This Fighter Subclass Will Need To Step Up Its Game To Compete With Baldur’s Gate 3’s Battlemaster

3 weeks ago 14

The fighter will be receiving a new subclass in Baldur's Gate 3 in 2025 in the form of the arcane archer. This is exciting news for players who want to create a ranged character, as many of the martial classes in the game lack features that specifically enhance ranged weapon attacks. Dungeons & Dragons tabletop players, however, may be skeptical, as the arcane archer does not have a stellar reputation.

Within D&D, the arcane archer is probably one of the worst subclass picks for fighters, simply because it is overshadowed by the other options. In particular, the battlemaster can do almost everything that the arcane archer does but better, and since the battle master is already the best fighter subclass in BG3, the archer will need some big improvements in order to be worth taking.

Arcane Shot Often Misses The Mark

This Archer's Main Feature Is Lacking In Power

While the exact mechanics of the arcane archer are almost guaranteed to change somewhat for Baldur's Gate 3, the subclass features described in Xanathar's Guide To Everything paint a clear picture of why this subclass is considered lacking. At third level, it grants an extra skill proficiency and free cantrip spell, which is nice enough, but its main feature is arcane shot, which works somewhat like the battle master's maneuvers.

The rules for the arcane archer specifically state that the arcane shots can only be used for shortbows and longbows, a weird limitation that excludes crossbow users.

The archer learns two arcane shot techniques and can choose to apply one of them to a ranged attack after they hit. The effects are nothing to scoff at; they are able to deal extra necrotic damage, charm targets, or even banish them temporarily. The main issue, however, is that the arcane archer can only use these shots twice before needing to have a short rest in order to use more of them.

Battle Master Techniques Work Just As Well For Ranged Characters

Maneuvers Tend to Outperform Arcane Shots

The arcane archer gets a few more options at higher levels, including the ability to make ranged attacks ignore physical damage resistance and redirecting missed shots, but the arcane shot powers are their bread and butter. And while they learn a few more shot techniques off the list as they level up, this power remains underwhelming in comparison to the maneuvers that battle masters can use.

What Is The Strongest Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter Subclass?

Baldur's Gate 3 offers three different choices for fighters to choose as their subclass, but which among them is the most powerful?

Maneuvers can be used four times per short rest rather than two, the battle master learns more of them at third level, and most of them can be used on ranged and melee attacks. They may slightly underperform compared to the arcane shots in terms of damage, but their additional effects are near if not just as strong, and ranged characters in BG3 are already quite effective with the battle master subclass. As written, the arcane archer simply isn't strong enough to warrant taking over the battle master fighter for nearly any character.

The Arcane Archer Needs An Update

This Subclass Requires Some Changes To Ever Be Worth Taking

There are, however, a few obvious ways to make the arcane archer more competitive. The first would be to let them learn an additional shot technique or two at third level, giving players more versatility right off the bat. A second possible change is to let them use those shots four times per short rest, equal to the number of maneuvers a battle master can use. The arcane shots tend to deal more damage, but they are also more limited in the kinds of attacks they can apply to.

The arcane shots should be allowed to apply to more types of ranged weapon attacks, including those from crossbows, but not to thrown weapon attacks.

With changes as simple as that, this subclass could be great for Baldur's Gate 3 archers to use. Given how many mechanics Larian has already altered when adapting features from D&D into a video game format, doing something like this should pose no problems at all. Still, it remains to be seen how exactly any of the upcoming 12 subclasses will be implemented into Baldur's Gate 3, and whether they will receive meaningful updates from their TTRPG versions.

Source: Larian Studios/YouTube