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Have you ever wanted to kill your enemies with jellyfish? Bees? Well, inBaldur’s Gate 3, that’s now possible with Patch 8’s Swarmkeeper Ranger. With versatility in mobility and damage, theSwarmkeeperis a highly mobile threat on any field.
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 ofthe best races for the Swarmpkeeper are:
Backgrounds featuring a Wisdom or Dexterity skill will always serve you:
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 synergywith 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.
If you’re investing in Fighter, yourprimary 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 theShifting Corpus Ringfor something like theCaustic Band.
Three
Lightning Arrow, Conjure Barrage
Picking spells for the Swarmkeeper is as straightforward as any Ranger subclass.Hunter’s Markis your main workhorse, withEnsnaring Strike (Ranged)andSpike Growthbeing 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.
8
–
16
18
14
10
Dexterity and Wisdom will be your two primary focusesfor this build - and for just about any Ranger build.
You’ll have three chances for an Ability Score and feat upgrade, andwe recommend the following choices:
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:
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.
You’ll get the option to change this as you grow, butwe 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:
61
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.
Circlet of Hunting
2
Gain an extra +1d4 to Hit on attack rolls made against foes withHunter’s Mark,Faerie Fire,True Strike, orGuiding Bolt.
Sharpened Snare Cuirass
Add your full Dexterity to your AC. When restraining creatures with your attacks and spells, enemies have disadvantage against you.
Legacy of the Masters
3
Gain +2 to your Hit and Damage with weapon attacks. Additionally, your Strength saving throws are increased by +1.
Disintegrating Night Walkers
1
Gain free cast of Misty Step and cannot slip. Wearer cannot be Enwebbed, Ensnared, or Entangled.
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.
Strange Conduit Ring
Deal +1d4 Psychic damage with weapon attacks while concentrating on a spell.
Inside a chest in the Inquisitor’s Chamber in Rosymorn Monastery Creche.
Broodmother’s Revenge
Whenever you are healed, apply Poison to your weapon and deal +1d6 Poison damage on your next strike.
Phalar Aluve
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.
Justiciar’s Greatshield
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 Lyrthindorin the Gauntlet of Shar.
Deal an additional 1d4 Slashing damage to Burning targets.
Found inside a chest in Grymforgeguarded by hellsboar and a merregon.
Hellfire Hand Crossbow (Right Hand)
Inflict Burning while hiding or Invisible. Scorching Ray can be cast once per short rest.
Dropped by Yurgirin the Gauntlet of Shar.
This build focuses onusing Invisibility to lay on Burning conditionson an enemy from an Invisible start, allowing you to Restrain and Burn a target simultaneously.
This is accomplished via theShifting Corpus Ringwhichallows a cast ofInvisibility(as well as the Justiciar’s Greatshield if the ring has already been used) and theHellfire 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:
Altogether, that’s+7-22 extra damage on every hit.
TheCirclet of Huntingwill ensure, while Hunter’s Mark is active,you’ll land your hitsfor all this damage - as will theLegacy of the Masters.
And finally, yourDisintegrating Night Walkerswill prevent you from falling victim to your ownWebspells as well as a freeMisty Stepwhen 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.
8 (-1)
18 (+4)
14 (+2)
10 (0)
16 (+3)
100
20
15
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, theydeal damage by using their Reactionsto control their swarms.
Since Reactions are the way Swarmkeepers deal damage and gain extra movement,they suffer in melee rangewhere retreating enemies can ruin your strategy.
For the most success as a Swarmkeeper,staying in ranged combatand 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:
With your first attack, you’ll be asked touse 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:
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 featureto 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 youeasily. With your Nightwalkers, it won’t slow you down at all.
In conclusion: the Swarmkeeper is all aboutkeeping on the pressureand 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.
