Best Baldur's Gate 3 Bard build
The best subclass, equipment, skills and spells for Bards in BG3.
A Baldur's Gate 3 Bard build is important to figure out, as a well-built Bard can easily become the foundation to a strong party. In your journey throughout Baldur's Gate 3, a powerful Bard can take centre stage given a good understanding of its skills and tricks.
As such, we've created this Baldur's Gate 3 Bard build that'll point out the best equipment, weapons, skils and ability score investment for the class. Following this guide, you should be ready for a musical epic through the game.
Best BG3 Bard build
In Baldur's Gate 3, the Bard is an excellent support class able to empower their allies and ruin the day of even the game's strongest enemies. Most parties are better with a bard, able to increase the damage of your carries, keep tanks alive, and hold down dangers that would otherwise require some special attention.
- Best Bard race
- Bard ability score priority
- Bard proficiencies and background
- Best Bard subclass
- Best Bard equipment
- Best Bard skills and spells
Best Bard race
The best race for Bard players in Baldur's Gate 3 is the High Elf.
As racial ability score bonuses aren't really a thing anymore in Baldur's Gate 3, the reason you pick High Elf is the free cantrip you get for doing so. We recommend taking Friends, as it allows you to enchant an enemy and gain advantage on charisma checks against them. As Charisma is your spell modifier, it's a good spell to have.
On the other hand, if you're focusing on building a particularly stealthy Bard, you might consider the Wood Half-Elf as an alternative race. Their Mask of the Wild passive gives them proficiency in Stealth, and they still get most of the same benefits enjoyed by a High Elf.
Bard ability score priority
Your ability score priority should be Charisma, Dexterity, Constitution, then other stats.
When first creating your character, we recommend the following initial stats:
- Strength - 8
- Dexterity - 15
- Constitution - 13
- Intelligence - 12
- Wisdom - 10
- Charisma - 17
As you level up, you'll gain ability score increases at level 4, 8, and 12.
You should invest your points into Charisma up to 20, then the rest into Constitution.
Bard proficiencies and background
The best background for a Bard character in Baldur's Gate 3 is the Entertainer, naturally. Entertainers get proficiency bonuses in Performance (Charisma) and Acrobatics (Dexterity), which is exactly the right start in life for a support-oriented Bard. And, of course, it just works thematically!
When choosing other skill proficiencies for your Bard, keep those core abilities in mind: build on your Charisma with Deception and Persuasion, or keep things light and dextrous with Sleight of Hand and Stealth.
Best Bard subclass
For our build, we recommend taking the College of Lore subclass.
This allows you to debuff enemies with the spell Cutting Words, which makes an enemy deal less damage, fail checks more often, and miss more frequently. With this subclass you are firmly slotting yourself into a support role, so be sure to bring party members like Lae'zel for melee power, Gale for some ranged damage, or so on. You're still the star of the show of course, but you should be focused on letting others shine in combat.
Best Bard equipment
Bards are proficient in light armour, so be sure to have that equipped at all times. This means you won't have a super high armour class, but you shouldn't really be up front and tanking damage anyway. In terms of bonuses you're looking for, anything that increases your survivability or allows you to move around with greater ease is key.
When it comes to weapons, as a College of Lore Bard you're proficient in simple weapons, hand crossbows, as well as a variety of other specific weapons. Hand crossbows are what you'll likely be using when you're not casting spells, as you don't really want to be up close and personal for the most part.
If things do get close, a simple dagger is often good for a Bard. Bonus points if it's able to stun or crowd-control them somehow.
You can get additional spells from necklaces and rings that are always handy. Combat spells that buff allies or debuff enemies are always good, but feel free to slam in a Talk with Animals piece here to make use of your high charisma.
Best Bard skills and spells
Cutting Words, as mentioned earlier, is amazing and should be used on big-issue enemies whenever possible. It's a fantastic debuff that can trivialize otherwise tricky fights.
As you level up, you get access to some absolute bangers. Hold Person is fantastic at keeping powerful enemies locked down and unable to act, leaving you free to reposition or focus on smaller threats. In the same vein, Sleep is fantastic at neutralising threats quickly in combat.
Shatter is an all-time favourite and a devastating offensive spell. Even though you're playing a support role, the ability to throw out a quick and powerful explosion of damage. Generally a great spell to have.
Finally, Enhance Ability is often that last push you need to succeed in a critical ability check or crucial attack. It's useful regardless of who you buff, so it is worth having on hand in case you're better the bank on that next big hit.
If you're looking for more help turning on the charm in BG3, don't forget to check-out our guides for the best Rogue build and best Ranger build.