Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (2024)

The Beast Master is a Ranger subclass in Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3). Check out our guide for how to unlock the Beast Master subclass, its features, as well as its best build.

Ranger SubclassesRanger Class Guide
Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (1)Beast Master Gloom Stalker Hunter

List of Contents

  • Subclass Overview
  • How to Unlock
  • Subclass Features
  • List of Ranger's Companions
  • Best Beast Master Build
  • Related Guides

Beast Master Subclass Overview

Beast Master Basic Information

Subclass Overview
Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (4)Beast MasterBeast masters bind themselves to an animal companion, sharing an intelligent bond that flourishes in and out of combat.
Parent ClassRanger
How to UnlockReach Ranger Level 3.
Spellcasting AbilityWisdom
Starting Subclass Features
・Can Summon a Ranger's Companion.
・All Ranger Class Features.

The Beast Master belongs to the Summoner archetype. With access to abilities that improve the overall function of allied summons, as the Beast Master grows stronger, so too do his beasts.

How to Unlock the Beast Master Subclass

Available Once Your Ranger Reaches Level 3

The Beast Master subclass will become available once your Ranger reaches Level 3. In order to earn EXP and level up in Baldur's Gate 3, players will need to complete quests, discover new areas, or defeat enemies they find in the world.

Beast Master Subclass Features

Beast Master Features
Ranger's CompanionCompanion's Bond
Exceptional TrainingBestial Fury
▼ Subclass Level Progression ▼

Ranger's Companion

Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (5)

Ranger's Companion is a unique Class Action that consumes an Action when used in battle. It allows the Beast Master to summon a controllable, allied beast of their choosing.

The Beast Master will be able to select between a Boar, Wolf, Bear, Wolf Spider, and a Dire Raven. Each having access to their own unique strengths and skills.

As the Ranger levels up, their companion will grow in strength alongside them. These beasts gradually become more sturdy and are able to access new powers as they grow.

Beginning at Lv.3, the companion animal starts out with a normal attack and a single skill. Beasts will obtain yet another skill at Lv.5, and reach their full potential once they reach Lv.11.

In the event that these companions die, the Beast Master can easily re-summon any of them after taking a short rest and casting the Ranger's Companion Class Action.

For a full and detailed list of all the skills and upgrades each companion can obtain, press the button below!

▼ List of All Ranger's Companions ▼

Companion's Bond Passive

Companion's Bond is a passive ability obtained once the Beast Master reaches Lv.5.

This skill automatically adds the Ranger's Proficiency Bonuses to the Armor Class and damage rolls of the companion animal.

Exceptional Training

Exceptional Training is a passive ability gained once the Beast Master reaches Lv.7.

This allows your companion animal to use Dash, Disengage, and Help as Bonus Actions.

Typically, these abilities cost Actions, meaning using them locks you out of using other Actions like attacks and skills.

By changing the cost of these abilities from Actions to Bonus Actions, your companion is allowed to do more things in a single turn.

Bestial Fury

Bestial Fury is the final subclass passive your Beast Master will learn at Lv.11. This passive allows your companion animal to attack twice in a single turn, essentially doubling their damage dealt.

Beast Master Level Progression

LevelSubclass Features Unlocked
Level 3Ranger's Companion
Level 5Companion's Bond
・Companion HP Increase
・New Companion Skill
Level 7Exceptional Training
Level 8・Companion HP Increase
Level 11Bestial Fury
・Companion HP Increase
・New Companion Skill

List of Ranger's Companions

Boar

Ranger's Companions
Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (6)Boar Wolf Dire Raven Bear Wolf Spider

Click on one of the buttons above to jump to that companion's section!

Boar Companion Overview

Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (11)

LevelLvl 3Lvl 5Lvl 8Lvl 11
HP164076127
Normal AttackEffect
Tusk Attack
(Level 3)
Deals 2-7 physical damage.
Tusk Attack
(Level 5)
Deals 3-8 physical damage.
Boar Skills
Boar Charge
(Level 3)
Lv.3: Deals 2-5 damage with the chance of knocking enemies Prone.Proned enemies are knocked down, have Disadvantage, and must spend half their movement speed to stand up.
Rage
(Level 5)
Lv.5: Becomes Enraged, dealing an additional 2 Slashing damage while becoming resistant to physical attacks.
Frenzied Strike
(Level 5)
Lv.5: Deals 3-8 damage.Only usable while Enraged.
Kick Up Mud
(Level 11)
Lv.11: Spreads Mud in a cone in front of the Boar, Slowing any enemies in the area.

The Boar requires one turn to setup because you will typically want it to be Enraged during any skirmishes. But once you've triggered the Rage skill, the Boar becomes a bulky unit that can act as a secondary frontline character while dealing good amounts of damage.

Wolf

Ranger's Companions
Boar Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (13)Wolf Dire Raven Bear Wolf Spider

Click on one of the buttons above to jump to that companion's section!

Wolf Companion Overview

Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (17)

LevelLvl 3Lvl 5Lvl 8Lvl 11
HP164691136
Normal AttackEffect
Bite
(Level 3)
Deals 4-10 physical damage.
Infectious Bite
(Level 5)
Deals 4-10 damage with a chance to lower target's max hp.
Infectious Bite
(Level 11)
Deals 6-12 damage with a chance to lower target's max hp.
Wolf Skills
Lunging Bite
(Levels 3/5)
Lv.3: Deals 3-6 damage, with a chance to knock down enemies hit.Lv.11: Deals 5-8 damage, with a chance to knock down enemies hit.
Bite
(Level 3/5/11)
Lv.5: Becomes a Class Action once Ranger and Wolf hit Lv.5. Deals 4-10 physical damage.Lv.11: Deals 6-12 damage.
Lupine Slash
(Level 11)
Lv.11: Summons a spectral sword and slashes enemies in a cone in front of the Wolf for 8-18 damage.

The Wolf is a companion that goes on the offensive during fights. Infectious Bite allows the Wolf to single-handedly take down most opponents, while Lupine Slash can be used to deal with multiple lower-level enemies.

While the Wolf offers a great offensive kit, for better or worse, this is all that it has to offer.

Dire Raven

Ranger's Companions
Boar Wolf Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (20)Dire Raven Bear Wolf Spider

Click on one of the buttons above to jump to that companion's section!

Dire Raven Companion Overview

Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (23)

LevelLvl 3Lvl 5Lvl 8Lvl 11
HP19314866
Normal AttackEffect
Beak Attack
(Level 3)
Deals 4-10 piercing damage.
Beak Attack
(Level 5)
Deals 5-14 piercing damage.
Beak Attack
(Level 11)
Deals 5-16 piercing damage.
Dire Raven Skills
Rend Vision
(Levels 3/5/11)
Lv.3: Deals 3-8 damage and blinds the target. Making them miss more often, as well as making them easier to hit.Lv.5: Deals 4-12 damage and blinds the target. Making them miss more often, as well as making them easier to hit.Lv.11: Deals 4-14 damage and blinds the target. Making them miss more often, as well as making them easier to hit.
Bad Omen
(Level 5)
Lv.5: Deals 2-16 damage and curses the target, granting Advantage to attack rolls against it.
On Black Wings
(Level 11)
Lv.11: Summons 2 non-controllable allied Ravens to assist the party in battle.These summoned Ravens can use Rend Vision.

The Dire Raven is the fastest amongst all the companions thanks to the innate Flight ability that it can access. Making it useful for picking-off the squishier ranged opponents who have high ground advantage.

This playstyle works in concert with both Bad Omen and On Black Wings since you can Blind the target before dispatching it with your small army of Ravens.

Bear

Ranger's Companions
Boar Wolf Dire Raven Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (27)Bear Wolf Spider

Click on one of the buttons above to jump to that companion's section!

Bear Companion Overview

Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (29)

LevelLvl 3Lvl 5Lvl 8Lvl 11
HP2858103148
Normal AttackEffect
Claws
(Level 3)
Deals 3-10 damage.
Claws
(Level 11)
Deals 5-12 damage.
Bear Skills
Goading Roar
(Levels 3)
Lv.3: Taunts nearby hostiles into attacking the Bear.
Honeyed Paws
(Level 5/11)
Lv.5: Deals 3-10 damage and Disarms the target. If target has no weapon equipped, target is knocked down instead.Lv.5: Deals 5-12 damage and Disarms the target. If target has no weapon equipped, target is knocked down instead.
Ursine Reinforcements
(Level 11)
Lv.11: Summons a non-controllable allied Bear to assist the party in battle.This summoned Bear can use Goading Roar and Honeyed Paws.

The Bear is the sturdiest amongst all your companions. This makes the companion a great frontline tank for parties that lack one. Having access to a Taunt in Goading Roar as well as a Disarm in Honeyed Paws to minimize the damage it takes heightens its tanking potential.

Additionally, if you feel that you may be overwhelmed by the amount of enemies you find yourself facing, the Bear can use Ursine Reinforcements to call upon another Bear who also has Goading Roar and Honeyed Paws.

Wolf Spider

Ranger's Companions
Boar Wolf Dire Raven Bear Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (34)Wolf Spider

Click on one of the buttons above to jump to that companion's section!

Wolf Spider Companion Overview

Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (35)

LevelLvl 3Lvl 5Lvl 8Lvl 11
HP15366390
Normal AttackEffect
Venomous Bite
(Level 3)
Deals 5-12 damage and Poisons the target, inflicting the enemy with Disadvantage to attack rolls and ability checks.
Wolf Spider Skills
Web
(Level 3)
Lv.3: Spreads flammable webs in an area, slowing enemies and possibly Enwebs them.Enwebbed enemies cannot move. Attacks against them have Advantage, and their attacks have Disadvantage.
Cocoon
(Level 5)
Lv.5: Wraps the target in webs to Cocoon it.Cocooned enemies cannot move, take actions, bonus actions, or reactions. This status effect ends early if the target takes damage.
Bursting Brood
(Level 11)
Lv.11: Deals 2-20 damage and Infests the target.Infested enemies take 2-8 damage per turn and spread the Infestation to enemies that hit them with a melee attack. Additionally, the Infestation spreads to nearby creatures if the affected enemy dies.

The Wolf Spider's main job is to disable enemies with Web and Cocoon. This makes it a useful companion for primarily ranged parties, since it can buy time for spell casting and positioning.

Once the Ranger reaches Lv.11, the Wolf Spider gains an offensive edge in Bursting Brood, as it deals a significant amount of damage and can potentially spread to other targets.

Best Beast Master Build

This section is under construction!

Baldur's Gate 3 Related Guides

Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (36)

Ranger Class Guide

All Ranger Subclasses

All Ranger Subclasses
Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (37)Beast Master Gloom Stalker Hunter
Beast Master Subclass Guide and Build | Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)|Game8 (2024)

FAQs

What is the best companion for Beast Master in Baldur's Gate 3? ›

The Raven, Bear, and Spider are ultimately all some of the best choices for Beast Master Rangers in BG3, and can be used interchangeably when needed. The Raven is arguably the weakest of the three, but its abilities are still incredibly powerful in and out of combat.

What is the best race for Ranger Beast Master BG3? ›

Wood Half-Elf gives you a well-balanced race that aids in movement and protection against crowd control effects. However, the second best racial choice is Githyanki due to increased movement abilities, skill proficiency, and free Misty Step spell at level 5.

What is the best subclass for the Ranger in Baldur's Gate 3? ›

Rangers choose their subclass at level 3. Beast Master is great if you want to have (and manage) an animal companion that fights by your side, but Hunter is the most straightforward. Both the Colossus Slayer and the Horde Breaker specializations are great to have.

What is the best race for the Beast Master Ranger? ›

Best Race For Beast Master Rangers

A wood elf is the best pick for your beast master ranger because of their exceptional movement speed at 10.5m/35ft.

What is the most op class in Baldur's Gate 3? ›

The Paladin is the strongest class and subclass in Baldur's Gate 3 due to its damage output, survivability, and versatility. The Paladins can access various weapons and armour types, allowing for diverse playstyles. Combining Extra Attack with Divine Smite results in exceptional raw damage potential.

What is the most powerful Ranger build in Baldur's Gate 3? ›

The best BG3 Ranger build is a stealth archer of the Hunter subclass with a few levels in Rogue. The best Ranger build in Baldur's Gate 3 is a bow-focused one based on ranged strikes for massive damage, a method that can make what is probably BG3's least remarkable class into something fairly potent.

Is Drakewarden better than Beast Master? ›

Drakewarden. Beast Master's younger, cooler brother. Let's just go down the point-form list of why Drakewarden is pretty much objectively better than Beast Master: Drake actually does decent damage (2d6 + PB, assuming you can use the Drake's reaction every turn which you should.

What is the strongest Ranger subclass? ›

Aside from delivering the highest damage rate of any Ranger subclass thanks to the endless stealth bonuses granted to them, Gloom Stalkers also cast brutal spells such as Rope Trick and Greater Invisibility, powerful skills that make it very easy to understand why the Ranger subclass reigns supreme.

What is the best fighter subclass in BG3? ›

The best Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter subclass is Battle Master, which grants you access to seven Manoeuvres - three at Level 3, two at Level 7, and two at Level 10. These are unique combat abilities that you can activate using an action.

What is the best build in Baldur's Gate 3? ›

Oath of Vengeance Paladin build

This is arguably still the best build in Baldur's Gate 3 even following balance patches as it has incredible versatility and works with most party compositions. Be careful though, as many of its best moves are Concentration Spells, which can't overlap and can be interrupted.

Should I multiclass Ranger BG3? ›

In Baldur's Gate 3, the Ranger class has their own unique powers, and the good news is this makes it an ideal candidate for multiclassing. This allows players to create a powerful BG3 character with some impressive abilities when it comes to weapon skills and stealth abilities.

What is the best feat for beast master? ›

At Level 11, the Beast Master Ranger gains an amazing Feat called the Bestial Fury. This allows you to command your Beast Companion to attack enemies twice in a single turn upon using their Attack Action.

What is the best Ranger animal companion in bg3? ›

A Good General Choice

Wolves are the most commonly picked companion for Rangers across all media, not only by players but also by characters in fiction. And it makes sense; they represent a sense of companionship, reminding us of our own little canines and being keen to hunt in packs.

What is the best stats for Beast Master Ranger? ›

Rangers benefit best from a high Dexterity to aid to their Armor Class and attacks, paired with their Wisdom for their spell-casting. If you have a Beast of the Land or Beast of the Sea, they are benefiting from your spell DC, too, so high Wisdom is a must.

Which pets for beast mastery hunter? ›

Best Mythic+ Pet for Beast Mastery Hunter in Dragonflight

Bloodlust for your group, then I recommend the same as for Raiding, a Spirit Beast. These do not provide healing reduction, however, so in dungeons where this is a concern, swap to a Tenacity Healing Reduction pet, like a Direhorn, Hydra, Lizard, or Riverbeast.

What race is best for beast mastery Hunter Alliance? ›

Dwarf is the best race for Alliance for the same reasons as Tauren, the difference being the active ability Stoneform providing a 10% physical damage reduction with an added omni-self dispel on a 2 minute cooldown. Dwarf is definitely the best overall option, and I highly recommend it!

What is the best beast mastery Hunter Covenant? ›

Best Beast Mastery Hunter Covenants and Soulbinds for Mythic+
Best Beast Mastery Hunter Covenants and Soulbinds for Mythic+
Night Fae KyrianDreamweaver Mikanikos

Who is the best trader in BG3? ›

Lann Tarv, Exxvikyap, and Roah Moonglow are some of the best merchants to keep an eye out for. These merchants offer a variety of items such as potions, spell scrolls, and unique armor & weapons.

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