How To Build The Best Bard In Pathfinder: Wrath Of The Righteous (2024)

The Bard has an interesting history as an RPG class. It was added in later years and was based on the images of pipers or harpers leading troops into battle or rallying their allies. However, it's hard to make that look like an intimidating fighting or casting class, and it would be many years of experimental gameplay until players would take the Bard seriously.

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Today, the Bard is one of the more powerful and versatile combination classes, and their wide range of skills and abilities have made them a valuable member of any party. Most players are familiar with the playable class from and more recently the Discipline Class in Final Fantasy 14.

The Bard also exists in the Pathfinder franchise, and that includes the video game version. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous not only has a conventional Bard in their long list of classes but also a unique class called the Skald, which is similar to a Bard but more melee-focused. Bards are often seen as healers, and they do have some impressive spells and buffs, enough to make them an adventuring party's main support character.

The Bard - Character Creation

Ability Scores

• Charisma. Every spontaneous casting class, including the Bard, uses this as their main Ability Score. It's one of the factors that make Charisma-based healers easier to multiclass.
• Dexterity. The higher your Bard's Dexterity, the better they are at using finesse weapons. This score also improves spell hit rating which is important for spellcasters.
• Constitution. A few more hit points are always great, especially if you're a casting class that others might be dependent on for healing or buffing.
• Intelligence. Bards don't need to be smart. On the other hand, this is a nice stat to have a bit on the higher side for Arcane Knowledge roles and possible multi-classing options.
• Strength. All but useless to Bards, but there may be those interested in a Fighter or Bloodrager multiclass.
• Wisdom. Bards are beautiful, not wise, but this Ability Score does help with Religion Knowledge checks and is essential if you want to multi-class into a Cleric.

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Party Roles for The Bard

Split image featuring Daeran, Seelah, Regill, and Camellia from Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous

First and foremost, the Bard is a spellcaster - but they're also known for Rogue-like abilities, which can mean proficiency with certain thrown weapons, daggers, or poisons.

• Damage. A damage-based build can also be split with a healing build. Bards can be strict spellcasters or mix some melee fighting with ranged damage. How much for either is entirely up to you.
• Healing. The classic build for the Bard class, they were healers first and foremost and this is still their most common role. Experienced players swap between all three roles but usually pivot from healing.
• Support and Crowd Control. Bards have the ability to support other classes with off-heals, extra damage spells, and buffs that positively affect the whole party.

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Racial Choices

There's plenty to choose from when it comes to races that have bonuses to Charisma. Pathfinder: WotR has a variety of racial Heritage choices available in addition to the basic exemplar option of each, so there are few races that can be classified as poor choices all around. Creative players can make virtually any class and race combination work, but it's safe to say that some are more difficult than others.

• Aasimar. This race is all about Charisma, and often takes the place of party leader, so a great choice for a Bard from the start. Almost all of the Heritage choices include Charisma bonuses and innate spellcasting abilities that include either damage or healing.
• Dhampir. There are a few Dhampir Heritage choices that include Charisma buffs. If you choose to build a damage-based Bard with skills like Inflict Wounds, these spells can be used to heal your Dhampir, so an interesting choice for a DPS build.
• Dwarf. It's not a great choice, mostly due to the penalty to Charisma this race takes right from the start. It's tough to picture a Dwarf in this role anyway.
• Elf. A decent choice for players who are building a ranged Bard. This race has a Dexterity bonus, which is great for ranged and finesse weapons along with the improved spell hit rating.
• Gnome. With +2 bonuses to both Charisma and Consitution, along with special abilities when it comes to fighting certain kinds of monsters, Gnomes are ideal for a mixed weapon and spellcasting Bard build.

• Half-Elf. Choose carefully with your Heritage Choices and the +2 to any ability score and the Half-Elf can work for any Bard build that exists.
• Half-Orc. It might not be an obvious choice at first, but Half-Orcs get a +2 to any Ability Score like Half-Elves and Humans, so the build not only works but is one of the better options.
• Halfling. Like their literary counterparts, Halflings have extra talents that keep them out of sight and warn them of impending danger. The bonuses to Charisma and Dexterity make this an even better choice no matter the build.
• Human. One of the best choices for any class, as usual, not only for the versatile Ability Scores but the additional Feat and Skill for an even more personalized Bard build.
• Kitsune. The default Kitsune is one of the best choices with the bonuses to Charisma and Dexterity, and who can take their eyes off a humanoid fox?
• Oread. The Gemsoul Oread is the ideal choice with a buff to Charisma, and the improved Strength and AC abilities of this hardy race lean towards the melee Bard build.
• Tiefling. Known for their Charisma, Tieflings have a variety of racial choices and several include buffs to this important stat along with Dexterity, Strength, or Constitution.

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The Bard Subclasses

The Bard is a class that crosses into several party roles while others are only responsible for one or two roles. The Archetypes for Bards in Pathfinder: WotR helps to specialize the Bard class even more along with giving them abilities normally reserved for other classes.

Part of the Bard's popularity is because of how complex or simple the class can be. They can be the Rogue of the party, picking locks and disarming traps, or take the role of the main healer.

• Archaeologist. You could either multi-class into a Rogue or take this subclass instead. This Bard loses certain proficiencies but gains Archaeologist's Luck.
• Beast Tamer. Here's the Bard that started out singing to the sheep in the field. They have the power to summon and strengthen beast companions and imbue their allies with powers associated with certain animals.
• Dirge Bard. A choice with a shadowy edge, this Bard loses the Well-Versed ability but gains the Secrets of the Grave instead, which allows the Bard to control the Undead with mind control spells as if they were Humans.
• Flame Dancer. Add some extra flame damage to a Bard's already impressive spell capacity by choosing this Archetype.
• Thunder Caller. You could roll a Shaman to access the power of the elements, but if your heart is set on a Bard, this is a decent alternative.
• Tranquil Whisperer. The obvious choice for players building a support class, this Bard's signature abilities focuses on improving their companions' Concentration. This ability improves the success of other crucial tasks, such as spell memorization or some types of casting.

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Prestige Classes And Multi-Classing Options

Bards can do almost anything in a party already, plus there are the various options Pathfinder: WotR like Feats, Skill choices, and Backgrounds that can help fill any annoying gaps in the bard's abilities. This usually means mixing a Bard with a martial class to give them better armor and weapon proficiencies.

On the other hand, Bards can have pure spellcasting skills, and multiclassing them with another spellcaster that uses Charisma, such as a Sorcerer, makes them even more savage in battle. Bards with high scores in Intelligence and Wisdom can multiclass as Wizards or Clerics to broaden their own personal spellbooks and augment their existing damage or gealing abilities. A Bard who is a dedicated healer who has the required Ability Scores would be wise to multi-class into another healing class to optimize their skills.

The handy ability of dual classing, a common practice in D&D that can give a character one or two levels in another class, doesn't exist in the Pathfinder universe. The other rules about Ability Scores, however, remain the same. If you wish to multiclass your Bard, keep in mind that they must have at least 13 in the primary Ability Score of the target class.

Regular Classes

• Bloodrager. A martial class similar to a Baranbrian with similar Rage abilities but one that uses Charisma instead of Strength, so an easier mix with the Bard who wants more melee abilities and has the Strength score to back it up.
• Cavalier. Another marital class with Charisma-based abilities, and this one gets a handy mount. Exactly what depends on the size of your characters. A Gnome, for example, can ride a smaller animal like a deer or boar.
• Cleric. One of the healing classes that can outshine the Bard, it would be a good mix with a Bard who has a high Wisdom score and is pursuing some Divine knowledge.
• Fighter. The class that goes with everything, and the Bard is no exception. Some Fighters are based on Dexterity instead of Strength, so there's an advantage here if you decide the build is going that way.
• Kineticist. One of the subclasses for the Kineticist is the Overwhelming Soul, a Charisma-based Archetype that includes some impressive elemental damage abilities. A nice mix for a Bard that's looking for a way to bring up their damage-per-second (DPS).

• Magus. The Eldritch Scion subclass is based on Charisma, which is one way to give the Bard more spellcasting power, but many of the other abilities are either redundant or dependent on Intelligence.
• Oracle. A Bard that's more of a melee fighter than a ranged caster but who wants more healing powers can combine with an Oracle. They also use Charisma instead of Wisdom as their modifier, which makes it an easier choice.
• Paladin. An ideal mix for a Bard that leads the party or has a mission or quest to fulfill, this class is also a Charisma-based caster and has access to Divine spells.
• Witch. One Archetype, the Stigmatized Witch, uses Charisma as their main ability score. This is a powerful class, represented by the companion Ember in WotR, and combining a Bard with a Witch would be a nice way to gain the ability to cast Hexes.
• Wizard. Provided your Bard has a high enough Intelligence Ability Score, they can multi-class with a Wizard and access a whole new library of spells and abilities. This would have to be a Bard that wears less armor and stays out of combat.

Prestige Classes

• Arcane Trickster. Tailored for rogue-ish characters with some spellcasting abilities, this is an obvious choice for Bards. Skills required include Trickery, Stealth, and Arcane Spellcasting.
• Assassin. Bards often have Stealth anyway, one requirement for this Prestige Class, and the other is an Evil alignment. This is often the choice of Rogues or Rangers but it's open to Bards as well.
• Dragon Disciple. Damage-based spellcasters rejoice, this is the Prestige Class that gives you the powers of a dragon. Really, like breath weapons and a natural armor increase. An ideal choice for a focused DPS caster.
• Mystic Theurge. Bards who have some Divine Knowledge and consider themselves dedicated healers can take on this Prestige Class, which is designed for healers and support roles.
• Duelist. Bards that have some skill with Mobility and Weapon Finesse can take on the Duelist class to become even more dangerous in melee combat.
• Aldori Swordlord. A specialist in the advanced art of swordplay, this often a path taken by Fighters, but if your Bard has skills like Dueling Sword proficiency and skills like Persuasion and Mobility, they're also eligible.

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Example of Bard Builds

Dead Scream

• Party Role: Damage. This is the build that heralds the coming of death, blasting enemies with their spellcasting powers not only for the purposes of destruction but to cover their companions, who are on the ground laying waste with their blades and bows.
• Ideal Race: Tiefling or Aasimar, since both of these races have innate spellcasting powers.
• Best Subclass: Flame Dancer or Thunder Caller
• Important Ability Scores: After Charisma, lean on Dexterity to improve your Bard's hit rating or skill with certain weapons.

Benevolent Orator

• Party Role: Support, Crowd Control
• Ideal Race: Gnome or Oread, both with a Consitution buff for extra hit points.
• Best Subclass: Tranquil Whisperer
• Important Ability Scores: This Bard might have to step closer to melee combat and be able to continue casting even if they get hit, which not only means they need a stronger Constitution but perhaps other skills that you can give them through Skills or Feats, like improved Concentration or a better Dodge rating.

Angelic Guardian

• Party Role: Healer
• Ideal Race: Aasimar, for an extra healing spell, or Half-Elf, with handy immunities to Charm and Sleep spells.
• Best Subclass: Dirge Bard
• Important Ability Scores: It's tough to choose between Dexterity and Consitution for this build. If your Bard gets into melee range, favor constitution, unless you need the extra Dexterity for a finesse weapon or would rather improve spell hit rating for a ranged caster.

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