When it comes to Bards, they often get the reputation of being flamboyant and bringers of joy. However, before making a snide comment about them, it’s important to know that Bards have the opportunity to attend different colleges. In Baldur’s Gate 3, one of the most combative choices for a Bard is the College of Swords. So, if you want to build the best College of Swords Bard in the game, here’s what you need to know.
Why Choose the College of Swords for Your Bard?
Unlike other classes that have predetermined subclasses at first level, Bards have the opportunity to choose their College at level three. The College of Swords is a fantastic choice for those who prefer a melee-based build and want more versatility in combat.
By choosing the College of Swords, your Bard will gain access to unique abilities and advantages as they level up. These include the Slashing Flourish which allows you to attack multiple enemies simultaneously, the Defensive Flourish granting a +4 bonus to your armor class after an attack, and the Mobile Flourish which enables you to push back an enemy and teleport to their location. These features will enhance your effectiveness in both melee and ranged combat. Additionally, you will gain proficiency in Scimitars and Medium Armor, further enhancing your combat capabilities.
At level 6, you will acquire the Extra Attack feature, allowing you to make multiple attacks during your turn. This ability can make a significant impact as you progress in the game, especially when combined with powerful attacks or magical weapons. With the College of Swords, you can truly be a force to reckon with on the battlefield.
Choosing the Right Fighting Style for College of Swords Bards
When it comes to fighting styles, the College of Swords Bard has a slightly limited selection compared to classes like the Fighter, Paladin, and Ranger. Instead of having access to all six options, Bards in this college can choose from just two: the Dueling and Two-Weapon fighting styles. Luckily, these styles align perfectly with the Bard’s proficiency in Charisma and Dexterity.
The choice of fighting style depends on the weapons you typically use in combat. The Dueling style is ideal for those who prefer using a single weapon. By selecting this style, you gain a +2 bonus to your damage rolls when attacking with a single-handed melee weapon.
On the other hand, if you enjoy the thrill of dual-wielding and attacking with both hands, the Two-Weapon fighting style is the way to go. With this style, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of your second attack. As a Bard whose primary ability is Charisma, over time, the added damage from the Two-Weapon style will surpass the +2 bonus from Dueling, making it the better choice.
What is the Best College of Swords Bard Build?
The best build for a College of Swords Bard revolves around dual-wielding weapons and opting for the Two-Weapon fighting style. Focus your ability score increases on Charisma since it is already a primary stat for Bards. However, it’s also recommended to allocate some ability points to Strength to maximize the damage dealt with your melee weapons.
Best Feats for College of Swords Bards
When it comes to enhancing your College of Swords Bard, there are several options to choose from when selecting feats at levels 4, 8, and 12.
- Opting for Ability Improvements is a solid choice, allowing you to boost your already strong skills like Charisma or Dexterity. Alternatively, you can use them to improve your weaker skills and create a more well-rounded Bard.
- If you’re looking to enhance your Bard’s social encounters, consider the Actor feat. With its bonus to Deception and Performance, this feat effectively doubles your proficiency bonus, making your verbal interactions more successful.
- For College of Swords Bards, the Lucky feat is also highly recommended, especially once you unlock the extra attack at level 6. The more attacks you have, the greater the chance of missing a few. The Lucky feat helps offset those less fortunate dice rolls.
Top Cantrips for College of Swords Bards
When selecting spells and cantrips for your Bard, it’s important to consider the physical nature of the College of Swords. Focus on magic that will aid you on the battlefield.
- The True Strike cantrip grants you advantage on your next attack roll. This is an excellent choice, especially when used in conjunction with the Lucky feat. By doing so, you can still provide yourself with an advantage in combat, even when you’ve exhausted your Luck Points.
- Vicious Mockery is another great cantrip for College of Swords Bards. Inflicting disadvantage on an enemy’s next attack roll can be a game-changer, particularly when facing tough opponents. It can help keep you and your party in the fight for a little while longer.
Top Spells for College of Swords Bards
When it comes time to choose your college as a Bard, you’ll already be at third level, giving you four level one spell slots and two level two spell slots to utilize. For your level one spell slots, it’s best to focus on spells that can hinder your enemies in battle.
- Bane is a fantastic choice, as it allows you to impose a -1d4 penalty on the saving throws and attack rolls of up to three enemies. This spell can be extremely useful when facing a group of smaller enemies or when you need an advantage in tougher fights.
- Faerie Fire is another great option, as it enables your party to deal significant damage to an enemy. Its ability to affect multiple enemies at once makes it perfect for breaking up a group and slowly chipping away at their health.
- Dissonant Whispers not only deals 3d6 Psychic damage to an enemy but also frightens them for two turns, making them vulnerable to powerful attacks. This spell can be a game-changer in combat.
- Heroism functions differently from Dissonant Whispers, as it prevents you or a chosen target from becoming frightened. It also provides five temporary hit points per turn, giving you extra resilience in battle.
When you reach the level where you can choose your level two spell slots, take advantage of them to unleash even more magical damage in addition to your melee attacks.
- Cloud of Daggers is a fantastic spell for attacking groups of enemies or dealing heavy damage to a single target. It can also be used to manipulate enemy movement, either guiding them towards or away from a particular area.
- Shatter is another valuable spell since it allows you to deal area-of-effect damage. Additionally, if your target is inorganic, they will have a disadvantage on their saving throw against the attack.
In addition to the bonus damage you deal by wielding two weapons simultaneously, the proficiency in Scimitars will enable you to inflict even more damage, giving your party an extra edge. The Medium Armor proficiency will also boost your confidence in your Armor Class, allowing you to confidently engage in close combat encounters.
In conclusion, this Bard College of Swords build is an excellent choice if you want to be a formidable combatant as a Bard, breaking free from the stereotype of just singing songs. If you’re interested in selecting your bard’s race or learning more about characters in BG3, be sure to check out our other posts.
About the author
Nick Rivera
Nick Rivera graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2021, majoring in Digital Media. He joined Twinfinite as a Freelance Writer in early 2023. Nick enjoys playing a variety of games, from Halo to Stardew Valley to Peggle. However, he has a soft spot for games with captivating narratives.
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