InBaldur’s Gate 3, Bards are one of the most reliable classes to include in an adventuring party. Bards are exceptional at dialogue checks and crowd control, making the class a perfect fit for being a party leader. Bards are an excellent class to utilize in multiclassing, as they share stats with several other powerful classes, such as Paladins, Sorcerers, and Warlocks.
The most important stat for a Bard in combat is theirSpell Save DC. By increasing this number as much as possible, the player can guarantee that enemies will fail Saving Throws against spells. Various gear pieces throughout Baldur’s Gate 3can contribute to the player’s Spell Save DC, the most valuable piece coming from as early as Act 2.
10Cloak of the Weave
Offensive and Defensive Buffs
The Cloak of The Weave can be bought or stolen in Act 3 fromthe vendor Helsik, the owner of the Devil’s Fee in the Lower City. This cloak provides a+1 to Spell Save DC and Spell Attack Rolls. It also comes with the Absorb Elements Reaction, which halves the damage from an elemental attack and applies 1d6 of said element on your next weapon attack.
With a higher base Spell Save DC, Bards will have an easier time stacking Spell Save DC buffs such as Arcane Acuity throughout combat encounters.
It’s important for Bard players to be on the lookout for gear that increases their Spell Save DC, as most ofthe strongest Bard spells require enemies to fail Saving Throwswhile the Bard maintains concentration. While there are notable exceptions, such asCloud of DaggersandGlyph of Warding, spells likeHold Person,Confusion, and Otto’s Irresistible Dance can drastically change the pace of a fight. Also, Bards don’t typically have a contested Reaction slot, so adding Absorb Elements once per Short Rest can help with a Bard’s survivability.
9Amulet of the Devout
Increase Base Spell Save DC
As seen inIts Shatter’s video, the Amulet of the Devout can be stolen from the Stormshore Tabernacle in Act 3 by sneaking into the basement and looting the chests.Beware ofBG3’s Devasthat will attack the party upon stealing the amulet, as the items in these chests have been offered in reverence to the Gods. This amulet provides the wearer with a+2 to Spell Save DCas well as the Godswill Passive Feature, which grants an additional Channel Divinity Charge once per Long Rest.
Other Amulet Options
Periapt of Wound Closure
Automatically stabilize the wearer when downed Whenever the wearer is healed, they restore the maximum amount of HP
Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma Saving Throws
Amulet of Misty Step
Free Misty Step per Short Rest
Players might be wondering why this amulet is chosen over options like theAmulet of Greater Health. While the Godswill feature is useless to a Bard and is intended for Clerics, the +2 to Spell Save DC is incredibly strong and canpush the base Spell Save DC of the Bard past 20, which is exceptionally strong when paired with the other items on this list. Most Clerics utilize spells that require them to concentrate on themselves rather than an enemy, making Spell Save DC less important for a Cleric than a Bard.
8Risky Ring
Advantage on all Attack Rolls
TheRisky Ringhas a name well suited for its ability, as it can be quite a risk to use this item. This ring can be bought or stolen from thevendor Araj Oblodrain Moonrise Towers during Act 2. Wearing this ringgrants the wearer Advantage on all of their Attack Rolls, but Disadvantage on all their Saving Throws.
While the Risky Ring is a great pick for all classes that utilize weapon attacks, it is perfect for an Arcane Acuity Bard as Advantage on all Attack Rolls means it is much easier to reach high stacks. Also,this ring makes Critical Hits more commonfor the Bard, which can pair well with 2 levels of Paladin for massive amounts of burst damage with Divine Smite. Whether your Bard is built for ranged or melee combat, this ring will shine regardless.
7Band of the Mystic Scoundrel
Illusion and Enchantment Spell Overhaul
The Band of the Mystic Scoundrel is one of my favorite items inBaldur’s Gate 3. This ring is found in Act 3 after winning the jackpot fromAkabi the Djinniat the Circus of the Last Days in Rivington.Akabi will send the player to a jungle filled with raptors, which the player must carefully navigate through to find the ring in a dead adventurer’s backpack.
This ring is fantastic with two levels of Paladin, as the Bard can make use of the Commuses as a bonus action.
The Band of the Mystic Scoundrel grants the wearerthe ability to cast Illusion and Enchantment spells as bonus actionsafter hitting a creature with a weapon attack, showcased inWycked Queen Bee’s video above. This allows the Bard to control the battlefield much more efficiently, as the player can make their weapon attacks to stack up Arcane Acuity and then use spells such as Hold Person as a bonus action to set up the rest of the party’s damage. This ring is the most important piece of jewelry for Bards, as they use the most Illusion and Enchantment spells.
6Elegant Studded Leather
Boost to Initiative
The Elegant Studded Leather can be acquired or stolen in Act 3 fromThe Counting House’s High Security Vaultin the Lower City. A key can be obtained for the vault by completing the quest:Return Rakath’s Gold. This gear is an excellent defensive option for Bards that have not multiclassed to gain proficiency with heavier armour.
This Elegant Studded Leather grants the wearer a+2 bonus to Initiative Rolls andAdvantage on Stealth Checks. It also comes with a free use of the Shield reaction once per Short Rest, allowing the Bard to increase their Armour Class by 5. Not to mention, this piece of gear is incredibly fashionable!
5Birthright
Free Charisma ASI
The Birthright hat can be bought or stolen in Act 3 fromSorcerous Sundries inBG3. Itgrants the wearer a +2 to Charisma, essentially acting as a free Ability Score Increase. This hat can be used to increase Charisma to 22, which would normally be impossible when relying on level-ups alone.
While this hat may be better for classes like the Sorcerer or Warlock, if the party does not use either of these classes, then the Bard should feel free to make use of this hat. Having a high Charisma score will boost the strength of all spells the Bard casts. Also, it will help tremendously in alldialogue checks that involve Persuasion, Deception, and Performance.
4Disintegrating Night Walkers
Free Misty Step Per Short Rest
The Disintegrating Night Walkers can be acquired as early as Act 1 by looting or pickpocketing them fromTrue Soul Nereat the Grymforge. These boots are arguably the best early-game item and can be used effectively throughout the entire game. They grant the wearer afree use of Misty Step once per Short Rest andimmunity to being Enwebbed, Entangled, Ensnared, and slipping on Grease or Ice.
These boots are especially effective for classes that don’t have access to the Misty Step spell, such as Bards. One Misty Step per Short Rest is all players will realistically need. Theimmunity to slipping and being restrainedcan also open up synergies with the rest of the party, such as utilizing spells likeSleet StormorPlant Growth.
3Gloves of Dexterity
Sets Dexterity to 18
TheGloves of Dexteritycan be bought or stolen in Act 1 from A’jak’nir Jeera in Crèche Y’llek. These gloves are one of the best early-game items. Theyset the wearer’s Dexterity score to 18 as well as provide a +1 bonus to all Attack Rolls, which include Spell Attack rolls.
to utilize the Gloves of Dexterity effectively,I recommend dumping the Bard’s Dexterity to 8 or 10so that these extra points can be used in either Strength, Charisma, or Constitution. This will allow the Bard to deal way more damage than they otherwise would be able to, especially if they gain proficiency in martial weapons through multiclassing. Also, these gloves will raise the wearer’s initiative, as Dexterity is directly tied to Initiative Rolls.
2Bhaalist Armour
Double Your DPS
The Bhaalist Armour can be purchased in Act 3 from the Echo of Abazigal in the Murder Tribunal after the player accepts Bhaal andbecomes an Unholy Assassin. This armour grants the wearer the Aura of Murder passive, whichmakes enemies within 2 meters vulnerable to Piercing damage, unless they are Resistant or Immune to it. It also provides a +2 to the wearer’s Initiative Rolls as seen inhexod’s video above.
1d8 Piercing + Strength
1d6 Thunder
1d8 Piercing + Strength or Dexterity
1d4 Necrotic
1d6 Piercing + Strength or Dexterity
Given the effect of the Aura of Murder, the Bhaalist Armour truly excels when usingmelee weapons that deal Piercing damage. The best examples of these are the trident Nyrulna andShar’s Spear of Evening. This can allow the Bard to double their overall DPS, as vulnerability causes the target to take double damage. Combine this with the Illithid power Cull the Weak for incredibly easy kills.
1Helm of Arcane Acuity
Bard’s Most Important Item
The Helm of Arcane Acuity is arguably the most important item for Bards, as Arcane Acuity is one of thestrongest status effectsinBaldur’s Gate 3. This helm can be acquired in Act 2 from a chest in the Mason’s Guild basement, a secret area that can be accessed by lockpicking or the Tower-Shaped Key. The helmet provides a +1 to Dexterity Saving Throws as well as the passive Battle Acuity, whichadds two stacks of Arcane Acuity whenever the wearer inflicts damage with a weapon attack.
The Arcane Acuity Condition grants a +1 to Spell Attack Rolls and Spell Save DC for each turn remaining.
Arcane Acuity only generates stacks on successful weapon hits, so utilizing theCollege of Swords Bard’s Ranged Slashing Flourishto generate 4 stacks per volley is an efficient way to reach 10+ stacks. With a Spell Save DC in the high 20s, most enemies will find resisting the Bard’s spells impossible. This allows the Bard to have complete control of the battlefield and dominate the competition inBaldur’s Gate 3.
