Elf College of Valor Bard Build Guide
By blending elven grace with the martial prowess of the College of Valor, you become a versatile warrior-skald who commands the battlefield.
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Why College of Valor?
The College of Valor Bard transforms the traditional spellcasting support character into a martial Striker who can hold their own in close combat. By choosing an Elf for this path, you gain excellent defensive and utility benefits that perfectly complement your combat duties. Your Martial Training grants you proficiency with medium armor, shields, and martial weapons, transforming you into a resilient front-line fighter who can still cast powerful spells.
As an Elf, your Fey Ancestry is a massive asset in the thick of battle. Having advantage on saving throws against being charmed and a complete immunity to magical sleep prevents enemies from easily disabling you, ensuring you can keep concentrating on your spells and supporting your allies. Additionally, your innate Keen Senses give you a free proficiency in Perception, allowing you to spot incoming dangers before they can ambush your party.
When you reach level 6, your Extra Attack feature allows you to swing twice per turn, turning your elven warrior into a swift and deadly force. By combining high Charisma for your spells and solid Dexterity for your weapon attacks, this build lets you seamlessly weave together physical strikes and magical disruption on the battlefield.
College of Valor Features
Combat Inspiration
Level 3You can use your wit to inspire others in battle. A creature that has a Bardic Inspiration die can use a Bonus Action on its turn to roll the die and gain a Temporary Hit Point for each point rolled on the die.
Martial Training
Level 3You gain proficiency with martial weapons and medium armor. In addition, when you attack with a weapon, you can use your Charisma modifier instead of Strength or Dexterity for the attack and damage rolls.
Extra Attack
Level 6You can attack twice instead of once when you take the Attack action on your turn.
Battle Magic
Level 14After you cast a spell, the casting time of which is an action, you can use a Bonus Action to attack with a weapon or make an Unarmed Strike.
Recommended Ability Scores
Elf Traits That Benefit College of Valor Bard
Fey Ancestry
Extra saving throw advantages protect against debilitating spells and effects.
Darkvision
Elf Darkvision helps Bards scout ahead and fight in darkness without needing a torch.
Keen Senses
Free Perception proficiency is valuable for any Bard, especially in exploration.
Trance
Trance means shorter rests and the ability to keep watch more effectively.
Combat Effectiveness
| Level | HP | Melee DPR | Spell DPR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 5 | 33 | 3.9 | 7.8 |
| Level 11 | 69 | 3.58 | 10.18 |
| Level 17 | 105 | 3.58 | 13.2 |
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Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ♦ College of Valor grants Combat Inspiration at level 3
- ♦ Darkvision for dungeon exploration
- ♦ Versatile spellcasting options
- ♦ Jack of all trades with inspiration and spellcasting
Weaknesses
- ♦ Low Wisdom — vulnerable to common saving throws
- ♦ May require careful feat selection to optimize
Pro Tips
Use your Combat Inspiration to boost an ally's damage roll or save their life by increasing their Armor Class when targeted.
Take advantage of Martial Training by equipping a shield and medium armor to keep your Armor Class high in melee range.
Combine your Extra Attack with crowd-control spells, weakening your enemies first before diving in to slash them twice in one turn.
Use your elven Trance during rests to stay alert for danger while your party recovers, ensuring you are never ambushed.
Other Bard Subclasses for Elf
Other Races for College of Valor Bard
Frequently Asked Questions
Is College of Valor a good subclass for Elf Bard?
What makes College of Valor different from other Bard subclasses?
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