Best bard build to accomplish what? 'Best' tends to be very subjective. Suppose I ask you what the 'best' car is and don't provide any other context. In that case, I will always be able to show some area where another vehicle surpasses your choice (e.g., your choice was the fastest car in production, but it is a terrible vehicle for a family of 4).
So, what kind of role are you looking for? Support? Utility? Tanking? DPS? All around?
Which rule sets are you using? Someone talking about the benefits of eloquence bards (useful) doesn't mean much if a person is referring only to 2024 rules. Also, is there a preferred level range to discuss?
My first thought is valor bards are well rounded, the AC helps, and their extra attack feature is useful. Those abilities don't compete for bardic inspiration uses.
My second thought is dance bards also gain an AC benefit that doesn't cost bardic inspiration uses. Tandem footwork uses bardic inspiration but giving yourself and allies a bonus to initiative is very useful.
Glamour bards don't have the AC benefits but beguiling magic, mantle of inspiration, and mantle of majesty offer a lot of engagement and control.
Lore bards gain defensive benefits at the cost of bardic inspiration uses. The nice thing about lore bards is earlier access to other spell lists as bonus spells prepped.
I think those are all good choices but that depends on what a person wants out of the character.
Which rule sets are you using? Someone talking about the benefits of eloquence bards (useful) doesn't mean much if a person is referring only to 2024 rules. Also, is there a preferred level range to discuss?
My first thought is valor bards are well rounded, the AC helps, and their extra attack feature is useful. Those abilities don't compete for bardic inspiration uses.
My second thought is dance bards also gain an AC benefit that doesn't cost bardic inspiration uses. Tandem footwork uses bardic inspiration but giving yourself and allies a bonus to initiative is very useful.
Glamour bards don't have the AC benefits but beguiling magic, mantle of inspiration, and mantle of majesty offer a lot of engagement and control.
Lore bards gain defensive benefits at the cost of bardic inspiration uses. The nice thing about lore bards is earlier access to other spell lists as bonus spells prepped.
I think those are all good choices but that depends on what a person wants out of the character.
There's also a variety of options with multiclassing, depending on precisely what the player is trying to do. Taking a level in Rogue later on offers some nice benefits for utility and DPS. Starting as a Fighter and then immediately multiclassing into bard gives better armor, four weapon masteries, second wind, and a fighting style (alternately, you get all that except Heavy Armor if you grab a Fighter level later).
And, of course, Feats can do a whole bunch of stuff. A fifth-level utility bard with Magic Initiate, Druid means that between Goodberry and Leomund's Tiny Hut, the party's food and shelter needs are completely taken care of (which can be pretty significant in some campaigns). On the other hand, Inspiring Leader and Musician are nice HP buffs and Heroic Inspiration refreshers, and Fey-Touched gives access to Hunter's Mark, which can be nice for a bard who wants to DPS.
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What is the best bard build?
Best bard build to accomplish what? 'Best' tends to be very subjective. Suppose I ask you what the 'best' car is and don't provide any other context. In that case, I will always be able to show some area where another vehicle surpasses your choice (e.g., your choice was the fastest car in production, but it is a terrible vehicle for a family of 4).
So, what kind of role are you looking for? Support? Utility? Tanking? DPS? All around?
Which rule sets are you using? Someone talking about the benefits of eloquence bards (useful) doesn't mean much if a person is referring only to 2024 rules. Also, is there a preferred level range to discuss?
My first thought is valor bards are well rounded, the AC helps, and their extra attack feature is useful. Those abilities don't compete for bardic inspiration uses.
My second thought is dance bards also gain an AC benefit that doesn't cost bardic inspiration uses. Tandem footwork uses bardic inspiration but giving yourself and allies a bonus to initiative is very useful.
Glamour bards don't have the AC benefits but beguiling magic, mantle of inspiration, and mantle of majesty offer a lot of engagement and control.
Lore bards gain defensive benefits at the cost of bardic inspiration uses. The nice thing about lore bards is earlier access to other spell lists as bonus spells prepped.
I think those are all good choices but that depends on what a person wants out of the character.
There's also a variety of options with multiclassing, depending on precisely what the player is trying to do. Taking a level in Rogue later on offers some nice benefits for utility and DPS. Starting as a Fighter and then immediately multiclassing into bard gives better armor, four weapon masteries, second wind, and a fighting style (alternately, you get all that except Heavy Armor if you grab a Fighter level later).
And, of course, Feats can do a whole bunch of stuff. A fifth-level utility bard with Magic Initiate, Druid means that between Goodberry and Leomund's Tiny Hut, the party's food and shelter needs are completely taken care of (which can be pretty significant in some campaigns). On the other hand, Inspiring Leader and Musician are nice HP buffs and Heroic Inspiration refreshers, and Fey-Touched gives access to Hunter's Mark, which can be nice for a bard who wants to DPS.