This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The bard can do a little of everything, which makes it fun and a bit overwhelming. Inspire your friends, cast spells, talk your way through a locked door. These dnd bard tips are 17 short ways to make playing a bard more fun, from level 1 on. Rules below are the 2024 version of the class, checked against the 2024 SRD and the free rules on D&D Beyond.
Use Bardic Inspiration as a Bonus Action
You can inspire another creature within 60 feet who can see or hear you. They get a Bardic Inspiration die, a d6 to start, and within the next hour, when they fail a D20 Test, they can roll it and add the number to the d20, per the 2024 SRD. Hand it out early, and say something nice when you do.
Count your uses
You can give out Bardic Inspiration a number of times equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all uses after a Long Rest, per the SRD. Spend them. A bard with unused inspiration at the end of the day missed a chance to make someone’s night.
Watch the die grow
The die becomes a d8 at level 5, a d10 at level 10 and a d12 at level 15, per the SRD. Tell your friends when yours goes up. It makes the whole table feel like they are leveling up with you.
Start with the recommended cantrips
The SRD recommends Dancing Lights and Vicious Mockery. Vicious Mockery is the one to learn if you want to use insults as a weapon. It is the most bard thing you can do.
Pick your first spells for friends
The SRD recommends Charm Person, Color Spray, Dissonant Whispers and Healing Word as your four starting level 1 spells. It is a nice mix of support, control and healing. Change them as you find out what you like.
Play your instrument
You pick 3 Musical Instruments to be proficient in, and you can use an instrument as a Spellcasting Focus, per the SRD. Name it. Describe the tune. A bard who plays something different for each scene is a joy to watch.
Swap a cantrip every level
Whenever you gain a Bard level, you can replace one of your cantrips with another Bard cantrip, per the SRD. Your party will be glad you can adapt.
Change a spell when you level up
Whenever you gain a Bard level, you can replace one spell on your prepared list with another Bard spell for which you have spell slots, per the SRD. That makes it easy to fix a spell you never use.
Take Expertise in what you want to be known for
At level 2 you get Expertise in two skills, and the SRD recommends Performance and Persuasion. At level 9 you pick two more. Pick the ones that match the scenes you want to play.
Be good at everything with Jack of All Trades
You can add half your Proficiency Bonus (round down) to any ability check that uses a skill you lack, as long as it does not already use your Proficiency Bonus, per the SRD. It is not flashy, but it makes you useful in every scene.
Never run out at level 5
Font of Inspiration lets you regain all expended uses of Bardic Inspiration after a Short or Long Rest, and you can expend a spell slot (no action required) to regain one use, per the SRD. Spend freely.
Save the day with Countercharm
At level 7, if you or a creature within 30 feet fails a saving throw against an effect that applies the Charmed or Frightened condition, you can use a Reaction to make them reroll with Advantage, per the SRD. Hum a tune. Break the spell.
Steal spells with Magical Secrets
At level 10, when your Prepared Spells number goes up, you can choose new prepared spells from the Bard, Cleric, Druid and Wizard lists, and they count as Bard spells, per the SRD. Build a bard that casts spells nobody expects.
Try the College of Lore for extra skills
The College of Lore is the subclass in the SRD. At level 3, Bonus Proficiencies gives you three more skills, per the SRD. It is a great pick if you want to be the smartest person at the table.
Heckle the bad guys with Cutting Words
At level 3 in the College of Lore, when a creature you can see within 60 feet makes a damage roll or succeeds on an ability check or attack roll, you can use a Reaction to spend a Bardic Inspiration die and subtract the roll from theirs, per the SRD. Say something rude. Roll the die.
Learn more spells at level 6
Magical Discoveries lets a Lore bard learn two spells from the Cleric, Druid or Wizard lists, and they are always prepared, per the SRD. You get to be the support, the face and a little bit of everything else.
Make failure less scary at level 14
Peerless Skill lets a Lore bard add a Bardic Inspiration die to a failed ability check or attack roll, and on a failure the die is not spent, per the SRD. You almost never lose.
How to get more out of playing a bard
At level 18, Superior Inspiration restores Bardic Inspiration until you have two when you roll Initiative, and at level 20 Words of Creation gives you Power Word Heal and Power Word Kill always prepared, per the SRD. If you want more dnd bard tips, searching for bard 5e builds will turn up plenty of ideas. Use them as a starting point, then make a bard who feels like yours. If you run the game yourself, my guide to five rules new Dungeon Masters should break early has advice on making room for the players who want to talk.
A bard does not have to be a charming flirt. A shy poet, a retired tavern singer and a historian who cannot stop telling stories are all more fun. Pick the personality first. That is the best of my dnd bard tips.
My take: The best dnd bard tips are about the people around you: hand out inspiration freely, pick spells that help your friends, and let your voice carry the scene. Playing a bard is more fun when everyone at the table gets a moment. Tell me your best bard moment and I will share my favorites.
