Best Bard build in Baldur’s Gate 3: Race, skills, spells & more

Unleash your inner performer in Baldur’s Gate 3 with our comprehensive Bard guide, where the art of storytelling meets the thrill of battle. Whether you’re charming your way through dialogue or inspiring allies with magical melodies, Bards are the ultimate Jack-of-All-Trades. Dive into the nuances of subclass choices like the College of Lore and College of Valour, and learn how to craft a character that excels in both support and combat. From spell selection to skill proficiencies, this guide will equip you with everything you need to master the Bard class and leave your mark on the Forgotten Realms.

The Bards, who revere art and knowledge, are one of the most versatile classes available in Baldur’s Gate 3. Proficiency in the use of spells, incredibly useful class abilities based on abilities, or efficiency in strengthening allies makes them ideal companions when traveling through the Forgotten Realms. The following page will help you understand the basic principles of the Bard class, making your first steps as this class easier.

Best race for a Bard

The best race for a Bard in Baldur’s Gate 3 is often considered to be Half-Elf due to their inherent bonuses to Charisma and the ability to choose additional skill proficiencies, enhancing the Bard’s versatility. Half-Elves gain a +2 bonus to Charisma and can add +1 to two other ability scores of your choice, which can be strategically allocated to Dexterity and Constitution for improved survivability and combat effectiveness. Other strong options include Tieflings, who also receive a Charisma boost and unique spells, and Humans, known for their balanced attributes and adaptability. Ultimately, the choice of race should align with your desired playstyle, whether you prioritize spellcasting, support roles, or combat capabilities.

In the full release of Baldur’s Gate 3, the developers have removed exclusive racial bonuses. From now on, when choosing a race, you can add 2 and 1 bonuses to any stat you’d like. Despite this, some racial abilities come in handy for certain classes.

1. Tiefling – each subrace innately knows a different, useful spell. The best fit for a Bard is a Zariel Tiefling with their Thaumaturgy cantrip. The cantrip grants advantage on Intimidation and Performance checks – both Charisma-based skills.
2. Elf – the High Elf subrace grants one additional cantrip. Wood Elf, meanwhile, increases your movement in combat to 10,5 meters per turn.

Ability Points

As a Bard in Baldur’s Gate 3, your Ability Points are crucial for maximizing your effectiveness in both combat and role-playing scenarios. The primary ability you should focus on is Charisma, as it directly influences your spellcasting potency and social interactions. A recommended distribution for your Ability Points includes investing heavily in Charisma (aim for 17 or higher), followed by Dexterity to enhance your Armor Class and Constitution to improve your hit points and concentration checks. A typical spread might look like 10 Strength, 15 Dexterity, 14 Constitution, 9 Intelligence, and 9 Wisdom. This setup ensures that you can effectively support your party while also holding your own in various encounters, making you a versatile asset to any adventuring group.

When allocating ability points, first pay attention toCharisma, since the strength of your spells depends on it. The flexible nature of the Bard class will ensure that it performs well in many tasks, so the subsequent abilities will depend on your play style. Among the options, however, you can consider:

1. Dexterity, since it will nicely complement the Bard’s proficiency in defensive throws related to this ability. It will also positively affect your skills with light and medium armor.
2. Constitution will provide you with some additional hit points, as well as help in maintaining focuswhile casting specific spells.

Best origin for Bard

The best origin for a Bard in Baldur’s Gate 3 largely depends on the player’s desired playstyle and the subclass chosen. For those looking to maximize Charisma and social interactions, Half-Elf is an excellent choice due to their inherent bonuses to Charisma and additional skill proficiencies. Alternatively, Human offers versatility with a balanced ability score increase, making them adaptable to various roles within the party. If melee combat is a priority, the Githyanki race provides proficiency with medium armor and martial weapons, enhancing the Bard’s combat capabilities. Ultimately, selecting an origin that complements the Bard’s strengths in charisma, adaptability, and combat can significantly enhance gameplay experience.

Your Bard’s origin should correspond with their high Charisma and Dexterity. Interesting options include:

1. Urchin, offering proficiency in Sleight of Hand and Stealth. These, in turn, will come in handy if your party lacks a Rogue or if you are faced with a task that requires cunning and finesse.
2. Criminal – this origin will give you proficiency in Stealth and Deception, which will complement your Bard’s abilities.
3. Entertainer – proficiency in Acrobatics and Performance nicely fits a Bard, since they rely on Charisma and Dexterity.

Bardic Inspiration

Bardic Inspiration is a hallmark feature of the Bard class in Baldur’s Gate 3, allowing Bards to empower their allies through the magic of music and storytelling. As a bonus action, a Bard can grant an ally an additional 1d6 to their next attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, significantly enhancing their chances of success in critical moments. This ability can be used a limited number of times and replenishes after a long rest, making strategic use essential during encounters. Bards can also choose to specialize in subclasses that enhance this ability further, such as the College of Lore, which introduces features like Cutting Words to debilitate enemies while boosting allies’ effectiveness in combat and skill checks. Overall, Bardic Inspiration exemplifies the Bard’s role as a versatile support character, capable of turning the tide of battle with their enchanting abilities.

Bard’s class skill. An action, during which your Bard inspires nearby allies. Inspiration provides them a 1d6 bonus to their next attack roll, skill check, and defense roll. At level 5, the inspiration modifier changes to 1d8.

The number of uses of Bardic Inspiration is equal to the Bard’s Charisma modifier. After using all charges, the ability will become available again after a long rest. At level 5, you acquire the skill Font of Inspiration, which allows you to regain skill charges after a short rest.

Song of Rest

Song of Rest In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Song of Rest is a pivotal ability for Bards, enhancing their role as invaluable support characters. This feature allows Bards to soothe and revitalize their allies during short rests, granting additional healing to party members who spend hit dice. When a Bard performs this song, each ally can regain an extra 1d6 hit points, making it a strategic tool for maintaining the party’s health between encounters. The effectiveness of the Song of Rest underscores the Bard’s versatility, enabling them to blend musical prowess with practical healing, thus reinforcing their position as essential team players in both combat and exploration scenarios.

Class skill unlocked at level 2. The soothing song allows the party to regenerate as if they had a short rest. Especially useful in combination with, for example, a Warlock, who recovers part of the spell slots during a short rest.

Jack of all Trades and Expertise

Bards in Baldur’s Gate 3 epitomize the concept of the Jack of all Trades, blending versatility with a unique flair for performance and magic. This class excels in a variety of roles, from spellcasting to melee combat, allowing players to adapt their strategies based on the evolving dynamics of encounters. With abilities that enhance their skills across multiple disciplines, Bards can support allies, manipulate foes, and contribute creatively to problem-solving within the game. Their proficiency in diverse skills not only makes them invaluable in any party but also showcases the charm of being a generalist—capable of stepping into various roles while still wielding significant power.

The Bard’s versatility is probably shown best by his ability you receive at level 2. Jack of all Trades allows you to add half of your proficiency bonus (rounded down) to any skill roll in which your character is not proficient.

Proficiency is also related to Expertise, which the Bard gains access to at level 3. With it, you can choose 2 skills in which your character is already proficient. From now on, for every check related to these skills, your proficiency bonus will be doubled.

Best spells for Bard

Bards in Baldur’s Gate 3 are versatile spellcasters who excel in both support and crowd control, making them invaluable to any party. Their spell selection is crucial for maximizing their effectiveness in combat and social interactions. Key spells include Bardic Inspiration, which enhances allies’ abilities, and Vicious Mockery, a cantrip that deals damage while debuffing enemies. Additionally, spells like Haste and Healing Word provide significant boosts to allies’ performance and survivability. As Bards progress, they gain access to powerful spells from other classes through the Magical Secrets feature, further enhancing their role as adaptable support characters capable of influencing the battlefield in various ways.

The wide range of spells available to the Bard makes this class useful in many situations. Here is a list of several interesting spells worth considering:

Cantrips:

1. Vicious Mockery – a series of unpleasant comments that inflict 1d4 psychic damage to the target and gives them a penalty to their next attack.
2. Friends – enchant a person to gain advantage on Charisma skill checks against the target.
3. Minor Illusion – creates a small illusion that distracts nearby creatures. Useful for diverting attention.

Spells:

1. Heroism – the Bard or allied companion cannot be frightened, and they also gain 5 temporary hit points every turn.
2. Tasha’s Hideous Laughter – the target falls to the ground in hysterical laughter. They are exposed to attacks from opponents.
3. Healing Word – a simple healing spell restoring 1d4 hit points through eye contact. Useful as a backup healing option for your party.
4. Disguise Self – allows to temporarily change the character’s appearance. Useful for outsmarting other creatures.
5. Feather Fall – fall down slower. The target does not receive damage from falling.
6. Blindness – a level 2 spell that blinds the opponent.
7. Calm Emotions – all humanoid creatures within the spell’s range become resistant to being frightened and charmed.
8. Lesser Restoration – a level 2 spell that removes negative effects and poison from the target. Especially useful when the party lacks another healer (Cleric, Druid).
9. Fear – a level 3 spell that creates an image so terrifying that the target drops whatever they are holding to the ground and becomes frightened. Exceptionally useful for crowd control during combat.
10. Stinking Cloud – the spell creates a paralyzing, stinking cloud. Creatures within its range cannot perform actions.

Best subclass for Bard

When considering the best subclass for a Bard in Baldur’s Gate 3, the College of Lore stands out as the top choice for many players. This subclass enhances a Bard’s versatility by granting access to additional spells and skills, allowing for greater utility both in and out of combat. With features like Cutting Words, which lets Bards debuff enemies, and Magical Secrets, enabling them to learn spells from other classes, Lore Bards can significantly influence the battlefield while providing invaluable support to their allies. Alternatively, the College of Valour is also a strong contender, especially for those looking to blend martial prowess with spellcasting, making it ideal for players who want a more combat-oriented Bard experience. Ultimately, the choice between these subclasses depends on your preferred playstyle—whether you lean towards strategic support or direct engagement in battles.

After the full release of Baldur’s Gate 3, the Bard will have a choice between 3 subclasses, known as Colleges. Each of them has their own set of special abilities and will fit a different play style.

1. College of Lore – a subclass focused on acquiring knowledge and extensive skills. By selecting it at level 3, your Bard will immediately gain proficiencyin 3 skills of your choice. The special ability of the College of Lore, Cutting Words, allows the hero to use a charge of Bardic Inspiration to impose a -1d6 penalty on the opponent (increases at subsequent levels) to one of their next throws.
2. College of Valor – a specialization focused on strengthening the party during combat. Choosing it gives the Bard access to the so-called Combat Inspiration. From now on, companions who received Inspiration will be able to add a bonus 1d6 (higher at subsequent levels) to the damage dealt with an attack and to their temporary armor class. The subclass’s proficiency in using medium armor, shield, and martial weapons will also make the Bard of the College of Valor able to do well on the front line.

1. College of Swords – a subclass for Bards wishing to show their fencing skills. Choosing this subclass gives you Battle Styles and medium armor proficiency – which will undoubtedly come in handy in combat. The Blade Flourish ability lets you use a Bardic Inspiration charge to use one of several special actions in combat.

Best build for Bard

For an effective Bard build in Baldur’s Gate 3, focus on maximizing Charisma, as it enhances spellcasting and social interactions. Choose between the College of Lore and College of Valour subclasses, with Lore offering powerful debuffing capabilities through abilities like Cutting Words, while Valour enhances combat prowess with proficiency in medium armor and martial weapons. Prioritize spells that provide support and crowd control, such as Bardic Inspiration for boosting allies’ rolls and Song of Rest for healing. Equip light armor and finesse weapons to maintain versatility in both combat and skill checks, ensuring your Bard can adapt to various situations while contributing significantly to the party’s success.

As a summary, we present below an exemplary build for a level 3 Bard:

1. Race: Zariel Tiefling
2. Subclass: College of Valor
3. Background: Criminal
4. Abilities: Charisma and Dexterity around 16, Constitution around 14, Wisdom about 13/12, Intelligence about 10, Strength about 8.

What are the key differences between the Bard subclasses in Baldur’s Gate 3

In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Bard class features three distinct subclasses, each offering unique abilities and playstyles: College of Lore, College of Valor, and College of Swords.

Key Differences Between Bard Subclasses

College of Lore

The College of Lore emphasizes versatility and knowledge. Bards in this subclass can select proficiencies in any three skills, enhancing their role as support characters. They can debilitate foes with the Cutting Words feature, which allows them to roll a Bardic Inspiration die against an enemy’s successful roll, potentially turning it into a failure. Additionally, they gain access to Magical Secrets, enabling them to learn spells from other classes, which expands their utility significantly.

College of Valor

The College of Valor focuses on martial prowess, making Bards effective in melee combat. They gain proficiency in medium armor, shields, and martial weapons, allowing them to engage directly in battles. Their Combat Inspiration feature enhances allies’ damage output or increases their Armor Class for a single attack. At level 6, they also gain the Extra Attack feature, allowing them to strike twice in one turn, making them formidable in combat scenarios.

College of Swords

The College of Swords blends melee combat with performance flair. While they also gain proficiency in medium armor, their focus is primarily on scimitars and unique fighting styles. They can choose between dueling or two-weapon fighting styles and utilize various flourishes that enhance their attacks while consuming Bardic Inspiration charges. This subclass is ideal for players who want a more aggressive Bard that can still utilize spells when necessary.
Each subclass provides distinct advantages depending on your preferred playstyle—whether you lean towards spellcasting support, direct combat engagement, or a flashy melee approach.

Which Bard subclass is best for a support role

For players looking to maximize their support capabilities in Baldur’s Gate 3, the College of Lore subclass stands out as the best choice. This subclass excels in enhancing allies and debuffing enemies, making it ideal for a support role.

Key Features of College of Lore

• Bardic Inspiration: This core ability allows you to grant an ally a bonus on their next roll, which can be pivotal in both combat and skill checks. The die increases as you level up, enhancing its effectiveness.
• Cutting Words: At level 3, this feature lets you use your Bardic Inspiration to reduce an enemy’s attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, effectively debuffing foes and protecting your allies.
• Magical Secrets: Starting at level 6, this feature allows you to learn spells from other classes, significantly broadening your spellcasting options. This versatility enables you to fill gaps in your party’s capabilities, whether through healing, crowd control, or utility spells.

Comparison with Other Subclasses

• College of Valor: While it offers some support through combat enhancements and extra attacks, it leans more towards martial prowess and less on pure support capabilities. It is better suited for players who want a balance between fighting and supporting.
• College of Swords: This subclass focuses on melee combat and flashy attacks rather than traditional support roles. It is less effective for players aiming to primarily assist their party through buffs and healing.

In summary, if your goal is to be an effective support character in Baldur’s Gate 3, the College of Lore is the optimal choice. Its unique abilities allow for a blend of offensive and defensive strategies that can significantly influence the outcome of encounters.