How Many Skills Do Bards Get? A Comprehensive Guide
Bards in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition are renowned for their versatility, blending magical prowess with exceptional skill sets. A crucial aspect of creating an effective bard is understanding their proficiencies, particularly in skills. So, how many skills do bards get?
At first level, a bard gets to choose three skills from the entire list of skills to gain proficiency. This initial selection is fundamental to defining your bard’s role within the party and their strengths beyond spellcasting. This is a significant number of initial proficiencies and is a major part of the Bards’ versatility.
Bard Skill Proficiencies Explained
Bards don’t just excel in performance; they are jacks of all trades with a knack for a wide range of abilities. The skills they are proficient in heavily influence their effectiveness outside of combat and can allow them to navigate a multitude of social or environmental situations. These three initial skill choices should complement your character’s concept and playstyle.
The Importance of Skill Selection
Choosing the right skills is vital. While some players might be drawn to obvious choices like Performance or Persuasion, neglecting other skills like Stealth, Investigation, or Insight could hinder your effectiveness depending on the campaign. It’s important to consider the party’s composition and identify areas where your bard can shine. A balanced selection is often the best approach and gives a bard a wider breadth of capabilities.
Beyond the Initial Three
While the initial three proficiencies are core, the Lore Bard College offers a unique path to increase skill expertise. By choosing the Lore Bard College at level 3, they gain two extra skill proficiencies, pushing their total at level 3 to five proficiencies. In addition, at level 2, all Bards receive the feature Jack of All Trades, which adds half of the character’s proficiency bonus to any ability check they are not already proficient in. Thus, a bard might seem proficient in many skills due to the way that ability bonus is applied.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To further clarify the intricacies of bard skill proficiencies, here are 15 frequently asked questions with detailed answers:
1. What Skills Can Bards Be Proficient In?
Bards can be proficient in any skill available in the game. This wide range allows for immense customization and ensures no two bards are exactly alike. Skills include Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth.
2. Do Bards Get Expertise in Skills?
Yes, bards can gain expertise in skills. Expertise means you double your proficiency bonus for skills you’re proficient in. Bards receive this feature at level 3, choosing two skills to have expertise in, and again at level 10, choosing another two skills. This can make them incredibly good at those particular skills.
3. Can Bards Change Their Initial Skill Proficiencies?
No, initial skill proficiencies chosen at level 1 are permanent and cannot be changed later on unless you are playing a homebrew rule set or your dungeon master allows it. This underscores the importance of making informed decisions right from the start.
4. How Does the Lore Bard College Affect Skill Proficiencies?
The Lore Bard College at level 3 grants two additional skill proficiencies, broadening the bard’s skillset early in their adventuring career. This makes Lore Bards particularly versatile.
5. What Skills Are Most Important for Bards?
While personal preference and party composition play a role, some skills are generally more useful for bards than others. Charisma-based skills like Persuasion, Deception, and Intimidation are often advantageous, as are skills like Performance and Insight. However, other skills such as Stealth and Perception can be very important, especially given that Bards have access to many support and utility options.
6. What Is the Purpose of Jack of All Trades?
Jack of All Trades is a class feature that adds half of the bard’s proficiency bonus to any ability check they’re not proficient in. This helps bards stay relevant in skills they didn’t initially choose and increases the bard’s overall effectiveness. The feature activates at level 2, making the bard a viable party member in a wider range of activities.
7. Do Skill Proficiencies Affect Combat?
While most skill proficiencies are used outside of combat, some skills like Stealth or Athletics can be used in combat situations depending on the circumstances. Some proficiencies, like those in musical instruments, are useful in combination with the casting of spells.
8. Can Bards Gain More Than Five Skill Proficiencies?
Yes, through feats or multiclassing into other classes, bards can gain additional skill proficiencies. However, their base number is three at level 1 (five if Lore Bard) and they can only gain more through outside means.
9. Do Racial Skill Bonuses Stack with Bard Proficiencies?
Yes, racial skill bonuses do stack with bard proficiencies. For example, if a half-elf bard receives a racial bonus to Stealth and chooses Stealth as one of their three proficiencies, they’ll be even more proficient in that skill, but they cannot double their skill proficiency bonus from that one source.
10. What Happens if a Bard Has Proficiency in the Same Skill from Multiple Sources?
If a bard gains proficiency in the same skill from multiple sources, they simply gain proficiency. They will not gain any additional bonuses on top of being proficient.
11. How Many Skill Proficiencies Can a Bard Potentially Have at Level 20?
At level 20, a bard’s number of skill proficiencies can vary, but they will always have at least three (or five as a Lore Bard). These can be further increased via feats, multiclassing, or specific magic items. With the Jack of All Trades feature, and a proficiency bonus of +6 at level 20, a bard may seem proficient in many skills, adding +3 to any ability check they’re not proficient in, thus further increasing their effectiveness.
12. Do Instrument Proficiencies Count as Skills?
While instrument proficiencies are not technically considered skills, they’re an essential part of the bard’s repertoire and can enhance their spellcasting through components in their spells. Bards at level 1 choose three instruments to become proficient in playing.
13. Can a Bard be Effective Without Stealth?
While Stealth can be a valuable asset, a bard can certainly be effective without it. A bard’s strength lies in their flexibility and versatility, so players should focus on skills that match their playstyle.
14. Is It Better To Diversify Skill Proficiencies or Focus on a Few?
The optimal approach depends on your party and character concept. Diversifying offers versatility, while focusing on a few makes you exceptionally good at those skills. Either can be effective.
15. How Do Feats Interact with a Bard’s Skills?
Some feats grant additional skill proficiencies or expertise. For example, the Skill Expert feat offers one additional proficiency and one expertise in a chosen skill. These feats can significantly enhance a bard’s skill set.
Conclusion
Understanding how many skills bards get and how to utilize them effectively is key to creating a powerful and engaging character. At level one, a bard will always have three skill proficiencies and, as they progress through the game, they can expand this via the Lore Bard college or other outside sources. Remember, the bard is more than just a spellcaster; they are a master of a wide range of abilities, making them one of the most versatile and engaging classes in D&D 5e.