Bard

Kind

Class

Hit points at level 1

8 + Constitution modifier

Hit points per level

5 + Constitution modifier

Hit die

d8

Primary ability

Charisma

Spellcasting ability

Charisma

Bards know music is more than idle fancy - it is power. Through study and adventure, these travelling troubadours master song, speech, and the magic within.

Level progression

Level by level, from the game's progression table: what you get, what you choose, and when you pick a subclass or a feat.

1. Level 1
   Bardic Inspiration

   Can use Bardic Inspiration.

   Grants Bardic Inspiration

   Proficiency in 3 skills

   Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight Of Hand, Stealth, Survival

   Learn 2 spells

   Vicious Mockery, Blade Ward, Mage Hand, True Strike, Friends, Dancing Lights, Light, Minor Illusion

   Learn 4 spells

   Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

   Choose equipment

   Ability bonuses at character creation (+2 and +1)

   Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma

   Proficiency in Dexterity saving throws · Proficiency in Charisma saving throws · Proficiency with light armour · Proficiency with simple weapons · Proficiency with hand crossbows · Proficiency with longswords · Proficiency with rapiers · Proficiency with shortswords · Proficiency with musical instruments · +3 Bardic Inspiration

   +2 1st-level spell slots

2. Level 2
   Jack of All Trades

   Your vast experiences make you more likely to succeed in any undertaking. Add half of your Proficiency Bonus (rounded down) to Ability Checks that you are not Proficient in.

   +proficiency bonus / 2 to skill check (under a condition) · +proficiency bonus / 2 to ability checks (under a condition)

   Learn 1 spell

   Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

   Gains a spell

   Song of Rest

   +1 1st-level spell slot

3. Level 3
   Learn 1 spell

   Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

   Expertise in 2 skills

   Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight Of Hand, Stealth, Survival

   +1 1st-level spell slot · +2 2nd-level spell slots

   Choose a subclass

4. Level 4
   Learn 1 spell

   Vicious Mockery, Blade Ward, Mage Hand, True Strike, Friends, Dancing Lights, Light, Minor Illusion

   Learn 1 spell

   Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

   +1 2nd-level spell slot

   Feat (Ability Improvement or another feat)

5. Level 5
   Font of Inspiration

   You regain all your Bardic Inspiration after a Long or Short Rest.

   ActionResourceReplenishTypeOverride(BardicInspiration,ShortRest)

   Improved Bardic Inspiration

   The bonus gained from Bardic Inspiration increases to +1d8.

   Learn 1 spell

   Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

   +1 Bardic Inspiration

   +2 3rd-level spell slots

6. Level 6
   Gains a spell

   Countercharm

   Learn 1 spell

   Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

   +1 3rd-level spell slot

7. Level 7
   Learn 1 spell

   Confusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

   +1 4th-level spell slot

8. Level 8
   Learn 1 spell

   Confusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

   +1 Bardic Inspiration

   +1 4th-level spell slot

   Feat (Ability Improvement or another feat)

9. Level 9
   Learn 1 spell

   Dominate Person, Greater Restoration, Hold Monster, Mass Cure Wounds, Planar Binding, Seeming, Confusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

   +1 4th-level spell slot · +1 5th-level spell slot

10. Level 10
    Improved Bardic Inspiration

    The bonus gained from Bardic Inspiration increases to +1d10.

    Learn 1 spell

    Vicious Mockery, Blade Ward, Mage Hand, True Strike, Friends, Dancing Lights, Light, Minor Illusion

    Learn 1 spell

    Dominate Person, Greater Restoration, Hold Monster, Mass Cure Wounds, Planar Binding, Seeming, Confusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

    Expertise in 2 skills

    Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight Of Hand, Stealth, Survival

    Learn 2 spells

    Banishing Smite, Cone of Cold, Conjure Elemental, Contagion, Wall of Stone, Banishment, Blight, Death Ward, Dominate Beast, Fire Shield, Guardian of Faith, Ice Storm, Wall of Fire, Animate Dead, Warden of Vitality, Call Lightning, Counterspell, Crusader's Mantle, Daylight, Fireball, Grant Flight, Gaseous Form, Haste, Hunger of Hadar, Lightning Bolt, Mass Healing Word, Remove Curse, Revivify, Sleet Storm, Slow, Spirit Guardians, Vampiric Touch, Arcane Lock, Blur, Darkness, Darkvision, Misty Step, Pass Without Trace, Ray of Enfeeblement, Scorching Ray, Spike Growth, Spiritual Weapon, Web, Armour of Agathys, Bless, Chromatic Orb, Command, Entangle, False Life, Guiding Bolt, Hellish Rebuke, Hex, Hunter's Mark, Ice Knife, Magic Missile, Sanctuary, Thunderous Smite, Bone Chill, Eldritch Blast, Fire Bolt, Ray of Frost, Sacred Flame

    +1 5th-level spell slot

11. Level 11
    Learn 1 spell

    Eyebite, Otto's Irresistible Dance, Dominate Person, Greater Restoration, Hold Monster, Mass Cure Wounds, Planar Binding, Seeming, Confusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

    +1 6th-level spell slot

12. Level 12
    Learn 1 spell

    Eyebite, Otto's Irresistible Dance, Dominate Person, Greater Restoration, Hold Monster, Mass Cure Wounds, Planar Binding, Seeming, Confusion, Dimension Door, Freedom of Movement, Greater Invisibility, Polymorph, Bestow Curse, Fear, Feign Death, Glyph of Warding, Hypnotic Pattern, Plant Growth, Speak with Dead, Stinking Cloud, Blindness, Calm Emotions, Cloud of Daggers, Crown of Madness, Detect Thoughts, Enhance Ability, Enthrall, Heat Metal, Hold Person, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, Phantasmal Force, See Invisibility, Shatter, Silence, Animal Friendship, Bane, Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Disguise Self, Dissonant Whispers, Faerie Fire, Feather Fall, Healing Word, Heroism, Longstrider, Sleep, Speak with Animals, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Thunderwave

    Feat (Ability Improvement or another feat)

Spell slots by level

Running totals of the slots each level adds in the progression table, for a single-class character.

Class resources by level

Hit points by level

8 at level 1, then 5 per level, plus the Constitution modifier at every level (single-class).

Spells 125

Always known or prepared

• Bardic Inspiration · Action, level 1
• Countercharm · Action, level 6
• Song of Rest · Action, level 2

Can pick

• Blade Ward · Cantrip, from level 1
• Bone Chill · Cantrip, from level 10
• Dancing Lights · Cantrip, from level 1
• Eldritch Blast · Cantrip, from level 10
• Fire Bolt · Cantrip, from level 10
• Friends · Cantrip, from level 1
• Light · Cantrip, from level 1
• Mage Hand · Cantrip, from level 1
• Minor Illusion · Cantrip, from level 1
• Ray of Frost · Cantrip, from level 10
• Sacred Flame · Cantrip, from level 10
• True Strike · Cantrip, from level 1
• Vicious Mockery · Cantrip, from level 1
• Animal Friendship · Level 1, from level 1
• Armour of Agathys · Level 1, from level 10
• Bane · Level 1, from level 1
• Bless · Level 1, from level 10
• Charm Person · Level 1, from level 1
• Chromatic Orb · Level 1, from level 10
• Command · Level 1, from level 10
• Cure Wounds · Level 1, from level 1
• Disguise Self · Level 1, from level 1
• Dissonant Whispers · Level 1, from level 1
• Entangle · Level 1, from level 10
• Faerie Fire · Level 1, from level 1
• False Life · Level 1, from level 10
• Feather Fall · Level 1, from level 1
• Guiding Bolt · Level 1, from level 10
• Healing Word · Level 1, from level 1
• Hellish Rebuke · Level 1, from level 10
• Heroism · Level 1, from level 1
• Hex · Level 1, from level 10
• Hunter's Mark · Level 1, from level 10
• Ice Knife · Level 1, from level 10
• Longstrider · Level 1, from level 1
• Magic Missile · Level 1, from level 10
• Sanctuary · Level 1, from level 10
• Sleep · Level 1, from level 1
• Speak with Animals · Level 1, from level 1
• Tasha's Hideous Laughter · Level 1, from level 1
• Thunderous Smite · Level 1, from level 10
• Thunderwave · Level 1, from level 1
• Arcane Lock · Level 2, from level 10
• Blindness · Level 2, from level 3
• Blur · Level 2, from level 10
• Calm Emotions · Level 2, from level 3
• Cloud of Daggers · Level 2, from level 3
• Crown of Madness · Level 2, from level 3
• Darkness · Level 2, from level 10
• Darkvision · Level 2, from level 10
• Detect Thoughts · Level 2, from level 3
• Enhance Ability · Level 2, from level 3
• Enthrall · Level 2, from level 3
• Heat Metal · Level 2, from level 3
• Hold Person · Level 2, from level 3
• Invisibility · Level 2, from level 3
• Knock · Level 2, from level 3
• Lesser Restoration · Level 2, from level 3
• Misty Step · Level 2, from level 10
• Pass Without Trace · Level 2, from level 10
• Phantasmal Force · Level 2, from level 3
• Ray of Enfeeblement · Level 2, from level 10
• Scorching Ray · Level 2, from level 10
• See Invisibility · Level 2, from level 3
• Shatter · Level 2, from level 3
• Silence · Level 2, from level 3
• Spike Growth · Level 2, from level 10
• Spiritual Weapon · Level 2, from level 10
• Web · Level 2, from level 10
• Animate Dead · Level 3, from level 10
• Bestow Curse · Level 3, from level 5
• Call Lightning · Level 3, from level 10
• Counterspell · Level 3, from level 10
• Crusader's Mantle · Level 3, from level 10
• Daylight · Level 3, from level 10
• Fear · Level 3, from level 5
• Feign Death · Level 3, from level 5
• Fireball · Level 3, from level 10
• Gaseous Form · Level 3, from level 10
• Glyph of Warding · Level 3, from level 5
• Grant Flight · Level 3, from level 10
• Haste · Level 3, from level 10
• Hunger of Hadar · Level 3, from level 10
• Hypnotic Pattern · Level 3, from level 5
• Lightning Bolt · Level 3, from level 10
• Mass Healing Word · Level 3, from level 10
• Plant Growth · Level 3, from level 5
• Remove Curse · Level 3, from level 10
• Revivify · Level 3, from level 10
• Sleet Storm · Level 3, from level 10
• Slow · Level 3, from level 10
• Speak with Dead · Level 3, from level 5
• Spirit Guardians · Level 3, from level 10
• Stinking Cloud · Level 3, from level 5
• Vampiric Touch · Level 3, from level 10
• Warden of Vitality · Level 3, from level 10
• Banishment · Level 4, from level 10
• Blight · Level 4, from level 10
• Confusion · Level 4, from level 7
• Death Ward · Level 4, from level 10
• Dimension Door · Level 4, from level 7
• Dominate Beast · Level 4, from level 10
• Fire Shield · Level 4, from level 10
• Freedom of Movement · Level 4, from level 7
• Greater Invisibility · Level 4, from level 7
• Guardian of Faith · Level 4, from level 10
• Ice Storm · Level 4, from level 10
• Polymorph · Level 4, from level 7
• Wall of Fire · Level 4, from level 10
• Banishing Smite · Level 5, from level 10
• Cone of Cold · Level 5, from level 10
• Conjure Elemental · Level 5, from level 10
• Contagion · Level 5, from level 10
• Dominate Person · Level 5, from level 9
• Greater Restoration · Level 5, from level 9
• Hold Monster · Level 5, from level 9
• Mass Cure Wounds · Level 5, from level 9
• Planar Binding · Level 5, from level 9
• Seeming · Level 5, from level 9
• Wall of Stone · Level 5, from level 10
• Eyebite · Level 6, from level 11
• Otto's Irresistible Dance · Level 6, from level 11