Goliath College of Glamour Bard Build Guide
A Goliath's towering, majestic presence adds a breathtaking, commanding physical weight to the College of Glamour’s mesmerizing, fey-inspired magic.
Free — no signup needed for the free tier.
Why College of Glamour?
As a Goliath College of Glamour Bard, you blend raw, giant-kin physical presence with enchanting fey charm. Bards are spellcasters—characters who cast magical spells—and your primary ability is Charisma (CHA), which determines how hard your magic is to resist. While Goliaths are traditionally known as mighty mountain warriors, your heritage offers unique defensive benefits that keep you safe while you support your allies.
Your Giant Ancestry trait provides a supernatural edge—such as shrugging off damage or chilling foes—which perfectly covers a support Bard's usual physical vulnerability. This durability allows you to confidently step closer to the action to activate Mantle of Inspiration. This level 3 feature lets you weave a brief aura of wondrous fey majesty, granting your allies temporary hit points and allowing them to reposition safely without triggering enemy reactions.
Later on, traits like Large Form physically expand your size, making you a towering beacon of authority on the battlefield. When combined with your fey magic, you become an unavoidable, captivating focal point who commands the flow of combat while keeping your friends shielded.
College of Glamour Features
Beguiling Magic
Level 3You always have the Charm Person and Mirror Image spells prepared. In addition, you can cast each of these spells without expending a spell slot by expending one of your Bardic Inspiration dice. You can't cast them this way again until you finish a Short Rest.
Mantle of Inspiration
Level 3You can weave fey magic into a song or dance to bolster the confidence of those around you. When you use your Bardic Inspiration feature, you can spend a Bardic Inspiration die to create a magical ward around yourself. The ward has a number of Hit Points equal to 1d4 + your Bard level + your Charisma modifier (minimum 1). When a Charmed creature within 5 feet of you takes damage, you can use your Reaction to reduce the damage it takes by the current Hit Points in the ward.
Mantle of Majesty
Level 6You always have the Command spell prepared. As a Bonus Action, you can expend one of your Bardic Inspiration dice to cast the Command spell using your current maximum Bardic Inspiration die size. You can't cast it this way again until you finish a Short Rest.
Unbreakable Majesty
Level 14As a Bonus Action, you can assume a magisterial bearing for 1 minute. During this time, whenever a creature within 60 feet of you that you can see makes an attack roll against you, they must roll a d4 and subtract the number rolled from the attack roll. At the end of the minute, you can't use this feature again until you finish a Short Rest.
Recommended Ability Scores
Goliath Traits That Benefit College of Glamour Bard
Giant Ancestry
Giant Ancestry grants a supernatural ability that enhances the Bard's combat or utility.
Powerful Build
Enhanced size and carrying capacity complement the Bard's physical combat style.
Large Form
Enhanced size and carrying capacity complement the Bard's physical combat style.
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 |
👉 Stop reading. Start playing.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- ♦ College of Glamour grants Beguiling Magic at level 3
- ♦ Versatile spellcasting options
- ♦ Jack of all trades with inspiration and spellcasting
Weaknesses
- ♦ Low Wisdom — vulnerable to common saving throws
- ♦ No Darkvision — may need light sources in dungeons
Pro Tips
Use Mantle of Inspiration early in combat to shield your allies with temporary hit points and help them rush into perfect tactical positions.
Activate your Giant Ancestry defense to absorb incoming hits, keeping your concentration unbroken on crucial support or crowd-control spells.
Combine Large Form with Mantle of Majesty to physically and magically dominate the battlefield, forcing enemies to look up at your commanding fey aura.
Trigger Beguiling Magic when casting enchantment spells to charm or frighten nearby enemies, using your high Charisma to ensure they fail their saves.
Other Bard Subclasses for Goliath
Other Races for College of Glamour Bard
Frequently Asked Questions
Is College of Glamour a good subclass for Goliath Bard?
What makes College of Glamour different from other Bard subclasses?
Create Your Goliath College of Glamour Bard
Use Dice Will Decide's free character builder with optimized stats, spells, and equipment.
Create This Character