Bard Subclass Controller

College of Lore Bard Guide

Immerse yourself in magical lore. Bards of the College of Lore know something important: knowledge has a magical quality. Bards who study lore gather magical secrets from various sources, such as scholarly tomes, mystical sites, and encounters with magical creatures.

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Best Races for College of Lore Bard

All 10 races ranked by synergy with the College of Lore. Click any to see the full build.

#1
Human College of Lore Bard 6/10

An extra skill proficiency expands the Bard's out-of-combat versatility.

 #2
Aasimar College of Lore Bard 5/10

Flight provides incredible mobility, letting the Bard reach otherwise inaccessible positions.

 #3
Dragonborn College of Lore Bard 5/10

Flight provides incredible mobility, letting the Bard reach otherwise inaccessible positions.
#4Halfling Bard 5/10 #5Dwarf Bard 4/10 #6Gnome Bard 4/10 #7Orc Bard 4/10 #8Tiefling Bard 4/10 #9Elf Bard 3/10 #10Goliath Bard 3/10

College of Lore Features

Bonus Proficiencies

Level 3

You gain proficiency with three skills of your choice.

Cutting Words

Level 3

You learn to use your wit to distract, confuse, and otherwise sap the confidence of others. When a creature you can see within 60 feet of you makes an attack roll, ability check, or damage roll, you can use your Reaction to spend one of your Bardic Inspiration dice and subtract the number rolled from the creature's roll. You can choose to use this feature after the creature rolls but before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. A creature can't be affected by this feature if the creature can't hear you.

Magical Discoveries

Level 6

You learn two spells of your choice. These spells can be from any class's spell list. Each spell counts as a Bard spell for you but doesn't count against the number of Bard spells you know.

Peerless Skill

Level 14

When you make an ability check or attack roll and fail, you can spend one of your Bardic Inspiration dice, roll it, and add the number rolled to the ability check or attack roll, potentially turning failure into success.

Is College of Lore Right for You?

Pick the College of Lore if you want a Bard focused on controlling the battlefield and locking down enemies. Compare it with the other Bard subclasses to make sure it fits your party, then build the Human version for the strongest start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best race for a College of Lore Bard?
Human rates highest (6/10) for the College of Lore Bard. An extra skill proficiency expands the Bard's out-of-combat versatility. Aasimar (5/10) and Dragonborn (5/10) are also strong picks.
What does the College of Lore specialize in?
The College of Lore fills the Controller role — controlling the battlefield and locking down enemies. Its features unlock at levels 3, 6, 14.

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