Dungeons & Dragons: Best Bard Builds

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Key Takeaways

  • Bards in D&D 5e excel at social interactions, combat support, and spellcasting, making them versatile leaders in the party.
  • Optimal Bard builds focus on maximizing Charisma, Dexterity, and Constitution to enhance spellcasting and survivability.
  • Choosing the right Bard College and utilizing feats/backgrounds that complement playstyle and character role is crucial for customization.

As a seasoned adventurer with years of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the Bard is one of the most versatile and entertaining characters to play in any tabletop RPG setting. With their unique blend of combat prowess, spellcasting abilities, and charm, they bring life and intrigue to any party.

In simpler terms, the character from Dungeons & Dragons, often referred to as ‘The Bard’, has transformed into a versatile class, capable of handling multiple tasks. This includes spellcasting, providing healing, and even dealing physical harm. Furthermore, they possess a knack for resolving tricky social predicaments through the use of their high Charisma.

In conversations, the charisma of the Bard typically makes them the head or the public figure of the group. During battles, their role is ideal for boosting allies’ abilities and weakening opponents with spells, allowing another group member to make the final attack.

Bardic Races

Look For Improvements To Charisma, Dexterity, And Constitution

  • The best races for playing a Bard in D&D all have some sort of Charisma bonus, which is the main ability score and spellcasting skill for this class.

Individuals constructing a multiclass Bard character might want to focus on statistics that enhance this specific build. For instance, Paladin characters would benefit from boosting their Strength stat, whereas Rogue characters should prioritize increasing their Dexterity.

Species Sourcebook Description
Aasimar Volo’s Guide to Monsters +2 to Charisma, and +1 to Intelligence
Changeling Eberron: Rising from the Last War +2 bonus to Charisma is a great start for any build
Drow Elf Player’s Handbook Bonuses to Charisma and Dexterity
Half-elves Player’s Handbook +2 bonus to Charisma, +1 to two other attributes, Darkvision, extra skills, and Advantage against being charmed
Lightfoot Halfling Player’s Handbook One of the two Halfing subraces, this one gets bonuses to Charisma and Dexterity
Satyr Mystic Odysseys of Theros +2 to Charisma and a +1 Dexterity
Tabaxi Volo’s Guide to Monsters +2 to Dexterity and a +1 to Charisma
Tiefling Player’s Handbook +2 to Charisma and +1 to Intelligence
Triton Volo’s Guide to Monsters +1 to Charisma. For those eyeing the College of Valor subclass, a Triton is ideal
Variant Humans Eberron – Rising from the Last War Dexterity +2, one other Ability Score increases by 1.

Ability Scores

Ranked In Order Of Importance

  • Charisma: It’s already been said that a Bard needs to ooze charm to be effective, so it shouldn’t be surprising that a Bard’s highest stat should most definitely be Charisma. If the Bard starts the game with their Charisma score below 20, then the player should focus on getting them there by gaining levels.
  • Dexterity: The second-highest stat in the best Bard build should go to Dexterity. It boosts attack, initiative, and AC, and since Bards don’t usually wear heavy armor, they’ll need that naturally high AC in a fight.
  • Constitution: The next-highest ability score should be Constitution. It’s nearly as important as Dexterity, given that Constitution dictates the number of hit points a character has. That’s a perk that any class would find valuable.
  • Wisdom: Wisdom is not a priority for a Bard in the least. However, given the number of spells that call for a Wisdom saving throw, not to mention the skills this stat boosts, it shouldn’t be a dump stat either.
  • Intelligence: Players will have a choice as to the second-lowest stat and which is the dump stat. Generally, Intelligence is considered the best stat for Bards and other Charisma-based casters to dump, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be.
  • Strength: If someone wants their Bard to have a halfway decent Arcana skill, consider making Strength the dump stat instead. Only those who want a more Strength-based build or multiclassing into Fighter or Paladin need to put Intelligence last. Besides that, it’s the player’s choice.

Choosing A Bard College

Subclasses Are Important For Customization

  • Bardic subclasses are divided into different Colleges, and several more have evolved over the years including homebrew ideas.

Players are welcome to delve into any of these Colleges as they please. While certain Bardic builds may prove more advantageous during gameplay in D&D, imaginative players should not feel restrained in their quest to craft something original.

Subclass Sourcebook Abilities Signature Spell
College of Lore Player’s Handbook Three bonus proficiencies and Magical Secrets, so the Bard to cast spells from other classes Cutting Words
College of Glamour Xanathar’s Guide to Everything Focus on controlling the battlefield and deceiving the enemy Mantle of Majesty, Unbreakable Majesty
College of Spirits Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft The Guidance cantrip, which allows this Bard to reach out to spirits when in need of direction Tales From Beyond
College of Valor Player’s Handbook Expert in melee damage, ideal for Bards that have multi- or dual-classed into martial classes Combat Inspiration
College of Creation Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything Mote of Potential, the ability to create and animate objects Animating Performance
College of Swords Xanathar’s Guide to Everything Offensive swordplay, a variety of melee combat skills, the Fighting Style ability Blade Flourish
College of Whispers Xanathar’s Guide to Everything Focus on charm and intrigue, ideal for dungeon crawling or political maneuvers Shadow Lore
College of Eloquence Mystic Odysseys of Theros, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything Emphasis on the Bard’s oration abilities Silver Tongue Unfailing Inspiration

Character Sheet Completion

Spells And Skills Starting From Level 1

  • Spells and Cantrips are an important part of every Bard build and can emphasize healing, damage, or support roles

First-Level Spells

  • Minor Illusion is a cantrip that allows the Bard to produce almost any illusory effect.
  • Vicious Mockery is a cantrip that gives Disadvantage to the player’s enemies, great for Bard builds in 5e and for RP.
  • Detect Magic is a first-level spell that’s useful in various settings, from a posh dinner to a grotty prison.
  • Healing Ward is a first-level spell that’s essential for players building a healer or support character.

Skills

  • Deception: Charisma-based, useful in both diplomatic situations and combat, and ideal for virtually any Bard build.
  • Persuasion: Charisma-based, this Skill is essential if the player is the leader of a party.
  • Performance: Charisma-based, this skill is fairly obvious for any class that relies on public appearances.
  • Perception: Wisdom-based, so not a winner for all Bards, but it’s useful as players will be rolling for Perception fairly often.
  • Arcana: Intelligence-based, this useful skill helps the user memorize and recognize spells.

Feats and Backgrounds

The Finishing Touches To Every Character Build

Feats

  • Actor makes a good choice for players who want a Feat rather than the ability score increase, but still need to bump their bard’s Charisma up a point. It also provides Advantage on Deception and Persuasion checks that involve trying to pass oneself off as a different person.
  • War Caster is a great option for both Valor and Lore bards who need a bonus to their concentration and some expanded attack of opportunity options. It provides a variety of abilities that make it easier to cast spells in battle.
  • Inspiring Leader gives the Bard extra hit points, making it ideal for those who lead their party into battle or tend to draw attention as healers.
  • Magic Initiate allows the player to choose two cantrips from other classes. It offers a handy way to get extra spellcasting abilities to customize a character’s role.

Backgrounds

  • Charlatan combines nicely with other Bardic skills, like Actor and Persuasion.
  • Courtier is ideal for those with an upper-class background or diplomatic ties. It also grants the use of one extra language.
  • Entertainer is an obvious pick for the Bard, but its features might be redundant depending on the player’s choice of College.
  • The Faction Agent background is similar to a spy. This Bard could adhere to a certain ideology or work for a specific political entity.

Best Bard Gear

Improvements To Charisma And Armor Class

  • Emphasize other skills and abilities depending on the role and build

For bards, there might be constraints in terms of armor and weapons, but they can overcome these limitations through specific Feats and multiclass combinations, if the player chooses to do so. A bard who specializes in spellcasting will primarily rely on Charisma, while Dexterity will enhance both their magical casting abilities and Sleight of Hand skills.

Item Source Description
Masquerade Tattoo Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything Gives the Bard the power of the Disguise Self spell.
Staff Of Charming D&D Basic Rules 10 charges to cast Charm Person, Command, or Comprehend Languages, protects the user from Enchantment spells
Pipes of Haunting D&D Basic Rules Playing a melody from these pipes renders any creature nearby to become Frightened, but allies can pass a saving throw
Cloak Of Invisibility Dungeon Master’s Guide Pull the hood up to render the wearer invisible for 2 hours. Recharges after 1 hour
Instrument of the Bards Dungeon Master’s Guide Seven varieties of these instruments exist, and each includes a few extra spell slots for healing, damage, or support
Ring Of Protection D&D Free Rules (2024) +1 to AC when wearing the ring

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2024-12-08 01:53