Quick Links
Your class of choice will determine your playstyle as well as how well you synergize with the rest of your companions inBaldur’s Gate 3. It’s important to have a party that balances offense and defense in order to beat the toughest enemies. One class that works great as either an attacker or a supporter is the bard class.
As a bard, you use your words to either cut down enemies or buff your allies. There are subclasses of different colleges you can pick from as a bard, and one of the choices is the college of glamour. This subclass uses spells to charm enemies and have them submit to your will.
College Of Glamour Bard Overview
Thematically, the college of glamour bard is a spellcaster that wastaught by fey creaturesand possesses great magical ability. As a party member, this bardleans more toward the support roleand helpsdefend the team against damagewhile also stopping enemies in their tracks with useful magic.
This subclass has unique spells thatprovide useful support to companions, especiallyagainst melee attackers. These spells can beunlocked at different levelsand can grow more powerful at higher levels.
Using these spells with the bardic inspirationthat every bard subclass enjoys will allow you to build a unit that can keep everyone in the party standing andsucceeding their most crucial rolls.
Description
Mantle of Inspiration
Grant two alliesfive temporary hit points. If they’re hit with a melee attack,the attacker becomes charmed. (The number of targets increasesat levels six and ten)
Mantle of Majesty: Command
You cancommand a creatureto flee, approach, freeze, grovel, or drop its weapon. Targets that are charmedautomatically fail their saving throwagainst this spell.
The Best Starting Stats, Species, And Spells For A College Of Glamour Bard
Species
You will want a species that can easily get away from difficult positions and closer to party members that need support because the college of glamour bard does not have much fighting ability.
The wood elf is a great pick because of theFleet of Foot featurethatincreases your base movement speed for a total of 10.5 metersper turn. Wood elves also enjoystealth proficiency and fey ancestrywhich grantsadvantage against being charmedand immunity against magical sleep.
If you prefer a species that grants more spell options, thehigh elf also enjoys fey ancestryas well as theability to learn a cantrip from the wizard spell list. Thedrow is also a good choicefor theirdrow magicwhich allows them tolearn Dancing Lights, Faerie Fire, and Darknessat certain levels.
Cantrips And Spells
As a bard, you can pick from thebard spell list for cantrips and spells. When it comes to the best choices, remember that the college of glamour bard isbest used for support, so you should select spells that willput your attackers in the most advantageous positions.
Vicious Mockery
This is a powerful cantrip that bothdeals damage and causes its target to have disadvantageon its next attack roll. It will be useful for whittling down an enemy’s health whilereducing its chances of landing its next hit.
Mage Hand
This cantrip is useful forboth exploration and combat. It can get intotight and hard-to-reach spacesto help solve puzzles or to scout areas ahead. In combat, it can be used to attack, but it’s more useful formoving items aroundsuch astossing healing potions to allieswithout using up a companion’s turn.
Longstrider
This is a ritual spell that can be castwithout using up a spell slotwhen it’s prepared. This is recommended because itincreases movement speed by three metersallowing you more options to execute your plans in combat and get out of bad positions quickly.
Longstriderlasts until your next long rest, so you should cast it at the start of each day.
Bane
This spell causes three targets to receivea -1d4 penalty to attack rollsand saving throws, granting your partyadditional protection from damage. It will also help in allowing any condition-inflicting spells aimed at targets to succeed.
Healing Word
The best support you can give your allies isadditional health. This is why this spell is an essential in your spellbook.
Dissonant Whispers
This spell can frighten its targets which gives them adisadvantage on both ability checks and attack rolls. They’ll also beunable to movewhile additionallytaking psychic damage, making it perfect fordisabling enemies while dealing some damage.
Background
Bards havehigh charisma, making them the ideal party member tohandle conversations with NPCs. That said, there are plenty of dialogue options wherePersuasion and Deceptioncan get you out of troublesome situations, so backgrounds that are proficient in those are recommended.
When it comes to selecting a background, you shouldpick based on the decisions you’ll be making as these willgrant you inspiration, allowing you toroll again whenever you fail.
Charlatan
This background isproficient at Deception, allowing for more devious dialogue options that willtrick your target. In addition, you’ll also enjoyproficiency in Sleight of Hand, allowing you toempty the pockets of unsuspecting folksanddisarming traps.
Guild Artisan
If you prefer a more morally good option for dialogues, this background grantsproficiency in Persuasion. Also, this is a great background fordetecting lies or reading body languagethanks to proficiency in Insight.
Stats
For stats, it’s best toprioritize dexterity for armour classandcharisma for more effective spells.
8
16
13
12
10
Tips To Best Play A College Of Glamour Bard
This bard is most powerful when theMantle of Majesty: Command actionis unlockedat level six. Unlike the Command spell, thiscan target undead creatures. In addition, you’ll be able to cast any of the commandson any targetswhile concentrating on the spell. That said, it works bestwhen targets are already charmed.
This bard can also work well withanother spellcaster that can disable enemies. Bycasting Bardic Inspiration on them, their spells can be more effective.
Ensure that allies closest to melee attackers areimbued with Mantle of Inspirationto charm creatures that attack them. Once charmed,command them to do what you wantand put them at a disadvantage.
Best Level By Level Build For A College Of Glamour Bard
At different levels of the college of glamour bard, you’ll need to decide on whatcantrips, spells, and feats to pickfor a bard that can sufficientlygrant the team the supportit needs against any opponent.
1
2
Song of Rest gained
-
Jack of All Trades gained
Pick whichever you find useful. Athletics is great for avoiding getting shoved.
3
4
Ability Improvement: Charisma +2
Cantrip
Blade Wardfor additional defense orMinor Illusionfor exploration and ease in sneaking.
5
6
7
9
Gain expertise in two proficient skills.
Choose Persuasion or Deception for dialogues and one exploration skill if this is useful to you.
Choose either Minor Illusion or Blade Ward, depending on what you chose earlier.
11
LearnPolymorphfor additional crowd control using a lower-level spell slot.
The Best Equipment For A College Of Glamour Bard
When picking equipment, you should select those that canincrease your defense capabilitiesanddeal additional damage to enemiesthat get targeted by your spells or actions.
Weapon
Phalar Aluve
Grants Phalar Aluve: Melody which grants nearby alliesa 1d4 bonus to attack rollswhile set to Sing or inflicts enemies withpenalties to saving throws and attack rollswhile set to Shriek.
Found stuck in a rock atX: 116, Y: -192in the Underdarkin act one.
Helm
Coldbrim Hat
When the wearer casts a spell condition, the target also getsEncrusted with Frost.
Inside a chest in a hidden roomin Balthazar’s Chambers in act two.
Armor
Studded Leather Armour +2
Wearer has14 armour class, takesone less bludgeoning damage, and a+1 bonus to initiative rolls.
Amulet
Spellcrux Amulet
Allows wearer toreplenish a spell slot of any levelas a bonus action once per long rest.
Can belooted from The Wardenin the Moonrise Towers Prisonin act two.
Gloves
Braindrain Gloves
When the wearer deals psychic damage, the target is alsoinflicted with mental fatiguefor two turns.
Can be found atX: 748, Y: -141in the Mind Flayer Colonyin act two.
OrWondrous Gloves
Armour class increases by oneand gainone additional use of Bardic Inspiration.
Can be looted from a mimic found inGrymforge at X: -691, Y:374inact one.
+1 to bothPersuasion and Deception.
Ring 2
Ring of Mental Inhibition
When a target fails a saving throw against the wearer’s spells or actions, they are alsoinflicted with mental fatiguefor two turns.
Can be found in a chest atX: 76, Y: 40in the Shadow-cursed Landsin act two.
Boots
Boots of Brilliance
Per long rest, the wearer canrestore one slot of Bardic Inspiration.
Can be found in a chest atX: -632, Y: -723in the Gauntlet of Sharin act two.
