Bards

Explore the Bard class in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, including their spells, abilities, and subclasses like Blade, Jester, and Skald.

Class Features:

• May not wear armour heavier than chain mail; armour other than Elven Chain Mail disables spellcasting.
• May only equip bucklers.
• May become proficient in any weapon.
• May take a single proficiency point in any fighting style.
• Thief ability: Pick Pockets.
• 10 Lore per level.
• May cast arcane spells.
• May use the Bard Song ability.
• 6 HP per level for the first ten levels, 2 HP per level thereafter.

Bard Song: Renders party members immune to fear and removes any fear effects. It also applies a +1 Luck bonus, increasing to +2 at level 15 and +3 at level 20.

Subclasses:

• Blade: May place three points in two-weapon style. May use Offensive Spin (+2 THAC0, +2 damage, +1 attack for four rounds) and Defensive Spin (up to +10 AC but rooted to the spot for four rounds) once each per day, gaining 1 additional use for every four levels. Pick Pocket skill is halved, and Lore skill is halved. The Blade is considered worse than a Fighter/Mage in most aspects, and Offensive Spin cannot be used with Haste.
• Jester: Swaps the Bard's standard repertoire for songs that inflict a variety of debuffs on enemies within 30 feet (enemies must save vs. spell or be affected). At level 1, enemies must save vs. spell at +2 or become confused. At level 15, enemies must also save vs. spell or be slowed. At level 20, enemies must also save vs. spell at +2 or be knocked unconscious. The Jester's song does not affect undead and allows a bonus to saving throws, making it less effective as the game progresses. If a Jester takes the Enhanced Bard Song High Level Ability (HLA), they lose access to their special song and become identical to the vanilla Bard.
• Skald: Swaps the Bard's standard repertoire for heroic warrior tales that inspire allies. Provides +1 THAC0 / +1 damage and one quarter of the normal Pick Pockets skill. The Skald's song provides the following effects on allies within 30 feet: At level 1: +2 AC, +2 THAC0, +2 damage. At level 15: +4 AC, +4 THAC0, +4 damage; immune to fear. At level 20: +4 AC, +4 THAC0, +4 damage; immune to fear, stun and confusion. The Skald becomes significantly worse once Enhanced Bard Song is available, as the only differentiator becomes the THAC0 and damage boost, making a Blade a better choice at that point.

Spellcasting: Bards gain the ability to cast magic at level 2. They can cast fewer magic spells than Mages and no spells higher than 6th-level, but their caster level is typically higher than any other caster, making Dispel / Remove Magic very powerful. The high Lore skill is a decent quality-of-life boost and saves your party from having to memorise Identify.

Bard Spell Progression:

Level 2: 1 1st-level spell

Level 3: 2 1st-level spells

Level 4: 2 1st-level spells, 1 2nd-level spell

Level 5: 3 1st-level spells, 1 2nd-level spell

Level 6: 3 1st-level spells, 2 2nd-level spells

Level 7: 3 1st-level spells, 2 2nd-level spells, 1 3rd-level spell

Level 8: 3 1st-level spells, 3 2nd-level spells, 1 3rd-level spell

Level 9: 3 1st-level spells, 3 2nd-level spells, 2 3rd-level spells

Level 10: 3 1st-level spells, 3 2nd-level spells, 2 3rd-level spells, 1 4th-level spell

Level 11: 3 1st-level spells, 3 2nd-level spells, 3 3rd-level spells, 1 4th-level spell

Level 12: 3 1st-level spells, 3 2nd-level spells, 3 3rd-level spells, 2 4th-level spells

Level 13: 3 1st-level spells, 3 2nd-level spells, 3 3rd-level spells, 2 4th-level spells, 1 5th-level spell

Level 14: 3 1st-level spells, 3 2nd-level spells, 3 3rd-level spells, 3 4th-level spells, 1 5th-level spell

Level 15: 3 1st-level spells, 3 2nd-level spells, 3 3rd-level spells, 3 4th-level spells, 2 5th-level spells

Level 16: 4 1st-level spells, 3 2nd-level spells, 3 3rd-level spells, 3 4th-level spells, 2 5th-level spells, 1 6th-level spell

Level 17: 4 1st-level spells, 4 2nd-level spells, 3 3rd-level spells, 3 4th-level spells, 2 5th-level spells, 1 6th-level spell

Level 18: 4 1st-level spells, 4 2nd-level spells, 4 3rd-level spells, 3 4th-level spells, 3 5th-level spells, 2 6th-level spells

Level 19: 4 1st-level spells, 4 2nd-level spells, 4 3rd-level spells, 4 4th-level spells, 3 5th-level spells, 2 6th-level spells

Level 20: 4 1st-level spells, 4 2nd-level spells, 4 3rd-level spells, 4 4th-level spells, 4 5th-level spells, 3 6th-level spells

Level 21: 5 1st-level spells, 4 2nd-level spells, 4 3rd-level spells, 4 4th-level spells, 4 5th-level spells, 3 6th-level spells

Level 22: 5 1st-level spells, 5 2nd-level spells, 4 3rd-level spells, 4 4th-level spells, 4 5th-level spells, 3 6th-level spells

Level 23: 5 1st-level spells, 5 2nd-level spells, 5 3rd-level spells, 4 4th-level spells, 4 5th-level spells, 3 6th-level spells

Levels 24-27: 5 1st-level spells, 5 2nd-level spells, 5 3rd-level spells, 5 4th-level spells, 4 5th-level spells, 3 6th-level spells

Levels 28-29: 5 1st-level spells, 5 2nd-level spells, 5 3rd-level spells, 5 4th-level spells, 5 5th-level spells, 3 6th-level spells

Levels 30-37: 5 1st-level spells, 5 2nd-level spells, 5 3rd-level spells, 5 4th-level spells, 5 5th-level spells, 4 6th-level spells

Level 38+: 5 1st-level spells, 5 2nd-level spells, 5 3rd-level spells, 5 4th-level spells, 5 5th-level spells, 5 6th-level spells