For Dungeons & Dragons players looking to make friends with the beasts of the wild, the Beast Master archetype is one of the easiest ways to build that type of bond. Beast Master Rangers forge a friendship with an animal companion so powerful that the beast will protect their master from harm and follow commands in combat.
Because the animal companion's actions are directed by the Ranger, it often means forfeiting the Ranger's action -- but that doesn't have to be a bad thing. With the right build, a Beast Master and their companion can both become powerful party members that the others will gladly rely on on and off the battlefield.
Beast Master Build Summary
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Ability Scores (in order of importance) |
Strength, Dexterity, Wisdom, Constitution, Intelligence, Charisma |
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Race |
Aarakocra, Kenku, Halfling, Bugbear |
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Animal Companions |
Giant Snake, Flying Snake, Wolves |
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Feats |
Sentinel, Mounted Combatant |
Maximize Strength and Dexterity With a Wisdom Boost
Strength and Dexterity are the core stats for any Ranger build. Dexterity makes them nimble, agile and stealthy enough to move through wooded areas without a sound, and Dexterity contributes with the Ranger's initiative, providing a higher bonus for both the Ranger and their animal companion. Dexterity also determines Armor Class, and the Ranger's DEX proficiency influences the AC of their animal companion too.
Along with STR and DEX, Wisdom is another important stat. This affects the skill bonus for abilities like Animal Handling, Survival and Insight, all of which are incredibly important for Rangers of any archetype. Animal Handling can come in handy, and not just with the Beast Master's animal companion, but with other animals they may encounter on their journey.
The Best Racial Choices for a Beast Master
When it comes to choosing a race for a Beast Master, it's important to take a look at the stat boosts they receive and how other racial abilities can benefit a Beast Master. Also take into consideration how the player's race will work into their backstory and how they became a master of beasts on their path.
Aarakocra and Kenku are both keen choices, as they gain +2 to Dexterity and +1 to Wisdom. Aarakocra can fly alongside their powerful avian companion, and Kenku can mimic the sounds of their surroundings. Elves are also a great races for Rangers because they get an automatic +2 to Dexterity and have Darkvision, which is excellent for navigation. Their Keen Senses gives the Ranger a heads up when regarding their surroundings.
Halflings also gain a +2 to their Dexterity and have the Lucky trait and Halfling Nimbleness, which makes them incredibly stealthy and agile. Bugbears have +2 to Strength and +1 to Dexterity, as well as an automatic proficiency in Stealth, while Tortles get +2 Strength and +1 Wisdom.
The Best Animal Companions for Beast Masters
The Beast Master can choose an animal companion at level three. The animal can be no larger than medium and must have a challenge rating of 1/4 or lower. There are plenty of creatures that fall into this category, but some have attributes like Stealth, Perception and Blindsight that make them better than others.
The Giant Snake and Flying Snake both have an extended reach, which means enemies that would otherwise be just out of reach are no match for their attack. Both do a decent amount of poison damage on a successful attack, which is sometimes a good enough reason to sacrifice the Beast Master's attack until they gain the second attack action allowing both Ranger and companion to move in one round turn.
Wolves are another great choice. They have 40 feet of movement, which means they could potentially get to combat before anyone else and may even arrive undetected. Not only are they incredibly stealthy, but they also have keen senses and the ability to knock enemies prone. Wolves also have a trait called Pack Tactics that allows them to gain advantage on attack rolls when the Ranger or their companions are within melee range of an enemy.
Giant Wolf Spiders are another remarkably stealthy beast -- and they're creepy to boot. They may also act as a mount for smaller Rangers, like gnomes or halflings. Because they are proficient in Stealth and have the ability to climb, they become excellent reconnaissance companions, sneaking through the terrain to scope out enemy encampments for a surprise attack.
The Best Feats for Beast Masters
Sentinel is a must-have feat for Beast Master Rangers because they can pass the benefits on to their animal companion. For example, when a Sentinel hits an enemy with an attack of opportunity, their speed becomes zero, making it easier for everyone else to get close. Enemies also can't disengage from Sentinels, meaning they take an attack of opportunity even if they disengage and try to move away.
Mounted Combatant is a great option for Beast Masters who choose an animal companion large enough to serve as a mount. Not only do Mounted Combatants have advantage on melee attacks against unmounted creatures, but the Ranger can force an attack meant for its mount onto itself instead, protecting their companion. It also grants the mount the ability to take no damage from a successful Dexterity saving throw effect that would otherwise cause it to suffer half-damage.