So, you’re thinking about playing a Bard. Maybe you want to play a lute while your friends do the heavy lifting, or maybe you just like the idea of insulting a dragon to death. Honestly, most people start a Baldurs Gate 3 bard run thinking they’ll just be the "backup singer" of the party.
They are wrong.
By the time you hit Act 3, a well-built Bard isn't just supporting the team; they are the team. You're picking locks better than Astarion, talking your way out of boss fights, and—if you go the right route—putting out more damage than a Hasted Fighter.
The Identity Crisis: Lore vs. Swords vs. Valour
Choosing your subclass at level 3 is the biggest decision you’ll make. It basically dictates whether you’re playing a magical scholar or a flamboyant blender.
College of Lore is for the players who want to break the game’s rules. You get Magical Secrets early (at level 6), which lets you steal spells from other classes. Want Fireball or Spirit Guardians on a Bard? This is how. You also get Cutting Words, which lets you use your reaction to make an enemy miss their attack or fail a save. It’s essentially "no, you didn't" as a gameplay mechanic.
College of Swords is the current meta-favorite, and for good reason. You get Blade Flourishes. Specifically, the Slashing Flourish (Ranged) is broken. It lets you attack two enemies at once (or the same enemy twice) for the cost of one action. Combine this with dual hand crossbows, and you’re a machine gun in a feathered hat.
Then there’s College of Valour. It’s... fine. It gives your allies better buffs for their AC and damage, but in a game where "dead is the best status effect," most players find Swords or Lore much more impactful.
What Most People Get Wrong About Stats
Stop dumping everything into Charisma and ignoring the rest. Yes, you need Charisma for your spells and those high-stakes dialogue rolls, but if you have 8 Dexterity, you’re going to spend every fight face-down in the dirt.
A solid starting spread usually looks like this:
- Charisma: 16 (Your bread and butter)
- Dexterity: 16 (For Initiative and Armor Class)
- Constitution: 14 (To actually stay alive and maintain Concentration)
If you’re playing a College of Lore Bard, you can keep your Strength at 8. You aren't swinging a hammer; you're swinging a vibe. But if you’re going Swords, you might want to look into the Gloves of Dexterity in Act 1 so you can respec and put those points elsewhere.
The Items That Turn You Into a God
You can’t just wear any old rags. There are specific items in Baldur's Gate 3 that feel like they were hand-delivered by the gods specifically for Bards.
- Phalar Aluve: You find this stuck in a stone in the Underdark. It’s a finesse longsword that can "Sing" or "Shriek." The Shriek mode adds 1d4 thunder damage to every hit an enemy takes. If you have a Magic Missile wizard in your party, this sword turns them into a nuclear warhead.
- Helmet of Arcane Acuity: This is the secret sauce. Every time you hit someone with a weapon, your "Spell Save DC" goes up. Hit someone four times with your Slashing Flourish, and your next Hold Person spell becomes literally impossible for the enemy to resist.
- Band of the Mystic Scoundrel: Found in the Jungle of Chult (it’s a long story involving a genie). It lets you cast Illusion or Enchantment spells as a bonus action after you hit someone with a weapon.
Basically, you shoot an enemy four times, then use your bonus action to magically force them to dance. It’s unfair. It’s mean. It’s the perfect Bard experience.
The "Jack of All Trades" Reality
Bards get a feature called Jack of All Trades, which adds half your proficiency bonus to every single skill you aren't proficient in. This makes the Baldurs Gate 3 bard the ultimate "Main Character." You can pass history checks, fix elevators, and handle animals even if you didn't study for it.
You’ve probably noticed that the game has a lot of "Skill Checks" in dialogue. Being a Bard means never having to say "I hope I roll a 20." With Expertise in Persuasion or Deception, your bonuses become so high that you can literally convince bosses to end their own lives.
Multiclassing: When to Dip
If you want to get really sweaty with your build, don’t stay a pure Bard for all 12 levels.
A common "Power Gamer" move is the 10/2 split. Take 10 levels in Swords Bard and 2 levels in Paladin. Why? Because Bards get a ton of high-level spell slots, and Paladins can spend those slots to Divine Smite. You become a heavy-armored tank that hits like a freight train and still knows how to play the flute.
Alternatively, a 1-level dip into Wizard (if you have the Warped Headband of Intellect) allows you to learn any spell in the game from a scroll. It’s a bit of a cheese move, but hey, the Absolute isn't playing fair either.
Actionable Strategy for Your Run
If you’re starting a new game today, here is exactly how to handle the first few hours:
- Level 1-3: Focus on Sleep and Tasha’s Hideous Laughter. These spells end fights before they start.
- The Alfira Interaction: In the Emerald Grove, find the Bard named Alfira. Help her finish her song. Not only is it a great moment, but it’s the gateway to getting some of the best Bard gear later in Act 2.
- Short Rests: Remember that Bards get Song of Rest. This is basically a third Short Rest for the whole party. Use it to keep your Fighters and Warlocks topped off without needing to go back to camp.
The Baldurs Gate 3 bard isn't just about the music. It’s about being the smartest, fastest, and most versatile person in the room. Whether you're cutting a deal with a devil or cutting through a goblin's neck, you're doing it with style.
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Go find a harp. Go find some flashy clothes. Most importantly, start practicing your insults, because Vicious Mockery is more fun than any sword.
Your Next Move: Head to the Underdark as soon as you hit level 4 or 5 to grab the Phalar Aluve. It is the single most important early-game power spike for a Bard and will carry your party’s damage output through the entirety of Act 2.