Table of Contents
Class Features
As a bard, you have the following class features.
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per bard level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your CON modifier
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your CON modifier per bard level after 1st
Proficiencies
Armor: Light armor
Weapons: Simple weapons, martial weapons with the Finesse property
Tools: One type of musical instrument and two other tools your choice
Saves: DEX, CHA
Skills: Any three skills of your choice
Starting Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- (a) a rapier or (b) any simple weapon
- (a) a diplomat’s pack or (b) an entertainer’s pack
- (a) a musical instrument or (b) a different tool you are proficient with
- Leather armor and a dagger
Bard Progression
| Level | PB | Features | Cantrips Known | Rituals Known | Spells Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | +2 | Bardic Inspiration (d6), Spellcasting | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +2 | Bardic Performance: Celebrate Life, Bardic Performance: Cutting Words, Expertise (2) | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | Bard Subclass | 3 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +2 | Improvement | 4 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5th | +3 | Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration | 4 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +3 | Bardic Performance: Clarity of Thought, Expertise (4) | 4 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +3 | Subclass Feature | 4 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8th | +3 | Improvement | 4 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9th | +4 | Bardic Inspiration (d10), Magical Secrets | 4 | 5 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
| 10th | +4 | Heroic Boon | 5 | 5 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| 11th | +4 | Subclass Feature | 5 | 6 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 12th | +4 | Improvement | 5 | 6 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — |
| 13th | +5 | Magical Secrets | 5 | 7 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 14th | +5 | Bardic Inspiration (d12) | 5 | 7 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 15th | +5 | Subclass Feature | 5 | 8 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 16th | +5 | Improvement | 5 | 8 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 17th | +6 | Grand Performance | 5 | 9 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 18th | +6 | Magical Secrets | 5 | 9 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 19th | +6 | Improvement | 5 | 9 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 20th | +6 | Epic Boon | 5 | 9 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Spellcasting
1st-Level Bard Feature
As a conduit for arcane power, you can cast Arcane spells.
Cantrips
At 1st level, choose three cantrips from the Arcane spell list to learn. You choose more Arcane cantrips to learn at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Bard Progression table.
Casting Spells
You know several spells and can cast any of them by using an Arcane spell slot of the spell’s circle or higher. You don’t need to prepare spells ahead of time.
The Bard Progression table shows how many spells you know and how many Arcane spell slots you have at a given level. For example, at 3rd level, you have four 1st-circle slots and two 2nd-circle slots. If you know the 1st-circle spell magic missile and have a 1st-circle and a 2nd-circle spell slot available, you can cast magic missile using either slot. If you use a 1st-circle slot, you have three 1st-circle slots remaining.
You regain all used spell slots when you finish a long rest.
Spells Known of 1st Circle and Higher
At 1st level, choose four 1st-circle spells that you know. Three of these spells must be from the Arcane spell list, but the fourth can be from any source spell list. Regardless of its source, it is an Arcane spell for you.
The Spells Known column of the Bard Progression table shows when you learn additional Arcane spells. Each spell you choose must be from a circle for which you have Arcane spell slots. For instance, when you reach 3rd level as a bard, you can learn one new Arcane spell of 1st or 2nd circle. The Magical Secrets feature also lets you learn spells from other sources at certain levels.
In addition, when you gain a level of bard, you can choose one Arcane spell you know and replace it with another spell of your choice from the Arcane spell list. The replacement spell must be of a circle for which you have Arcane spell slots.
Spellcasting Ability
Charisma (CHA) is your spellcasting ability. Your CHA modifier determines the save DC or the attack modifier for certain spells you cast:
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus (PB) + your CHA modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus (PB) + your CHA modifier
Rituals
You can also cast a type of long-form spell called a ritual. Rituals don’t count against your known spell total, and they don’t use up spell slots.
At 1st level, choose one ritual from any spell list—Arcane, Divine, Primordial, or Wyrd. Regardless of its source, it becomes an Arcane spell for you. You choose more rituals to learn at higher levels, as shown in the Rituals Known column of the Bard Progression table, but only from a circle for which you have spell slots. Rituals you learn don’t count against the number of spells you learn at each level.
Spellcasting Focus
You can use a musical instrument or an arcane focus as a spellcasting focus for your Arcane spells. At your GM’s discretion, you can use a suitable tool or object from a different tool kit you are proficient with as a spellcasting focus instead.
Bardic Inspiration
1st, 5th, 9th, and 14th-Level Bard Feature
You can inspire others through stirring words, music, or other kinds of performance. As a bonus action on your turn, you can choose a creature within 60 feet of you, other than yourself, who can hear or see you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d6.
Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll that die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or save that it makes. 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 CHA modifier. 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, d10 at 10th, and d12 at 14th.
Expertise
2nd and 6th-Level Bard Feature
Choose two of your skill proficiencies, or one skill proficiency and one tool proficiency. Double your PB for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen proficiencies.
At 6th level, you can choose two more of your proficiencies (any combination of skills or tools) to gain this benefit.
Bardic Performance
2nd and 6th-Level Bard Feature
You weave magic into ongoing performances to produce effects beyond spells. You start with two effects: Celebrate Life and Cutting Words. You gain a new effect at 6th level, and some bard subclasses grant additional effects. Unless stated otherwise, targets must be within 30 feet of you and be able to hear or see you (depending on the type of performance) to be affected.
As an action, you can use your Bardic Performance feature, choosing which performance effect you create when you do so. Once active, you can continue the performance for up to 1 minute, as long as you spend a bonus action at the start of each of your subsequent turns to maintain it. You can also choose to use your Bardic Inspiration feature as part of the same bonus action required to maintain this performance.
Your performance ends early if you become incapacitated, silenced, use an action to begin a new performance, or choose to end the effect (no action required by you to do so).
You can use your Bardic Performance feature to start a new performance a number of times equal to your PB, regaining all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Bardic Performance: Celebrate Life
At 2nd level, while your Bardic Performance feature is active, allies within range can choose to expend one of their hit dice at the start of their turn. When they do so, they roll the expended die and recover a number of hit points equal to the result + your CHA modifier.
In addition, allies within range have advantage on death saves, though they don’t need to see or hear you to receive this benefit.
Bardic Performance: Cutting Words
At 2nd level you gain a special reaction while your Bardic Performance feature is active. When a creature within range that you can see makes an ability check, attack roll, or damage roll, you can use your reaction to expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration feature, rolling the die and subtracting the number rolled from the creature’s roll.
Bardic Performance: Clarity of Thought
Starting at 6th level, you gain this Bardic Performance option. While using your Bardic Performance feature, allies within 30 feet of you can’t be charmed and have advantage on saves against being frightened. If an ally within range is already charmed or frightened when you begin your performance, it has advantage on any saves it makes to end the effect as long as your performance continues.
Bard Subclass
3rd, 7th, 11th, and 15th-Level Bard Feature
Choose a subclass that reflects the college you align with. Your choice grants you features at 3rd, 7th, 11th, and 15th level.
- Lore
- Victory
Improvement
4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th-Level Bard Feature
Choose one of the following improvements (ability scores can’t be raised above 20 with this feature):
- Increase a single ability score by 2.
- Increase two different ability scores by 1 each.
- Increase one ability score by 1 and select a talent from the technical talents list.
Font of Inspiration
5th-Level Bard Feature
You now regain all expended uses of your Bardic Inspiration feature when you finish a short or long rest.
In addition, you can now use your Bardic Inspiration dice in a new way. When a creature within 60 feet of you that you can hear or see you fails an ability check, attack roll, or save, you can use your reaction to expend a use of your Bardic Inspiration feature. When you do, roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to the target’s check total—potentially turning a failure into a success.
Magical Secrets
9th, 13th, and 18th-Level Bard Feature
You’ve picked up magical knowledge from just about everywhere. Choose two spells (or cantrips) from any spell list. A spell you choose must be of a circle you can cast with your spell slots, as shown on the Bard Progression table.
The chosen spells count as Arcane spells for you and are already included in the number in the Spells Known column at these levels on the Bard Progression table.
You learn two additional spells from any source at 13th level and again at 18th level.
Heroic Boon
10th-Level Bard Feature
Your commitment to the bard’s path grants you a powerful new ability. Choose one of the following heroic boons:
- Persistent Inspiration. When a creature adds one of your Bardic Inspiration dice to an ability check, attack roll, or save, and the roll still fails, the die isn’t lost and can be used again.
- Valiant Inspiration. When a creature with one of your Bardic Inspiration dice successfully deals damage with an attack, the creature can expend and roll the die to deal additional damage equal to the result. The extra damage is of the same type as that of the triggering attack (though the attacker chooses which type if there are more than one). Alternatively, when a creature with one of your Bardic Inspiration dice takes damage, the creature can use its reaction to expend and roll the die to reduce the amount of damage taken by an amount equal to the result + your CHA modifier.
Grand Performance
17th-Level Bard Feature
Your Bardic Performance feature now affects creatures within 60 feet of you that can hear or see you.
Epic Boon
20th-Level Bard Feature
Your commitment to the bard’s path grants you a powerful new ability. You gain the following epic boon:
- Curtain Call. If you start your turn with no uses of your Bardic Inspiration feature remaining, you can use your bonus action to recover a number of uses equal to your CHA modifier (minimum of 1). This bonus action can be taken as part of the bonus action required to maintain your Bardic Performance feature. Once you use this feature, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest.