Top Bard Class Spells to Elevate Your Gameplay

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Choosing the Best Spells for Bards in Baldur’s Gate 3

In Baldur’s Gate 3, Bards are unique spellcasters who rely on spontaneous magic. When you level up, the spells you choose will remain with you until your next level gain. With limited spell slots, selecting spells that don’t suit your playstyle can be frustrating, as you can only change one spell at each new level.

To enhance your Bard experience, we’ve compiled the top recommended spells for this class. While some may feel less fitting for a Bard’s charm and charisma, you can certainly swap in more aggressive options if that’s your preference.

Understanding Spells vs. Cantrips

Bards utilize both spells and cantrips. Cantrips are basic spells that don’t consume spell slots, allowing you to cast them freely during gameplay without the need for preparations at long rests or level-ups.

Conversely, spells are more potent and come with varying levels. Casting a spell requires prior preparation and consumes a spell slot. You can only cast a spell using a slot that matches its level or higher (you can’t cast a high-level spell with a lower-level slot).

Recommended Spells for Level 1 Bards

If you choose the High Elf subrace for your Bard, you’ll start with the cantrip:

Fire Bolt: Inflicts 1d10 fire damage on opponents.

You’ll also get two additional cantrips. Here are our suggestions:

Vicious Mockery: Deals 1d4 psychic damage and gives the target disadvantage on their next attack.
Minor Illusion: Creates a small illusion to confuse enemies.

As a level 1 Bard, pick four spells from a pool of 15. Here are our top choices:

Healing Word: Restores 1d4 hit points to a visible ally.
Tasha’s Hideous Laughter: Forces an enemy with an intelligence of 5 or higher to laugh uncontrollably, rendering them prone for 10 turns.
Dissonant Whispers: Deals 3d6 psychic damage and frightens a target, making them easier to hit. A successful save halves the damage.
Faerie Fire: Illuminates enemies, granting advantage on attack rolls against them.

Best Spells for Level 2 Bards

At level 2, you can pick one additional level 1 spell:

Speak with Animals: Enables you to communicate with animals until your next long rest.

Best Spells for Level 3 Bards

Upon reaching level 3, you’ll gain access to level 2 spells. Choose one from the 16 available spells. We recommend:

Detect Thoughts: Lets you read the minds of select creatures until your next long rest.

Best Spells for Level 4 Bards

At this level, you can select one more cantrip:

Friends: Grants advantage on Charisma checks against non-hostile creatures.

You can also choose a new level 2 spell:

Hold Person: Paralyzes a target, preventing them from acting. Any attack against them within 10 feet is a critical hit.

Best Spells for Level 5 Bards

When you reach level 5, you can select one of the level 3 spells available. Our top pick is:

Hypnotic Pattern: Hypnotizes multiple creatures for 2 turns, making them unable to act or move.

Best Spells for Level 6 Bards

At level 6, you can select another level 3 spell. This time, consider:

Cloud of Daggers: Summons a cloud of daggers that deals 4d4 slashing damage to any enemies caught within.

You also gain the Magical Secrets feature, allowing you to learn two additional spells. Recommended options include:

Haste: Increases the speed and effectiveness of yourself or an ally, granting an extra action.
Magic Missile: Automatically hits and deals 3d4 force damage.

Best Spells for Level 7 Bards

At level 7, you gain access to level 4 spells. Choose one:

Greater Invisibility: Grants a creature invisibility for 10 turns, with attacks against them at disadvantage.

Best Spells for Level 8 Bards

At level 8, you can select another level 4 spell, but we recommend going back for a level 2 spell instead:

Crown of Madness: Causes a creature to attack its allies for 3 turns.

Best Spells for Level 9 Bards

Upon reaching level 9, you gain access to level 5 spells. Our top choice is:

Hold Monster: Paralyzes a creature for 10 turns, leaving it unable to move or act, making any attacks against it within 10 feet critically effective.

Best Spells for Level 10 Bards

At level 10, you can select one more cantrip:

Mage Hand: Conjures a spectral hand that can manipulate objects.

You’ll also prepare a level 2 spell:

Heat Metal: Deals 2d8 fire damage and causes a weapon or armor to become extremely hot, imposing disadvantage on attack rolls for those who fail to let go.

Additionally, two more spells through Magical Secrets can include:

Counterspell: Negates spells as they’re being cast.
Banishment: Sends a creature to another plane for up to 2 turns.

Best Spells for Level 11 Bards

At level 11, you gain access to level 6 spells. The choice here is simple:

Otto’s Irresistible Dance: Forces a creature to dance uncontrollably for 10 turns, rendering it immobile and granting advantage on attack rolls against it.