Each Baldur’s Gate 3 celebration wants a face, and it’d as properly be a Bard. Bards are Charisma casters with an enviable spell record, however additionally they have entry to subclasses that may flip them into formidable melee fighters.

All of the Baldur’s Gate 3 lessons are versatile, however Bards are the most effective choices in case you, like me, need your character to do some little bit of every part. Right here’s what it’s essential to know in case you’re going to play a Bard in your subsequent run. 

Greatest race for a Bard

There actually isn’t any proper or unsuitable selection for a Bard’s race. Bards are supposed to be versatile characters that may do some little bit of every part (they get a capability referred to as Jack of All Trades, in any case), so this selection actually is as much as your private choice. I’ll shout out Drow as a strong choice, nonetheless, as a result of the talent proficiencies make good use of a Bard’s Charisma and it offers proficiency with hand crossbows – my most well-liked Bard weapon. 

Greatest potential scores for Bards

A very powerful potential rating for a Bard is Charisma. Past that, Dexterity must be your second focus since you’ll largely be utilizing ranged or finesse weapon – and who doesn’t like going early in fight? Right here’s the beginning potential rating array I’d advocate:

• Power: 8
• Dexterity: 15
• Structure: 13
• Intelligence: 12
• Knowledge: 10
• Charisma: 17

Greatest backgrounds for a Bard 

The very best background to your Bard goes that can assist you spherical out your expertise with proficiencies that you simply didn’t get out of your race. You may need to profit from your Charisma rating by taking a background with Persuasion proficiency, like Noble or Guild Artisan. Personally, I’m keen on taking the Urchin background to get Sleight of Hand and Stealth proficiencies that pair properly with a strong Dexterity modifier. 

Greatest Bard subclass

Selecting your Bard’s subclass is essentially the most consequential character determination which you could make. Bards have three choices, and whereas none of them are dangerous, the School of Lore and School of Swords are your finest bets.

A School of Lore Bard will get Reducing Phrases as a response and three further talent proficiencies. They’re going to be good at every part and can seemingly play extra of a assist position in fight. It’s a enjoyable subclass, but it surely’s not practically as highly effective as your different choice.

A School of Swords Bard goes to be aggressive in fight, with the flexibility to make an additional assault and use thrives whereas nonetheless accessing an enormous vary of highly effective Bard spells. For pure fight effectivity, School of Swords is your best option.

Greatest Feats for a Bard

The very best feats for a Bard are going to rely upon whether or not or not you determine to multiclass. I’m all the time going to present props to the fundamental Capacity Rating Improve choice, as a result of boosting your Charisma goes to make your spells and spell saves all of the extra highly effective. Boosting your Dexterity can also be an excellent choice, particularly in case you’re preventing with crossbows or finesse weapons. 

There are different good choices, although. Bards with a Paladin or Fighter multiclass and the Archery preventing type could make nice use of the Sharpshooter feat. Twin Wielding could be a highly effective choice for extra melee-focused School of Swords Bards. Final, however not least, Alert is nice for just about each class, however in case you play a control-style Bard, then attending to go as early as attainable in fight is extremely essential. 

Greatest Bard spells

Bards get computerized entry to a few of the finest spells in all of Baldur’s Gate 3. There’s no scarcity of nice spells to take, however listed below are a few of my private highlights:

• Mates – Is it good? Not particularly, but it surely’s my favourite cantrip within the sport and results in some hilarious moments. 
• Minor Phantasm – That is invaluable for sneaking by means of closely patrolled areas.
• Maintain Individual – An early management choice that stays good all through the sport. 
• Glyph of Warding – Big harm potential with this spell, plus it could put enemies to sleep. It’s additionally a private favourite of mine, as a result of my tabletop celebration as soon as used it to kill a dragon. 
• Maintain Monster – Mainly the monstrous complement to Maintain Individual, although it’s a fifth stage spell. 
• Command – You’ll be able to solely take this as a part of the Magical Secrets and techniques characteristic at Bard stage 10, but it surely’s an outstanding management spell that doesn’t require focus.
• Counterspell – That is additionally solely out there through the Magical Secrets and techniques characteristic, but it surely’s amazingly helpful as a defensive choice. 
• Otto’s Irresistible Dance – You’ll be able to solely get this as an eleventh stage Bard, but it surely’s the most effective single-target management spells within the sport. 

Greatest multiclass for a Bard

Persons are going to argue about what one of the best Bard multiclass choice is. Affordable minds might disagree, however in broad strokes there are two completely different multiclass choices that are typically the preferred. Solely certainly one of them has a cool title, although. 

Introducing the Bardadin. The fundamental Bardadin is a stage 10 School of Swords Bard and a stage 2 Paladin. The Bard ranges offer you a wholesome provide of spell slots which you could convert into Smites, and the 2 Paladin ranges additionally offer you entry to a preventing type – archery is probably going the best choice. Both manner this Bard is an absolute machine that also will get the good thing about two feats, although it does sacrifice entry to Otto’s Irresistible Dance. 

The opposite Bard multiclass I’d advocate is much less easy and arguably much less highly effective, but it surely offers you a ton of versatility. It’s six ranges in School of Swords Bard, 4 ranges in Thief Rogue, and a two stage dip into Fighter. This construct nonetheless offers you two feats, an additional bonus motion, further choices with that bonus motion, plus Motion Surge and a preventing type. I’m responsible of all the time making an attempt to do some little bit of every part with my characters quite than really optimizing them, however I believe this construct is a blast.