D&D (2024) Bard DON"T Suck. Tier List.

[Zardnaar]

I forgot the lore bard derp.

 

[Horwath]

Bard is a full caster so it cannot suck by default.
never figured out why they took that solution to bard in 5E, but hey, it is what it is.

It should have been 1/2 caster or maybe new category(or old from 3.5e) with 2/3rd caster.

 

[ECMO3]

Has anyone tried? What level are you?

Yes it has been used.

It has been effective, but not the terror people on here talk about, because of the range and set up time and spell slot cost.

The campaigns I am currently in are level 5, 7, 8 and 14.

 

[ECMO3]

Except keeping concentration. I suppose you could take warcaster. Also from level 1 has issues.

Fount of moonlight has 10 minute duration.

The 10 minute duration helps, but most of the time it is still going to be cast in combat IME.

If you take a level in Paladin and 2 levels in Warlock with Agonizig Truestrike and Agonizing GFB you don't really need Concentration. You have GFB with Charisma x2 damage + extra attack + weapon Mastery + Divine Smite with full caster spell slots plus GFB damage on a second enemy if applicable.

 

[Nutation]

Fount of moonlight has 10 minute duration.

Font. Font of Moonlight, please.

 

[mellored]

Yes it has been used.

It has been effective, but not the terror people on here talk about, because of the range and set up time and spell slot cost.

The campaigns I am currently in are level 5, 7, 8 and 14.

Best you can do at 14 would probably be...

Musician, Human (Alert)
Valor 10(stealth, phantom steed, CME)
warlock 2(chain, blade, Agonizing)
sorcerer 2 (quicken, shield).
With Spell Sniper (Warcaster?) and +2Cha.

Us the familar to scout, pre-cast CME and longstrider on your mount, hide for initiative advantage, and ride in for 7 attack+1 heroic Inspiration nova for 180 DPR (+crits)

Which could one shooting a CR14 about half of the time. Add a little help from an ally (haste, or just damage), and it for sure won't get a turn.

You can still deal a solid dent with level 5 slots

Doing 4 attacks with a level 4 slot = 42 DPR. Not bad but probably better off casting Hypnotic Pattern and EB from the back.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Bard is a full caster so it cannot suck by default.
never figured out why they took that solution to bard in 5E, but hey, it is what it is.

It should have been 1/2 caster or maybe new category(or old from 3.5e) with 2/3rd caster.

Funny. 2/3 caster is from 2e, not 3.5.

And the bard caster progression of 3.5 sucked hard.

 

[Zardnaar]

The 10 minute duration helps, but most of the time it is still going to be cast in combat IME.

If you take a level in Paladin and 2 levels in Warlock with Agonizig Truestrike and Agonizing GFB you don't really need Concentration. You have GFB with Charisma x2 damage + extra attack + weapon Mastery + Divine Smite with full caster spell slots plus GFB damage on a second enemy if applicable.

It's also a theory build. Try playing it from low level.

 

[Zardnaar]

Lore Bard.

One of the previous S tier bards the Lore Bard in effect got nerfed. Both directly and indirectly. Magical discoveries and Secrets no longer allow you to get any spell you want. No more level 3 Paladin and Ranger spell at level 6. Or 5th level spells at 10. Magical secrets also let's you swap in spells every level 10+ which erodes the Lore Bards thing.

Level 3

Bonus Proficiencies
3 extra skills. Simple and effective. More skills is never bad.

Cutting Words
As a reaction Debuff incoming attacks. I like this ability a lot.

Level 6.
Magical Discoveries
2 spells of your choice from the cleric, wizard or Druid spell lists. Great ability but weaker than 2014 version. Lots of great contenders eg haste, fly, spiritual guardians.

Level 14
Peerless Skill.

Fail a skill check add a bard dice to the roll. A d10 minimum but d12 level 15+. Solid ability but very late and a bit underwhelming for level 14.

So the mighty have fallen. You're still a bard though and every ability is good to excellent. At levels where people actually play I think the Glamour bard now beats it. However I still think you're an A tier archetype just the glamor bard is better. This will also depend on what spells the bard picks and player skill.

So overall I would give the Lore Bard an A-. Still really good, no dud abilities.

 

[Horwath]

Funny. 2/3 caster is from 2e, not 3.5.

even the bard?

And the bard caster progression of 3.5 sucked hard.

maybe, but there were bonus spell slots for high CHA and you could reasonably cheaply boost CHA in 3.5e
but with 5e mechanics, 2/3rd casting would not be that bad
7th level spells, spell levels at class levels; 1/4/7/10/13/16/19