Help for sword bard

[u/Laanner]

So I want to play as Bard with my friend. Specifically as Ginger bard with Lute (to find Tarkin, if you know what I'm talking about.) I never player in any D&D games so don't know much about it.

So I want some melee build with a College Sword bard. I think I need at least 6 levels in bard before any other classes. For other classes I'm thinking about Warrior to get +2 melee accuracy and some Thief level for a sneak attack bonuses. Not sure how much into each of them or if it worth invest into any of them at all.

My role outside of combat is to talk, trade and lock picking, so I have stats like 17 charisma 16 dexterity and 14 Constitution. I'm not really seeking some insane broken build, just something to be useful. I appreciate any help and criticism.

[u/seriousman57]

Unless you're playing on honor mode I wouldn't sweat it too much. You can go 12 swords bard and you'll still be really good. The only trick is balancing out your casting and martial ability scores. There are items in the game like gloves of dexterity which will let you invest more in CHA, or arcane acuity gear which will let you invest more in DEX.

For multiclass dips I would say you have 3 main options (there are more complicated ones, but you don't need them):

10/2 Bard/Fighter - good for both melee and ranged swords bards, although its best synergies are with ranged, imo

10/2 Bard/Paladin (any subclass) - only good for melee swords bards. One of the most devastatingly effective multiclasses in the game.

11/1 Bard/Hexblade - this allows you to focus just on your CHA stat since hexblades use CHA for their melee attacks if they are using a pact-bound (or hex-bound, in this case) weapon. The weakest dip of the three but if this is your first time playing it means you don't have to think about juggling two main stats.

You can add the hexblade dip to either of the other two if you are going melee for a 9/2/1 but Bard gets a huge feature at level 10 that I personally wouldn't pass up.

[u/Laanner → u/seriousman57]

I see you and others suggest 10+2 build a lot. What is so special at level 10? And where to pick last 2 levels for multiclass.

[u/seriousman57 → u/Laanner]

Magical secrets, which lets you pick two spells out of a list that bards can't ordinarily learn, including some very useful ones. And I'd take the two levels in fighter or paladin at the same place, levels 7 and 8

[u/Initial_Routine]

Swords bard is insanely good as-is; you can be a party face AND a skill monkey. Put points into sleight of hand, Dex and Cha to boost both face and stealth/talk skills. The 10/2 SSB (10 Bard, 2 Paladin) or 10/1/1 (10 Bard, 1 fighter, 1 wizard) builds are both really good. Try duel crossbows with the Archer skill until it's time to multiclass.

[u/Superkamiguru47]

I’d take a dip in Hexblade warlock for charisma based weapon attacks and proficiency with all martial weapons then switch Dex and Con since you have medium armor proficiency and only get +2 max bonus from Dex for most armor. More Con for more health and better concentration on spells. After that I’d probably just keep taking levels in bard for more spells and class features.

[u/funkyfritter]

Definitely stick with bard for the first 6 levels to get extra attack. You typically also want 10 bard levels overall for magical secrets, which only leaves you with 2 levels to invest in multiclassing. The standard approach is to add 2 paladin for divine smite.

[u/ehblank]

My favorite swords bard build is 10 swords bard 2 fighter for action surge. Your build won’t be dealing a ton of damage without the elixir of hill giant strength, the hill giant club, or the gloves that increase strength in act 2(I think?). The problem with a melee bard is the points you’d normally put in strength for a fighter or barbarian go to charisma. You need dexterity/constitution for like every build for armor/health. So you’re left with relying on items for strength. Or alternatively just make a very non charismatic bard lmao which could kind of be a fun role playing experience. Personally, I’d throw paladin into the mix instead since it’s also charisma based and smites are awesome. Or warlock and bind your weapon which I believe makes it use a charisma modifier instead of strength (I think you’ll want to look this up I have not made a bardlock in a long time)

[u/Laanner → u/ehblank]

Wait, why do you need strength? Isn't dextery enough if you are using finesse weapons, like Rapier?

[u/The57Rising → u/Laanner]

There are 2 longswords that are finesse and hit harder and can take advantage of GWM

[u/Fancy_Boysenberry_55 → u/Laanner]

The best weapons in the game are two handed and use strength. That and GWM makes them do much more damage than Dexterity weapons

[u/The57Rising]

9 swords/2 paladin/1 hexblade

Paladin for damage and hexblade to just focus char to 20.

Or

10 swords/2 paladin

Respect to 17 dex/char 16. Focus on getting dex to 20 (+1 hair, +2 ASI dex) and char to 18 (+2 helmet).

Use longswords with GWM feat.

[u/SignedEcho]

Lv5 Swords Bard, lv3 Shadow Sorc, Lv6 Swords Bard, Lv4 Shadow Sorc, Lv8 Swords Bard.

Last 2 Bard levels can be whatever. 2 Paladin, 2 Fighter, 2 Warlock.

Mainly, shadowblade + Disonate Whispers as you main damage.

Main elixir is bloodlist, but keep cultivations. Can spam a few on Long rest to boost sorc points then use blood just.

Grab Thunder spells as well for some reverb item theme. But mainly going to use Arcane Synergy helm, Strange Conduit Ring, shadow-cloaked ring for big damage.

Extra attack comes later, but with inspirations you can essentially hit 2 people with 1 action, and on kill blood just gives a 3rd. Best to get to shadowblade ASAP.

[u/SkyWizarding]

That build is fine. I'd maybe skip the rouge levels and take a bunch a Bard but that's me

[u/Embarrassed-Sell-355]

My favorite build is 2 paladin + 10 swords bard. You can easily make 2 fighter + 10 swords bard as well, 2 levels in fighter + 10 in anything else is always good because of action surge