Bard

Bards are masters of word, song, and soul—artists whose craft weaves magic into melody and meaning.

In taverns and courts, ruins and battlefields, bards shape fate through rhythm and tale, drawing power from the echoes of creation itself.

In Eldareth, where memory holds power and stories shape the Weave, a bard’s voice can charm kings, awaken ancient spirits, or still a raging storm.

They are historians, provocateurs, and enchanters—truth-bearers and tricksters alike.

This Bard captures the spirit of the classic versatile performer, rooted in the 2014 Spells Known tradition and gaining broad magical knowledge via Magical Secrets later on. Key utility features like the broad Jack of All Trades and healing Song of Rest are retained.

However, core mechanics are enhanced with modern sensibilities: Bardic Inspiration applies after a failed roll, Font of Inspiration allows spell slot conversion, Countercharm becomes a potent reaction, and Expertise grants skill mastery early at level 1 (with more at L7).

Capped off by the powerful Words of Creation, this Bard is designed to be the adaptable, inspiring, skillful archetype players love, playing more smoothly and reactively.

Becoming a Bard...

As a Level 1 Bard

• Gain all the traits in the Core Bard Traits table.
• Gain the Bard’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Bard Features table.

As a Multiclass Bard

• Gain the following traits from the Core Bard Traits table: Hit Point Die, proficiency in one skill of your choice, proficiency with one Musical Instrument of your choice, and training with Light armor.
• Gain the Bard’s level 1 features, which are listed in the Bard Features table. See the multiclassing rules to determine your available spell slots.

As a Bard, you gain the following class features when you reach the specified Bard levels. These features are listed in the Bard Features table.

Level 1: Bardic Inspiration

You can supernaturally inspire others through words, music, or dance. This inspiration is represented by your Bardic Inspiration die, which is a d6.

Using Bardic Inspiration. As a Bonus Action, you can inspire another creature within 60 feet of yourself who can see or hear you. That creature gains one of your Bardic Inspiration dice. A creature can have only one Bardic Inspiration die at a time.

Once within the next hour when the creature fails a D20 Test, the creature can roll the Bardic Inspiration die and add the number rolled to the d20, potentially turning the failure into a success. A Bardic Inspiration die is expended when it’s rolled.

Number of Uses. You can confer a Bardic Inspiration die a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

At Higher Levels. Your Bardic Inspiration die changes when you reach certain Bard levels, as shown in the Bardic Die column of the Bard Features table. The die becomes a d8 at level 5, a d10 at level 10, and a d12 at level 15.

Level 1: Spellcasting

You have learned to cast spells through your bardic arts. See the Player’s Handbook for the rules on spellcasting. The information below details how you use those rules with Bard spells.

Cantrips. You know two cantrips of your choice from the Bard spell list. 

When you reach Bard levels 4 and 10, you learn another cantrip of your choice from the Bard spell list, as shown in the Cantrips column of the Bard Features table.

Spell Slots. The Bard Features table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your level 1+ spells. You regain all expended slots when you finish a Long Rest.

Spells Known of Level 1+. You know four 1st-level spells of your choice from the bard spell list.

The number of spells on your list increases as you gain Bard levels, as shown in the Spells Known column of the Bard Features table. Whenever that number increases, choose additional Bard spells until the number of spells on your list matches the number in the Bard Features table. The chosen spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots. For instance, when you reach 3rd level in this class, you can learn one new spell of 1st or 2nd level.

If another Bard feature gives spells that you always have prepared, those spells don’t count against the number of spells on the list you prepare with this feature, but those spells otherwise count as Bard spells for you.

Changing Your Spells Known. Whenever you gain a Bard level, you can replace one spell on your list with another Bard spell for which you have spell slots. 

Spellcasting Ability. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for your Bard spells.

Spellcasting Focus. You can use a Musical Instrument as a Spellcasting Focus for your Bard spells.

Level 1: Expertise

You gain Expertise in two of your skill proficiencies of your choice. 

At Bard level 7, you gain Expertise in two more of your skill proficiencies of your choice.

Level 2: Jack of All Trades

You can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any ability check you make that doesn't already include your proficiency bonus.

Level 2: Song of Rest

You can use soothing music or oration to help revitalize your wounded allies during a short rest.

If you or any friendly creatures who can hear your performance regain hit points at the end of the Short Rest by spending one or more Hit Dice, each of those creatures regains extra hit points equal to your Bardic Inspiration die.

Level 3: Bard Subclass

You gain a Bard subclass of your choice. A subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Bard levels. For the rest of your career, you gain each of your subclass’s features that are of your Bard level or lower.

Level 3: Magical Inspiration

You learn to weave magic into your inspiration. If a creature has a Bardic Inspiration die from you and casts a spell that restores hit points or deals damage, the creature can roll that die and choose one target affected by the spell. Add the number rolled as a bonus to the hit points regained or the damage dealt to that target. The Bardic Inspiration die is then lost.

Level 4: Ability Score Improvement

You gain the Ability Score Improvement feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify. You gain this feature again at Bard levels 8, 12, and 16.

Level 4: Bardic Versatility

Whenever you reach a level in this class that grants the Ability Score Improvement feature, you can do one of the following, representing a change in focus as you use your skills and magic:

• Replace one of the skills you chose for the Expertise feature with one of your other skill proficiencies that isn't benefiting from Expertise.

• Replace one cantrip you learned from this class's Spellcasting feature with another cantrip from the bard spell list.

Level 5: Font of Inspiration

You now also regain all your expended uses of Bardic Inspiration when you finish a Short Rest.

In addition, you can expend a spell slot (no action required) to regain one expended use of Bardic Inspiration.

Level 6: Countercharm

You can use musical notes or words of power to disrupt mind-influencing effects. If you or a creature within 30 feet of you fails a saving throw against an effect that applies the Charmed or Frightened condition, you can take a Reaction to cause the save to be rerolled, and the new roll has Advantage.

Level 10: Magical Secrets

You have plundered magical knowledge from a wide spectrum of disciplines.

Choose two spells from any classes, including this one. A spell you choose must be of a level you can cast, as shown on the Bard table, or a cantrip.

The chosen spells count as bard spells for you and are included in the number in the Spells Known column of the Bard Features Table.

You learn two additional spells from any classes at 14th level and again at 17th level.

Level 18: Superior Inspiration

When you roll initiative, if you have less than two uses of Bardic Inspiration left, you gain uses until you have two.

Level 19: Epic Boon

You gain an Epic Boon feat or another feat of your choice for which you qualify.

Level 20: Words of Creation

You have mastered two of the prime Words of Creation: the words of life and death. You therefore always have the Power WOrd: Heal and Power Word: Kill spells prepared. When you cast either spell, you can target a second creature with it if the creature is within 10 feet of the first target.