Bards are celebrated as the versatile heroes of Dungeons & Dragons, adept not only in martial combat but also in spellcasting and a plethora of skills. Their innate flexibility can be further enhanced with a variety of magic items. In the upcoming 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide, players can discover a wealth of new equipment, including unique items crafted exclusively for bards.
The question arises: which magic items should bards prioritize? Numerous items can complement their natural abilities and aid in fulfilling their roles within the party. As the party’s primary face, as well as support and battlefield control, bards benefit most from items designed to amplify these functions. Below are ten exceptional magic items from the 2024 rules that every bard should consider incorporating into their arsenal.
10 Instruments Of Illusions Offer Creative Play for Low-Level Bards
Crafting Visual Illusions Through Music
The challenge of balancing high-powered magic items with lower-level parties is prevalent in D&D, but common magic items like the Instrument of Illusions can provide low-stakes opportunities for players to get creative. Mechanically, this instrument allows the bard to create harmless visual illusions within a small radius, offering options for enhancing performances or motivating allies through stunning displays.
9 Glamoured Studded Leather: Functional and Stylish
Aesthetic Armor Choices for Bards
Given that bards are restricted to light armor options unless they choose the College of Valor subclass, they need high-quality protection. Glamoured Studded Leather provides an impressive AC of 13, plus the wearer’s Dexterity modifier, making it an excellent choice. Beyond its protective qualities, this armor can alter its appearance, allowing a bard to blend in or create a disguise while maintaining their safety in battle.
8 The Dancing Sword: Thematic and Hands-Free
Ideal for Bards Who Play Two-Handed Instruments
The Dancing Sword serves as an exceptional tool for bards, typically wanting to mix spellcasting with weapon attacks. Since most instruments require two hands, this sword operates independently, allowing the bard to engage in combat while still performing. The Dancing Sword can attack on its own, freeing the bard to cast spells or perform other actions.
7 Wraps Of Unarmed Power: Perfect for Dance Bards
Boosting Unarmed Combat for New Subclasses
With the new College of Dance subclass introduced in the 2024 Player’s Handbook, bards can now engage in unarmed combat, showcasing their martial prowess alongside their charismatic performances. The Wraps of Unarmed Power enhance attack and damage rolls for unarmed strikes and allow bards to deal force damage, making them an excellent fit for this unique fighting style.
6 The Pipes Of The Sewers Summon Rodent Allies
Context-Dependent Utility
The Pipes of the Sewers are intriguingly situational, relying heavily on the campaign environment. These pipes summon rats if a viable population exists in the vicinity. Starting with three charges, players can summon swarms of rats that might aid in combat if they succeed in a wisdom saving throw. However, their effectiveness significantly hinges on the scenarios presented by the Dungeon Master.
5 The Lute Of Thunderous Thumping: A Powerful Melee Option
Booming Melodies as Weapons
The Lute of Thunderous Thumping merges performance with combat prowess seamlessly. Functioning mechanically as a club, this lute adds a whopping 2d8 thunder damage on a successful hit. Moreover, bards can use their Charisma modifier for attack and damage rolls, ensuring they can engage effectively without needing a high Strength score.
4 Perfume Of Bewitching: Enhancing Charisma and Communication
Elevating Social Interactions
This consumable item brings unexpected advantages to social encounters. Applying the Perfume of Bewitching grants an advantage on persuasion and deception rolls for the next hour, provided the user remains within close proximity to the individual they’re communicating with. Impressively, it functions without requiring any saving throws or needing the target to perceive scents, making it an invaluable asset for furthering a bard’s skills.
3 The Pipes Of Haunting: Instilling Terror in Foes
Fear as a Weapon
The ability to frighten foes is a potent advantage in combat scenarios. The Pipes of Haunting are designed for this purpose, allowing bards to invoke fear without expending spell slots. By spending charges, the bard can play a chilling melody that could instill the frightened condition on enemies within a designated range, effectively reshaping the battlefield.
2 The Staff Of Charming: Amplifying a Bard’s Spellcasting
Masterfully Manipulating Social Dynamics
The Staff of Charming enhances the bard’s capabilities for social interaction and control. This magic item allows the bard to cast spells such as charm person and command, greatly increasing their enchanting abilities. Additionally, the staff’s special properties grant even more tactical advantages against enchantment spells, reinforcing the bard’s role as a master manipulator within the party.
1 The Instruments Of The Bards: Versatile and Mighty
Diverse Options for Every Bardic Archetype
Ultimately, the Instruments of the Bards stand out as some of the most powerful magical items available for bard characters in D&D. These instruments are specifically designed to enhance a bard’s unique abilities and spell options, with various versions offering access to a range of spells typically unavailable to standard bards. This function allows players to creatively expand their spellcasting repertoire while maintaining their character’s artistic integrity.
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