Baldur's Gate 3 Guide | Bard Build

Here's what you need to know to form one of the most broken Bard build in Baldur's Gate 3.

Game Guide by Ornstein on Dec 25, 2024

In Baldur's Gate 3, the Bard is a highly diverse class with a great impact on combat, utility, and support. Although their musical abilities provide character, this build elevates the Bard to a destructive force on the battlefield.

This guide presents a Bard build that utilizes the game's unique itemization and multiclassing system to maximize damage, crowd control, and overall utility. The final product is a person who can transform the most challenging experience into an enjoyable one.

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Starting Your Bard Build

Beginning as a bard

Become a Bard to get hold of an early-game hand crossbow. This allows for an easier acquisition of a second crossbow because the second crossbow will only have to be found or bought. As initial statistics, targeting Dexterity and Charisma for damage and spellcasting efficiency, respectively. Vicious Mockery is required for its debuff value, while your other cantrip is flexible. [O] Regarding spells, select Tasha's Hideous Laughter, a major tool of this build's control approach.

Respec to Ranger

When you get your second-hand crossbow, respec into Ranger. This opens up important abilities and spells which are synergistic with the build. Choose Gloom Stalker as your Ranger archetype.

This subclass also affords more initiative, an additional attack at the beginning of the first combat round, and increased movement, all of which can be combined to support this build's playstyle. At the 4th Level, it is possible to use the Sharpshooter feat to inflict devastating damage and offset the -5 penalty to the wound by making a careful placement.

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Progressing through Bard levels

Early Bard Levels

Rewarded sufficiently by the Ranger class thereafter, revert to Bard to further train your magical abilities. Vicious Mockery and Tasha's Hideous Laughter should be included in your repertoire, beginning with Bard Level 1. As you graduate to Bard Level 3, select the College of Swords subclass. This subclass allows you to utilize two weapons. Hand-wielded crossbows - use your Dexterity modifier on crossbows in offhand attacks to significantly increase their damage.

Final Bard Levels

At Bard Level 9, choose Hold Monster. Taken together with the power of this build, this spell and Hold Person can be fatal. All strikes against entrenched foes have critical hits, and potent foes can be taken down in a short time.

Key Items for the Build

Essential Gear

The validity of this construct is contingent on selected aspects across the game. The Helmet of Arcane Acuity makes up a core part of the set, offering stacks of capacity Arcane Acuity, enhancing spell resistance DC and attack roll increases. With this helmet, your spells will be nearly out of reach of anyone's power/immunity/resistance.

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The Mystic Scoundrel's Band is another significant item because it lets you cast enchantment or illusion spells as a bonus action when you score a hit on an opponent. These devices, together, maintain the opponents in check and vulnerable in the throng.

Gameplay and Strategy

Multiclass Synergy

The fusion of Gloom Stalker Ranger and College of Swords Bard produces a build that is powerful in terms of damage and crowd control. Using Gloom Stalker's bonus action and improved initiative, your first round of attacks can be particularly devastating. During subsequent turns, use your Bard talents to disable adversaries with spells like Hold Person and Hold Monster. The Band of the Mystic Scoundrel lets you sustain damage output and prioritize high-priority targets.

Combat Tips: Combat Tips

Positioning is essential for this design. Employ Fog Cloud intelligently to evade ranged attackers and stay out of trouble. To preserve precision when fighting high-AC foes, use the Sharpshooter feat and turn off the -5 hit penalty. In battles against bosses, always cast CC spells at the beginning and capitalize on the critical strike guarantee provided by Hold Person or Hold Monster to end them quickly.

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Finally…

This Bard build combines deadly ranged attacks with unrivaled crowd management abilities, making every battle encounter a test of strategy and force. The mixture of materials, skills, and spells ensures that enemies are either defeated or made defenseless.

Whether you're facing a throng of foes or a tough monster, this setup has the tools to make any battle easy. Embrace Bard's ability to change and redefine what it means to "Support" and "Rule".

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