Baldurs Gate 3: Best College of Swords Bard build in BG3

Explore this versatile subclass.

A woman with horns and a man talking to a vendor in BG3.
Image via Larian Studios

Bards are among the best classes in Baldur’s Gate 3. Much like their D&D counterparts, Bards offer incredible versatility, with the College of Swords subclass providing unmatched damage and utility.

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Bards are often associated with music and Bardic Inspiration, but the class goes much deeper than that. The College of Swords that enables Bards with both incredible damage abilities and an entire spellbook to learn from. Here is our pick for the best College of Swords Bard build in Baldur’s Gate 3.

College of Swords Bard subclass summary in BG3

Alfira in Baldur's Gate 3 playing an instrument
Being a Bard comes with musical proficiency, high dex, and much, much more | Screenshot by Dot Esports

The College of Swords subclass is a great option for players that want a melee fighter with plenty of spells. Your Bardic Inspiration can be used on Blade Flourishes, which give an extra attack per action. Coupled with the Fighter’s level two Action Surge, you can get four attacks or spells in one turn per short rest.

The College of Swords still keeps many traditional Bardic features, such as Song of Rest or Fonts of Inspiration, which can both heal and give your allies advantage. You will mostly wear light to medium armor while also wielding one-handed or versatile weapons.

While your choice of spells is entirely up to you, I find it best to prioritize spells that either give you advantage or impose a disadvantage on enemies. While you certainly can invest into heavy damage spells such as Fireball, I think it’s better for the Bard to take utility-based spells such as Dimension Door or Invisibility.

College of Swords Bard level progression in BG3

Image of the character creation screen in BG3.
This subclass is one of the best melee and spellcasting combinations in BG3 | Screenshot by Dot Esports

As with all classes, you will slowly unlock the unique and powerful assets of your class as you level your character. Blade Flourish, Jack of All Trades, and Magical Secrets are all major facets of the class that you might want to know before getting started.

Below is a list of what is unlocked throughout the 12 Bardic levels, as well as what we recommend to pick up along the way. Note that this build suggests that you take two levels of Fighter as well which can occur at either the beginning or the end of your journey:

LevelUnlocksSuggestion
OneGain three Bardic Inspiration charges
Gain two First Level Spell Slots
Gain two Cantrips
Gain four Spells
Cantrips – Friends, Mage Hand
Spells – Faerie Fire, Healing Word, Longstrider, Speak With Animals
TwoGain Song of Rest
Gain Jack of All Trades
Gain one First Level Spell Slot
Gain one Spell
Spell – Disguise Self
ThreeChoose Subclass
Choose Fighting Style
Choose Expertise
Gain one Spell
Gain one First Level Spell Slot
Gain two Second Level Spell Slots
Subclass – College of Swords
Expertise – Deception, Persuasion
Fighting Style – Two Weapon Fighting
Spell – Cloud of Daggers
FourAbility Score Improvement or Feat
Gain one Cantrip
Gain one Spell
Gain one Second Level Spell Slot
Ability Score – Add two points to Dexterity
Cantrip – Minor Illusion
Spell Invisibility
FiveGain one Bardic Inspiration
Font of Inspiration
Gain one Spell
Gain one Third Level Spell Slot
Spell – Plant Growth
SixCountercharm
Gain an extra attack
Gain one Spell
Gain one Third Level Spell Slot
Spell – Silence
SevenGain one Spell
Gain one Fourth Level Spell Slot
Spell – Greater Invisibility
EightAbility Score or feat
Gain one Bardic Inspiration
Gain one Spell
Gain one Fourth Level Spell Slot
Ability Score – Add two points to Dexterity
Spell – Dimension Door
NineGain one Spell
Gain one Fourth Level Spell Slot
Gain one Fifth Level Spell Slot
Spell – Greater Restoration
10Gain one Spell
Choose an Expertise
Gain Magic Secrets
Gain one Cantrip
Gain one Spell
Gain one Fifth Level Spell Slot
Expertise – Performance, Perception
Magical Secrets
One (Fighter)Gain Second Wind
Choose Fighting Style
Fighting Style – Archery
Two (Fighter)Action SurgeN/A

Best College of Swords Bard Background in BG3

Like almost all other Bard subclasses, the best background for the College of Swords is the Entertainer Background. This gives you proficiency in Acrobatics and Performance. Alongside the Expertise that you will earn in later levels, you will have very few skill checks that you are not either proficient or an expert at.

The Guild Artisan and Soldier backgrounds also provide solid foundations for the class, but Entertainment remains the best for making your Bard a more well-rounded character.

Best College of Swords Bard Race in BG3

A wood elf monk sits on the first camp's rock in Baldur's Gate 3. He wears the game's traditional monk wrappings, with a yellow, green, and blue X around his chest, green undershirt, yellow and green striped pants, and leather shoes. The rock sits above a tent, and another small outcropping sits behind him.
Wood Elves have high movement speed, which is very useful for this dexterous class | Screenshot by Dot Esports

The best race for the College of Swords Bard is the Wood Elf. I prefer this combination as Wood Elves have the Fleet of Foot passive, which gives you extra movement. Fey Ancestry can also give you access to movement-based spells such as Misty Step, which are also incredibly useful.

If you do not want to roll an elf, then Zariel Tiefling is the second-best pick. The race’s Darkvision and immunity to fire are both incredibly useful traits. Searing Smite and Branding Smite are two high-damage options that you can use regularly with your Blade Flourish ability.

Author
Image of Blaine Polhamus
Blaine Polhamus
Staff Writer for Dot Esports. Avid gamer for two decades and gaming writer for three years. I'm a lover of anything Souls-like since 2011. I cover everything from single-player RPGs to MMOs.