The concept of a Fighter build specializing in ranged damage is present in almost every RPG, and Baldur's Gate 3 has made the concept official with the Arcane Archer subclass. Players who want to experiment with this class can either roll a whole new character or choose the subclass for Fighter Lae'zel when she reaches third level.
Baldur's Gate 3: Best Feats For Each New Subclass
For those looking to make the most of the new subclasses featured in Baldur's Gate 3, here are the best Feats for them.
This isn't just physical damage, as the name indicates, but combines ranged damage with arcane power, giving players who like bows and crossbows a whole new class to discover. Similar new subclasses that combine arcane magic with sword mastery include the Hexblade Warlock and the Bladesinging Wizard.
Overview
The Arcane Archer Fighter, Explained
- The most important ability score is Strength, followed by Dexterity.
The Arcane Archer is a Fighter who specializes in ranged damage. They can combine their shots with magical properties, so they can ignore rules about line-of-sight and make their arrows explode, among other things.
Fighters usually rely solely on Strength and Constitution, but a character's skill with ranged weapons also depends on Dexterity. Players can turn this into a mixed ranged-melee build or go for a pure Archer with some extra spellcasting abilities.
Finesse weapons are recommended because of the Dexterity, but it's a guideline, not a rule. Every Fighter is highly customizable, which is one of the reasons it's a popular class, and players can easily build a Fighter-Archer with no magical abilities if they want.
Fighting Styles
One of the extra advantages of the class, Fighters get yet another level of customization with Fighting Styles. There are six in total, and although other classes also have access to Fighting styles, like the Bard and Ranger, only the Fighter can choose one from all six.
The Arcane Archer's most obvious choice is Archery, which increases all ranged damage by +2. Should they also want some melee fighting action, then Defense, which adds +1 to their AC, is also a good choice.
Baldur's Gate 3: 7 Ways To Improve Strength
For Paladins, Fighters, and Barbarians in Baldur's Gate 3, these are great opportunities to increase their primary stat.
The Unique Skills Of Arcane Archer
Arcane Arrow And Arcane Shots
- Magical shots that avoid obstacles, explode, and inflict additional magical damage.
Subclass Features
Most of the unique abilities that define the Arcane Archer come with the subclass choice when the player reaches level 3.
- Arcane Archer Lore: Proficiency in Arcana and Nature.
- Arcane Arrows: These are the number of charges the Arcane Archer has from level 3 for their special shots. The base number is four and increases with character progression.
- Arcane Shot: These are the special abilities unique to the class. Choose three from eight options.
-
Extra Cantrips: The Arcane Archer can choose one of three:
Guidance,
Light (Spell), and
True Strike.
At level 7, Arcane Fighters get Curving Shot, which can hit another enemy on a miss, and Magic Arrow, which overcomes all magical resistance. Other bonuses include another choice for Arcane Shot and 3 more charges to use it.
At level 10, the Fighter gets three more Arcane Arrows, bringing the total to 10, plus one more choice of an Arcane Shot.
Baldur's Gate 3: Best Death Domain Cleric Build
Learn one of the best ways to build the new Death Domain Cleric in Baldur's Gate 3.
The Best Arcane Archer Builds
Start With Dexterity And Strength
- The Arcane Archer needs buffs to mobility with skills like Athletics to find the best vantage points in every battle, along with extra Perception and Insight.
Races
Look for extra bonuses to the ability scores of Strength and Dexterity and the Proficiency skills of Insight, Athletics, and Perception.
- High Elf: Proficiency in Perception, Longbows, and Shortbows, along with a Cantrip from the Wizard's spellbook.
-
Githyanki: Some Arcane abilities and improved mobility make this an ideal choice for an archer-melee combination build, like the spells
Misty Step
and Enhanced Leap.
- Drow: These elves have proficiency in crossbows and rapiers, for those who want some extra ranged and melee prowess.
- Human: Choose any Proficiency skill and get a generous bonus to melee weapon skills.
Feats
Use Feats to improve the Arcane Archer's Dexterity, Strength, and ranged fighting skills.
- Ability Improvement: This build has more than one important ability score, so use it to add +2 to Dexterity or +1 to Dexterity and another to Strength.
- Crossbow Expert: Attacks ignore the rules about Disadvantage on short-range shots, and Gaping Wounds lasts twice as long.
- Sharpshooter: Attacks ignore the rules about Disadvantage on love ground shots, and players can swap -5 from their attack role for +10 to additional damage.
- Defensive Duellist: A good addition to a Fighter who uses finesse weapons, this Feat allows them to use a Reaction against an enemy that attacks an ally within melee range.
Backgrounds
As with the choice of Races, look for Backgrounds with Insight, Athletics, and Perception.
- Acolyte: Insight and Religion, a common choice for Clerics and Monks. This Fighter was raised in a church, monastery, or other kind of cloistered religious order.
- Guild Artisan: Insight and Persuasion, this can be any character's background. Inspiration Points come from anything similar to fixing, crafting, or the discovery of anything related.
- Outlander: Athletics and Survival, often the backstory of Rangers, Barbarians, and Druids, classes that live and work in the wilderness.
- Soldier: Athletics and Intimidation, the most obvious Fighter's Background, is also popular with Druids, Wizards, and Paladins.
Baldur's Gate 3: 7 Ways To Improve Dexterity
For those wondering how to improve their Dexterity ability score in Baldur's Gate 3, here are some of the best ways to do so.
Weapons
Bows, Crossbows, And Dexterity
- There is a wide variety of ranged weapons to choose from in every act of the game.
For those who are building an Arcane Archer with some fighting skills, look for finesse weapons that use Dexterity.
-
Hellfire Hand Crossbow: Add even more Arcane power with this crossbow, which allows the user to cast
Scorching Ray
and Hellstalker.
-
Pelorsun Blade
: A +1 rapier that does an extra 1d4 Radiant damage and grants the user Advantage against Undead targets.
-
Hellrider Longbow
: +3 to Initiative rolls, Advantage to Perception checks, and the chance to be struck by
Faerie Fire.
-
Elven Chain
: The wearer of this armor is automatically proficient in it even if they can't wear Medium Armor. It's wasted on a Fighter, but the real advantage here is getting a +2 bonus to Initiative rolls and Advantage on Dexterity saving throws.
Baldur's Gate 3: How To Increase Attack Hit Chance
This guide will show players how to increase their Attack Rolls in BG3 and thus hit more of their attacks.
Equipment And Accessories
Some Excellent Choices Thanks To A Fighter's AC Proficiencies
- This subclass can wear and equip almost anything, so take advantage of this to build a unique Arcane Archer.
Fighters can wear Heavy Armor, but that doesn't mean they have to, and gear and accessories should be chosen based on the Arcane Fighter's specific party role.
-
Gloves of Dexterity
: Sets the wearer's Dexterity ability score to 18 and buffs their attack rolls by +1. Buy them in Creche Y'llek from A'jak'nir Jeera.
-
Amulet of Greater Health
: This build has a chance of neglecting Constitution, so raise it to a healthy 23 with this amulet from the House of Hope.
-
Sarevok's Horned Helmet
: Grants the
Darkvision
ability, increases critical hit chance, and makes the wearer immune to the Frightened condition.
-
Elixir of Cloud Giant Strength
: Sets the imbiber's Strength to 27 until the next Long Rest. The player can also throw it at someone.
Baldur's Gate 3
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
