D&D College of Eloquence Bard 5E Build - D&D Beyond - Tasha's Cauldron of Everything - Wally DM 

In the beginning the video clearly states he is not setting out to powerbuild. So this is not a critique, but more of a supplement, for those interested in getting the same theme, but also getting a little more power in there. First, we can take cleric at level 1, this will give us medium armor and shield. Basically taking our AC from 14 to 19. Obviously we also get the great guidance and bless spells. Clerics get their subclass right at level 1, good options are the order cleric (extra attacks to our allies), and the peace cleric (an extra d4 on all your checks). Of course this means we free up the feat from human variant. I recommend Metamagic adept, picking careful spell and subtle spell. Subtle spell will allow us to cast spells in social situations without anyone noticing, and careful spell becomes useful once we get the fear spell, so we don't scare away our allies. We should also take advantage of our ability to retrain spells: Once we get access to enhance ability, we don't really need charm person anymore, they mostly do the same thing, except charm person allows a save, and most people get more annoyed if cast magic on them, than if you cast it on your self. I would retrain charm person to suggestion, subtle casting a suggestion is very powerful in social situations, and suggesting "run for your life" in combat can also be powerful. Once we reach 5 levels in bard, healing word doesn't do much healing anymore, but it still has the great advantage of brining someone from 0 back into the fight. That is why we will retrain healing word, and start preparing with our cleric preparations, it will do less healing because it runs off wisdom, but the difference isn't that big at this level. This allows us to pick another 3rd level spell, Tiny hut, dispel magic, sending, hypnotic pattern and non-detection are all good options depending on your campaign. Friends is also not a great cantrip to begin with, I would pick minor illusion. The problem with friends is, it only lasts a minute and then you have an enemy. I find it rare that a conversation A: takes less than a minute, and B: can't be handled with a DC 17 persuasion or deception. Minor illusion is great, combine it with your high deception, to convince people they don't need to look too closely. But it is also great in combat. Create a stonebox around yourself, or an ally in trouble, if the enemy doesn't realise it is an illusion, it is pretty much as good as a real stonebox. It can also generate hiding places anywhere. At higher level, I just want to point out a few spells: With magical secrets you can pick counterspell, and some other spell, the most powerful is probable wall of force, take any hard fight, and turn it into two easy ones by just splitting the enemy forces in two. Mass suggestion is an incredible level 6 spell, and fits right in with the theme. As for ability score improvements. I would probably get resilient constitution before increasing my charisma, to help out those concertation saves. Lucky is of course always good.

Your description box is second to none. Fantastic breakdown on the best Bard yet.

Elegant build, thanks for the great walk through

Very very helpful thank you! Awesome build

For all the build guides that exist on yt for dd5, I especially enjoy yours for the simplicity and not going for the most optimised number build. However you still show us how to get the best spells of abilities, so this is imo the best way to to a build guide. Thanks

One of the best abilities in ANY subclass is Unsettling Words. I am currently playing an Oread (Mountain Nymph) CoE Bard which I started at 1st level and is now 15th level Bard / 1st level Druid (don't ask, it's a story related thing why I got the druid level). Especially at higher levels, the ability to land single target spells where even with Magic Resistance, the target has a very good chance of failing the saving throw is amazing. I use Eyebite now quite a lot as a combat spell, as one of the things it can do is knock unconscious a single target which fails their Wisdom save. Currently my bardic inspiration die is a d12, and my spell save DC is 18 (20 Cha), so even an enemy with magic resistance (adv on Saving throws) often fails once you factor in the penalty from the d12. On average you are reducing their saving by -7 which easily counters any advantage from magic resistance. Almost no enemies except extreme high level bosses are immune to the spell, I've used it to take out a Greater Fiend, a Dragon (after burning through it's legendary resistances), and a CR 14 Fire Giant Dreadnought amongst others. Also one other tip for any Bard out there, but especially CoE Bards. My DM was foolish enough to give me an Instrument of the Bards (any IotB will do). One of the "minor" side abilities of these instruments is and here I am quoting directly, "You can play the instrument while casting a spell that causes any of its targets to be charmed on a failed saving throw, thereby imposing disadvantage on the save. This effect applies only if the spell has a somatic or a material component." That includes Hypnotic Pattern. This is basically an off switch for any large groups of mobs around. That mob of 20 Orcs over there? Cast HP through a Doss Lute or Cli Lyre, all of them are making Wis saving throws at disadvantage or stand there doing the Mortal Kombat dance just before a fatality lands. The number of times at lower levels that I've been able to completely change a combat from party vs 6 opponents at the same time to party vs 6 opponents, one at a time has made this combo absolutely invaluable, and there are IofB that are uncommon magic items....so if you are any Bard subclass get yourself an IofB and have fun :)

Bear's Endurance from Enhance Ability gives advantage on constitution CHECKS, not saving throws. This will not help a spellcaster with concentration. Normally, there are no constitution checks so all it does is give 2d6 temp hp.

I have just taken a level in bard I started out as a sorcerer I am planning on getting my bard to level three like you I like going with theme and because my character background is merchant this subclass would be ideal for my character and he is the face of the party so it kills two birds with one stone I am playing this character in Dragon Heist

Silver Tongue is probably one of the strongest class abilities that can be the most trivialized in comparison to the image. Make a great argument that makes total sense and it's something the target would probably do anyway for the reasons you argued? You might not even be required to roll at all at some tables regardless of your class or get really high bonuses normally (which the DM might not give an Eloquence bard due to his ability). Try to convince someone to do something very against its nature or believe something that is illogical to believe? You'd probably need to roll really, really high to make that nonsense happen if it's even possible. Don't share a language? Doesn't even do a thing until you reach the point everyone understands you and you still can't understand them so roleplay good enough to convince targets of wild things will be pretty hard. Even in an ideal situation if you roll 10 or higher as you will statistically do 50% of the time? Doesn't do anything. This ability is very good, but people *way* overestimate how useful this ability is.

Wouldn’t counter charm be good against dragons? Their frighten effect can be brutal.

Wait I see a +3 initiative. Does jack of all trades add to that? Damn I've been using a +2 since I thought it was just straight abilities.

Let’s say someone rolled godly and maybe don’t need the charisma asi. What feats would you recommend taking. As I’ve always played rangers and rogues so this is new to me

Greating, may i ask, where the Titel-Artwork ist from?

Where'd you get the pic? I like it alot!

Would anyone be able to answer this? if you play level 3 CoE bard and go GOOlock level 1 with the actor feat. how would you rule impersonating someones own thoughts via telepathy?

Love the Video. Don't like D&D Beyond. I'm old school paper, music, voices and effects. I created a Human Variant, College of Eloquence, Bard with a criminal background, Inspiring Leader feat and played it like a politician/Warlord I choose Deception, Persuasion, Stealth, Sleight of Hand, Intimidation and Insight. Love Criminal Contact/ Thieve's Tools. 8 Str(-1), Dex 14(+2), Con 14(+2), Int 10(+0), Wis 12(+1), Cha 16(+3) Rapier(1d8+2/1d20+4) and Hand Crossbow (1d6+2/1d20+4) Cantrips: Vicious Mockery & Light Level 1: Bardic inspiration(d6), Charm Person, Cure Wounds, Tasha Hideous Laughter, Dissonant Whispers Level 2: Disguise Self, Jack of All Trades, Song of Rest Level 3: Calm Emotions, Unsettling Words, Silver Tongue Level 4: Suggestion +2 Cha, Friends Level 5: Bardic Inspiration(D8), Font Of Inspiration. Enhance Ability Level 6: Counter Charm, Unfailing inspiration, Universal Speech, Fear Level 7: Confusion Level 8: + 2 Cha, Bestow Curse Level 9: Song Of Rest(D8), Dominate Person Level 10: Expertise Insight & Intimidation, Magical Secrets Find Familiar Bless, Bane, Faerie Fire and Message Level 11: Mass Cure Wounds Level 12: Warcaster Level 13: Song Of Rest(d10) Eyebite Level 14: Magical Secrets Mass Suggestion, Detect Thoughts, Modify Memory, Dream Level 15: Bardic Inspiration (d12) Dominate Monster Level 16: Con +2, Infectious Inspiration, Level 17: Song of Rest(d12) Foresight Level 18: Magical Secrets Power Word Heal, Power Word Kill, Power Word Stun, Mind Blank Level 19: Con +2 Level 20: Superior Inspiration I wanted to play on the foreground in Social Encounters and play Support/ Defense in the background. Inspiring leader and Warcaster love both feats. You can take a hit more each day and maintain concentration a bit longer.

Countercharm is terrible and rarely used much like the Strength of the Grave on a Shadow Magic Sorcerer. I never used it once over the course of an entire campaign.