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

[mellored]

If you are strong enough

Allies can choose to fail the save.

You're not likely to hold an enemy without dipping monk, though not impossible.

 

[ECMO3]

Well as we all know Bards were very strong in 5E. The Lore and Eloquence bards were S tier as far as Bards go and excellent candidates for S tier overall.

As per usual this list is comparing bards to bards and is front loaded towards the first ten levels of the game. Level 14 abilities will be mentioned but it's approaching theoretical territory and are really only relevant in a tie breaker type situation. A Bard with a great level 6 feature will be ranked higher than a level 14 one.

S tier is the best followed by A,B,C and D. B is still a good rating. C is meh compared to better options and a D s kinda bad avoid. 2024 avoids Ds for the most part I don't think anyone will get that.

Overall the base class is decent. Not tuned as high as say the base Barbarian. Bardic inspiration for example is so so without a subclass. You're still a primary caster though that's charisma based. Several spells were buffed or tweaked and some new spells were added.

Tier rating.
College of

Dance C tier
Glamour
Lore
Valor

I think Glamour is A and Valor is probably A too. Glamour is not as good as 2014 though as they nerfed Mantle of Inspiration and eliminated Enthraling Performance.

I am really disappointed by Dance. I really like it thematically, but I also think it is very weak as a subclass. I would put it around C. I think giving Dance Extra attack with unarmed strikes and allowing unarmed strikes to deal Force damage would go a long way towards improving it.

 

[ECMO3]

I think they did not say that. They said it can be used if true strike can't be cast.

The wording and costed material component of Truestrike would eliminate its use with unarmed strikes IMO.

If you are strong enough (maybe for allies I'd maybe a bit more lenient, because they might be more helpful if you try to drag them around. Maybe use their reaction for that to not have it abused with emanations.)

Grapple would rely on Dexterity for a Dance Bard in most cases.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Agile Strikes.
Agile Strikes.
Let's you gain an unarmed attack equal to your bard dice and a free strike when you spend a bard dice. Problem is you don't get that many bard dice and you're better off using a dagger and true strike. Translation mediocre ability that in effect gives you an occasional extra attack. Bards don't really deal much damage in 5E and this doesn't fix that.

Three extra attacks per long rest at level 3 and four at level 4 is non-trivial. Three or four attacks per short rest pretty good from when you get Font of Inspiration at level 5. And remember you also get the unarmoured defence at the same level.

Inspiring movement
As a reaction spend a bard dice, move and let an ally move as well. No attacks of opportunity made. Potentially great generally always useful kinda dependent on a battlemat though.

Remember that you can also make an attack as part of this reaction thanks to Agile Strikes.

Tandem Footwork.

Basically spend a bard dice during initiative to buff your allies initiative. Theoretically it triggers agile strikes but it's unlikely/situational you'll have anyone to target. Great ability but it drains your limited bard dice even faster and seems to be an anti combo with agile Strikes for the most part.

On the other hand a d8 to everyone's initiative can be stunningly good. If monsters last three rounds of PC attacks on average then beating them on initiative is the difference between them getting three rounds off and getting two. This is one of the strongest tier 2 abilties in the game, rivalled only by paladin auras.

I have difficulty not rating this as at worst an A-tier subclass. Four abilities for level 2, two of them pretty good? Two for level 6, one of them S-tier and the other just pretty good?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The wording and costed material component of Truestrike would eliminate its use with unarmed strikes IMO.

Yes. Noone said anything different.

Grapple would rely on Dexterity for a Dance Bard in most cases.

Why should it?

Grapple uses str for dance bards. Monks have a special ability to set DC based on dex.
Carrying capacity is always str.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Allies can choose to fail the save.

Yes. Never said anything different. But you still have to respect your carrying capacity to drag them around.

You're not likely to hold an enemy without dipping monk, though not impossible.

Depends on how you set up your scores.
Put a 12 or 13 in str and you are likely only 1 or 2 DC behind for most of your career. A ndance bard that does not dip a different class is most probably mainly a spellcaster that tries to bump cha as much as possible.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I think Glamour is A and Valor is probably A too. Glamour is not as good as 2014 though as they nerfed Mantle of Inspiration and eliminated Enthraling Performance.

I am really disappointed by Dance. I really like it thematically, but I also think it is very weak as a subclass. I would put it around C. I think giving Dance Extra attack with unarmed strikes and allowing unarmed strikes to deal Force damage would go a long way towards improving it.

Sadly there was so much backlash that they nerfed dance from the UA.

I still think they are b tier. Just because bards are so good anyway.

I agree with extra attack though. Although they should use a dagger and truestrike usually after level 4.

 

[Zardnaar]

I think Glamour is A and Valor is probably A too. Glamour is not as good as 2014 though as they nerfed Mantle of Inspiration and eliminated Enthraling Performance.

I am really disappointed by Dance. I really like it thematically, but I also think it is very weak as a subclass. I would put it around C. I think giving Dance Extra attack with unarmed strikes and allowing unarmed strikes to deal Force damage would go a long way towards improving it.

Preaching to the choir there.

 

[Zardnaar]

Three extra attacks per long rest at level 3 and four at level 4 is non-trivial. Three or four attacks per short rest pretty good from when you get Font of Inspiration at level 5. And remember you also get the unarmoured defence at the same level.

Remember that you can also make an attack as part of this reaction thanks to Agile Strikes.

On the other hand a d8 to everyone's initiative can be stunningly good. If monsters last three rounds of PC attacks on average then beating them on initiative is the difference between them getting three rounds off and getting two. This is one of the strongest tier 2 abilties in the game, rivalled only by paladin auras.

I have difficulty not rating this as at worst an A-tier subclass. Four abilities for level 2, two of them pretty good? Two for level 6, one of them S-tier and the other just pretty good?

It's competing with an extra attack or 3 on another bard.

And Glamour for example has lots of nice abilities.

 

[Zardnaar]

College of Glamour.

The Bards bard leaning into control even more so. Love the misfits (Gem and tbe hologram) type art.

Level 3.
Beguiling Magic.

Two spells known both of them good. Cast an illusion of enchantment spell and free fear or charmed effect. Free use once per long rest but you can recharge it via a bard dice. Out of combat utility as well and you got charm person for free. Big thumbs up powerful, fun and comvat/utility.

Mantle of Inspiration

And more secret sauce. Spend bard dice and assign a generous amount of temporary hit points. And free movement costing your reaction without triggering AoEs. Doesn't scale great but at low levels that's a lot of temporary hit points at a low opportunity cost. Great ability.

Mantle of Majesty.

You get command for free and can cast it as a bonus action. Every round for a minute. Anyone charmed by you automatically fails their save. Recharges if you sacrifice a level 3+ spell slot. Very good ability that you don't get to use much without sacrificing spell slots.

Level 14.

Unbreakable Majesty.

Bonus action ability. Whenever someone attacks you for the first time charisma save or miss. You probably don't want to be near the front lines anyway but it's an OK ability.

Overall the glamour bard is very strong and front loaded at level 3 and 6. Did I mention the art? Lots of fun. I would be happy to play this an I'll give it an A. You're still a bard and it's a very strong offering.