It depends on the type of bard you want to make, really. I don't really think there's such thing as a bad combination. Anything with a bonus to Charisma (Dark Elf, Dragonborn, Half-Elf, Human, Lightfoot Halfling, and Tiefling being the obvious choices) will give you a leg up. But you can also play against type.
For example, a Mountain Dwarf could start with Ability Scores of 12 14 15 __ __ 15. (The two blanks could be 8 and 12 or two 10s for your Intelligence and Wisdom, whichever you like.) The result is a decently capable bard who can also wield battleaxes and warhammers and is proficient with medium armor. You could have a tougher-than-average College of Lore Bard at 3rd level, and boost both Constitution and Charisma to 16s at 4th level. By 12th level, your Charisma could be maxed out. After that, if the game continues into the higher levels, you could use your ASIs at 16 and 19 to pump up Constitution to 20, or to raise Dexterity to 16 and learn Medium Armor Master. Or whatever other combination you like. Maybe you'd like Dex 16 (with MAM), Con 18, and Cha 18. Or maybe you'll come up with something else entirely.
Yeah, I think it's wrong to think in terms of which race is "best" for any given class; some mesh a little better than others, but the most you can really get out of a race/class combo is access to some equipment options (that you might not use) and some races can get you a 17 in an ability score under standard array/points buy, which might give you the choice between an ability score increase and a half feat to get that score to 18, but that's really dependent upon what you want.
Even though a Bard is typically Dexterity and Charisma oriented, going a race with Strength and Constitution bonuses just means you don't need to boost any of those scores to avoid getting a negative modifier, and even though some racial abilities might not be ones you use often, you usually get something else that you will; for example, a Ravnica Minotaur Bard probably won't use their horns unless you build around a Strength weapon (not impossible for a Bard), but you also get free proficiency in Intimidation or Persuasion which is great for a Bard, as you'll end up with even more skill proficiencies.
Best advice for anything in D&D though is to just go with what you want to be or do, and to never worry about what is "best"; the best choice you can make is the one that lets you be the character you want to be, everything else is wrong (for you). 😉
Half elf bard is indeed the industry standard when it comes to meta, but go with what drives your story. The best part of the bard is the grandiose attitude and gripping dialogue. Be the character you were born to play!
Honestly with the new origin features introduced in Tasha’s, every race is solid for every class. I just rolled a Half-Orc Bard who was raised by halflings after his mom was killed by giants. Since he spent his upbringing running around forests and helping farm instead of constantly fighting and raid like your stereotypical Orc upbringing, he has +1 Con and +2 Charisma being jovial and talkative like his halfling family. Some racial features might not be as universally useful on every class, but it’s certainly nice to no longer be locked down by the attribute bonuses.
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Just rolled one up. That was my thought too.
It depends on the type of bard you want to make, really. I don't really think there's such thing as a bad combination. Anything with a bonus to Charisma (Dark Elf, Dragonborn, Half-Elf, Human, Lightfoot Halfling, and Tiefling being the obvious choices) will give you a leg up. But you can also play against type.
For example, a Mountain Dwarf could start with Ability Scores of 12 14 15 __ __ 15. (The two blanks could be 8 and 12 or two 10s for your Intelligence and Wisdom, whichever you like.) The result is a decently capable bard who can also wield battleaxes and warhammers and is proficient with medium armor. You could have a tougher-than-average College of Lore Bard at 3rd level, and boost both Constitution and Charisma to 16s at 4th level. By 12th level, your Charisma could be maxed out. After that, if the game continues into the higher levels, you could use your ASIs at 16 and 19 to pump up Constitution to 20, or to raise Dexterity to 16 and learn Medium Armor Master. Or whatever other combination you like. Maybe you'd like Dex 16 (with MAM), Con 18, and Cha 18. Or maybe you'll come up with something else entirely.
Yeah, I think it's wrong to think in terms of which race is "best" for any given class; some mesh a little better than others, but the most you can really get out of a race/class combo is access to some equipment options (that you might not use) and some races can get you a 17 in an ability score under standard array/points buy, which might give you the choice between an ability score increase and a half feat to get that score to 18, but that's really dependent upon what you want.
Even though a Bard is typically Dexterity and Charisma oriented, going a race with Strength and Constitution bonuses just means you don't need to boost any of those scores to avoid getting a negative modifier, and even though some racial abilities might not be ones you use often, you usually get something else that you will; for example, a Ravnica Minotaur Bard probably won't use their horns unless you build around a Strength weapon (not impossible for a Bard), but you also get free proficiency in Intimidation or Persuasion which is great for a Bard, as you'll end up with even more skill proficiencies.
Best advice for anything in D&D though is to just go with what you want to be or do, and to never worry about what is "best"; the best choice you can make is the one that lets you be the character you want to be, everything else is wrong (for you). 😉
Characters: Bullette, Chortle, Dracarys Noir, Edward Merryspell, Habard Ashery, Legion, Peregrine
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Half elf bard is indeed the industry standard when it comes to meta, but go with what drives your story. The best part of the bard is the grandiose attitude and gripping dialogue. Be the character you were born to play!
"No pity, no remorse, no fear!"
Honestly with the new origin features introduced in Tasha’s, every race is solid for every class. I just rolled a Half-Orc Bard who was raised by halflings after his mom was killed by giants. Since he spent his upbringing running around forests and helping farm instead of constantly fighting and raid like your stereotypical Orc upbringing, he has +1 Con and +2 Charisma being jovial and talkative like his halfling family. Some racial features might not be as universally useful on every class, but it’s certainly nice to no longer be locked down by the attribute bonuses.