Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Bard Subclasses [Features + Spells]

After playing for more than 80 hours as Bard, here is my take on its best subclasses available!

By Ibrahim Akhtar January 15, 2024

Fact Checked By Moiz Banoori

Most Played Games

5,000+ hours in Stronghold Crusader.
4,000+ hours in Counter Strike.
3,000+ hours in PUBG.

Threads

Baldur’s Gate 3 has a wide variety of classes and subclasses that players can choose from, through which they can choose the best one that might fit them. Such is the Bard class, which has a total of 3 subclasses, and each has its traits and features. Therefore, players might want to know the Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Bard Subclass, which is where your build will start to diversify.

Important: Players must choose a strong subclass to get the most optimal Bard to build!

Key Takeaways

Baldur’s Gate 3 Bard Class has three subclasses, the best of which are the College of Lore and the College of Valor.
College of Lore focuses on Cutting Words, Intimidation Proficiency, Arcana, and Sleight of Hand Proficiency.
College of Valor aims towards Shield Proficiency, Combat Inspiration, Martial Weapon Inspiration, and Medium Armor Proficiency being the main features.
The third bard subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3, the College of Swords, is also a good option but does not top the other two.

Author’s Note: With more than dozens of hours of experience in Baldur’s Gate 3, I feel more than obliged to provide you with hands-on experience on the topic below.

BG3 Best Bard Subclass

Below I have listed a summarized version of the BG3 Best Bard Subclass:

BARD SUBCLASS	BEST FOR	DESCRIPTION	FEATURES	PRIMARY ABILITIES
College of Lore	The Subclass with Charisma-Based Skills.	Pursuing beauty and truth, colelcting knowledge and making opponents spellbound.	Cutting Words, Intimidation Proficiency, Arcana Proficiency, Sleight of Hand Proficiency	Charisma
College of Valor	The Subclass with High Defensive Proficiencies.	Players will wander the lands in order to see the deeds of the mighty and using their insane memory.	Shield Proficiency, Combat Inspiration, Martial Weapon Inspiration, Medium Armor Proficiency.	Charisma

Regarding the features for the class, the Bard class will have quite a few features that align with the subclass.

Features	Effects
Dexterity Saving Throw Proficiency	Players can add their proficiency bonus to their Dexterity Saving Throws.
Light Armor Proficiency	Wearing light armor won’t disadvantage your attack rolls or spell-casting.
Charisma Saving Throw Proficiency	You can add your proficiency bonus to your Charisma saving throws.
Simple Weapon Proficiency	Add up your proficiency bonus to your attack rolls with simple weapons.
Musical Instrument Proficiency	Players will know how to play music and can entertain a crowd using it.
Hand Crossbow Proficiency	Add up your proficiency bonus to your attack rolls with hand crossbows.
Longsword Proficiency	You can add your proficiency bonus to your attack rolls with Longswords.
Rapier Proficiency	Add your bonus to your Rapier-based attack rolls.
Shortsword Proficiency	The proficiency bonus will be added to your Shortswords.

College Of Lore

The Best Charisma-Based Skills Subclass.

First things first, when it comes to the Best Bard Subclass, there are two sub-classes that would be considered the best, which would range from the College of Lore to the College of Valor, though the College of Swords isn’t all that far off either.

Regarding the College of Lore, its primary ability has been centered towards Charisma, while the Saving Throw Proficiencies will be that of Dexterity and Charisma.
The College of Lore has been described as one that pursues beauty and truth, collecting knowledge from wherever possible and using it during combat.

Features

As far as the features are concerned, there will be four main initial features that range from Arcana Proficiency, Sleight of Hand Proficiency as well as Cutting Words, and Intimidation Proficiency.

Features	Effects
Cutting Words	Players can use their wit to distract a creature.
Intimidation Proficiency	Charisma-based skill
Arcana Proficiency	Intelligence-based skill
Sleight of Hand Proficiency	Dexterity-based skill

Feature Progression

As far as the Feature progression is concerned for both the Bard class and the College of Lore progression, it is listed as follows.

Level Progression	Features/Spells/Actions
1	Bardic Inspiration
2	Song of Rest
2	Jack of All Trades
3	Expertise
3	Choose a subclass
4	Choose a feat
5	Font of Inspiration
5	Improved Bardic Inspiration
5	Bardic Inspiration charge increases.
6	Countercharm
8	Choose a feat
8	Bardic Inspiration enhanced
10	Improved Bardic Inspiration
10	Expertise in any 2 skills
10	Choose 2 spells
12	Choose a feat.
3 (College of Lore)	Cutting Woods
3 (College of Lore)	Arcana, Sleight of Hand and Intimidation proficiencies
3 (College of Lore)	Choose 2 spells

Reliable offensive abilities
Enemies Crowd Control
Impressive Charisma and Dexterity

Low overall damage
Only good as support class

College Of Valor

The High Defensive Proficiencies Subclass.

In my opinion, the second-best Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Bard Class will be known as the College of Valor, which has the primary ability set to Charisma, while the saving Throw proficiencies are set to Charisma and Dexterity. They have been described as wandering the lands and keeping memories alive.

Features

For its features, it has a total of 4 that range from Medium Armor Proficiency, Combat Inspiration, Shield Proficiency, and Martial Weapon Proficiency.

Features	Effect
Shield Proficiency	Wielding a shield won’t impose a disadvantage on the Attack Rolls.
Combat Inspiration	You can inspire an ally to add a bonus to the next attack roll.
Martial Weapon Inspiration	Add a proficiency bonus to the attack rolls with Martial Weapons.
Medium Armor Proficiency	If you wear medium armor, it won’t be a disadvantage on your attack rolls or spell-casting.

Cancels disadvantage on attack rolls
Defense focused abilities
Reliable Support

Lacks at heavy armor
Lacks at Melee attacks

Best Subclass Spells

Moving on, there are cantrips and six levels of spells that players can use, and a few might work better than others.

Cantrips	Effect
Friends	Players will gain an Advantage on their Charisma checks against a creature that isn’t hostile.
Minor Illusion	Players can create an illusion that will cause creatures nearby to investigate it.
Mage Hand	Cast forth a spectral that will be able to manipulate and interact with objects.
True Strike	You will get an advantage on your following Attack Roll.
Vicious Mockery	Cast forth a string of insults toward a creature that will take damage and get a Disadvantage for the next Attack Roll.

As far as the spells are concerned, they are listed as follows for Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Subclass.

Spells	Effect
Fireball	You can shoot out a bright flame using fingers that will explode upon coming into contact.
Mass Healing Word	The spell will end up healing up to 6 teammates.
Haste	You can either target yourself or your allies to make them Hastened.
Heat Metal	You can cause a metal weapon or your armor to become red hot.
Cloud of Daggers	Summon forth a cloud of spinning daggers that will attack anyone inside.
Crown of Madness	You can instill madness in an opponent that is a humanoid.
Counterspells	Nullify another creature’s spell that is being used as a reaction.
Thunderwave	You can cast forth a wave of thunderous force that will push away objects.
Calm Emotions	Humanoids won’t be able to be charmed or can’t be frightened.
Hypnotic Pattern	Summon a twisting pattern of color that will end up hypnotizing all sorts of creatures.
Plant Growth	Cause weeds to burst from the ground and cover the entire area.
Heroism	Make yourself or any target become immune to Frightened.
Dimension Door	You can teleport yourself and one ally to a place you can see.
Minor Illusion	Create forth an illusion that will cause nearby creatures to investigate.
Vicious Mockery	Summon forth a string of insults towards a creature.
Disguise Self	Magically change your appearance completely.
Bane	Up to a total of 3 creatures will receive a -1d4 penalty to their attack rolls and their Saving Throws.
Phantasmal Force	You can deal damage to any creature for each turn.
Bestow Curse	You will be able to curse a creature using your touch.
Fear	Project forth an image that will be so scary that it makes targets drop everything and become fearful.
Polymorph	Transform a creature into a sheep.
Dominate Person	You can make a humanoid fight alongside you.

My Take On Using The Bard Subclasses

The Bards have to be one of my favorite classes in BG3 after playing the title for over 40 hours. The fact that an entity can use such harsh language that it deals damage or even kills the target is simply too hilarious. Naturally, this means that I lean more toward the College of Lore than the College of Valor.

ibrahim bg3 save slot — My Baldur’s Gate 3 save slot (Image by eXputer)

The class also focuses a lot on Charisma for skills like Deception, Persuasion, and, of course, Performance. If you’re a seasoned DnD player, then you already know why I singled out these three. If not, then you’ll come to know in time what power these hold.

And that’s just about it! All that players need to know about the Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Bard Subclass, and with that, let’s wrap up the guide! While you’re here, why not read the Baldur’s Gate 3 Halsin guide, which will tell you everything you need to know about the Halsin Companion? Alongside that, the Best Level 1 Spells guide will be worth reading!

With that, Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Fighter Subclasses Strategy Playstyle guide is one that you shouldn’t miss out on. Lastly, how about reading the in-game Bear Scene guide?

Up Next:

Did you find this helpful? Leave feedback below.

Thanks! Do share your feedback with us. ⚡

How can we make this post better? Your help would be appreciated. ✍