Bards and Warlocks compliment each other well

[KalkiKrosah]

Warlock spells hit very hard but the drawback is that they only come with 2 spell slots. They need to constantly short rest in order to replenish their spell slots.

Bards do not have a lot of damage in their kit but do come with lots utility, one of which is an out of combat spell that grants you a third short rest and inside of combat is more likely to lock down enemies with non-damaging zone control and damaging debuffs spells.

They also have some overpowered combos inside of combat. The Bard's Wild Growth spell severely limits enemy mobility. The Warlock's Hunger of Hadar spell blinds and damages anyone who remains in it's area of effect. Both spells last exactly 10 turns. And the Warlock's Eldritch blast can knock enemies back into the black mist ensuring they get whittled down to an inevitable end while the Bard with dual hand crossbows spreads damage around and speeds up the process.

Then there is the Warlock's fiend ability which allows him to see perfectly inside of darkness. Bards learn the darkness spell. Wizards can learn darkness too but Wizards generally have 6 better spells they could be casting instead. The Warlock can essentially beat enemies up inside a cloud of darkness without exposing himself to any risk.

I just really like this party pairing. Lots of synergy between the two.

[Bender B. Rodriguez]

2 Paladin 10 Bard is also a very nice paring. Lots of crowd control and face melting smites. 2 Paladin, 1 Sorcerer, 9 Bard is also good because you get a nice shield as a reaction.

[KalkiKrosah]

Originally posted by victorvnv:

Bards done need warlocks to compliment, they are solo machines on their own. No need for some stinky warlock to try steal my glory

What's your Bard build? And who do you think pairs the best with a Bard?

[Moonbane]

Lore bards can do damage just fine, especially once you get fireball from magical secrets.

Dissonant Whispers, Heat Metal and Glyph of Warding will tide you over until then.

[victorvnv]

Originally posted by KalkiKrosah:

Originally posted by victorvnv:

Bards done need warlocks to compliment, they are solo machines on their own. No need for some stinky warlock to try steal my glory

What's your Bard build? And who do you think pairs the best with a Bard?

My bard build is 10 sword bard/ 2 fighter and I just gut everything with with it alone, no need for any warlocks or any other companions

[victorvnv]

Originally posted by KalkiKrosah:

Originally posted by victorvnv:

Bards done need warlocks to compliment, they are solo machines on their own. No need for some stinky warlock to try steal my glory

What's your Bard build? And who do you think pairs the best with a Bard?

For example this is my bard gutting Raphael on tactician on his own:

https://youtu.be/FlhVFSjgpw4?si=QI7wPJ-uQE5OPzs1

[Malus]

Originally posted by victorvnv:

Originally posted by KalkiKrosah:

What's your Bard build? And who do you think pairs the best with a Bard?

For example this is my bard gutting Raphael on tactician on his own:

https://youtu.be/FlhVFSjgpw4?si=QI7wPJ-uQE5OPzs1

You are Bard Fighter Squid lol

Post your build

[pascal.difolco]

Bardlock multiclass are super good as well
Both CHA based, and College of Swords complements Pact of the Blades

[victorvnv]

Originally posted by Malus:

Originally posted by victorvnv:

For example this is my bard gutting Raphael on tactician on his own:

https://youtu.be/FlhVFSjgpw4?si=QI7wPJ-uQE5OPzs1

You are Bard Fighter Squid lol

Post your build

2 levels fighter for archery and action surge.
10 levels swords bard with Haste and Sanctuary as lvl 10 magic secrets
Full illithid powers
Feat 1: sharpshooter
Feat 2: crossbow expert
Main Weapon: 2 handed crossbow

[Mander]

Originally posted by info:

Originally posted by Mander:

Bards in bg3 are the ultimate crowd controllers, imo. They synergize quite well with every damage dealer, really.
Especially College of the Lore bards, because they can learn up to 4 more spells.
Having Command (which is a level 1 spell), on top of Fear, Silence, Hold Person, Hold Monster… add Misty Step, Counter Spell and a direct damage option (I’m partial to Lightning Bolt Upcasted to level 6 after having lured the enemy in a chokepoint…)
It’s the kind of a setup that makes a bard a monster in the field.
Yeah, you’ll not deal much direct damage (until act 3 at least, where some loot change that too), but heck, warriors and wizards are there to pick up the slack. And your clothes are too fabulous to dirt them, anyway.

The bit on the clothes is so absolutely on point!...thank you.

You're welcome.
But don't forget: from time to time, even bards must dirt their lutes’ cords.
We’re lucky that they also work oh so very well as a mean to garrotte our victims. The spider silk used for drow’s instruments in particular, is satisfaction guaranteed!

[Iso Koala]

Yes, Warlock compliments Bard very well early on.
At high level thoughs, a straight bard is just better than bard/warlock at everything.
Pure blade bard has the abilities of the best fighter, and of best mage. Not a balanced combination of those two, but actually just having full power of the 2.

[Iso Koala]

And no, not even 2 levels of Warlock for Eldrithch blasts for a bard. Blade Bards ranged flourishes are leagues better than Elditch Blasts are, pretty much 2x better on straight damage, and even more so in utility.
And no, no 2 levels of fighter either. Bards Otto's Irresistible Dance is better than fighter levels.
Pure Bard is just nuts.

[Mander]

Originally posted by Iso Koala:

Yes, Warlock compliments Bard very well early on.
At high level thoughs, a straight bard is just better than bard/warlock at everything.
Pure blade bard has the abilities of the best fighter, and of best mage. Not a balanced combination of those two, but actually just having full power of the 2.

A bard from the college of the lore with great weapon master feat is disgustingly fun: you can grovel, confound, hold up to all the enemies in a single encounter, and kill 2 or more each turn without retaliation.
Add gauntlet of hill giant strength to have 23 in strength and the helldusk armor, plus mist step for mobility…
Yeah, it’s a lightning bruiser.

[victorvnv]

Originally posted by Iso Koala:

And no, not even 2 levels of Warlock for Eldrithch blasts for a bard. Blade Bards ranged flourishes are leagues better than Elditch Blasts are, pretty much 2x better on straight damage, and even more so in utility.
And no, no 2 levels of fighter either. Bards Otto's Irresistible Dance is better than fighter levels.
Pure Bard is just nuts.

This is incorrect.
Using ottos dance means I can’t have haste as both are concentration spells

Much better do get pre haste before combat than action surge, this equals 4 flourishes which will kill the Ottos dance target anyways and will still have haste on for the other rounds .

[Mander]

Originally posted by victorvnv:

Originally posted by Iso Koala:

And no, not even 2 levels of Warlock for Eldrithch blasts for a bard. Blade Bards ranged flourishes are leagues better than Elditch Blasts are, pretty much 2x better on straight damage, and even more so in utility.
And no, no 2 levels of fighter either. Bards Otto's Irresistible Dance is better than fighter levels.
Pure Bard is just nuts.

This is incorrect.
Using ottos dance means I can’t have haste as both are concentration spells

Much better do get pre haste before combat than action surge, this equals 4 flourishes which will kill the Ottos dance target anyways and will still have haste on for the other rounds .

Haste potion is a thing. ;)

[victorvnv]

Originally posted by Mander:

Originally posted by victorvnv:

This is incorrect.
Using ottos dance means I can’t have haste as both are concentration spells

Much better do get pre haste before combat than action surge, this equals 4 flourishes which will kill the Ottos dance target anyways and will still have haste on for the other rounds .

Haste potion is a thing. ;)

I don’t use potions or any perishable items when I play, it feels like cheating .

I mean using items you don’t even need any builds you can just blow everything up with barrels etc.

Same goes for special arrows I never use them.

But yea if you use potions it may be a thing but we comparing builds not items. 10/2 bard fighter vs pure bard . With all things equal I find 10/2 bard fighter optimal especially in solo runs