Vortex Gaming

· This build focuses on the 'Cloakedwood Watcher' subclass within the 'Dark Ranger' mod for Baldur's Gate 3.
· Warlock Arrow: Gathers necrotic energy into an arrow to deal damage to enemies. Charges increase at levels 4 and 10, allowing for various attack types.
· Bone Chill: Hinders enemy healing and deals necrotic damage.
· Speak with Dead: Deals necrotic damage to an enemy and imposes disadvantage on their next attack.
· Attack the Weak: Grants advantage against enemies with less than 50% HP, and gains -1 critical hit chance every 3 levels.
· Class Passives:
· Uneasy Perception: Gains advantage on Perception checks.
· Close-Quarters Shot: Does not suffer disadvantage when making ranged attacks at close range.
· Ghostly Movement: Movement speed increases, with greater increases at higher levels.
· Recommended Stats:

Stat	Recommended Value
Strength	8
Dexterity	17
Constitution	14
Intelligence	8
Wisdom	16
Charisma	10

· A guide to core spell and feat choices for the Dark Ranger, level by level.

Level	Selection	Description
2	Spells: Mark of Corruption, Inflict Wounds Fighting Style: Archery or Defense	Mark of Corruption makes enemies vulnerable to necrotic damage. It synergizes well with Inflict Wounds for high damage. Archery is good for bow attacks, while Defense is good for overall AC.
3	Subclass: Cloakedwood Watcher Spells: Hunter's Mark or Longstrider	The Cloakedwood Watcher is similar to a Beast Master, utilizing summons. Hunter's Mark adds extra damage, and Longstrider increases movement speed.
4	Feat: Sharpshooter	Ignores high ground disadvantage and gains +10 damage at the cost of -5 to attack rolls. Synergizes well with the Archery fighting style.
5	Extra Attack Companion's Bond Spells: Corpse Skin, Darkness or Pass Without Trace	Extra Attack increases the number of attacks per turn. Companion's Bond adds your proficiency bonus to your summon's AC and damage rolls. Corpse Skin sets an ally's AC to 16 and grants poison resistance. Darkness obscures vision for stealth, and Pass Without Trace grants a +10 bonus to Stealth checks.
6	Class Passives: Advantage on Death Saving Throws, Death's Sight, Necrotic Resistance, Ghostly Presence	Advantage on Death Saving Throws grants advantage on death saving throws. Death's Sight allows you to perceive your surroundings without relying on sight. Necrotic Resistance grants resistance to necrotic damage. Ghostly Presence grants advantage on Stealth checks.
7	Spell: Pass Without Trace Ability: Ignore Difficult Terrain Movement Speed Reduction	Pass Without Trace is very powerful for stealth builds. Ignoring difficult terrain movement speed reduction improves mobility.
8	Feat: Alert or Ability Improvement (Dexterity)	Alert ensures you always act first in combat, giving you the initiative. Ability Improvement (Dexterity) increases attack rolls and AC.
9	Spells: Shrieking Arrow, Lesser Blade	Shrieking Arrow deals area-of-effect piercing damage and inflicts Silence. Lesser Blade can make enemies vulnerable to necrotic damage.
10	Ability: Hide in Plain Sight	Allows you to hide even when in an enemy's line of sight.
11	Feat: Savage Attacker Ability: Beast's Fury	Savage Attacker allows you to reroll damage dice for melee weapon attacks and use the higher result. Beast's Fury grants your companion an extra attack.
12	Feat: Ability Improvement (Dexterity) or Lucky	Ability Improvement (Dexterity) further increases attack power and defense. Lucky grants advantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.

· A list of equipment and summons to maximize the efficiency of the Dark Ranger build.
· Appearance Mods:
· Acheron Outfit and Light Armor: Created by Onyx Omens, provides a cool appearance.
· Linerius Cloak Pack 2: Available on Nexus Mods.
· Base Game Equipment:

Equipment Slot	Item	Effect
Helmet	Soul-Catching Mask or Helmet of the Steel Watch	Soul-Catching Mask enhances attack rolls. Helmet of the Steel Watch grants vision even in darkness.
Cloak	Cloak of Protection	Provides +1 AC.
Armor	Ballista Armor	Prevents disadvantage on ranged attacks at close range. Makes enemies vulnerable to piercing damage.
Boots	Boots of Stormy Clamour	Applies Reverb to enemies, potentially knocking them prone.
Gloves	Legacy of the Master	Provides a +1 or +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls.
Main Weapon	Duellist's Amarus	Deals extra damage on critical hits.
Off-hand Weapon	Titanstring Bow	Deals additional damage proportional to Strength modifier. Good with Strength potions or Hill Giant Strength Gauntlets.
Shield	Viconia's Walking Fortress	Provides defensive advantages.
Necklace	Amulet of Greater Health	Increases Constitution.
Rings	Caustic Band Ring of Shadow Cloak	Caustic Band deals 2 additional damage, which applies to all targets with Multi-Target Arrow. Ring of Shadow Cloak deals 1d4 additional damage to obscured or hidden enemies.

· Summons (Cloakedwood Watcher):
· You can choose from various summons such as Displacer Beast, Death Hound, Shadow Raven, Grave Spider, Needle Blade, Vine Blade, and more.
· These summons can only be summoned once per long rest but each possesses powerful abilities.

· Effective combat operation methods for the Dark Ranger build.
· Combat Start: Use 'Mark of Corruption' to apply necrotic vulnerability to key enemies. This creates a powerful synergy with necrotic damage spells like 'Inflict Wounds' or 'Warlock Arrow'.
· Warlock Arrow Utilization: A fully enhanced Warlock Arrow deals 48 necrotic damage, which can approach 100 damage when vulnerability is applied. When used with the Titanstring Bow, you can add additional damage proportional to your Strength modifier.
· Close-Quarters Shot Advantage: Thanks to the 'Close-Quarters Shot' passive and 'Ballista Armor', you do not suffer disadvantage on ranged attacks at close range. Utilize this to approach enemies, apply piercing damage vulnerability with 'Ballista Armor', and inflict Reverb with 'Boots of Stormy Clamour' to knock enemies prone.
· Multi-Target Arrow: Useful when area-of-effect attacks are needed. If a critical hit occurs on the first target, it applies to all targets, dealing immense area damage.
· Summon Utilization: Summons like the 'Death Hound' can apply the 'Septic Infection' condition to enemies with its 'Septic Bite', reducing their Constitution and imposing disadvantage on Constitution saving throws.
· Shrieking Arrow: Deals area damage and can Silence enemies, preventing spellcasting.