One of the first questions you’ll answer while making aDungeons & Dragonscharacter is which class you should choose to play. While of course, this is largely something only you can answer as you know what sounds the most fun to you, it does help to have all the knowledge at your fingertips.
There are many misconceptions about bards, like that they are all driven by lust or must be actors and musicians exclusively. While these can be fun ways to play and explore this Charisma-based class, that’s not the only way to play. Here is everything you need to get started on your adventure as a bard.
Bard Highlights
While there are many ways to inhabit your bard character, this class is often picked thanks toits charismatic nature. Every groupneeds a face that can talk the party into and out of situationsand adjust to ever-changing circumstances. That someone could be you.
Some of the other big standouts are theirability to inspire others, party members and NPCs alike, as well as their trait calledJack Of All Trades. While both of these will be explored in more detail later, they make it so that your bard can use just aboutany skill decently, while some of your skills will be unmatched.
They are alsoa spellcasting class, as opposed to the more martial options such as barbarians or fighters. This lets you dip into an arsenal of damaging spells, as well asbuffs and debuffs, giving your allies support and your enemies massive pains in their sides.
Differences In The 2024 Player’s Handbook
Every class was adjusted, meaning that bards didn’t go untouched (da dum tiss). However, some ofthe differences are subtle, and feats have been given out at different levels than before.
Some changes are across the board.Epic Boons, which every class receivesat 19th level, is one of the major changes that every character will experience. Unless, of course, you decide to multiclass and miss out on that bardic level, in this case.
Yes
This, overall, isa good change for bards. While Countercharm is moved further from your reach, other feats are either moved sooner, like Superior Inspiration, or are added to the mix.
Another notable difference is thatSong Of Rest is missing completely, not even just shuffled under one of the bard subclasses. Your whole party might notice this difference if they’reused to using their hit point dicebetween bouts of combat.
The above table doesn’t include Spellcasting, which will be covered in detail later in this guide.
Subclass Highlights
There arefour bardic subclassesin the 2024 Player’s Handbook. These are the colleges ofdance, glamour, lore, and valor. Only two of these were featured in the 2014 Player’s Handbook, both lore and valor.
College Of Dance
This subclass is for the bardwho wants to make the most of theirPerformance as well as buffing their allies. If you pick up this class, you’ll want to stick close to the majority of your party as a number of the feats canalso benefit at least one personif you group.
This includes giving bonuses not just toyourinitiative rollsbut also to the rolls of the group, too. So when you think you’re about to head into combat, you’ll at least want tostart close to one another before peeling offand doing whatever it is each player character does best.
It’s not a good idea tostay bunched up for longas you and your party can suffer from massive Area of Effect (AoE) spells and abilities. If you start out together,be sure to put some space between youall quickly.
College Of Glamour
If you wantto cause status conditions left and right, this is the class for you. While the college of dance bard buffs their allies,the college of glamour barddebuffs their enemies, weakening them through thecharmed and frightened conditions.
You will also gain spells as part of this subclass that are always prepared,including Command, which is strong both in and out of combat to get an enemy to quicklystop, grovel, or any other one wordyou can think of in the heat of battle or roleplay.
College Of Lore
If you’re new to playing as a bardor like havinglots of skills and options opento you, this is the subclass you’re looking for.College of lore bardsgainadditional skill proficiencies, and, in addition to Magical Secrets, gain even more spells fromthe cleric, druid, and wizard spell lists.
This will help youcover many basesand can be beneficial if your party ismissing a key role,as you can build yourself up to accommodate for that. Plus, it means that you’ll have a lot of ability checks to make, which equals rolling dice more often, which is the most fun part. And that’s just a fact. In a practical sense, this college makes youleast likely to fail D20 Testsand, if you do,gives you chances to make up for that.
College Of Valor
If you want to be up in the fray with the fightersand other martial classes,this is the subclass for you. Not only do you getan Extra Attack featthat does exactly that, you also gain access to morearmor and weapon training, giving you plenty of combat goodies to choose from.
Although you’ll be able to deal a lot of damage, you’ll also be able to aid allies, as this subclassgives Offense and Defense optionsto choose from if you’ve given them a Bardic Inspiration die to use. It’s not as many hats as the lore bard, but it allows youto be the force in a fight or the support.
Best Species Options
When it comes to species included in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, two of yourbest species options for a bard characterarehumans and aasimar.Humans will always be a good choice, thanks totheir versatility. You can build them for any class you decide to play.
Aasimar are greatas support charactersthanks to their Healing Hands trait, which can really complement the different subclasses bards can choose from. Even a valor bard, who wants to be in combat,gains the aasimarbenefit not just to heal but alsoto reduce damage takenfrom radiant and necrotic sources.
If your Dungeon Master (DM) lets you pick from outside the 2024 Player’s Handbook, you should also considerchangelings, fairies, and satyrs. Changelings, in particular, make it so that spells that are must-haves for some bardsdon’t need to be in your rotation, like Disguise Self and Polymorph.
No matter what sources you want to pull from,always check with your DMwhen creating a character.
Best Stat Placements
You shouldalways prioritize Charismaas the majority of your checks, as wellas your spellcasting modifier, willall be Charisma-based. Your second and third-highest score choiceswill vary based on the subclassyou want to build into, but Charisma should always be first.
College of Dance
Dexterity works hand-in-hand with the majority of your feats, will helpyour Armor Class, andboost your Initiative rolls. Constitution willgive you more healthas you work best helping others in combat, which works best if you stay healthy.
College of Glamour
All of your features arebased on your spellcasting or your Charisma-based skills, like Deception and Persuasion. After that, you can choose anything you like, but a high Constitutionwill give you more hit pointsfor when charming and frighteningno longer work.
College of Lore
These arethe most versatile bardsand can be built in any way, but choosing Dexterity as your second highestgets you higher in the Initiative Order, allowing you to quicklyreact to changing situations.
College of Valor
Constitution will help withyour hit point maximum. The reason you’re able to chooseStrength or Dexterityis that it willdepend on the type of weapons and armoryou want to use.
Best Spell Options
A section outlining every spell choice for every possibility would be never-ending and impossible to read and retain. However, these suggestions will focus on some of the best options fordamaging foes, for using yourCharisma in and outside of combat, as well asspells you should always keepon you.
Many of these optionsnot only damagea foe but
lead todebuffs or disadvantagesfor your enemies.
These willhelp you fool peopleor
These should be part ofevery bard’s arsenal
due to their usefulness in and out of combat.
Five
Best Starting Equipment
The 2024 Player’s Handbook only hastwo options for starting equipment. You either get the goods, or ratherthe items that all bards would start with, or the ability to start withnothing but 90 goldpieces.
There’s nothing wrong with pickingthe standard starting equipment. It gives you somearmor, some weapons, a musical instrumentof your choice, and thenan Entertainer’s Pack. Plus, you’ll getsome gold to start off with, too.
For every subclass, besides those picking college of dance, you’ll want to eventuallyupgrade to studded leather armoras it’s still light but will give you more protection.
When it comes to weapons, you’ll most likely want weaponswith the Finesse property. This usesDexterity or Strength. However, if you want more Strength or aregoing into a college of valor bardthat uses Strength-based weapons, thenyou can ignore that Finesse tag.
Consider also gettinga Disguise Kit and a Gaming Set. Having a Disguise Kit can help whenspells can’t be used,or you needallies to join you. Being good with a Gaming Set can help youstrike up conversationsor havesomeone in your debt.
Best Feats And Backgrounds
Many feats work well with bards, and some will complement some of the colleges but not others. These are some of themost solid feats you can choosefor your bard character. Keep in mind: your bard, their backstory, and your playstyle will all influence your choices.
Why This Feat?
Actor
Come on now, you’re a bard. Of course this feat is on the list. Actor is going tocompliment everything you’re already doing. If you find yourself needingextra help with Persuasion, this could change the game.
Fey-Touched
If you want someextra spells and an increase to your Charismainstead of an Ability Score Increase, this is a solid option. Misty Step canreplace an escape spellfor you, letting you pick a damaging spell or something else you feel you’re missing.
Inspiring Leader
Lets yougive temporary hit points to your partybefore combat. Pair this withsomething like Musician to stack buffsbefore big fights.
Lucky
As the bard, you will find yourself in situations whereyou simply can’t fail. Having this feat will let you attempt to change fate andgive you a higher rollin crucial moments.
Musician
You don’t need the instrument training, butgiving your whole party Heroic Inspirationbefore setting off on a quest or entering a dungeon can literally save lives.
Skilled
you’re able to never go wrongwith more skill proficiencies. And, if you’re a lore bard,you’ll be hard-pressed to find something you’re bad at.
As for backgrounds, naturally, you can choose anything. But some choicespair better with bards. Again though, only you will know what is best for your character and the story you are trying to tell.
Why This Background?
Charlatan
Giving youDeception and Sleight Of Handfrees you up to makedifferent skill proficiency choices. This also makes a lot of sense for bards who plan to doa bit of lying and thievingto get to the top.
Entertainer
Thisgives you Musicianwithout taking up a Feat choice later. Plus, free proficiency inAcrobatics and Performance, two things that tend to be important for bards.
Guard
A great choice forthe college of valor bard. It also gives youAlert, which will work well with a college of dancebard.
Merchant
Thisgives you the Lucky featthat’s so powerful whilealso giving you Persuasion, freeing up a skill choice for you that will absolutely benefit a bard.
Best Multiclassing Options
Every class has its pros and cons, especially when you get into the realm of multiclassing. Which class wouldn’t want the benefits of barbarian’s Rage? Or access to the massive library of wizards spells? Butsome options will just go better with a bard, like white wine paired with fish.
Cleric or Paladin
