Bard
Humming as they work, bards weave magic through words and music to inspire allies, demoralize foes, manipulate minds, and even heal wounds. The bard’s power flows from talent, training, and an understanding of the fundamental music of creation.
Multiclassing Prerequisite: Charisma 13
Class Table
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Cantrips Known | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +2 | Spellcasting, Bardic Inspiration (d6) | 2 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | +2 | Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest (d6) | 2 | 5 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | +2 | Bard College, Expertise | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | +2 | Ability Score Improvement, Bardic Versatility (Opt) | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 | +3 | Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | +3 | Countercharm, Bard College feature, Expertise | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | +3 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 8 | +3 | Ability Score Improvement, Bardic Versatility (Opt) | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 | +4 | Song of Rest (d8) | 3 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | +4 | Bardic Inspiration (d10), Expertise, Magical Secrets | 4 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 11 | +4 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | |
| 12 | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |
| 13 | +5 | Song of Rest (d10) | 4 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| 14 | +5 | Magical Secrets, Bard College feature | 4 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| 15 | +5 | Bardic Inspiration (d12) | 4 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 16 | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 17 | +6 | Song of Rest (d12), Magical Secrets | 4 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | +6 | Bard College feature | 4 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | +6 | Ability Score Improvement | 4 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 | +6 | Superior Inspiration | 4 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Class Features
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d8 per bard level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per bard level after 1st
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light armor
- Weapons: Simple weapons, hand crossbows, longswords, rapiers, shortswords
- Tools: Three musical instruments of your choice
- Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma
- Skills: Choose any three
Equipment
You start with:
- (a) a rapier, (b) a longsword, or (c) any simple weapon
- (a) a diplomat’s pack or (b) an entertainer’s pack
- (a) a lute or (b) any other musical instrument
- Leather armor and a dagger
Spellcasting
Bards are conduits of arcane power expressed through performance, oration, and art.
Cantrips
At 1st level, you know two cantrips from the bard spell list. You learn additional bard cantrips at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column.
Spell Slots
Use the Bard table for the number of spell slots you have to cast your bard spells of 1st level and higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.
Spells Known of 1st Level and Higher
You know four 1st-level spells at 1st level. The Spells Known column shows when you learn more bard spells. Each spell must be of a level for which you have spell slots. When you gain a level, you can replace one bard spell you know with another of appropriate level.
Spellcasting Ability
- Spellcasting Ability: Charisma
- 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 it has the ritual tag.
- Spellcasting Focus: You can use a musical instrument as a spellcasting focus.
Bardic Inspiration (1st level)
You can inspire others through stirring words or music. As a bonus action, choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet who can hear you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d6.
- Once within 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 DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails.
- A creature can have only one Bardic Inspiration die at a time.
- Uses per long rest equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1).
- Die increases: d8 at 5th level, d10 at 10th level, d12 at 15th level.
Jack of All Trades (2nd level)
Add half your proficiency bonus (rounded down) to any ability check you make that doesn’t already include your proficiency bonus.
Song of Rest (2nd level)
Beginning at 2nd level, if you or any friendly creatures who can hear your performance regain hit points at the end of a short rest by spending Hit Dice, each of those creatures regains an extra 1d6 hit points.
The extra healing increases to 1d8 at 9th level, 1d10 at 13th level, and 1d12 at 17th level.
Bard College (3rd level)
At 3rd level, you delve into a tradition, the Bard College. Your choice grants features at 3rd, 6th, and 14th level.
Common examples