10 Best Pieces of Armor for Bards

In Baldur’s Gate 3Bards are one of the most reliable classes to include in an adventuring party. Bards are exceptional at dialogue checks and crowd control, making the class perfect for being a party leader. Bards are an excellent class to multiclass as they share stats with several other powerful classes such as Paladins, Sorcerers, and Warlocks.

The most important stat for a Bard in combat is his DC Save Spell. By increasing this number as much as possible, the player can ensure that enemies will fail saving throws against spells. Various gear pieces in BAldur’s Gate 3 can contribute to the player’s Spell Save DC, the most valuable piece that comes in Act 2.

10

Cloak of the Plot

Offensive and defensive buffs

The Cloak of the Weave can be purchased or stolen in Act 3 of the salesman Helsikthe owner of the Devil’s Fee in Cidade Baixa. This cloak provides a +1 to Spell Save DC and Spell Attack Rolls. It also comes with the elemental absorption reaction, which halves the damage of an elemental attack and applies 1d6 of that element to your next weapon attack.

It’s important for Bard players to be on the lookout for equipment that increases their spell save DC, as most the strongest bard spells require enemies to fail saving throws while the Bard maintains concentration. Although there are notable exceptions, such as Dagger Cloud

and Glyph of Protection

spells like Hold Person

, Confusion

and Otto’s Irresistible Dance can drastically change the momentum of a fight. Additionally, Bards typically don’t have a contested Reaction slot, so adding Absorb Elements once per short rest can help the Bard’s survivability.

9

Amulet of Devotees

Increase base spell save DC

As seen in It’s brokenIn the video, the Devotee’s Amulet can be stolen from the Stormshore Tabernacle in Act 3 by sneaking into the basement and looting the chests. Beware BG3‘s Devas who will attack the party upon stealing the amulet, as the items in these chests were offered in reverence to the Gods. This amulet provides the wearer with a +2 to save DC spells as well as the Godswill Passive Feature, which grants an additional Channel Divinity Charge once per Long Rest.

Players may be wondering why this amulet was chosen over options like the Amulet of Greater Health

. While the Godswill feature is useless for a Bard and is intended for Clerics, the +2 to Spell Save DC is incredibly strong and can push the Bard’s base Save DC spell past 20which is exceptionally strong when combined with the other items on this list. Most Clerics use spells that require them to focus on themselves rather than the enemy, making the Spell Save DC less important for a Cleric than for a Bard.

8

Risky ring

Advantage on all attack rolls

THE Risky ring

It has a name befitting its ability, as it can be quite risky to use this item. This ring can be purchased or stolen from vendor Araj Oblodra in Moonrise Towers during Act 2. Wear this ring grants the user advantage on all attack rollsbut Disadvantage on all your Saving Throws.

While the Risky Ring is a great choice for all classes that use weapon attacks, it’s perfect for an Arcane Finesse Bard, as the advantage on all attack rolls means it’s much easier to reach high stacks. Also, This ring makes Critical Hits more common for the Bard, who can combo well with 2 levels of Paladin for large amounts of burst damage with Divine Smite. Whether your Bard is built for ranged or melee combat, this ring will shine either way.

7

Band of the Mystic Scoundrel

Illusion and Enchantment Spells Review

The Mystic Scoundrel’s Band is one of my favorite items in Baldur’s Gate 3. This ring is found in Act 3 after winning the Akabi the Djinni jackpot at the Latter Day Circus in Rivington. Akabi will send the player to a jungle full of raptorswhich the player must carefully navigate to find the ring in a dead adventurer’s backpack.

The Mystic Scoundrel’s Band grants the user the ability to cast Illusion and Enchantment spells as bonus actions after hitting a creature with a weapon attack, displayed in Wycked Queen Beevideo above. This allows the Bard to control the battlefield much more efficiently, as the player can make their weapon attacks to build up Arcane Acuity and then use spells like Hold Person as a bonus action to set up the rest of the party’s damage. This ring is the most important piece of jewelry for Bards, as they use most Illusion and Enchantment spells.

6

Stylish studded leather

Boost the initiative

Studded Elegant Leather can be purchased or stolen in Act 3 of the High Security Vault at Casa de Contagem in Cidade Baixa. A key to the safe can be obtained by completing the quest: Return Rakath’s gold. This gear is an excellent defensive option for Bards who don’t multiclass to gain proficiency with heavier armor.

This elegant studded leather grants the wearer a +2 bonus on initiative rolls and Advantage in stealth checks. It also comes with free use of shield reaction once per short rest, allowing the Bard to increase his armor class by 5. Not to mention this gear is incredibly fashionable!

5

Birthright

Free ASI Charisma

The Birthright Hat can be purchased or stolen in Act 3 of Sorcerous Sundries at BG3. This grants the user +2 Charismaessentially acting as a free ability score boost. This hat can be used to increase Charisma to 22, which would normally be impossible when relying solely on leveling up.

While this hat may be best for classes like the Sorcerer or Warlock, if the party doesn’t use either of those classes, the Bard should feel comfortable wearing it. Having a high Charisma score will increase the strength of all spells the Bard casts. Furthermore, it will help tremendously in all dialogue checks involving Persuasion, Deception, and Performance.

4

Disintegrating Night Walkers

Free Misty step per short rest

Disintegrating Night Walkers can be acquired as early as Act 1 by looting or stealing them from True Soul Nere in Grymforge. These boots are arguably the best early game item and can be used effectively throughout the game. They grant the user a free use of Misty Step once per short rest and immunity to being entangled, entangled, entangled, and slipping on grease or ice.

These boots are especially effective for classes that don’t have access to the Misty Step spell, like Bards. One Misty Step per Short Rest is all players really need. THE immunity to slipping and being restrained can also open up synergies with the rest of the group, such as using spells like hail storm

or Plant Growth

.

3

Gloves of Dexterity

Sets Dexterity to 18

THE Gloves of Dexterity

can be purchased or stolen in Act 1 of A’jak’nir Jeera at Y’llek Daycare. These gloves are one of the best early game items. They sets the user’s Dexterity score to 18, as well as providing a +1 bonus to all attack rollswhich includes Magic Attack rolls.

To use the Gloves of Dexterity effectively, I recommend lowering the Bard’s Dexterity to 8 or 10 so these extra points can be used on Strength, Charisma or Constitution. This will allow the Bard to deal much more damage than he would otherwise be able to, especially if he gains proficiency in martial weapons through multiclassing. Additionally, these gloves will increase the wearer’s initiative, as Dexterity is directly tied to Initiative Rolls.

2

Bhaalist Armor

Double your DPS

The Bhaalist Armor can be purchased in Act 3 from Echo of Abazigal in the Murder Tribunal after the player accepts Bhaal and becomes an Unholy Assassin. This armor grants the user the Aura of Murder passive, which makes enemies within 2 meters vulnerable to piercing damageunless they are resistant or immune to it. It also provides +2 to the user’s initiative checks, as seen in hexodevideo above.

Given the Aura of Assassination effect, Bhaalist Armor really stands out when worn melee weapons that deal piercing damage. The best examples of these are the Nyrulna trident and Shar’s Spear of Night. This can allow the Bard to double his overall DPS, as the vulnerability causes the target to take double damage. Combine this with the Illithid power Cull the Weak for incredibly easy kills.

1

Helmet of Arcane Acuity

The Bard’s most important item

The Helm of Arcane Acuity is arguably the most important item for Bards, as Arcane Acuity is one of the strongest status effects in Baldur’s Gate 3. This helmet can be acquired in Act 2 from a chest in the basement of the Mason’s Guild, a secret area that can be accessed by lockpicking or the Tower-Shaped Key. The helmet provides +1 to Dexterity saving throws as well as the Battle Acuity passive, which adds two stacks of Arcane Acuity whenever the user deals damage with a weapon attack.

Arcane Acuity only generates stacks on successful weapon strikes, therefore, using the Bard of the College of Swords’ long-range slashing flourish generating 4 stacks per volley is an efficient way to achieve 10+ stacks. With a Spell Save DC in the 20s, most enemies will find it impossible to resist the Bard’s spells. This allows the Bard to have complete control of the battlefield and dominate the competition in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Video credit: It’s Broken/YouTube, Queen Bee Wycked/YouTube, hexodo/YouTube