Gnome College of Valor Bard Build Guide
Combining Gnomish resilience with the College of Valor’s martial prowess creates a surprisingly durable, front-line support striker who inspires allies while dodging spells.
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Why College of Valor?
The College of Valor turns the traditionally supportive Bard into a versatile, weapon-wielding Striker. As a Gnome, your natural resilience perfectly complements this frontline role. While Valor Bards must dive into close-quarters combat, the Gnomish Cunning trait protects you by granting advantage on mental saving throws against enemy spells, keeping your mind clear while you trade blows.
At level 3, you receive Martial Training, giving you proficiency with medium armor, shields, and martial weapons. This dramatically improves your defense, compensating for your smaller Gnome stature. Combined with Darkvision, you can confidently lead the charge into dark dungeons, striking foes in the shadows without needing a torch to give away your position.
As you level up, features like Extra Attack let you swing your weapon twice per turn, allowing you to deal consistent physical damage while saving your magical spells for when they matter most. You are a hardy, inspiring warrior who dictates the pace of battle.
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
Gnome Traits That Benefit College of Valor Bard
Gnomish Cunning
Extra saving throw advantages protect against debilitating spells and effects.
Darkvision
Gnome Darkvision helps Bards scout ahead and fight in darkness without needing a torch.
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 Combat Inspiration defensively; remind allies they can add your die to their Armor Class to turn a hit into a miss.
Thanks to Martial Training, equip a shield and medium armor immediately to boost your defense while fighting on the front lines.
Capitalize on Extra Attack at level 6 by using your high Dexterity with finesse weapons like rapiers for accurate, deadly strikes.
Lean on Gnomish Cunning when facing enemy spellcasters, confidently positioning yourself up front to absorb and resist magical saving throws.
Other Bard Subclasses for Gnome
Other Races for College of Valor Bard
Frequently Asked Questions
Is College of Valor a good subclass for Gnome Bard?
What makes College of Valor different from other Bard subclasses?
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