As a passionate Baldur‘s Gate gamer with over 200 hours played, I love the flexibility bards offer. I prefer playing bard builds that can adapt to challenges on the fly – whether that means defusing social encounters or turning the tide of battle with clutch spells.
Choosing the right race that complements this flexible, spontaneous playstyle is crucial. The racial trait synergies you leverage can make or break a bard‘s effectiveness in key situations.
In this guide, I‘ll be analyzing great race options for versatile bards from my perspective as an experienced player. Let‘s dive into the numbers and mechanics to see what works.
Why Race Selection Matters
A bard‘s power relies heavily on their Charisma score above all else. It governs spell saves, skill checks for social encounters, and even inspiration dice usage. Most races in BG3 give a +2 or higher Charisma bonus to help bards maximize this crucial stat.
However, some racial features double down on a bard‘s strengths better than others. Things like bonus proficiencies, darkvision, special spells, and more take bards to the next level in their preferred element. Building these synergies allows bard players to excel in multifaceted support, control, or even combat roles when needed.
Understanding these nuanced interactions from a min-max perspective lets you optimize bard versatility with the right race.
Shield Dwarf: Best Defensive Bard Race
Racial Traits
- +2 Constitution, +1 Charisma: Great for concentration checks and health
- Darkvision: Automatic 60 ft magical darkvision
- Dwarven Combat Training: Proficiencies with hammers, axes, and smith tools
- Dwarven Resilience: Advantage on poison saves and resistance to poison damage
- Speed 25 ft
Subrace: Shield Dwarf
- +2 Strength: Boosts melee attacks and athletic checks
- Dwarven Armor Training: Proficiencies with light and medium armor
According to page 18 of the Player‘s Handbook, bards have light armor proficiency already. However, Shield Dwarf‘s Dwarven Armor Training circumvents the need for a feat or multiclass to grab medium armor, rounding out defensive options.
In combat, medium armor + a shield raises AC to 20 easily, allowing bards to draw fire with spells like Compelled Duel. Strength saves for grapples also become easier with the racial bonus, preventing lockdown.
Out of combat, bonuses to Constitution saves help maintain key spells like Mass Cure Wounds. Poison resistance applies to magical effects as well, not just mundane toxins too.
For keeping squishier bard allies alive, shield dwarves lend themselves perfectly to a guardian playstyle.
Ideal For: Valor Bards, Swords Bards, Frontline Support
| Stat | Base Gnome | Shield Dwarf |
|---|---|---|
| Charisma | 13 | 14 |
| Constitution | 11 | 13 |
| Strength | 10 | 12 |
As shown in the table above, shield dwarves give defensive statistical advantages out the gate that let bards fill a tankier battlemage role in parties.
Githyanki: Best Offensive Caster Bard
Racial Traits
- +2 Strength, +1 Intelligence: Improves melee/spell attacks and skills
- Astral Knowledge: Expertise with two skills of choice
- Martial Prodigy: Proficiencies with light/medium armor, shortswords, and longswords
- Innate Spellcasting: Special innate spell repertoire
- Speed: 30 feet
Spells
- Mage Hand (at-will)
- Jump (2/long rest)
- Misty Step (2/long rest)
As per page 12 of the Monster Manual, githyanki possess an otherworldly connection to the Astral Plane, and their features reflect their warlike culture.
Astral Knowledge‘s free skill expertise helps bards land crucial spells or social abilities. Meanwhile, martial weapons and Misty Step‘s mobility offer combat tricks.
In many fights I use Heat Metal to lock down enemies, before blinking behind them with Misty Step and dealing punishing blows. The expanded spell and gear options patch any versatility gaps.
For bold, battle-ready bards, githyanki is a perfect offensive pick. Their traits encourage and enhance an aggressive playstyle.
Ideal For: Valor Bards, Swords Bards, Magical Skirmishers
| Stat | Base Gnome | Githyanki |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 10 | 12 |
| Intelligence | 11 | 13 |
Githyankis distinguish themselves from typical bards with above-average martial stats and magical knowledge – perfect for daring spellblade builds.
Forest Gnome: Best Support Caster Bard
Racial Traits
- +2 Intelligence, +1 Dexterity: Boosts magical skills and stealth
- Gnome Cunning: Advantage on INT/WIS/CHA saves versus magic
- Minor Illusion Cantrip: Bonus illusion casting versatility
Subrace: Forest Gnome
- +1 Dexterity: Improve initiative and ranged attacks
- Natural Illusionist: Free castings of Disguise Self
- Speak with Small Beasts: Unique communication ability
- Darkvision: 60 foot magical darkvision
As described on page 37 of the Player‘s Handbook, forest gnomes spend most of their lives in wooded lands. This grants them innate talents for illusion magic and communicating with smaller forest creatures.
These racial traits lend themselves perfectly to non-combat bard challenges. Advantages on mental saves shut down magical influence, while speaking with animals offers reconnaissance options. Minor Illusion adds more deception potential too.
Free castings of Disguise Self also give creative solutions to social encounters and exploration dilemmas. By blending trickery with support magic, bards can truly support parties in unconventional ways.
For bards focused on control, illusions, and general utility over raw damage, forest gnomes enable wholly unique solutions.
Ideal For: Lore Bards, Enchanter Supports
| Stat | Base Gnome | Forest Gnome |
|---|---|---|
| Dexterity | 11 | 13 |
| Intelligence | 11 | 13 |
Forest gnomes distinctly trade martial might for magical talent and cunning. Their racial bonuses facilitate peaceful, thoughtful bards over fighters.
Great Utility Races – Honorable Mentions
The above cover my personal favorite bard races. However, many gamers rightfully sing praises of these other stellar options:
Half-Elf
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Halfling
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Tiefling
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Each bring unique forms of skill and spell versatility in their own rights. I encourage exploring their racial traits yourself to see if they match your desired bard flavor.
Conclusion
After countless hours adventuring as a bard through Baldur‘s Gate‘s lands, I‘ve determined my favorite race pairings. Hopefully this guide has given you insight into meaningful mechanical interactions to consider.
Let me know in the comments if you have any other suggested bard race and subclass combinations! As part of an ongoing series, I plan to dive deeper into specific multiclass builds next.
Thanks for reading, and may your dice roll high!
