Highlights

  • Bards in Baldur's Gate 3 are versatile, charismatic spellcasters who fill gaps in the party's skillsets.
  • Bard subclasses offer different specializations in magic, swordplay, and inspirational abilities.
  • Bards can multiclass into other charisma-based classes like Warlock, and using charisma is important for their spells and weapon attacks.

Bards are a fun and versatile class to play in Baldur's Gate 3 thanks to their natural charisma, their versatility, and their role of filling the gaps in the party's skillsets. One of the spellcasters, Bards use music to cast magic instead of drawing it from an innate talent, knowledge, or channeling it from a god. Because of their musical talents, they can play a variety of musical instruments, and are talented in storytelling and wordplay.

One of the most versatile classes, Bards are a great choice for any player who enjoys roleplaying outside of combat. Bards get some of the best dialogue options in Baldur's Gate 3, and their natural talent for just about everything means they rarely let the party down. However, to succeed at playing as a Bard, it is worth making use of several tips.

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Building a Bard in Baldur's Gate 3

Understand the Subclasses

The Bard subclasses only become available at Level 3, where the Bard chooses one of three Colleges to specialize in. Each Bard subclass specializes in a different aspect of the bardic arts, such as magic, swordplay, and inspirational abilities.

College of Lore

Bards from the College of Lore focus on spells. They debuff their enemies with the reaction Cutting Words, a powerful ability that deals a 1d6 penalty to Attack rolls, Ability checks, and Saving throws. Lore Bards also get to choose two Spells from the Magical Secrets list.

College of Swords

Bards from the College of Swords are more martially inclined, and can hold their own on the front lines. They get an Extra Attack when fighting, use their Bardic Inspiration for multi-attacks, and can choose a Fighting Style. College of Swords Bards can also wear Medium Armor and use Scimitars.

College of Valor

Bards from the College of Valor inspire their allies with their upgraded Bardic Inspiration, Combat Inspiration. Combat Inspiration adds bonus damage to their next weapon attack, or adds protection to their AC. Valor Bards also get proficiency in all Martial Weapons, Shields, and Medium Armor, and they get an Extra Attack per turn.

Multiclass into Warlock

Bard is one of four classes that have Charisma as their core ability score. The other three Charisma classes in Baldur's Gate 3 are Paladin, Sorcerer, and Warlock. As Bard is such a versatile class, it can be multiclassed into any of the other Charisma classes seamlessly, but one of the best options for multiclassing a Bard is the Warlock. A College of Swords Bard multiclassed with Warlock with the Pact of the Blade is an incredibly effective DPS fighter, and also gives them access to Eldritch Blast, one of the best offensive cantrips in Baldur's Gate 3.

How Bards Work in Baldur's Gate 3

Bardic Inspiration Charges

Bard abilities are powered through two systems: the usual spell slots that all spellcasters use, and Bardic Inspiration Charges. Inspiration Charges are points that power Bard-specific abilities, such as Bardic Inspiration, Blade Flourish, and Combat Inspiration. Spells learned as a Bard, such as Faerie Fire, Healing Word, and Thunderwave use the usual spell slots rather than Inspiration Charges. Bards gain more Inspiration Charges as they level up.

Using a Bard's Charisma

Bards are a Charisma class and use their Charisma-modifier to increase the chances of their spells and weapon attacks to hit. Charisma works well as the Bard's main ability score, as they're well-known as a class of performers and storytellers, and often serve as the "face" of the party. In character creation, max the Bard's Charisma as much as possible, and seek ways to increase it during gameplay through completing quests and rare equipment that modifies the Charisma stat.

Roleplaying a Bard in Baldur's Gate 3

Understanding a Bard's Versatility

At level 2, Bards unlock Jack of All Trades, which adds half the Bard's proficiency bonus to all of their Ability checks. This makes Bards good at everything: Bards can pick locks, they can disarm traps, they can steal. Bards are the ultimate all-rounder, and can pick up the slack of anyone who may have been left behind at camp. Everyone who plays a Bard knows that they can do everything; they may not be the best at it, but they do get the job done.

Using Music as a Distraction

The flute, lute, violin, lyre, and drum are all a part of the Bard's repertoire of musical talents, and they're not limited to magic in combat. Thanks to a proficiency in Performance, Bards can play these musical instruments anywhere and at any time, but best when a well-timed distraction is needed for their companions to slip past some guards or pick some pockets. This is especially helpful to save on spell slots, or if spells such as Illusion aren't available.

Access to Magical Secrets

All Bards get access to the Magical Secrets list at Level 10, which is a list of spells drawn from other classes. The Magical Secrets list is extensive and includes spells of all kinds for any build, including spells like Haste, Slow, Counterspell, and Mass Healing Word for support builds, as well as Banishing Smite, Contagion, Death Ward, and Hunger of Hadar for DPS Bard builds. This gives the Bard access to a variety of spells that other spellcasting classes don't have access to, and their spells are always prepared. Lore Bards also get access to the Magical Secrets list at Level 6, but they can only choose spells from Level 3 and below.

Use Insight and Charisma

Charisma is the ultimate power in Baldur's Gate 3. So many fights are avoided when the player character has the insight and Persuasion skill needed to convince a boss enemy and their allies to die, all without the party needing to lift a finger. Bards also have some of the best class-specific dialogue in Baldur's Gate 3, making it incredibly easy and fun to roleplay them.