Baldur’s Gate 3 has introduced 12 new subclasses with its final content update, including the College of Glamour bard. In Baldur’s Gate 3, much like its Dungeons & Dragons roots, subclasses allow players to tailor their character’s abilities. Characters begin with a basic class at level 1 and then select a subclass to refine their skills as they level up. Bards gain new features at levels 3, 6, and 10, which enhance their gameplay in specific ways.
Bards in Baldur’s Gate 3 are recognized for their diverse skills: they can distract foes with their Performance proficiency, navigate their way past group challenges in Act Two using Persuasion checks, and easily blend into various roles through multiclassing. Most notably, bards are celebrated for their charm and alluring personalities. While opting for the College of Swords transforms a bard into a formidable fighter, the College of Glamour places its emphasis on more artistic and persuasive endeavors. Here’s a complete guide to crafting a Glamour bard from scratch.
Understanding the College of Glamour Bard Subclass
Overview of College of Glamour Features
Bard subclasses often require less engagement compared to fighter subclasses, which tend to receive new features at more frequent intervals. The College of Glamour bestows new capabilities at levels 3, 6, and 10, making it one of the more intricate bard subclasses. The following table outlines all College of Glamour abilities, their corresponding levels, and a concise explanation of how each feature operates.
| Level | Feature |
|---|---|
| 3 | Mantle of Inspiration: Use a Bonus Action and one Bardic Inspiration charge to provide two allies with five temporary hit points each. If an enemy strikes them in melee, that attacker becomes Charmed. |
| 6 | Mantle of Majesty – Command: Acts like the Command spell. You can command a target to flee, approach, freeze, drop their weapon, or go prone. Enemies affected by Charm automatically fail their Saving Throws. Maximum targets for Mantle of Inspiration increase to three, and temporary HP rises to eight. |
| 10 | Mantle of Inspiration: Maximum targets continue to increase, reaching four, while temporary hit points increase to 11. |
At level 1, you receive three Bardic Inspiration charges, increasing to four at level 5 and five by level 8. Bardic Inspiration fully refreshes after a Long or Short Rest.
Evidently, like many bard subclasses, most of these abilities focus on one central strategy: charming enemies. The Charmed condition prevents targets from initiating attacks against the entity that charmed them and grants the bard Advantage on Charisma checks against those targets. The College of Glamour specifically leverages this charming ability during combat, mitigating threats to you and your teammates.
Strategies for Playing a College of Glamour Bard
Personally, I enjoy utilizing a College of Glamour bard alongside a tank character—preferably a paladin or barbarian. By casting Mantle of Inspiration on whichever ally finds themselves surrounded, you can give them temporary hit points and reduce the number of enemies they face in consecutive hits. As soon as an enemy makes a melee attack and becomes charmed, you can then use Mantle of Majesty to knock them prone, further optimizing your tank’s melee attack potential.
Optimal Builds for College of Glamour Bards in Baldur’s Gate 3
Key Stats and Feats for College of Glamour Bards
One of the advantages of this subclass is its unique reliance on one primary attribute: Charisma. This is crucial for spellcasting and succeeding in dialogue checks to avoid conflict or gain valuable rewards. Prioritize maximizing your Charisma early on, but remember to allocate some points to Constitution to bolster your HP. Although bards mainly cast spells, specifically Glamour bards may need to wield physical weapons, so consider investing in Strength or Dexterity as well.
When you reach levels 4, 8, and 12, you’ll also have the opportunity to select a feat which can significantly enhance your bard’s abilities. I suggest exploring our guide focused on the best bard feats, but here are several tailored specifically for enhancing your College of Glamour experience:
- Actor: Gain proficiency in Deception and Performance checks, plus a Charisma boost.
- War Caster: Gain Advantage on concentration saving throws and enable Shocking Grasp as an opportunity attack.
- Ability Improvement: Increase any ability score (definitely boosting Charisma).
- Spell Sniper: You can score critical hits on a roll of 19 and gain access to additional cantrips.
- Ritual Spell: Acquire spells that can be cast as a ritual, avoiding the need for spell slots.
- Defensive Duelist: Use a Reaction to enhance your AC, helping you withstand attacks.
- Magic Initiate: Learn spells from a different class.
Since a College of Glamour bard is centered around casting spells, the majority of these feats are designed to maximize the potency and versatility of your magic. A few are aimed at enhancing your survivability, which is typically a concern for bards.
Suggested Spells for a College of Glamour Bard
When selecting spells for your College of Glamour bard, focus on enhancing your effectiveness as a support character. They should aid in boosting allies while hindering enemies, though it can be beneficial to have some straightforward attack spells in your arsenal as well.
Should you take the Magic Initiate feat or reach level 10 and unlock Magical Secrets, consider incorporating spells from other classes to diversify your capabilities.
For gear, make sure to review our recommendations for the top items for bards in BG3. In particular, consider acquiring items like the Wondrous Gloves, which grant an additional Bardic Inspiration charge, or the Boots of Brilliance that restore your Bardic charges.
Should You Choose the College of Glamour Bard?
Ultimately, while I find it hard to passionately recommend the College of Glamour above other bard subclasses, it certainly has its appeals. It lacks the combat strength of the College of Swords and the versatility of the College of Lore. However, it’s a great choice for certain playstyles.
If you’re looking for a roleplay-oriented experience with less emphasis on combat, the College of Glamour is your ticket. Just ensure you have a solid tank in your party—characters like Karlach, Lae’zel, or Minthara can excel in that role, or pair with a friend’s fighter or barbarian in co-op gameplay.
Even though this subclass isn’t the most straightforward to adopt, making the right choices can lead you to create a captivating bard. That will undoubtedly add a unique flair to your Baldur’s Gate 3 team—even if it’s more about personality than sheer power.
