The Best Bow Bard Champion Build

This is my very trusty bow bard build that has carried me through multiple playthroughs, including honour mode! It's versatile, user friendly, and really packs a punch! Even if it's not the best, it's still a very reliable build — feel free to tweak it and make it your own!

***This guide contains spoilers! Proceed with caution!***

Build Overview

This build is extremely versatile, focusing on dealing massive ranged damage with bow attacks to quickly take out anyone that stands in your way! Great for any party member, but it really shines as the face of your party.

Features

◦ Dual hand crossbows (with longbow options, depending on player preference)
◦ Primary focus on Ranged Slashing Flourish, firing 2 arrows in one attack
◦ Multiclass into Fighter with Archery fighting style
◦ Easy to obtain, highly sought after equipment

Pros:

+ Increased chance to pass most of your dialogue checks
+ Insane amount of single target burst damage at any range
+ Does not require elixirs or potions
+ No need for coating weapons, unless desired

Why choose to multiclass into Fighter instead of Rogue?

The main focus of this build is sustainability and trying to increase the chances of getting a critical hit often. While multiclassing into Rogue is popular and has its own benefits, Fighters have heavy armour proficiency, which can really come in handy if you find that you're taking a lot of damage, as well as longbow proficiency if you choose to use those in Act 3. Based on my play style, I found Fighter - Champion to feel the most natural. The beauty of the Bard class is that it pairs well with almost anything :)

Disclaimer: This build has NOT been tested in a solo honour campaign!

Character Creation

◦ Race: Any race can utilize this build, but I prefer Halflings for their natural luck

Halfling Luck is a passive feature that grants all halflings to reroll a dice when it lands on a 1 for an Attack Roll, Ability Check, or Saving Throw. You must use the new roll.

↑↑↑ This means you'll have a much higher chance to actually land your attacks! ↑↑↑

◦ Starting Class: Bard

◦ Cantrips: Any — I always choose Mage Hand and Blade Ward or Minor Illusion

◦ Spells: Longstrider & Speak with Animals — the other two slots are player's choice

◦ Instrument: Any — Choose whichever makes your ears happy! :)

◦ Background: Any — I personally like Guild Artisan, Charlatan or Criminal for dialogue

Starting Stats

Ability	Points	Assign +2	Bonus +1
Strength	8
Dexterity	16	✓
Constitution	14
Intelligence	8
Wisdom	12
Charisma	16		✓

***If you plan to use the Hag Hair, make DEX 17 and WIS 10***

Skills

It depends on what you pick for your character's background, but the following will be great for the bard as a player character:

◦ Persuasion/Deception — Select one or both for dialogue
◦ Perception
◦ Sleight of Hand
◦ Stealth
◦ Acrobatics

***You DO NOT need to waste a skill point on Performance!***

↓↓↓ If you're using this build for a companion, refer to the stats below ↓↓↓

Since your companion won't be doing the talking, it's fine to drop Charisma down and throw most of your points into Dexterity, Constitution, and Wisdom. Any points leftover can be distributed to whichever ability you want, just make sure all of the numbers are even.

Ability	Points	Assign +2	Bonus +1
Strength	8
Dexterity	16	✓
Constitution	16		✓
Intelligence	8
Wisdom	14
Charisma	12

Leveling

*Note: Spell selection doesn't matter much for this build since you won't be casting them to attack, so choose what works best for you. Utility spells are the most ideal.

*Outside of the ones listed specifically in the guide, other useful spells include:
Disguise Self, Feather Fall, Freedom of Movement, Healing Word, Invisibility, Knock, Lesser Restoration, See Invisibility, and Speak with Dead.

Overview

Level	Class		Notes
Level 1	Bard 1	Level 1 Spells	Longstrider, Speak with Animals
Level 2	Bard 2	Song of Rest
Level 3	Bard 3	College of Swords - Slashing Flourish
Level 4	Bard 4	Feat - Ability Improvement - DEX 18
Level 5	Bard 5	Font of Inspiration	Bardic Inspiration charges increase to 4
Level 6	Bard 6	Extra Attack
Level 7	Fighter 1	Fighting Style - Archery
Level 8	Fighter 2	Action Surge
Level 9	Fighter 3	Champion
Level 10	Fighter 4	Feat - Ability Improvement - DEX 20
Level 11	Bard 7	Level 4 Spells	Greater Invisibility, Dimension Door
Level 12	Bard 8	Feat - Sharpshooter	Bardic Inspiration charges increase to 5

Level 1 | Bard 1

◦ Spell Select: Longstrider & Speak with Animals
◦ Cantrips: Any, but I prefer to start with Blade Ward and Mage Hand. It doesn't affect the overall build, so choose what you feel comfortable with.

Level 2 | Bard 2

◦ Class Feature: Jack of All Trades — add half of your proficiency bonus to ability checks that you're not proficient in.
◦ Action: Song of Rest — you and your allies are revitalized as though you had taken a short rest.
◦ Spell Select: Any

Level 3 | Bard 3

◦ Spell Select: Any
◦ Subclass: College of Swords — we'll mainly be using Slashing Flourish (Ranged) to attack. Grants medium armour proficiency.
◦ Fighting Style: Two-Weapon Fighting

Level 4 | Bard 4

◦ Cantrips: Anything you find useful
◦ Spell Select: Any
◦ Feat: Ability Improvement - DEX 18

Level 5 | Bard 5

◦ Class Feature: Font of Inspiration — regain all your Bardic Inspiration after a long or short rest.
◦ Spell Select: Any

Level 6 | Bard 6

◦ Gain Extra Attack
◦ Spell Select: Any

Level 7 | Fighter 1

◦ Multiclass to Fighter
◦ Fighting Style: Archery — gain +2 bonus to ranged weapon attacks

Level 8 | Fighter 2

◦ Gain Action Surge — immediately gain an extra action to use this turn (1 turn).

Level 9 | Fighter 3

◦ Subclass: Champion — the number you need to roll a critical hit while attacking is reduced by 1 (this effect can stack).

Level 10 | Fighter 4

◦ Feat: Ability Improvement - DEX 20

Level 11 | Bard 7

◦ Spell Select: Greater Invisibility & Dimension Door
◦ Replace Spell: Get rid of anything you're not using, except Longstrider or Speak with Animals.

Level 12 | Bard 8

◦ Spell Select: Any
◦ Feat: Sharpshooter — ranged weapon attacks do not receive penalties from high ground rules

Level 7 Respec

Once you are level 7, you'll want to multiclass into Fighter. However, while you'll now be able to use longbows naturally, you won't have heavy armour proficiency unless you respec.

This step is necessary to gain access to heavy armour proficiency! If you do not wish to respec, you will still receive longbow proficiency from the Fighter class.

**Note: I do not recommend starting your campaign as a Fighter, as it'll delay the overall build**

◦ Talk to Withers and ask to change your class, then follow the table below ↓↓↓

Level	Class		Notes
Level 1	Fighter 1	Fighting Style - Archery
Level 2	Bard 1	Level 1 Spells	Longstrider, Speak with Animals
Level 3	Bard 2	Song of Rest
Level 4	Bard 3	College of Swords - Slashing Flourish
Level 5	Bard 4	Feat - Ability Improvement - DEX 18
Level 6	Bard 5	Font of Inspiration	Bardic Inspiration charges increase to 4
Level 7	Bard 6	Extra Attack
Level 8	Fighter 2	Action Surge
Level 9	Fighter 3	Champion
Level 10	Fighter 4	Feat - Ability Improvement - DEX 20
Level 11	Bard 7	Level 4 Spells	Greater Invisibility, Dimension Door
Level 12	Bard 8	Feat - Sharpshooter	Bardic Inspiration charges increase to 5

Equipment

Recommended Equipment & Where to Find It

Act	Item	Type	Location	Notes
1	Hunting Shortbow	Shortbow	The Grove - Dammon	Hunter's Mark
1	Gloves of Archery	Gloves	Goblin Camp - Grat	Proficiency with longbows, ranged attacks deal +2 damage
1	Titanstring Bow	Longbow	Zhentarim Hideout - Brem	Deals additional damage equal to your strength modifier, weapon enchantment +1
1	Caustic Band	Ring	Myconid Colony - Derryth	Weapon attacks deal 2 Acid damage ***Equip for rest of game
1	Club of Hill Giant Strength	Club	Arcane Tower - Top Floor *Break the Stool of Hill Giant Strength	Increases Strength to 19 (necessary for the Titanstring Bow)
1	Disintegrating Night Walkers	Boots	Grymforge - Nere	Can't be enwebbed, entangled, or ensnared & can't slip on grease or ice. Misty Step spell. ***Equip for rest of game
1	Firestoker	Hand Crossbow	Grymforge - Room w/ Hellsboars (X: -574, Y: 382)	Deals additional damage to burning targets
1	The Graceful Cloth	Clothing	Rosymorn Monastery Trail - Lady Esther	Increase DEX +2, gain +1 to DEX saving throws, increase jump distance by 1.5m
1	Knife of the Undermountain King	Dagger	Crèche Y'llek - A'jak'nir Jeera	Enchantment +2, increases the frequency of scoring critical hits, grants advantage against lightly or heavily obscured enemies
1	Amulet of Branding	Amulet	Crèche Y'llek - A'jak'nir Jeera	Brand enemy and make them vulnerable to piercing damage
2	Cloak of Protection	Cloak	Last Light Inn - Quartermaster Talli	Armor Class +1, Saving Throw +1
2	Marksmanship Hat	Hat	Moonrise Towers - Roah Moonglow	Gain +1 bonus to ranged attack rolls
2	Ne'er Misser	Hand Crossbow	Moonrise Towers - Roah Moonglow	Enchantment +1, deals force damage and grants the user to cast Magic Missile once per short rest
2	Hellfire Hand Crossbow	Hand Crossbow	Gauntlet of Shar - Yurgir	Enchantment +2, chance to set targets burning when attacking while hiding or invisible
2	Killer's Sweetheart	Ring	Gauntlet of Shar - Self-Same Trial	After killing a target, your next attack is a critical hit (once per long rest)
3	The Dead Shot (optional)	Longbow	Stormshore Armoury - Fytz	Enchantment +2, increases crit chance and accuracy, doubles user's proficiency bonus when rolling ranged attack
3	Armour of Agility	Medium Armour	Stormshore Armoury - Gloomy	Adds your full DEX modifier to your Armour Class, saving throws +2
3	Legacy of the Masters	Gloves	Forge of the Nine - Dammon	Gain +2 bonus to attack and damage rolls, strength saving throws +1
3	Mask of Soul Perception	Hat	Devil's Fee - Helsik's Room Chest	Gain +2 bonus to attack rolls, initiative rolls, and perception checks. Can cast Detect Thoughts once per short rest.
3	Gontr Mael (optional)	Longbow (Legendary)	Steel Watch Foundry - Steel Watcher Titan	Enchantment +3, can possibly inflict Guiding Bolt on target, grants Celestial Haste spell and Bolt of Celestial Light actions.
3	Rhapsody	Dagger	Cazador	Gain +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls
3	Sarevok's Horned Helmet	Helmet	Murder Tribunal - Sarevok	Increases critical hit chance, grants darkvision, and cannot be frightened
3	Amulet of Bhaal	Amulet	Murder Tribunal - Sarevok	Inflict bleeding on targets with maximum hit points
3	Bloodthirst	Dagger	Orin	Armour Class +1, increases critical hit chance ***Equip in off-hand

Note: The Titanstring Bow and Club of Hill Giant Strength should be used together for the best results. Please plan accordingly.

Gear Loadouts

Below are the ideal loadouts for the build as you progress through the game. If you need help locating some of these items, please refer to the previous section or leave a comment :)

Act 1

◦ Head: Any
◦ Cloak: N/A
◦ Armour: The Graceful Cloth OR Adamantine Scale Mail
◦ Gloves: Gloves of Archery
◦ Boots: Disintegrating Night Walkers
◦ Main Hand: Club of Hill Giant Strength
◦ Off-Hand (Melee): Knife of the Undermountain King
◦ Main Hand (Ranged): Hunting Shortbow → Titanstring Bow
◦ Off-Hand (Ranged): None
◦ Amulet: Amulet of Branding
◦ Rings: Caustic Band & Any

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Act 2

◦ Head: Marksmanship Hat
◦ Cloak: Cloak of Protection
◦ Armour: The Graceful Cloth OR Adamantine Scale Mail
◦ Gloves: Gloves of Archery
◦ Boots: Disintegrating Night Walkers
◦ Main Hand: Club of Hill Giant Strength → Any
◦ Off-Hand (Melee): Knife of the Undermountain King
◦ Main Hand (Ranged): Titanstring Bow → Hellfire Hand Cross Bow
◦ Off-Hand (Ranged): Ne'er Misser OR Firestoker
◦ Amulet: Amulet of Branding
◦ Rings: Caustic Band & Killer's Sweetheart

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Act 3

◦ Head: Marksmanship Hat → Mask of Soul Perception OR Sarevok's Horned Helmet
◦ Cloak: Cloak of Protection
◦ Armour: Armour of Agility
◦ Gloves: Legacy of the Masters
◦ Boots: Disintegrating Night Walkers
◦ Main Hand: Knife of the Undermountain King OR Rhapsody
◦ Off-Hand (Melee): Bloodthirst
◦ Main Hand (Ranged): Hellfire Hand Cross Bow
◦ Off-Hand (Ranged): Ne'er Misser OR Firestoker
◦ Amulet: Amulet of Bhaal
◦ Rings: Caustic Band & Killer's Sweetheart

**If you prefer, you can equip The Dead Shot or Gontr Mael at this point, instead of continuing to use dual hand crossbows.

*Note: I listed Rhapsody and Firestoker as alternatives depending on the player's preference, however I always use Knife of the Undermountain King and Ne'er Misser in my own playthroughs.

How to Play

Playing with this class is simple, since the mechanics will be relatively the same throughout the campaign.

Ranged Slashing Flourish → Rest → Repeat

Basic Mechanics

◦ While using the Hunting Shortbow, be sure to cast Hunter's Mark on your target before attacking.
◦ With the Amulet of Branding equipped, cast Pierce the Weak to make an enemy vulnerable to piercing damage before you attack.
◦ Maintain enough Bardic Inspiration to consistently use Ranged Slashing Flourish in battle.
◦ Ranged Slashing Flourish can be used on a single target (hit them with 2 arrows) or you can hit two separate targets in one attack.
◦ Try to save your Action Surge for more flourish attacks, if possible.

Level 3

◦ Now that you have College of Swords, you can start using your Ranged Slashing Flourish.

*Note: At this point, be careful how often you use your Bardic Inspiration, as it does not yet replenish on short rest. If you have enough supplies to long rest often, go for it!

Level 5

Here's where the build really starts to take off!

◦ Restore Bardic Inspiration on short or long rests, making it easier and more consistent to use Ranged Slashing Flourish in every battle.
◦ Out of Bardic Inspiration? Don't wait — REST!

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That's pretty much how you'll be playing this class for the rest of the game, getting as many critical attacks in as you can! Sit back, relax, and watch your enemies fall :)

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[m a j i]

That's an interesting build that I haven't seen yet, so thanks for sharing! My only criticism is that you'd lose out on a feat, but I'm assuming the build makes up for it elsewhere.

[Kimi o Nosete]

The meta is to go for 10 bard so that you can get lv6 counterspell, 1d10 bardic inspiration, and command drop in conjunction with mystic scoundrel ring. Prestigious_juice341 on reddit made a decent guidea while back with 10 bard 1 wizard 1 fighter

Link to the build,

[m a j i]

Very nice, Dindraene — have fun! I'm glad it could inspire

[Dindraene]

Quite interesting and it inspired me a lot! I'm going to mix your ideas with the build I'm currently developing in a campaign with a friend of mine!

[m a j i]

Thanks for your input, Bikibi! I can assure you that multiclassing into fighter is good in its own right, it just depends on the player's preference. Personally, I prefer the extra attack from action surge so another slashing flourish can be used, since that's where most of the build's damage is coming from. And I agree with you on the elixirs, I sometimes forget to use them too! That's why getting the Club of Hill Giant Strength is an easier, user-friendly approach, opposed to managing a build around elixirs (if you're using the Titanstring Bow).

[Bikibi]

pretty sure you don't want fighter for DPS since Thief rouge has sneak attack every turn and sneak has pretty good dps over the 1 turn haste. Also if you want AC, take a race with Medium armor proficiency like Gith and just play high Dex(you should have high dex anyways unless you are playing the TItianstring bow as your main bow. I dislike drinking elixir in general cause i always forget about them, so i always go deadshot. Use the Bloodlust elixir in more diffcult encounter or the Giant one for more dmg. Though Bow archer is best played as a debuffer IMO, stacking arcane accunity than use Hold person for the other DPS to play

[MelonBerry]

Is is amazing, great work