One:Bard
See Bard (disambiguation)
Design Notes: Bard Updates
[1] + Here are the main updates in this class since its last playtest version:
- Bardic Inspiration has returned to its 2014 form, with the following changes: (1) a Bardic Inspiration die is used in response to failing a d20 Test—you no longer have to guess whether you failed—and (2) a creature has up to an hour, not just 10 minutes, to use the die. The healing option in the previous Bard playtest has been removed because, in playtesting, the healing option was encouraging too much usage hoarding, which easily resulted in the Bard not using Bardic Inspiration at all
- Spellcasting has two noteworthy changes: (1) each Bard gets to choose whether to use the Arcane, Divine, or Primal spell list, and (2) spell preparation is no longer tied to the level of your spell slots. The first change leans into the fact that a Bard might have learned their arts in an Arcane, a Divine, or a Primal context, and the second change was widely requested in the playtest feedback.
- Jack of All Trades has returned to 2nd level.
- Bard Subclass levels now match the level progression in the 2014 Bard, ensuring compatibility with subclasses already in print.
- Font of Inspiration has returned to 5th level, and it now also allows you to expend spell slots to use Bardic Inspiration if you’re out of uses.
- Countercharm returns and has been improved. It’s now 7th level and can be used as a Reaction rather than an action.
- Magical Secrets has returned to 10th level and now affects your spell choice for all your later Bard levels.
- Words of Creation is a new 20th-level feature, replacing Epic Boon (Epic Boon feats will return in a future UA, but they won’t be built into a class’s level progression).
Bard class [1]
Class Group: Expert
Primary Abiliy: Charisma
Unofficial Description: Bards invoke magic through music, dance, or poetry.
| Level | Proficiency Bonus |
Class Features | Bardic Die | Cantrips | Prepared Spells |
—Prepared Spells per Spell Level— | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | |||||||
| 1st | +2 | Bardic Inspiration, Spellcasting | d6 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2nd | +2 | Expertise, Jack of All Trades | d6 | 2 | 5 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 3rd | +2 | Bard Subclass | d6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement | d6 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 5th | +3 | Font of Inspiration | d8 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 6th | +3 | Subclass Feature | d8 | 3 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 7th | +3 | Countercharm | d8 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement | d8 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 9th | +4 | Expertise | d8 | 3 | 14 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | |
| 10th | +4 | Magical Secrets | d10 | 4 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | |
| 11th | +4 | — | d10 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement | d10 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 13th | +5 | — | d10 | 4 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| 14th | +5 | Subclass Feature | d10 | 4 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| 15th | +5 | — | d12 | 4 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| 16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement | d12 | 4 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| 17th | +6 | — | d12 | 4 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 18th | +6 | Superior Inspiration | d12 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 19th | +6 | Ability Score Increase | d12 | 4 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 20th | +6 | Words of Creation | d12 | 4 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
Creating a Bard
[1] Class Group: Experts
Primary Ability: Charisma
To create a Bard, consult the following lists, which provide Hit Points, Proficiencies, and Armor Training. If you’re making a 1st-level character, also consult the “Starting Equipment” section, and if you’re using the multiclassing rules, see the “Multiclassing and the Bard” section.
Then look at the Bard table to see the Class Features you get at each level in this Class. The descriptions of those features appear in the “Bard Class Features” section.
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per Bard level
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier
Hit Points per Level after 1st: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier
Proficiencies
Saving Throws: Dexterity, Charisma.
Skills: Choose 3 from Any three skills of your choice.
Weapons: Simple Weapons
Tools: Three Musical Instruments of your choice
Armor Training
Light Armor
Starting Equipment
As a 1st-level character, you start with the following equipment, or you can forgo it and spend 100 GP on equipment of your choice. Dagger (2), Entertainer's Pack, Leather Armor, Musical Instrument (one of your choice), 26 gp
Multiclassing and the Bard
If your group uses the multiclassing rules in the Player's Handbook, here’s what you need to know if you choose Bard as one of your Classes.
Ability Score Minimum. 13+ Charisma.
Proficiencies. One Skill of your choice and one Musical Instrument of your choice.
Armor Training. Light Armor Training
Spell Slots. Add all your Bard levels.
You prepare Spells for each of your Classes individually, referring to the Spell Slots of an individual Class to determine the number and levels of the Spells you prepare for it.
Bard Class Features
As a Bard, you gain the following Class Features when you reach the specified levels in this Class. These features are listed on the Bard table.
Bardic Inspiration
1st level
Unofficial Summary: Gain a number of Bardic Inspiration Dice equal to your Charisma modifier. As a Bonus Action you can give one to a nearby creature. For a period of time that creature, when it fails a d20 test, it can expend the Bardic Inspiration Die by rolling it and add the result to the result of the d20 test (hopefully resulting in a success). As you gain bard levels, the type of die increases (from a d6 to d8 and eventually to a d12).
Spellcasting
1st level
Unofficial Summary: You gain the ability to cast spells. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your bard spells. You may use a musical instrument as a spellcasting focus.
You choose either Arcane, Divine, or Primal spells for your magical tradition. Until you gain the Magical Secrets feature (at 10th level), all the spells you cast are from your magical tradition. You also add Vicious Mockery to your magical tradition.
The Bard table shows the number of cantrips you know, the number of spells you may have prepared, and the number of spell slots you have to cast spells of 1st level or higher from your prepared spells.
Expertise
2nd and 9th Level
Unofficial Summary: You gain Expertise in 2 Skills with which you have proficiency at 2nd level bard. You gain two more at 9th level bard.
Jack of All Trades
2nd Level
Unofficial Summary: If you lack proficiency in a skill, you may add half (round down) your proficiency bonus to the check.
Bard Subclass
3rd Level (features at 3rd, 6th, 14th)
Unofficial Summary: You choose a Bard Subclass.
List of Bard Subclasses
4 official and unofficial subclasses.
| Subclass | Summary | Features | Flags | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of Dance | This bard college focuses on agility, speed, and grace; expression through movement and dance. | Dazzling Footwork, Inspiring Movement, Leading Evasion, Tandem Footwork, Irresistible Dance | Noncanon, Pointer, UA | UA 2023 Player's Handbook Playtest 6 |
| College of Glamour | This bard college focuses on beauty and terror. | Beguiling Magic, Mantle of Inspiration, Mantle of Majesty, Unbreakable Majesty | Noncanon, Pointer, UA | UA 2023 Player's Handbook Playtest 6 |
| College of Lore | This bard college focuses on history, legends, obscure facts, and secrets. | Bonus Proficiencies, Cutting Words, Magical Discoveries, Peerless Skill | Noncanon, Pointer, UA | UA 2023 Player's Handbook Playtest 6 |
| College of Valor | This bard college focuses on tales of mighty deeds. | Combat Inspiration, Martial Training, Extra Attack, Battle Magic | Noncanon, Pointer, UA | UA 2023 Player's Handbook Playtest 6 |
Ability Score Improvement
4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th Levels
You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify.[1]
Font of Inspiration
5th Level
Unofficial Summary: You can regain expended uses of Bardic Inspiration in two ways:
- Short or Long Rest
- Expending a spell slot restores one Bardic Inspriation Die.
Countercharm
7th Level
Unofficial Summary: You may use a Reaction to reroll, with Advantage, a failed saving throw against an effect that causes the Charmed or Frightened condition.
Magical Secrets
10th Level
Unofficial Summary: Your magical tradition now includes Arcane, Divine, and Primal spell lists.
Superior Inspiration
18th Level
Unofficial Summary: If you have no unexpended Bardic Inspiration dice, you regain 2 when you roll initiative.
Words of Creation
20th Level
Unofficial Summary: You always have Power Word Heal and Power Word Kill prepared. Both can target a nearby second target when cast.
Sources and Notes
- Jeremy Crawford, et. al.. UA 2023 Player's Handbook Playtest 6 (Dungeons and Dragons One D&D) (2023-06-29). Wizards of the Coast. Licensed: © Wizards of the Coast (used under 'fair use' clause). ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
- A deprecated version of this class was published in UA 2022 Expert Classes.
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