Bard
Bards know music is more than idle fancy - it is power. Through study and adventure, these travelling troubadours master song, speech, and the magic within.
- Hit Dice
- d8
- Primary Ability
- Charisma
- Saving Throws
- Dexterity, Charisma
- Armour Proficiency
- Light Armour
- Weapon Proficiency
- Simple Weapons, Hand Crossbows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords, Musical Instrument
- Spellcasting Ability
- Charisma
- Subclass Choice
- Level 3
Strengths
- The strongest persuasion in the game; many fights end before they start
- Inspiration rescues the critical rolls allies would otherwise miss
- Magical Secrets borrows spells from other classes
Weaknesses
- Direct damage is low; a bard alone rarely closes a fight
- Fragile hit points and armour keep it out of the front line
- Its power depends on picking the right spell at the right moment
Subclasses
- College of GlamourYou mastered your craft under the tutelage of fey creatures, whose captivating magic swirls within you, ready to be released.
- College of LoreYou pursue beauty and truth, collecting knowledge from scholarly tomes to peasants' tales, and use your gifts to hold both audiences and enemies spellbound.
- College of SwordsA highly trained and skilled warrior, you use your prowess with words and weapons to fight and entertain in equal measure.
- College of ValourYou wander the land to witness and relate the deeds of the mighty, keeping alive the memory of heroes of the past and inspiring heroes of the future.
Level progression
| Level | Features | Resources | Spell Slots |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bardic InspirationCan use Bardic Inspiration. Choose 3 skills 18 optionsAcrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, SurvivalChoose 2 cantrips 8 optionsVicious Mockery, Blade Ward, Mage Hand, True Strike, Friends, Dancing Lights, Light, Minor IllusionChoose 4 spells 15 optionsAnimal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, ThunderwaveChoose 1 Instrument | Bardic Inspiration3 | 12 |
| 2 | Jack of All TradesYour vast experiences make you more likely to succeed in any undertaking. Add half of your Proficiency Bonus (rounded down) to Ability Checks that you are not Proficient in. Song of RestYou and your allies are revitalised as though you would have taken a Short Rest. Choose 1 spell 15 optionsAnimal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave | Bardic Inspiration3 | 13 |
| 3 | Subclass Choice Choose 1 spell 31 optionsBlindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, ThunderwaveGain expertise in 2 skills 18 optionsAcrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Survival | Bardic Inspiration3 | 1422 |
| 4 | Choose 1 cantrip 8 optionsVicious Mockery, Blade Ward, Mage Hand, True Strike, Friends, Dancing Lights, Light, Minor IllusionChoose 1 spell 31 optionsBlindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave | Bardic Inspiration3 | 1423 |
| 5 | Font of InspirationYou regain all your Bardic Inspiration after a Long or Short Rest. Improved Bardic InspirationThe bonus gained from Bardic Inspiration increases to +1d8. Choose 1 spell 39 optionsBestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave | Bardic Inspiration4 | 142332 |
| 6 | CountercharmYou and any allies within 9 m have Advantage on Saving Throws against being Charmed or Frightened. Choose 1 spell 39 optionsBestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave | Bardic Inspiration4 | 142333 |
| 7 | Choose 1 spell 44 optionsConfusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave | Bardic Inspiration4 | 14233341 |
| 8 | Choose 1 spell 44 optionsConfusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave | Bardic Inspiration5 | 14233342 |
| 9 | Choose 1 spell 50 optionsDominate Person, Greater Restoration, Hold Monster, Mass Cure Wounds, Planar Binding, Seeming, Confusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave | Bardic Inspiration5 | 1423334351 |
| 10 | Improved Bardic InspirationThe bonus gained from Bardic Inspiration increases to +1d10. Choose 1 cantrip 8 optionsVicious Mockery, Blade Ward, Mage Hand, True Strike, Friends, Dancing Lights, Light, Minor IllusionChoose 1 spell 50 optionsDominate Person, Greater Restoration, Hold Monster, Mass Cure Wounds, Planar Binding, Seeming, Confusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, ThunderwaveGain expertise in 2 skills 18 optionsAcrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, SurvivalChoose 2 spells 62 optionsBanishing Smite, Cone of Cold, Conjure Elemental, Contagion, Wall of Stone, Banishment, Blight, Death Ward, Dominate Beast, Fire Shield, Guardian of Faith, Ice Storm, Wall of Fire, Animate Dead, Warden of Vitality, Call Lightning, Counterspell, Crusader's Mantle, Daylight, Fireball, Grant Flight, Gaseous Form, Haste, Hunger of Hadar, Lightning Bolt, Mass Healing Word, Remove Curse, Revivify, Sleet Storm, Slow, Spirit Guardians, Vampiric Touch, Arcane Lock, Blur, Darkness, Darkvision, Misty Step, Pass Without Trace, Ray of Enfeeblement, Scorching Ray, Spike Growth, Spiritual Weapon, Web, Armour of Agathys, Bless, Chromatic Orb, Command, Entangle, False Life, Guiding Bolt, Hellish Rebuke, Hex, Hunter's Mark, Ice Knife, Magic Missile, Sanctuary, Thunderous Smite, Bone Chill, Eldritch Blast, Fire Bolt, Ray of Frost, Sacred Flame | Bardic Inspiration5 | 1423334352 |
| 11 | Choose 1 spell 52 optionsEyebite, Otto's Irresistible Dance, Dominate Person, Greater Restoration, Hold Monster, Mass Cure Wounds, Planar Binding, Seeming, Confusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave | Bardic Inspiration5 | 142333435261 |
| 12 | Choose 1 spell 52 optionsEyebite, Otto's Irresistible Dance, Dominate Person, Greater Restoration, Hold Monster, Mass Cure Wounds, Planar Binding, Seeming, Confusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave | Bardic Inspiration5 | 142333435261 |