Bard
Whether scholar, skald, or scoundrel, a bard weaves magic through words and music to inspire allies, demoralize foes, manipulate minds, create illusions, and even heal wounds. The bard is a master of song, speech, and the magic they contain.
Bards say that the multiverse was spoken into existence, that the words of the gods gave it shape, and that echoes of these primordial Words of Creation still resound throughout the cosmos. The music of bards is an attempt to snatch and harness those echoes, subtly woven into their spells and tales.
Building a Bard
Hit Dice. \(1d8\) per bard level.
Proficiencies
Armor. You gain proficiency with light armor.
Weapons. You gain proficiency with simple weapons, hand crossbows, longswords, rapiers, and shortswords.
Tools. You gain proficiency with three musical instruments of your choice.
Skills. Choose any three skills.
Saving Throws. Dexterity and Charisma are your saving throw proficiencies.
Equipment
You start with the following equipment:
- A rapier, a longsword, or any simple weapon,
- a diplomat's pack or an entertainer's pack,
- a lute or any other musical instrument,
- leather armor and a dagger.
Bard Table:
| Level | Class Features Gained | Cantrips | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | Proficiency Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Spellcasting, Bardic Inspiration | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | +2 |
| 2nd | Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest | 2 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | +2 |
| 3rd | Choose Bard Subclass, Expertise | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | +2 |
| 4th | Obtain Feat | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | +2 |
| 5th | Bardic Inspiration (\(d8\)), Font of Inspiration | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | +3 |
| 6th | Subclass Feature, Countercharm | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | +3 |
| 7th | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | +3 | |
| 8th | Obtain Feat | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | +3 |
| 9th | Song of Rest (\(d8\)) | 3 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | +4 |
| 10th | Bardic Inspiration (\(d10\)), Expertise, Magical Secrets | 4 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | +4 |
| 11th | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | +4 | |
| 12th | Obtain Feat | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | +4 |
| 13th | Song of Rest (\(d10\)) | 4 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | +5 |
| 14th | Subclass Feature, Magical Secrets | 4 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | +5 |
| 15th | Bardic Inspiration (\(d12\)) | 4 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | +5 |
| 16th | Obtain Feat | 4 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | +5 |
| 17th | Song of Rest (\(d12\)) | 4 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +6 |
| 18th | Magical Secrets | 4 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +6 |
| 19th | Obtain Feat | 4 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +6 |
| 20th | Superior Inspiration | 4 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | +6 |
Subclasses
At 3rd level, you delve into the advanced techniques of a bard college: College of Creation, College of Eloquence, College of Glamour, College of Lore, College of Spirits, College of Swords, College of Valor, and College of Whispers. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 6th and 14th levels.
Class Features
Spellcasting
You have learned to untangle and reshape the fabric of reality in harmony with your wishes and music.
Cantrips. You know two cantrips of your choice from the bard spell list. You learn additional bard cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column.
Spell Slots. The Bard table shows how many spell slots you have. To cast one of your bard spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher.
Spells Known. You know four 1st-level spells of your choice from the bard spell list. You learn additional bard spells of your choice at higher levels. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
Spellcasting Ability. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your bard spells.
Spell Save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier.
Spell Attack Modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier.
Ritual Casting. You can cast any bard spell you know as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag.
Bardic Inspiration
You can inspire others through stirring words or music. To do so, you use a bonus action on your turn to choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who can hear you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a \(d6\).
Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw it makes. The creature can wait until after it rolls the \(d20\) before deciding to use the Bardic Inspiration die, but must decide before the GM says whether the roll succeeds or fails.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest. The Bardic Inspiration die changes when you reach certain levels in this class. The die becomes a \(d8\) at 5th level, a \(d10\) at 10th level, and a \(d12\) at 15th level.
Jack of All Trades
Starting at 2nd level, you can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any ability check you make that doesn't already include your proficiency bonus.
Song of Rest
Beginning at 2nd level, you can use soothing music or oration to help revitalize your wounded allies during a short rest. If you or any friendly creatures who can hear your performance regain hit points at the end of the short rest by spending one or more Hit Dice, each of those creatures regains an extra \(1d6\) hit points. The extra hit points increase when you reach certain levels in this class: to \(1d8\) at 9th level, to \(1d10\) at 13th level, and to \(1d12\) at 17th level.
Expertise
At 3rd level, choose two of your skill proficiencies. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen proficiencies. At 10th level, you can choose another two skill proficiencies to gain this benefit.
Font of Inspiration
Beginning when you reach 5th level, you regain all your expended uses of Bardic Inspiration when you finish a short or long rest.
Countercharm
At 6th level, you gain the ability to use musical notes or words of power to disrupt mind-influencing effects. As an action, you can start a performance that lasts until the end of your next turn. During that time, you and any friendly creatures within 30 feet of you have advantage on saving throws against being frightened or charmed. A creature must be able to hear you to gain this benefit. The performance ends early if you are incapacitated or silenced or if you voluntarily end it.
Magical Secrets
By 10th level, you have plundered magical knowledge from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Choose two spells from any classes, including this one. A spell you choose must be of a level you can cast, as shown on the Bard table, or a cantrip. The chosen spells count as bard spells for you and are included in the number in the Spells Known column of the Bard table.
You learn two additional spells from any classes at 14th level and again at 18th level.
Superior Inspiration
At 20th level, when you roll initiative and have no uses of Bardic Inspiration left, you regain one use.