A ranking of all official Bard subclasses
Are you curious about the best Dungeons & Dragons Bard subclasses? Bards are the favored class for Dungeons & Dragons players who enjoy playing versatile characters that excel in social situations. They often take on the role of the face of their party, even if they aren't the strongest or most powerful. Recent Bard builds have given this support class more credit as a damage dealer.
However, not all Bards are created equally, and some Colleges are better suited for the ideal Bard character build. In Dungeons & Dragons, a Bard College isn't a physical place, but rather a school of thought and training philosophy that a Bard follows. The College a Bard chooses is often an important part of their backstory and can explain their present role in the party, as well as other personal details such as the deity they worship or their moral alignment. Here is a list of the official Bard Colleges in Dungeons & Dragons 5e, ranked from worst to best:
All official Bard subclasses
1. College of Eloquence: This College is similar to the more exciting College of Glamour, but with a stronger emphasis on speech rather than music or performance. Bards who choose this College gain Bardic Inspiration dice for talking and can perform impressive verbal feats, such as reading someone's mind or compelling a creature to repeat a lie it just told. Although this College may be considered less exciting, it offers unique abilities in the realm of communication.
2. College of Glamour: This College adds a touch of fey folk flavor to a Bard's abilities. Bards who choose this College gain additional Bardic Inspiration dice and can use them to cast interesting spells. For example, they can create an illusory duplicate that casts a spell on their behalf or charm a group of enemies with their entrancing performance. This Bard subclass is particularly appealing to those who enjoy music-based spells in Dungeons & Dragons.
3. College of Swords: For Bards who want to showcase their swordplay skills, the College of Swords is the perfect choice. Although the flavor of this College may be more interesting than the College of Whispers, it is relatively simple in terms of abilities. Bards who choose this College gain a few Bardic Inspiration dice, a fighting style, and basic weapon proficiencies. If you're intrigued by the potential of this College, this subclass is the one to choose.
4. College of Whispers: The College of Whispers offers a fun opportunity for role-playing, especially for those who enjoy creating nuanced characters. Bards who choose this College are masters of creating lies, half-truths, and misdirection. They gain extra Bardic Inspiration dice and can use them to create an illusory duplicate or distract their foes. This subclass shines in small parties, where a versatile Bard can fulfill the roles of a caster, secondary damage dealer, secondary healer, and front-liner all at once.
5. College of Lore: Bards from the College of Lore don't need to be proficient in everything; they just need to have a spell or skill for every occasion, without the need for extensive wizardly studies. They are the Jack Sparrows of Dungeons & Dragons, capable of navigating any situation using their wits and knowledge. Bards who choose this College gain additional Bardic Inspiration dice and have the ability to expand their spellbook. This subclass is suitable for those who prefer a more laid-back approach or for new players who want to keep things simple.
6. College of Valor: Dragonborn characters, with their racial connection to ancient Dragons such as Tiamat and Bahamut, make excellent Bards. The best Bard College for Dragonborn is the College of Valor, which gives them a fighter-like feel. This is particularly beneficial for Dragonborn characters with high Strength and Constitution scores. The Mantle of Majesty is an intriguing ability that allows Bards to cast Command as a bonus action every turn. If there is already a fighter or paladin in the party, this College is an excellent choice for keeping their attention while they perform their respective roles.
7. College of Valor: The College of Valor provides Bards with a touch of fighter flair, although it does not grant access to martial weapons or armor. This subclass allows Bards to maintain their support role while also having the option to dip into more front-line combat if desired.
