Summary
Choosing the right race for your Bard inBaldur’s Gate 3can be trickier than you might expect. The class can excel in so many different ways, with two of the three Bard Colleges being focused more around melee combat (those being Valor andthe ever-formidable Swords) while the other is one of the game’s strongest spellcasting options (Lore).
That means the question of which race is the best for your Bard will vary dramatically depending on which build you’re aiming for. Some of the races benefit squishier mages, while others exclusively boost melee combatants. This article will help you decide which of them will suit your combat strategy and overall approach to the game the best.
Updated on June 30, 2025 by Britt Poteet:As Baldur’s Gate 3 has received updates since the original article’s publication, we reviewed the content to make it as accurate as possible. It now includes a few extra races to make sure you build the best bard for your playthrough.
Multiclassing is another optionyou can explore while developing your Bard, but this list will only consider the virtues of each race as they are.
Resistance to Charmed and Sleep.
Racial Spells
Dancing Lights,Faerie Fire, and Darkness.
Though not the most common choice, Drow’s can make decent bards. This race is great if you want a Melee Magic build, due to their extra spells and proficiency with various weapons.
Dancing Lights, Faerie Fire, and Darkness all share the Charisma modifier, matching the spellcasting abilities of the bard class. There’s also more potential for roleplaying with a Drow Bard, as they’re not commonly seen around Faerun. Choose this race if you want a more unique story with extra spellcasting abilities.
Ability to use shields without penalty.
Human Versatility
One skill Proficiency of your choice and a 25 percent increase in carrying capacity.
Humans aren’t exactly the most unique race in the game, but they do get some bonuses that can benefit your Bard. Some extra carrying capacity and a skill proficiency of your choosing are nice, though on their own they aren’t especially compelling.
The real reason to choose a Human is the fact that they get Shield Proficiency, which is usually only available to Valor Bards. Being able to use a shield gives Lore Bards (and Swords Bards that have a free hand) some much-needed defense. Even the most elusive characters will find themselves in melee danger on occasion, and this can be hugely helpful as a result.
Advantage against being poisoned and resistance to poison damage.
See even further in darkness.
Duergar Resilience
Advantage on saving throws against illusions and being charmed or paralyzed.
Duergar Magic
Enlarge and Invisibility.
Duergar get a lot of abilities that are useful for Bards of all types. Dwarven and Duergar Resilience are both strong defensive abilities, and you’ll be very grateful to have them when facing the effects they’re designed to protect you from.
Meanwhile, Duergar Magic provides some excellent spells. Bards can already turn invisible, but being able to do so without using a spell slot is still nice. Enlarge, meanwhile, can provide a damage boost for any weapon-focused Bards, even if they don’t care all that much about Strength checks. It’s a varied skillset that’s sure to see use throughout a campaign.
Infernal Legacy
Produce Flame,Hellish Rebuke, and Darkness.
Though the Zariel subrace is a bit better, the Asmodeus tieflings make a decent bard. The two types of tieflings have a lot of similar advantages, with minor differences. The Asmodeus subrace focuses on wielding fire and darkness, while the Zariel tiefling has Intimidation and Performance advantages.
Tieflings are great spellcasters, and Hellish Rebuke and Darkness are a great addition to your defensive abilities, especially if you’re a Valour bard who already benefits from extra attacks.
Thaumaturgy,Searing Smite, and Branding Smite.
Fire Resistance and Darkvision are handy abilities to have for any character, and Bards are no exception. The real reason to play a Zariel Tiefling, however, is for one of the racial spells you get.
Searing Smite andBranding Smite, unfortunately, aren’t great, and if you’re a Lore Bard there’s a good chance you won’t use them at all. Thaumaturgy, on the other hand, is exceptional. As a Bard, you’re going to be doing a lot of talking, and Thaumaturgy is a free way to make yourself even better at doing so. There’s really no end to the advantages that a clever player can earn themselves through careful use of this spell.
Mage Hand, Enhance Leap, and Misty Step.
Astral Knowledge
Gain proficiency in all skills associated with a given stat until Long Rest.
Light And Medium Armor Proficiency
Ability to wear Light and Medium armor.
A Githyanki is usually an excellent choice regardless of character class, thanks to the wide-ranging effects of their skills, but they actually have some anti-synergy with Bards. The class’s Jack of All Trades ability gives half their Proficiency Modifier to skills they aren’t proficient with, which means Astral Knowledge’s effect isn’t as dramatic as usual (though it’s still far from useless).
Even so, the other Githyanki abilities remain strong. Medium Armor proficiency can help protect Lore Bards, while Enhanced Leap and Misty Step are both solid spells that Bards typically have a tricky time accessing. It’s often difficult to go wrong with a Githyanki.
Description
Halfling Luck
Single reroll of ones on ability checks, saving throws, and attack rolls.
Naturally Stealthy
Advantage on Stealth checks.
Lightfoot Halflings get a number of bonuses that benefit Bards. Advantage on Stealth checks can come in handy if you like sneaking around, and while protection from being Frightened won’t come into play all the time, it can fundamentally alter the course of a combat encounter when it does.
Meanwhile, Halfling Luck’s effectiveness will vary depending on your College; Swords Bards will likely be attacking all the time, while Lore Bards might not attack much at all. That said, being able to reroll ones on ability checks and saving throws is more than enough to make this ability worth it. You’re always at the whim of the dice at times, after all.
Advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws.
Superior Darkvision
Gnome Cunning is one of the all-star racial abilities in Baldur’s Gate 3. Enemy effects that target these particular stats can be very nasty indeed, and getting advantage on saving throws against them can make a massive difference.
While Gnome Cunning is definitely the primary feature, Deep Gnomes get some other useful abilities as well. Superior Darkvision can be a big help in certain scenarios, and if you’re the kind of player who prefers a sneaky approach, getting advantage on Stealth checks will feel great. Depending on the strategies you favor in battles, this race could be just the ticket.
Advantage against being charmed and immunity to Magical Sleep.
Fleet Of Foot
Increased movement speed.
Like Humans, one of the main reasons Wood Half-Elves make great Bards is one that isn’t useful for many other classes: Shield Proficiency. Once again, Valor Bards can already use shields, but the other two Colleges (Lore in particular) can really benefit from that extra AC.
On the other hand, the Wood Elves' most iconic ability, their increased movement speed, is dramatically better than the other Human features. It can keep Lore Bards and ranged combatants away from their enemies, and help melee-focused Bards close that gap. It would be easy to underestimate Fleet Of Foot, but it can be considered an indirect damage buff, and a significant one at that.
