Baldur's Gate 3 Bard Build Guide: Unlock the Power of Inspiration

Introduction

In the enchanting realm of Baldur's Gate 3, the bard stands as a versatile and charismatic force, capable of weaving melodies that inspire allies and confound foes. With a wide range of spells and abilities, bards can adapt to any party composition, offering support, healing, and damage potential. This guide will delve into the intricacies of bard builds, providing a comprehensive overview of their strengths, weaknesses, and the steps required to create an effective bard character.

Understanding the Bard Class

Pain Points:
* Bards often struggle with survivability due to their low hit points and limited defensive options.
* Resource management can be a challenge, as bardic inspiration and spellcasting both require limited resources (Inspiration and spell slots, respectively).

Motivations:
* Bards are driven by a desire to inspire, uplift, and entertain their companions.
* They seek to empower their allies and outwit their enemies through their cunning and versatility.

Skill Selection and Ability Scores

Skills:
* Persuasion and Deception: Essential for influencing others through words and charm.
* Insight and Perception: Key for gathering information and understanding the motives of others.
* Performance: Improves the bard's ability to inspire allies and entertain audiences.

Ability Scores:
* Charisma is the primary ability score for bards, determining their spellcasting ability and proficiency with social skills.
* Dexterity enhances the bard's initiative and AC, making them more difficult to surprise and hit.
* Constitution increases the bard's hit points and ability to stave off exhaustion.

Core Class Features

Bardic Inspiration:
* Allows the bard to grant temporary bonuses to allies, enhancing their attacks, ability checks, and saving throws.

Lore Mastery:
* Provides the bard with expertise in various subjects, enabling them to recall valuable information and gain advantage on skill checks related to their chosen specialties.

Spellcasting:
* Bards have access to a wide range of spells from the Bard spell list, including healing, support, and damage-dealing spells.

Feat Options

• Inspiring Leader: Enhances the effects of Bardic Inspiration, granting additional bonuses to allies.
• War Caster: Allows the bard to maintain concentration on spells while taking damage and perform somatic components with weapons or shields equipped.
• Lucky: Grants the bard the ability to reroll ability checks, saving throws, and attack rolls once per long rest.

Subclass Choices

College of Valor:
* Bonus Proficiency: Martial weapons and medium armor.
* Combat Inspiration: A stronger version of Bardic Inspiration that grants advantage to attack rolls.
* Martial Prowess: Additional attacks and increased damage output.

College of Lore:
* Erudite Lore: Expertise in three additional skills.
* Magical Secrets: Ability to learn two spells from any other class's spell list at level 6.
* Cutting Words: A powerful ability that reduces the damage output of enemies.

College of Glamor:
* Mantle of Inspiration: Grants temporary hit points to allies within a certain radius.
* Enthralling Performance: A charisma-based spell that forces enemies to become charmed or frightened.
* Unbreakable Resolve: An ability that provides resistance to psychic damage and grants advantage on saving throws against charm and fear effects.

Step-by-Step Bard Build Guide

Step 1: Determine Your Concept
* Decide on the personality, motivations, and background of your bard.
* Consider the subclasses and playstyles that align with your character's concept.

Step 2: Choose Skills and Ability Scores
* Prioritize Charisma as your primary ability score.
* Select skills that will enhance your bard's social, performance, and knowledge-based abilities.

Step 3: Select Your Background
* Choose a background that provides you with additional skills and proficiencies relevant to a bard's abilities (e.g., Entertainer, Folk Hero).

Step 4: Pick Your Subclass
* Research and compare the Bard subclasses to determine which one best suits your playstyle and character concept.
* Consider the additional features and spell options provided by each subclass.

Step 5: Progress Your Bard
* As you level up, invest in abilities and spells that align with your chosen subclass and playstyle.
* Consider taking feats to further enhance your bard's capabilities (e.g., Inspiring Leader, War Caster).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring Resource Management: Bards rely heavily on Inspiration and spell slots. Avoid wasting these resources and manage them wisely.
• Overextending in Combat: Bards have low hit points and limited defensive abilities. Be cautious in melee combat and prioritize supportive spells and positioning over direct attacks.
• Neglecting Social Skills: Bards excel at persuasion and diplomacy. Utilize your social skills to resolve conflicts, gather information, and gain advantages outside of combat.

Conclusion

The bard in Baldur's Gate 3 is a versatile and enchanting class that can inspire, heal, and control the battlefield. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the class and following the steps outlined in this guide, players can create effective and memorable bard characters that will guide their party to victory.