler as a feature. This will make the Swarmkeeper more of a frontline tank, but doesn't synergize well with this guide's specific crossbow build.

Land Druid

Land druids will primarily focus on spells. Dexterity should become a second-fiddle to Wisdom. You'll be using your spells more than your crossbows.

Spore Druid

Spore druids will support with spells but also create conjured beings and reanimated corpses to aid their swarms.

Star Druid

Star druids will change the outcomes of rolls.

Of the possible Druid subclasses, Spore Druids appear to have the most dangerous synergy with Swarmkeepers. With the ability to infect enemies, stall healing, and raise the dead, these two subclasses can mesh well together.

For this particular crossbow-based build, investment into Fighter can also be beneficial.

• Champion can be useful, lowering your Critical Hit requirement.
• Arcane Archer feels like the first thought, but its Intelligence requirement for Arcane Shots means a stat realignment.

If you're investing in Fighter, your primary benefits are from Extra Attack and Action Surge.

Rogue Thief can also be used with the Hellfire Hand Crossbow, as hiding will allow the user to inflict Burning. With no requirement for Invisibility, one can trade the Shifting Corpus Ring for something like the Caustic Band.

Best Swarmkeeper Ranger Spells

Spell Level

Best Spell Choices

One

Hunter's Mark, Ensnaring Strike (Ranged)

Two

Spike Growth, Silence

Three

Lightning Arrow, Conjure Barrage

Picking spells for the Swarmkeeper is as straightforward as any Ranger subclass. Hunter's Mark is your main workhorse, with Ensnaring Strike (Ranged) and Spike Growth being your zoning options.

Lightning Arrow and Conjure Barrage will likely rarely be used, but they have unique properties later on in Act Three.

If you aren't interested in another Level Three spell beyond Lightning Arrow, you might consider swapping Conjure Barrage for Pass Without a Trace for this Invisibility/Hiding-centric build.

Best Swarmkeeper Ranger Ability Scores And Feats

Ability

Base Score

Goal Scores

Method Achieved

Strength

8

8

--

Dexterity

16

18

+2 Ability Score Improvement

Constitution

14

14

--

Intelligence

10

10

--

Wisdom

16

16

--

Charisma

10

10

--

Dexterity and Wisdom will be your two primary focuses for this build - and for just about any Ranger build.

• Dexterity will increase your Armor Class (AC), your chance to hit, and your damage output.
• Wisdom will affect your DC for Ensnaring Strike, Web, Faerie Fire, and Lightning Arrow (amongst your other choices).

You'll have three chances for an Ability Score and feat upgrade, and we recommend the following choices:

Level 4

Ability Score Improvement: Dexterity +2

Level 8

Crossbow Expert

Level 12

Sharpshooter

Crossbow Expert will allow you to use your dual crossbows anywhere and at any time, and it is compounded with Sharpshooter for immense damage.

If you're already happy with your damage but feel yourself really struggling with mages and saving throws in the late game, swap Sharpshooter with Mage Slayer.

As a Ranger, you'll also be given several choices for your Natural Explorer and Favoured Enemy types. We recommend the following:

• Favoured Enemy: Bounty Hunter (Level 1), then Ranger Knight and Keeper of the Veil (Levels 6 and 10).
• Natural Explorer: Beast Tamer and Wasteland Wanderer: Fire and Cold.

Naturally, your Fighting Style should be Archery.

Best Swarmkeeper Ranger Swarm Type Choice: Bees, Jellyfish, Or Moths?

As a Swarmkeeper, your most important choice will be your swarm type.

1. Bees deal Piercing damage and push enemies away.
2. Jellyfish deal lightning damage, remove enemy Reactions, and disarm enemies.
3. Moths deal Psychic damage and blind enemies.

You'll get the option to change this as you grow, but we find Moths to be the most useful, followed by Jellyfish for their utility.

Throughout any playthrough, there is a clear distinction between the frequency of damage resistances:

Damage Type

Number of Enemy Types With Resistance

Piercing

61

Lightning

80

Psychic

19

Moths are great for general use, and jellyfish are especially strong in the first act.

Additionally, jellyfish lightning damage is affected by the Wet condition, making it possible to double your swarm damage.

Most Piercing resistant enemies are reoccurring enemies, such as Necromites, Skeletons, Scrying Eyes, Hellfire Watchers, and more. Most Psychic-resistant enemies are bosses.

Best Swarmkeeper Ranger Equipment

Equipment Type

Equipment Piece

Act Available

Effect

Method Obtained

Helm/Hat

Circlet of Hunting

2

Gain an extra +1d4 to Hit on attack rolls made against foes with Hunter's Mark, Faerie Fire, True Strike, or Guiding Bolt.

Sold by Araj at Moonrise Towers.

Armor

Sharpened Snare Cuirass

2

Add your full Dexterity to your AC. When restraining creatures with your attacks and spells, enemies have disadvantage against you.

Sold by Roah Moonglow at Moonrise Towers.

Gauntlets

Legacy of the Masters

3

Gain +2 to your Hit and Damage with weapon attacks. Additionally, your Strength saving throws are increased by +1.

Sold by Dammon at Forge of the Nine.

Boots

Disintegrating Night Walkers

1

Gain free cast of Misty Step and cannot slip. Wearer cannot be Enwebbed, Ensnared, or Entangled.

Drop by defeating Nere in Grymforge.

Cape

Cindermoth Cloak

3

Creatures that damage the wearer are inflicted with Burning.

Dropped by Aelis Siryasius in the Lower City Sewers; he is amidst the grease mephits and blobs.

Ring #1

Shifting Corpus Ring

2

Allows you to cast Invisibility and Blur once per Long Rest.

Dropped by Fist Marcus at Last Light Inn.

Ring #2

Strange Conduit Ring

1

Deal +1d4 Psychic damage with weapon attacks while concentrating on a spell.

Inside a chest in the Inquisitor's Chamber in Rosymorn Monastery Creche.

Amulet

Broodmother's Revenge

1

Whenever you are healed, apply Poison to your weapon and deal +1d6 Poison damage on your next strike.

Dropped by Kagha in the Druid's Grove.

Melee Hand Weapon

Phalar Aluve

1

Gain the ability to Sing (increase your allies' Hit chance and saving throws by 1d4) or Shriek (enemies are struck for d4 Thunder damage for each hit taken). +1 is added to your Performance checks.

Pulled from a stone in the Underdark besides the Selunite Outpost.

Off-Hand Shield

Justiciar's Greatshield

2

Gain the ability to cast Darkness Cloak (Invisibility) as a bonus action. You receive Advantage on Perception checks and a reaction to knock enemies Prone when you are struck with a melee attack.

Dropped or given by Lyrthindor in the Gauntlet of Shar.

Ranged Weapon

Firestoker (Left Hand)

1

Deal an additional 1d4 Slashing damage to Burning targets.

Found inside a chest in Grymforge guarded by hellsboar and a merregon.

Hellfire Hand Crossbow (Right Hand)

2

Inflict Burning while hiding or Invisible. Scorching Ray can be cast once per short rest.

Dropped by Yurgir in the Gauntlet of Shar.

This build focuses on using Invisibility to lay on Burning conditions on an enemy from an Invisible start, allowing you to Restrain and Burn a target simultaneously.

This is accomplished via the Shifting Corpus Ring which allows a cast of Invisibility (as well as the Justiciar's Greatshield if the ring has already been used) and the Hellfire Hand Crossbow which inflicts Burning when you're Invisible or Hiding.

When you can't turn Invisible or Hide, taking damage will also inflict Burning for you with the Cindermoth Cloak.

Once Burning is placed, you'll be able to do a huge amount of damage:

• Strange Conduit Ring - When Hunter's Mark is applied (a Concentration spell), you'll actually deal +2d4 damage every hit.
• Broodmother's Revenge - Whenever you are healed, you'll deal an extra +1d6 Poison damage.
• Firestoker - Deals another +1d4 Slashing when attacking a Burning target.
• Phalar Aluve (Shriek) - Every attack also causes +1d4 Thunder damage.
• Legacy of the Masters - A static +2 extra damage on every attack.

Altogether, that's +7-22 extra damage on every hit.

The Circlet of Hunting will ensure, while Hunter's Mark is active, you'll land your hits for all this damage - as will the Legacy of the Masters.

And finally, your Disintegrating Night Walkers will prevent you from falling victim to your own Web spells as well as a free Misty Step when your swarm features are expired.

There is an alternate build potential with using the Duelist's Prerogative rapier. As this gives you an additional reaction, you'll be able to use your swarm attacks more often. However, this does come with the caveat of action economy conflict, as the rapier's Withering Cut contests your swarm for the reaction slot.

How To Use A Swarmkeeper Ranger - Battle Tips, Strategy, And Analysis

A finalized Swarmkeeper Ranger should have a stat sheet similar to:

Ability Scores

Strength

Dexterity

Constitution

Intelligence

Wisdom

Charisma

8 (-1)

18 (+4)

14 (+2)

10 (0)

16 (+3)

10 (0)

Health

100

AC

20

Spell Save DC

15

Top 5 Prepared Spells

Hunter's Mark, Ensnaring Strike (Ranged), Spike Growth, Silence, Web

Feats

Bounty Hunter, Beast Tamer, Archery, Ranger Knight, Wasteland Wanderer: Fire and Cold, Land's Stride: Difficult Terrain, Keeper of the Veil, Crossbow Expert, Sharpshooter

The Swarmkeeper Ranger is all about damage, damage, and more damage. Although they don't get as many actions as a Fighter, they deal damage by using their Reactions to control their swarms.

Since Reactions are the way Swarmkeepers deal damage and gain extra movement, they suffer in melee range where retreating enemies can ruin your strategy.

For the most success as a Swarmkeeper, staying in ranged combat and keeping distance will do the most for you.

At the beginning of any combat encounter, you have a few things to complete on your checklist:

1. Keep your distance.
2. Go Invisible and close into comfortable range for crossbows.
3. Attack with Gaping Wounds.
4. Lay on Hunter's Mark.
5. Attack again with a normal attack.

With your first attack, you'll be asked to use your Swarm. We recommend using either their special feature or an attack, depending on your circumstance.

Your next round will be determined by your enemy's strategy:

• If the enemy closes into melee: Use Phalar Aluve and attack with your bonus action. Continue attacking next rounds in melee.
• If the enemy stays at range: Continue normal attacks, using Spike Growth or Web if needed to prevent being swarmed by mobs.

Where possible, receiving healing from a teammate or through a healing potion will further increase your next attack.

If you ever find yourself overwhelmed, use your swarm's teleporting feature to increase your AC and get yourself out of direct melee. This will require an attack, which is where Crossbow Expert comes into play.

Thankfully, Web will prevent your enemies from chasing you easily. With your Nightwalkers, it won't slow you down at all.

In conclusion: the Swarmkeeper is all about keeping on the pressure and making the most of any situation.

Let Hunter's Mark and your Swarm do most of your heavy lifting, and you'll find the Swarmkeeper putting out quick damage numbers to make even Fighters jealous.

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