Baldur’s Gate 3: Bard Subclass Tier Record

Each single class and subclass in Baldur’s Gate 3 has a job to play, or a number of relying on the construct. Every character is balanced in such a method that even probably the most inventive participant can create one thing that fits their distinctive taking part in model.

The Bard is among the lessons that may fill nearly any function, together with a healer, spellcaster, melee fighter, ranged harm seller, or a mixture of the entire above. Which means that even after selecting a subclass there are a number of extra vital particulars to think about. Feats, gear, and the alternatives the primary character makes alongside the best way needs to be chosen to enhance the Bard’s subclass.

Up to date November 28, 2025, by Hamza Haq: One of many best issues about Baldur’s Gate 3 is the quantity of variance gamers can at all times count on from playthrough to playthrough. Whereas the story stays the identical, the builds and completely different subclasses gamers can expertise are practically countless. As such, theorycrafting new potential builds and debating the deserves and demerits of sure builds is a favourite neighborhood pastime. With the introduction of Patch 8 and the arrival of the brand new Bard subclass, Faculty of Glamour, the prevailing stability has been upended. The article has been up to date with some further info to provide gamers a clearer concept of what to anticipate once they select their Bard’s subclass in BG3.

4

Faculty of Valour

The Begin Of A Mixture Construct

Subclass Options
Stage 3	Acquire Proficiency in: Medium Armor Shields Martial Weapons Fight Inspiration: Encourage an ally so as to add a +1d6 bonus to their subsequent Assault roll, Capacity verify, Saving throw, weapon harm, or Armour Class.
Stage 6	Further Assault: Acquire an additional free assault after making an unarmed or weapon assault.

Subclass Options

Stage 3

Acquire Proficiency in:

Medium Armor
Shields
Martial Weapons

Fight Inspiration: Encourage an ally so as to add a +1d6 bonus to their subsequent Assault roll, Capacity verify, Saving throw, weapon harm, or Armour Class.

Stage 6

Further Assault: Acquire an additional free assault after making an unarmed or weapon assault.

The thought behind the Faculty of Valour Bards is that they mix the Faculty of Lore’s assist capabilities and the Faculty of Swords’ martial prowess into a single package. Faculty of Valour adjustments Bardic Inspiration into Fight Inspiration, a capability that lets allies add a modifier of 1d6 to their subsequent assault roll, capacity verify, saving throw, or AC.

Fight Inspiration is a bonus motion that consumes Bardic Inspiration expenses to forged. Faculty of Valour Bards additionally receives proficiency in Medium Armor, Shields, and Martial Weapons as part of the bonus of selecting their subclass, in addition to an Further Assault at stage 6.

Having proficiency in Shield and Medium Armor implies that these Bards are quite a bit tankier in comparison with different subclasses, which is the largest benefit they’ve. Though Faculty of Valour Bards can dish out some respectable harm when the state of affairs requires it, their most important function is supporting the primary occasion by casting giant AoE buffs utilizing Fight Inspiration. Coupled with their inherently tanky nature, they’ll survive significantly better than a number of the squishier lessons in BG3, making them a considerably tough goal to take down.

3

Faculty of Glamour

The Entertainer, Face, Healer, And Help Class

Subclass Options
Stage 3	Mantle of Inspiration: Imbue 2 allies along with your vigour and grant them 5 non permanent hit factors. In the event that they’re hit with a melee assault, the attacker turns into Charmed.
Stage 6	Mantle of Majesty: Command a creature to flee, transfer nearer, freeze, drop to the bottom or drop its weapon. Targets which might be Charmed routinely fail their Saving Throw. Mantle of Inspiration variety of targets elevated to three, Bonus HP inceased to eight
Stage 10	Mantle of Inspiration variety of targets elevated to 4, Bonus HP elevated to 11

Subclass Options

Stage 3

Mantle of Inspiration: Imbue 2 allies along with your vigour and grant them 5 non permanent hit factors. In the event that they’re hit with a melee assault, the attacker turns into Charmed.

Stage 6

Mantle of Majesty: Command a creature to flee, transfer nearer, freeze, drop to the bottom or drop its weapon. Targets which might be Charmed routinely fail their Saving Throw.

Mantle of Inspiration variety of targets elevated to three, Bonus HP inceased to eight

Stage 10

Mantle of Inspiration variety of targets elevated to 4, Bonus HP elevated to 11

The Faculty of Glamour is the most recent subclass added to Baldur’s Gate 3, and it was introduced recently into the D&D universe with the discharge of Tasha’s Cauldron of Every thing. This can be a DPS-based construct that focuses on spellcasting energy, and the spellbook consists of buffs, cures, and battlefield administration as a lot as therapeutic and harm.

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This subclass has two signature talents, and each is an AoE capacity that impacts the entire occasion. Mantle of Inspiration offers the Bard’s allies non permanent hit factors and charms their enemies. The Mantle of Inspiration’s Attraction impact will be manually triggered by strolling as much as an enemy after which attempting to depart, which can set off an Assault of Alternative. This can successfully have a 100% success charge in taking an enemy out of the equation in practically each battle.

Mantle of Majesty offers the Bard the facility to make use of a capability just like the Command spell on their foes, which implies they are often charmed into dropping their weapons, operating away, or staying in place. Mantle of Majesty will be forged as soon as per lengthy relaxation, however it’s a focus spell just like Call Lightning, permitting gamers to recast the identical spell for the following 10 turns so long as their focus doesn’t break. This implies gamers can recast Mantle of Majesty utilizing their Bonus Actions all through the battle, casting Command as much as 10 instances if wanted.

2

Faculty of Lore

A Devoted Caster

Subclass Options
Stage 3	Acquire Proficiency in 3 Expertise (participant selection) Reducing Phrases: Use your wit to distract a creature and sap its confidence. It receives a -1d6 penalty to Assault roll, Capacity verify, or Saving throw.
Stage 6	Magical Secrets and techniques: Be taught 2 non-Bard Spells from the Magical Secrets and techniques listing of stage 3 or decrease.

Subclass Options

Stage 3

Acquire Proficiency in 3 Expertise (participant selection)

Reducing Phrases: Use your wit to distract a creature and sap its confidence. It receives a -1d6 penalty to Assault roll, Capacity verify, or Saving throw.

Stage 6

Magical Secrets and techniques: Be taught 2 non-Bard Spells from the Magical Secrets and techniques listing of stage 3 or decrease.

Faculty of Lore Bards in Baldur’s Gate 3 are pure assist and spellcaster Bards who need to stay exterior of melee vary. They hurl spells from a distance and use Bardic Inspiration when wanted. As a counterpoint to Faculty of Valour’s Fight Inspiration, they obtain a capability known as Reducing Phrases, which is a response that can be utilized to debuff an enemy with a 1d6 penalty to their assault rolls, capacity checks, or saving throws. It additionally consumes Bardic Inspiration expenses to forged.

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Magical Secrets are spells from exterior the Bard’s regular listing, which the Bard class beneficial properties restricted entry to at sure ranges. Faculty of Lore Bards will get two further stage 3 Magical Secret spells at stage 6, which permits them to shore up their weaknesses in spellcasting a lot sooner than different subclasses. This consists of highly effective spells like Fireball, Call Lightning, Haste, and Spirit Guardians.

Choosing the proper Magical Secret is essential to getting the total worth out of the Faculty of Lore Bard, as this can assist them massively in the suitable state of affairs. It’s also not a requirement to solely decide stage 3 spells at stage 6; selecting a helpful lower-level spell like Magic Missile or Misty Step can go a good distance when spell slots change into scarce.

1

Faculty of Swords

A Melee Fight Bard

Subclass Options
Stage 3	Acquire Proficiency in: Blade Flourish: Offers entry to the next thrives: Defensive Flourish: Assault defensively, rising your AC by 4 when you hit. Slashing Flourish: Assault as much as 2 enemies without delay. Cell Flourish: Thrust your weapon with sufficient pressure to push your goal again. Afterwards, you possibly can Teleport to the goal. Combating Type: Offers entry to the next combating kinds: Dueling: If you end up wielding a melee weapon that isn’t Two-Handed in a single hand, and no weapon within the different, you deal a further 2 harm with that weapon. Two-Weapon Combating: Whenever you make an offhand assault, you possibly can add your Capacity Rating Modifier to the harm of the assault.
Stage 6	Further Assault: Acquire an additional free assault after making an unarmed or weapon assault.

Subclass Options

Stage 3

Acquire Proficiency in:

Blade Flourish: Offers entry to the next thrives:

Defensive Flourish: Assault defensively, rising your AC by 4 when you hit.
Slashing Flourish: Assault as much as 2 enemies without delay.
Cell Flourish: Thrust your weapon with sufficient pressure to push your goal again. Afterwards, you possibly can Teleport to the goal.

Combating Type: Offers entry to the next combating kinds:

Dueling: If you end up wielding a melee weapon that isn’t Two-Handed in a single hand, and no weapon within the different, you deal a further 2 harm with that weapon.
Two-Weapon Combating: Whenever you make an offhand assault, you possibly can add your Capacity Rating Modifier to the harm of the assault.

Stage 6

Further Assault: Acquire an additional free assault after making an unarmed or weapon assault.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, The Faculty of Swords subclass turns Bards from ranged spellcasters to martial weapon-wielding enemies on the battlefield. This subclass totally leans into the fight function, forsaking spellcasting capacity for martial prowess. That isn’t to say that Faculty of Swords Bards cannot fling spells nevertheless it is not their most important focus.

The defining function of Faculty of Swords is Blade Flourish, a unique weapon action that lets Bards improve their AC on hit, hit two targets with a single motion, or teleport to the goal after pushing them again a distance. These weapon actions require Bardic Inspiration expenses to make use of. Not solely that, however Faculty of Swords Bards additionally achieve entry to 2 Combating Types, Dueling and Two-Weapon Combating, rising their effectiveness in fight even additional.

A typical false impression about Faculty of Swords Bards is that they are meant to make use of solely melee weapons. The truth is, probably the most highly effective Faculty of Swords builds revolves round dual-wielding two Hand Crossbows to show the Bard into an artillery machine, because of the truth that Flourish triggers on ranged martial assaults and melee assaults.