Bard 5
| Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Cantrips Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Bardic Inspiration (d6), Feat | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | Feat, Fighting Style, Soothing Rest, Spellcasting | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | Bard College, Expertise | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +2 | Feat, Jack of All Trades | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | Bardic Inspiration (d8), Fond of Inspiration | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +3 | Bard College Feature, Countercharm, Feat | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +3 | Bardic Focus | 3 | 3/4 | 2/3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8th | +3 | Feat | 3 | 3/4 | 2/3 | 1/1 | — | — | — | — |
| 9th | +4 | Soothing Rest (2d6) | 3 | 3/4 | 3/3 | 1/2 | — | — | — | — |
| 10th | +4 | Bardic Inspiration (d10), Expertise, Feat | 3 | 3/4 | 3/3 | 2/2 | — | — | — | — |
| 11th | +4 | Improved Focus | 3 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 2/3 | 1/1 | — | — | — |
| 12th | +4 | Feat | 4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/3 | 1/2 | — | — | — |
| 13th | +5 | Soothing Rest (3d6) | 4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/3 | 2/2 | — | — | — |
| 14th | +5 | Bard College Feature, Feat | 4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/3 | 2/3 | 1/1 | — | — |
| 15th | +5 | Bardic Inspiration (d12) | 4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 1/2 | — | — |
| 16th | +5 | Feat | 4 | 4/4 | 3/4 | 3/3 | 3/3 | 2/2 | — | — |
| 17th | +6 | Soothing Rest (4d6) | 5 | 4/4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/3 | 2/3 | 1/1 | — |
| 18th | +6 | — | 5 | 4/5 | 4/4 | 3/4 | 3/4 | 3/3 | 1/2 | — |
| 19th | +6 | Feat | 5 | 4/5 | 4/4 | 4/4 | 3/4 | 3/3 | 2/2 | — |
| 20th | +6 | Feat, Perfected Focus | 5/7 | 4/5/6 | 4/5/6 | 4/4/5 | 4/4/5 | 3/4/5 | 2/2/3 | 0/0/1 |
Class Features
As a bard, you gain the following class featuresBardic Inspiration
1st-Level Bard Feature You can inspire others through tales of the past, stirring words, or other means. To do so, you use a bonus action on your turn to choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who can hear you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d6. Once within the next 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. Once the Bardic Inspiration die is rolled, it is lost. A creature can have only one Bardic Inspiration die at a time. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (a minimum of once). You regain any expended uses when you finish a long rest. Your Bardic Inspiration die changes when you reach certain levels in this class. The die becomes a d8 at 5th level, a d10 at 10th level, and a d12 at 15th level.Feat
1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 19th, 20th-Level Bard Feature You gain one feat of your choice.Fighting Style
2nd-Level Bard Features You adopt a particular style of fighting as your specialty. Choose one of the following options. You can't take a Fighting Style more than once, even if you later get to choose again.Bard Fighting Styles
Blind Warrior
You have blindsight with a range in feet equal to 5 times your Bard Power Reservoir. In that range, you can see invisible targets and anything that isn't behind total cover or hidden from you.Brawler
Your unarmed strikes deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier on hit. If you have two free hands and use your action to make only unarmed strikes, you can make a single unarmed strike as a bonus action on that turn.Deadeye
You gain a +2 bonus to attack rolls with ranged weapons.Dual Wielding
When you take the Attack action while two-weapon fighting, you can make a single additional attack with your off-hand weapon as part of your action instead of using your bonus action, adding your ability modifier to the damage of this attack. If you do, you cannot use your bonus action to gain an additional off-hand attack this turn.Dueling
While you are wielding a melee weapon in one hand and no other weapons, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls with it.Organ Piercer
You can add your Dexterity modifier to the damage roll of any weapon you wield with the Finesse property. If you do, do not add your Strength modifier to the damage roll of that attack.Thrown Weapon Fighting
When you hit with a ranged weapon attack using a thrown weapon, you gain a +2 bonus to the damage roll of that attack.Soothing Rest
2nd-Level Bard FeatureYou can use music, oration, or other means to help revitalize your wounded allies during a short rest or long rest. If you or any friendly creatures who can hear your performance regain hit points at the end of a short or long rest as a result of using hit dice on a short rest or through the act of resting itself during a long rest, each of those creatures gains 1d6 temporary hit points. The temporary hit points increase when you reach certain levels in this class: to 2d6 at 9th level, to 3d6 at 13th level, and to 4d6 at 17th level.
Spellcasting
2nd-Level Bard FeatureYou have expanded your multi-faceted interests into the realms of forces that can untangle and reshape the fabric of reality. Your spells are part of your vast repertoire, magic that you can tune to different situations.
Cantrips
You know two cantrips of your choice from the bard spell list. You learn additional bard cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Bard table.Spellbook
Much like a wizard, you study arcane arts and note your research in a spellbook. Your spellbook begins with three 1st-level bard spells of your choice. Your spellbook is the repository of the bard spells you know, except your cantrips, which are fixed in your mind. Copying a Spell into the Book. When you find a bard spell of 1st-level or higher, you can add it to your spellbook if it is of a spell level you can prepare, if you can spare the time to decipher and copy it, and you can understand the spell. Copying a spell into your spellbook involves reproducing the basic form of the spell, then deciphering the unique system of notation used by the bard who wrote it. You must practice the spell until you understand the sounds or gestures required, then transcribe it into your spellbook using your own notation. Due to your understanding being required in order to copy it, no pages will be wasted if you do not understand the spell, but you will expend the cost due to needing to practice. For each level of the spell, the process takes 3 hours and costs 75 gp. The cost represents material components you expend as you experiment with the spell to master it, as well as the find inks you need to record it. Once you have spent this time and money, you can prepare the spell just like your other spells. Learning Spells of 1st-Level or Higher. Each time you gain a bard level, you can add one bard spell of your choice to your spellbook. This spell must be of a level for which you have arcane spell slots, as shown on the Bard table. On your adventurers, you are likely to find spells that you can add to your spellbook, or you can work to create your own spells—including reproducing spells found in official sources. You cannot learn spells with the Rare tag unless you are copying them from a scroll or from another bard’s or wizard's spellbook. Replacing the Book. You can copy a spell from your own spellbook into another book—for example, if you want to make a backup copy of your spellbook. This is just like copying a new spell into your spellbook, but faster and easier, since you understand your own notation and already know how to cast the spell. You need spend only 1 hour and 10 gp for each level of the copied spell. If you lose your spellbook, you can use the same procedure to transcribe the spells that you have prepared into a new spellbook. Filling out the remainder of your spellbook requires you to find new spells to do so, as normal. For this reason, many bards keep backup spellbooks in a safe places. The Book’s Appearance. Your spellbook is a unique compilation of spells, with its own decorative flourishes and margin notes. It might be a plain, functional leather volume that you received as a gift from your master, a finely bound gilt-edged tome you found in an ancient library or even a loose collection of notes scrounged together after you lose your previous spellbook in a mishap. Regardless of appearance, the book is considered to be 100 pages of velum. There are two primary types of spellbooks: Arcanabulas and Grimoires. Arcanabulas, or traveling spellbooks, are smaller, cheaper, and far more plain on average. As their name suggests, they are often used while traveling or exploring dangerous situations, as the loss of an arcanabula is not as big of a deal as the far more exquisitely crafted and spell-filled grimoires. Grimoires are heavy books, often finely decorations and well-ordered. Grimoires are rarely taken outside of their safe resting place, as the expensive book and painstaking notes written into them are far too valuable to risk.Preparing and Casting Spells
The Bard table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your arcane spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell’s level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. You prepare the list of bard spells that are available for you to cast. To do so, choose a number of bard spells from your spellbook equal to your Bard Level + your Intelligence modifier. Casting a prepared spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared spells. You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of bard spells requires time spent studying your spellbook and memorizing the incantations and gestures you must make to cast the spell: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.Spellcasting Ability
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your bard spells, since you learn your spells through intense study and memorization similarly to a wizard. You use your Intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence when setting the saving throw DC for a bard spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Spellcasting Focus
You can use an arcane focus, a musical instrument, or your spellbook as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.Bard College
3rd-Level Bard Feature You delve into the advanced techniques of a bard college of your choice. Your choice grants you features at 3rd level and again at 6th and 14th level. Bard Colleges| College | Description |
|---|---|
| College of Dance | Bards of the College of Dance, or Dancers, use quick movements and turn their own bodies into a weapon to fight. |
| College of the Divinate | Bards of the College of the Divinate act as missionaries, religious storytellers, and singers of holy hymns. Unlike many bards, these bards are capable of learning healing divine magic. |
| College of Eloquence | Bards of the College of Eloquence are true tellers of tales, recounting the stories of heroes and villains past and present. |
| College of Glamour | Bards of the College of Glamour are capable of weaving Fey magic into their stories and tales, entrancing or frightening others. |
| College of Lore | These are Bards in the truest sense, keeping tales of all that is, was, or is to become. These bards are able to blend magic from numerous different classes and keep count of all lore, benign and malign. |
| College of the Naturalist | Bards of the College of the Naturalist are able to blend the divine magic of the natural world into their tales. |
| College of the Skald | Bards of the College of the Skald are not only tale tellers and lorekeepers, but also capable warriors able to drive others into a frenzy. |
| College of Spirits | Bards of the College of Spirits are able to commune with the world on the other side, speaking to the spirits of those who came before. |
| College of Swords | Bards of the College of Swords blend grand swordplay with their performances. |
| College of Valor | Bards of the College of Valor are grand leaders on the battlefield, pushing their allies to achieve greater things. |
| College of Whispers | Bards of the College of Whispers are those with awoken minds, using psionic powers to manipulate, bend, or even break the minds of others. |
Expertise
3rd-Level and 10th-Level Bard Feature Choose two of your skill, instrument, or tool proficiencies. You gain Expertise in the chosen options. At 10th level, you can choose another two skill, instrument, or tool proficiencies to gain this benefit.Jack of All Trades
4th-Level Bard Feature You can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any tool, instrument, or skill check you make that doesn't already include your proficiency bonus.Font of Inspiration
5th-Level Bard Feature You regain all of your expended uses of Bardic Inspiration when you finish a short or long rest.Countercharm
6th-Level Bard Feature You gain the ability to use musical notes, interruptive tones, or words of power to disrupt the mind-influencing affects and actions that require concentration. As an action, you can allow a creature of your choice within 30 feet of you to immediately repeat a saving throw against an effect that is charming or frightening them. A creature must be able to hear you to gain this benefit. You may attempt this as a reaction instead, but you must expend a spell slot of 1st-level or higher to do so.Bardic Focus
7th-Level Bard Feature While all bards are masters of numerous subjects, many find it helpful to narrow their scope at times and focus on an individual path. Choose one option from the following. Mystical Focus. You seek magic above all else, seeing it as the gateway to understanding the world. As such, you have increased your studies in this field and gained additional spell slots. Use the second number when referencing the Bard table to determine how many spell slots you have. In addition, copying spells into your spellbook takes only 2 hours and 50gp per spell level. For example, a 7th-level bard with a Mystical Focus will have four 1st-level and three 2nd-level spell slots instead of the normal three 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. Blade Focus. Your research takes you into dangerous crypts, tombs, dungeons, and wilderness landscapes where the ability to protect yourself is paramount in staying alive. As such, you have increased your studies in this field and gained better use of weapons. You gain two additional weapon proficiency slots, and your chance to gain a level of mastery increases by 10%, to a maximum of 99%. Lastly, it takes you only three-quarters the time to gain a new level of mastery. Skill Focus. The world is a dangerous place for those without proper ways to defend themselves, but you see the best way to survive as simply never being harmed in the first place. As such, you have increased your studies into your practical skills and gained better control over them. You gain three extra proficiencies of your choice in any skill, instrument, or tool kit. Alternatively, you may choose to gain only one extra proficiency and also gain expertise in one skill, instrument, or tool kit you are already proficient with.Improved Focus
11th-Level Bard Feature You have honed your skills tremendously and are able to improve even further. You choose whether to branch out, exploring new options, or to double down and continue your studies on one topic. If you branch out, choose an additional Bardic Focus. If you do not, your current focus is improved as shown below. Improved Mystical Focus. Your studies into the arcane have greatly increased your abilities. Choose one option from below.- Focus of Distance. When you cast a bard spell of 1st-level or higher that does not have a range of touch, its range is increased by 30 feet.
- Focus of Duration. When you cast a bard spell of 1st-level or higher with a duration of 1 minute or longer, the duration is doubled to a maximum duration of 12 hours.
- Focus of Might. When you cast a bard spell of 1st-level or higher, you may expend a use of Bardic Inspiration. If you do, that spell counts as though you had cast it as 1 level higher.
- Focus of Defense. You gain proficiency with heavy armor and large shields.
- Focus of Offense. You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
- Focus of Style. You gain one additional fighting style from the options available to the Fighter class.
- Focus of the All-Knowing. You gain proficiency with three skills, tool kits, or instruments of your choice. Alternatively, you may choose to gain only one extra proficiency and also gain expertise in one skill, instrument, or tool kit you are already proficient with.
- Focus of Perfection. Whenever you make a check using a skill, tool kit, or instrument with which you have expertise, you may add half your Intelligence modifier, rounded up, to the roll.
- Focus of Reliability. Whenever you make a check using a skill, tool kit, or instrument with which you are proficient, you can treat a d20 roll of 6 or lower as a 5. If you have expertise with the skill, tool kit, or instrument, you can treat a d20 roll of 9 or lower as a 10.
Perfected Focus
20th-Level Bard Feature You have learned numerous lifetimes of information, building upon each other and helping you to perfect yourself as you go. You choose whether to branch out, exploring new options, or to double down and continue your studies on one topic. If you branch out, choose an additional Bardic Focus. If you do not, your current improved focus is improved as shown below. Perfected Mystical Focus. You have perfected your arcane art, able to use it for just about any task needed. Choose one option from below.- Focus of Unyielding Power. Use the third number when referencing the Bard table to determine how many spell slots and the second number when determining how many cantrips you have.
- Focus of Optimization. Whenever you cast a bard spell of 1st-level or higher that requires a material component with a cost, the cost is reduced by half for you.
- Focus of Speed. Whenever you cast a bard spell of 1st-level or higher with a casting time of 1 action, you may expend a use of Bardic Inspiration to cast that spell as a bonus action instead. Whenever you cast a bard spell of 1st-level or higher with a casting time of 1 minute or less, you may expend 2 uses of Bardic Inspiration to cast that spell as an action instead.
- Focus of the Typhoon. While wielding a melee weapon in one hand, your walking speed is increased by 20 feet and you do not provoke attacks for any action.
- Focus of the Dreadnought. While wearing heavy armor, you can use your action to gain a +3 bonus to AC until the beginning of your next turn.
- Focus of the Fell-Handed. Once per turn, when you hit a creature with a weapon attack, you may expend a use of Bardic Inspiration. If you do, the attack becomes a critical hit and you deal maximum damage.
- Focus of the Omniscient. You gain proficiency with four skills, tool kits, or instruments of your choice. Alternatively, you may choose to gain only two extra proficiency and also gain expertise in one skill, instrument, or tool kit you are already proficient with.
- Focus of the Omnipotent. Whenever you make a check using a skill, tool kit, or instrument with which you are proficient and you dislike the result, you may choose to expend a use of Bardic Inspiration to treat the d20 roll as a 20.
- Focus of the Eternally Skilled. When you would make a check that takes 1 round or less using a skill, tool kit, or instrument with which you lack expertise, you may expend a use of Bardic Inspiration to gain expertise for that check.
This is a rare option
This option requires special permission to take. In the case of spells, psionic powers, and similar options, this option must be found in the world and cannot be taken upon level-up.
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Hit Points
Proficiencies
Starting Wealth or Equipment
As a bard, you begin play with a spellbook and 2d6 x 10 gp in addition to any equipment granted by your background. If you are instead using starting equipment, you begin with the following equipment:- (a) a rapier, (b) a longsword, or (c) any simple weapon.
- (a) a diplomat's pack, (b) a scholar's pack, or (c) an entertainer's pack.
- (a) a flute or (b) any musical instrument or gaming set
- Leather armor and a dagger
- A spellbook
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