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

Players who love Baldur’s Gate will delight in Baldur’s Gate 3 for its more modern approach to a game extremely close to Dungeons & Dragons. This time around, players of this Baldur’s Gate title are in a race against time as they try to find a cure against their illithid tadpole or risk becoming a mind flayer during their assault on Faerun.

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Thankfully, players of Baldur’s Gate 3 have trusty companions to rely on as they build a formidable party against this threat. And for players who want to dominate ranged play, there are some great options available to choose from.

Updated on November 24, 2024 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Hotfix #29 giving console players of Baldur’s Gate 3 better mod stability and 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 further.

30 Hand Crossbow +2

Alternate Between Fast-Paced, Heavy-Hitting Plays

Players looking for the best ranged weapons in Baldur’s Gate 3 don’t necessarily need complicated armaments to accomplish their needs, especially when the Hand Crossbow +2 can achieve a damage output close to the performance of regular Cantrips with unique Weapon Actions. Acquired from a wall vault inside Lady Jannath’s Estate, the Hand Crossbow +2 can be the perfect companion for a Spellcaster who wants an actual weapon they can rely on or a perfectly-functional ranged armament for the long-distance combatant.

As with other Hand Crossbows, this weapon has access to Piercing Shot that has the chance of inflicting Gaping Wounds that can give more damage to foes from other sources. Should users have already Disengaged or Dashed for the turn, they can also use Mobile Shot as a Bonus Action to perform a Ranged Attack - ensuring that they can still get an attack in even if they focused on movement for the turn.

29 Longbow +2

Perfect For Mobile Combatants

Among ranged weapons players can encounter in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Longbow +2 is perhaps a must-have for any character who wants to dominate long-distance combat. This weapon’s only setback is its acquisition before the final fight in the game’s story, particularly when looted from the Darkening Hunt if a Ranger is in the player’s party. However, players who want a safe weapon to use in the game’s perilous final battle, the Longbow +2 can become a nifty secondary armament that may be more dependable compared to other effect-heavy variants.

At its core, the Longbow +2 enjoys an immediate +2 to all Attack Rolls and Damage Rolls - much-needed bonuses for enemies this close to the finish line who often pack high AC. For players who need to buy their allies some time to prepare countermeasures, Hamstring Shot and its potential effect of halving a target’s Movement Speed can hinder dangerous combatants from getting close to players. Alternatively, the Longbow +2’s user can use Brace to sacrifice a bit of Movement to guarantee their usage of high damage dice throughout their ranged attacks.

28 Bow Of Awareness

Score Earlier Moves In Combat

When players reach the Shattered Sanctum, they can interact with Roah Moonglow of the Zhentarim and purchase the Bow of Awareness. This +1 Shortbow might not seem like a heavy-hitting ranged armament for players, its effects can certainly aid the long-distance combatant in the early-game.

At its core, the Shortbow +1 comes with a Hamstring Shot that has the chance of halving the movement of its target. Most importantly, the Bow comes with another effect called Seldom Caught Unawares. This effect grants the user +1 to Initiative Rolls, essentially helping this ranged combatant take their turn first and enjoy being able to attack opponents and reposition just as fast to avoid retaliation.

27 Hellfire Engine Crossbow

A Rather Versatile Infernal Crossbow

When players reach the Steel Watch Foundry, they can go to the Security Office to combine the Watcher Crossbow Blueprint, Targeting Module, and the Steel Watcher Arm to create the Hellfire Engine Crossbow. This infernal Heavy Crossbow is a Very Rare weapon that boasts some of the most unique kits in the game, essentially allowing a ranged combatant to punish opponents through a myriad of effects.

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The Heavy Crossbow has staple Weapon Actions that can cause enemies to receive extra damage from other sources (Piercing Shot), and roll ranged damage twice to get the highest result at the cost of extra movement (Brace). Securing this weapon’s damage-oriented kit would be the capability of casting Lightning Arrow as a 4th-Level Spell once every Long Rest, practically giving players a chance to nova groups of opponents at the start of combat. Lastly, Reposition Malefactor can pull targets 9m closer to players if they fail a DC 15 DEX Save, allowing players to reposition enemies to be much closer to the rest of the party’s melee combatants.

26 Darkfire Shortbow

A Defensive Measure Against Fire And Ice

According to its flavor text, the Darkfire Shortbow has been polished by the refined breath of a silver and gold dragon, both types of Dungeons & Dragons creatures known for their icy and flaming breaths, respectively. When players acquire this bow from Dammon at the Last Light Inn, they get one of the more interesting defensive options in the game.

Upon wielding the Darkfire Shortbow, players get Resistance to Fire and Cold Damage, allowing them to brave Spellcasters with a penchant for using heavy-hitting Fireballs or even dangerous obstacles. Users of the Shortbow can also use Haste as a 3rd-Level Spell once per Long Rest, giving them an edge in emergencies as an escape tool or early in the fight to dish out heavy damage to threats.

25 Hunting Shortbow

The Definitive Foil Against Unnatural Creatures

When players first meet Dammon in the Druid Grove, they may be able to acquire the Hunting Shortbow. Upon wielding, the Hunting Shortbow grants its users with the Feller of Monsters effect that gives them Advantage against Monstrosity-type foes. They also get access to Hunter's Mark as a 1st-Level Spell, with a Long Rest recharge.

An interesting part regarding the Hunting Shortbow is how it’s built to fight Monstrosities. This particular creature type is reserved for enemies who aren’t normally found in nature and are often magical in terms of their creation. While the Advantage is only granted against these creatures, the constant access to this buff can make the weapon worth the switch when they are encountered.

24 Least Expected

The Perfect Partner For Ranged Rogues

When players reach the Gauntlet of Shar in Act 2, they can search for a Gilded Chest to acquire the Least Expected. This is a Shortbow with the Darkwell Precision effect, which essentially gives wielders +1d4 Damage to Ranged Weapon Attacks when obscured by shadows. Another interesting addition from this weapon is its Blinding Shot Action, which has a chance of Blinding a target.

Despite the rather seemingly straightforward bonuses from this weapon, it’s the implication of it that transforms it into a ranged powerhouse. When wielded by a Rogue who is careful about their positioning, Least Expected can consistently proc +1d4 Damage and Ranged Sneak Attack to their hits. Not only that, but inflicting Blind on an opponent using Blinding Shot prior to the follow-up attack can guarantee another Ranged Sneak Attack.

23 Fabricated Arbalest

Blind Enemies For Instant Advantage

When players defeat Enver Gortash in Wyrm’s Rock Fortress, they’re able to loot Fabricated Arbalest from his corpse. At first glance, this Very Rare Heavy Crossbow has the typical arsenal of Special Actions from its weapon type, particularly Piercing Shot and Brace. However, its Rarity is earned through its Dazzling Ray and Illuminating Shot Actions.

Should players use Dazzling Ray, they can release a light that Blinds all creatures in its path. Those affected by the Blind Status can only see and hit within 3 meters of them, and even then have Disadvantage to their Attack Rolls. Meanwhile, all Attacks against Blinded targets have Advantage. Even if opponents don’t get hit by Dazzling Ray, the Fabricated Arbalest has an Illuminating Shot that affects its targets with a turn of Radiating Orb, giving them -1 to Attack Rolls for the duration.

22 Blightbringer

A Slowing Weapon With A Specific Purpose

Created by the Goblin shaman Kirruk Redrats to fight their sworn enemies among the Dwarves and Gnomes, the Blightbringer is built specifically to kill the aforementioned creatures among the enemy ranks. Sold by Entharl Danthelon in Wyrm’s Crossing, long-ranged combatants who wield this Bow can get +1d4 Attack and Damage when fighting Gnomes and Dwarves (Blightbringer). Not only that, but landing a Critical Hit will also Slow down the target (Prey Decelerator), making this extremely potent at the hands of builds that specialize on scoring crits.

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At first glance, Blightbringer may not be a long-ranged fighter’s immediate choice for a bow in their Baldur's Gate 3 gameplay. However, players may want to skip prioritizing the bonus damage against Dwarves and Gnomes and instead utilize the Slow-on-crit bonus of the weapon. Being able to rake in as much Attack Roll bonuses as possible to consistently Slow foes on crits can debilitate the enemy’s advance.

21 Gandrel’s Aspiration

Fight Back Against Monstrosities

Most weapons in Baldur’s Gate 3 often come with unique flavor text, with Gandrel's Aspiration boasting perhaps one of the game's more interesting stories to read. It’s said that when Gandrel witnessed the horrible burning of a vampire spawn, it ushered in a desire to ensure such a creature wouldn’t harm others again. This resulted in an Uncommon Heavy Crossbow capable of eliminating monsters, with its wielders getting Advantage against Monstrosity-type creatures (Feller of Monsters) as well as improved odds of ranged attacks inflicting Turn Undead for a single turn once every Short Rest (Sacred Munitions).

Acquired after defeating Gandrel in Sunlit Wetlands, this Heavy Crossbow can serve as the perfect weapon for players who want to fight larger creatures - something that's very useful in the endgame portion of the RPG. Its Sacred Munitions, capable of Turning the Undead, could be enough to fight the more horrifying enemies of the RPG later down the line.