This guide focuses on the essential aspects of a College of Glamour Bard build in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) and how to use those powers to your advantage.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, constructing a build can be a difficult task. With so many decisions, where do players start? In this guide, we answer questions about the College of Glamour Bard subclass. We walk you through all the basics like ability score, level progression, companions, weapons, armor, and consumables.
This build page has been updated for the patch 8 version of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Bard Class Guide in BG3
The Bard class is charisma-based with limited weapon and armour prociecny. Having the ability so cast spells and play effectively with weapons, the Bard is known for its versatility. Moreover, the Bard class makes for a powerful dialogue and conversation specialist due to their spell and cantrip selections.
Why Should You Choose the College of Glamour Subclass for the Bard Class in BG3?
Players should choose the College of Glamour subclass for their Bard if they want more crowd-control spells. You can inspire allies with additional hit points and turn enemies charmed if they are hit by melee attacks. At level 6, the Bard gains the command mantle of majesty, which can act as a command spell without a spell slot and a bonus action. Therefore, if you enjoy stunning and charming enemies, this is the perfect subclass.
Everything About the College of Glamour Bard in Baldur’s Gate 3
The premise of the College of Glamour Bard subclass is inflicting enemies with Charm status effect. This build can inspire allies, granting extra HP and inflicting attackers with charmed automatically. However, it doesn’t have that same effect on themselves and this bonus is limited to two allies.
The overall strength of the Bard is unique spell selections that can be combined with a multiclass Sorcerer for high damage and utility. Moreover, Patch 8 introduces the Shadow Blade spell, which scales off of strength or dexterity, dealing psychic damage. This gives the College of Glamour Bard a powerful way to play in melee while retaining the spellcaster identity.
College of Glamour Bard Build Pros | College of Glamour Bard Build Pros |
---|---|
Crowd Control | Weak Spell Selection |
Strong in Dialogue | Limited Subclass Features |
Melee or Range | Support Bonuses |
Features and Mechanics of College of Glamour Bard
The following list presents all the essential College of Glamour Bard Build Mechanics and Features in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Class: Bard
- Subclass: College of Glamour
- Background: Entertainer
- Skills: Athletics, Intimidation, Persuasion
- Ability Score
- Strength: 8
- Dexterity: 16
- Constitution: 14
- Intelligence: 8
- Wisdom: 10
- Charisma: 17
- Saving Throw: Dexterity and Charisma
- Armour Proficiency: Light Armour
- Weapon Proficiency: Simple
Related:
Character Creation
Category | Selection |
---|---|
Character | Origin – Custom character |
Race | High Half-Elf |
Racial Bonus | Civil Militia, Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, Free Cantrip |
Class | Bard |
Subclass | College of Glamour |
Cantrips | Booming Blade, Vicious Mockery, Fire Bolt |
Spells | Thunderwave, Longstrider, Dissonant Whisper, Charm Person |
Background | Entertainer |
Ability Score | STR: 8 DEX: 16 CON: 14 INT: 8 WIS: 10 CHA: 17 |
Skill Proficiencies | Athletics, Intimidation, Persuasion |
Race Choice for College of Glamour Bard

High Half-Elf is the best choice for a College of Glamour Bard Build because it gives an extra cantrip, advantage against becoming Charmed, and Light Armour proficiency. The extra cantrip specifically is vital due to a new addition, Booming Blade. This allows your Bard a hard-hitting cantrip at level 1.
A secondary choice would be Wood Half-Elft because they get Longbow proficiency, Darkvision, and the highest movement speed per turn in BG3.
Here is the best race choice for a solo Bard build in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Race | Features |
---|---|
High Half-Elf | Civil Militia Darkvision Fey Ancestry Free Cantrip |
Wood Half-Elf | Civil Militia Darkvision Fey Ancestry Fleet of Foot |
Githyanki | Astral Knowledge Githyanki Psionics Martial Prodigy |
Bard Subclass – College of Glamour
The Bard unlocks their subclass at level 3, which you will choose College of Glamour. This unlocks a change to your Bardic Inspiration, helping melee allies from being attacked.
Below are the College of Glamour Bard subclass features that become available while leveling up in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Mantle of Inspiration (Level 3): Imbue 2 allies with your vigour and grant them HP Icon.png 5 temporary hit points. If they’re hit with a melee attack, the attacker becomes Charmed.
- Mantle of Majesty: Command (Level 6): Command a creature to flee, move closer, freeze, drop to the ground or drop its weapon. Targets that are Charmed automatically fail their Saving Throw. ( Recharge: Long rest.)
- Mantle of Inspiration (Level 6): Bonus increases to HP 8 temporary hit points. Number of targets increases to 3.
- Mantle of Inspiration (Level 10): Bonus increases to HP 11 temporary hit points. Number of targets increases to 4.
Recommended Background for College of Glamour Bard

Entertainer is the Best background for the College of Glamour Bard Build because you gain proficiency in a dexterity and charisma-based skill. Additional choices are:
- Entertainer: Proficiency in Acrobatics (Dexterity) and Performance (Charisma). You live to sway and subvert your audience, engaging common crowds and high society alike.
- Charlatan: Proficiency in Deception (Charisma) and Sleight of Hand (Dexterity). You’re an expert in manipulation, prone to exaggeration, and more than happy to profit from it. A Charlatan companion is Astarion.
- Urchin: Proficiency in Stealth (Dexterity) and Sleight of Hand (Dexterity). After surviving a childhood on the streets, you know how to make the most out of very little. Using your street smarts bolsters your spirit for the journey ahead.
Ability Score


The Best Ability Score for College of Glamour Bard Build is 17 Charisma, 16 Dexterity, and 14 Constitution. Charisma influences your spells and dialogue while Dexerity helps you avoid damage with light armour and AC. Lastly, a Constitution is needed for higher health and concentration-saving throws.
This build will multiclass to a Sorcerer with the intent of using Shadow Blade, which scales in effectiveness with Strength or Dexterity. Therefore, you can run 8 strength and use an Elixir for massive strength and damage. Additionally, make sure to get Auntie Ethel’s hair permanent bonus in Act 1 to boost Charisma to 18.
Below is the best ability score for a College of Glamour Bard in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Ability | Recommended Score |
---|---|
Strength | 8 |
Dexterity | 16 |
Constitution | 14 |
Intelligence | 8 |
Wisdom | 10 |
Charisma | 17 |
You can increase your ability score via a quest in Act 1, Act 2, and Act 3. Make sure to check out our Permanent bonus guide on how you can boost your ability score through quests.
Recommended Skills for College of Glamour Bard
Athletics, Persuasion and Intimidation are the best skills for the Sorcerer in Baldur’s Gate 3 because they aid in dialogue, exploration, and discovery. In Baldur’s Gate 3, skills represent the abilities and proficiencies of your character that allow them to perform various actions and interact with the game world. Skills are associated with specific attributes and are used to determine the success or effectiveness of certain actions or abilities. They can be edited during character creation or with companions, during respec or reroll screen.
Here are the best skills for the Shadow Magic Sorcerer in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Athletics is a Strength Skill used to shove and to resists shoves.
- Persuasion is a Charisma Skill used entirely for dialogue Ability Checks.
- Intimidation is a Charisma Skill used to bully and threaten to get your way.
Illithid Powers For College of Glamour Bard

The best Illithid Powers for a College of Glamour Bard build are Luck of the Farm Realms, Black Hole, and Cull of the Weak. Luck of the Farm helps with critical hits and burst damage and, combined with Cull of the Weak, can trigger AOE damage passively. Black Hole requires you to take the Astral Tadpole in Act 2, but it sucks in 5 enemies, slows them, and can be recast for free. This is helpful in certain large-scale boss fights with many enemies. Below are the best Illithid Tadpole Powers for the College of Glamour Bard build in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Illithid Powers | Description |
---|---|
Luck of the Far Realms | When you make a successful Attack Roll against a foe, you can change that hit into a Critical Hit. |
Cull of the Weak | When you bring a creature down to fewer hit points than your number of evolved Illithid powers, it dies and all nearby creatures take 1-4 Psychic damage. |
Favourable Beginnings | The first Attack roll or Ability check you make against any target gains a bonus equal to your Proficiency Bonus. Helpful passive that boosts damage based on your level. |
Blackhole | Area-based suck-in that slows targets. |
Mind Blast | Spew forth a conical wave of psychic energy and possibly Stun targets within. Deals 4d8+Spellcasting Ability Modifier Psychic damage. |
Freecast | Spell slots, charges, and similar resource costs for your next action or spell are removed. Requires Shield of Thralls or Mind Sanctuary and used once per long rest. |
Best Companions for College of Glamour Bard
Shadowheart, Gale, and Astarion make the best companions for the College of Glamour Bard build because you gain healing, range damage, and lockpicking.
- Shadowheart (Life Cleric) – Utilize Shadowheart to buff, heal, and stun enemies.
- Gale (Evocation Wizard) – for ranged area damage.
- Astarion (Thief Rogue) – for lock picking and stealth.
Best College of Glamour Bard Build – Level Progression in Baldur’s Gate 3
Level | Class | Selection |
---|---|---|
1 | Bard | Booming Blade, Vicious Mockery, Fire Bolt, Thunderwave, Longstrider, Dissonant Whisper, Charm Person |
2 | Bard | Tasha’s Hideous Laughter |
3 | Bard | Subclass: College of Glamour, Heat Metal, Swap Thunderwave for Cloud of Daggers |
4 | Bard | Feat: Ability Improvement Charisma, Mage Hand, Invisibility |
5 | Bard | Glyph of Warding, Swap Cloud of Daggers for Stinking Cloud |
6 | Bard | Fear |
7 | Sorcerer | Multiclass: Sorcerer, Subclass: Shadow Sorcerer, Light, Ray of Frost, Friends, Minor Illusion, Shield, Chromatic Orb |
8 | Sorcerer | Metamagic: Twinned, Extended, Magic Missile |
9 | Sorcerer | Metamagic: Quickened, Shadow Blade, Swap Magic Missile with Mirror Image |
10 | Sorcerer | Feat: Savage Attacker, Bone Chill, Misty Step |
11 | Sorcerer | Fireball, Swap Chromatic Orb for Counterspell |
12 | Sorcerer | Haste |
Level 1
At Level 1 as a Bard, you get the subclass feature Bardic Inspiration and can also choose two cantrips and four spells.
- Bardic Inspiration: 18m range consuming a bonus action ally can add a +1d6 bonus to their next Attack Roll, Ability Check, or Saving Throw. This can be used four times and recover charges by taking a long rest.
Cantrip Recommendations
- Booming Blade: Hit an enemy with your melee weapon to inflict them with resonance that deals Thunder damage when they move.
- Vicious Mockery: Do 1d4 Psychic damage and the target receives a Disadvantage on its next Attack Roll.
- Fire Bolt (extra cantrip from High Half-Elf): Hurl a bolt of Fire for 1-10 points of damage.
Spell Recommendations
- Thunderwave: Release a wave of thunderous force that pushes away all creatures and objects (2d8 Thunder). This spell acts as your knockback to melee characters and allows you to create distance and get away. It’s also great to knock enemies off ledges or high positions and keeps you having some defensive capabilities at the early level.
- Longstrider: Increase a creature’s Movement Speed by 3 meters.
- Dissonant Whispers: Frighten a creature so they’ll have Disadvantage on Ability checks and Attack rolls and they cannot move.
- Charm Person: Charm a humanoid to prevent it from attacking you. You gain Advantage on Charisma Checks in dialogue.
Your gameplay at this level is using Booming Blade in melee range with a one-handed weapon and shield (race dependent). At range, use Fire Bolt as your extra cantrip. Pre-buff with Longstrider and help allies with Bardic Inspiration.
The end game goal is to use Shadow Blade in your main hand, Elixir of Strength, and Booming Blade attack in melee range with the reasonce stone.
Level 2
At Level 2 in the Bard you will get two class features, Song of Rest and Jack of All Trades. Additionally, you can choose one new spell.
- Song of Rest (class feature): Use your craft to soothe. You and your allies are revitalized as though you had taken a Short Rest.
- Jack of All Trades (class feature): Add half of your Proficiency Bonus (rounded down) to Ability Checks that you are not Proficient in.
- Tasha’s Hideous Laughter (spell): Leave a creature Prone with laughter, without the ability to get up.
At this level, you gain a little utility and an extra stun spell with Tasha’s.
Level 3
Now at Level 3 of the Bard you will get to select your subclass, which we will choose the College of Glamour. This will unlock a new subclass feature, and you can choose another new spell. Furthermore, we’ll swap out one of our old spells for a different one.
- Mantle of Inspiration (subclass feature): Imbue 2 allies with your vigour and grant them 5 temporary hit points. If they’re hit with a melee attack, the attacker becomes Charmed.
- Heat Metal: (new spell): Cause a metal weapon or armour to glow red-hot and force the wearer to let go or receive Disadvantage on Attack rolls and Ability Checks.
- Cloud of Daggers (swap Thunderwave): Conjure a cloud of spinning daggers that attack anyone inside.
Use Heat Metal on targets carrying a weapon and Cloud of Dagger for AOE damage.
Level 4
At Level 4 our College of Glamour Bard will get to select a few to boost your Charisma, one new spell, and one new cantrip.
- Ability Improvement (feat): Charisma +2
- Mage Hand (cantrip): Create a spectral hand that can manipulate and interact with objects.
- Invisibility (spell): Touch a creature to turn it Invisible. Attacks against it have Disadvantage. It attacks with Advantage.
Use Invisibilty prior to combat and attack while invisible with Booming Blade to trigger a surprise status effect.
Level 5
Next, at Level 5 with the Bard class, Bardic Inspiration is enhanced going from a 1d6 to 1d8 benefit on attack rolls. Additionally, you gain all Bardic Inspiration on a short rest due to Font of Inspriation. You can choose another new spell at this level, too. We’ll also be switching out an old spell for a different option now that we can access Level 3 spells.
- Glyph of Warding (new spell): Inscribe a circle of arcane glyphs on the ground. When stepped on by an enemy the selected magical effect will trigger.
- Stinking Cloud (swap with Cloud of Daggers): Create a cloud of gas so nauseating it prevents creatures from taking actions.
Use Glyph of Warding and different elements for AOE damage. Drop Stinking Cloud on targets in a choke point where your party can range attack them.
Level 6
After reaching Level 6, you will get another subclass feature called Mantle of Majesty, which is essentially a special Bard version of the Command spell. Additionally, you’ll get the Countercharm feature for the class and get to choose a new spell.
- Mantle of Majesty: Command (subclass feature): Command a creature to flee, move closer, freeze, drop to the ground or drop its weapon.
- Countercharm (class feature): You and any allies within 9m have Advantage on Saving Throws against being Charmed or Frightened.
- Fear (spell): Targets drop everything and become Fearful: they must flee from you and have Disadvantage on Ability Checks and Attack Rolls.
Level 7
Now at Level 7, we going to multiclass our best Baldur’s Gate 3 College of Glamour Bard into the Sorcerer class. You can immediately choose your subclass, as well, and we’re going with Shadow Magic.
Shadow Magic subclass gets:
- Eyes of the Dark: You can see in the dark up to 24 meters.
- Strength of the Grave: After reaching 0 Hit Points, you regain 1 instead of becoming downed.
Cantrip Recommendations
- Light: Infuse an object with an aura of light.
- Ray of Frost: Reduces the target’s Movement Speed by 3 meters.
- Friends: Gain Advantage on Charisma Checks against a non-hostile creature.
- Minor Illusion: Create an illusion that compels nearby creatures to investigate.
Spell Recommendations
- Shield: When you are about to be hit by an enemy, use your Reaction to increase your Armour Class Armour Class by 5. You also take no damage from Magic Missile.
- Chromatic Orb: Hurl a sphere of energy to deal 3d8 Thunder damage, or 2d8 Acid, Cold, Fire, Lightning or Poison damage and creates a surface.
At this stage, you get more utility but the real benefits come with a couple more levels.
Level 8
Put another level into Sorcerer, and you unlock Sorcery Points, Metamagic, and one additional spell. We suggest taking Magic Missle spell with Twinned Spell and Carefull Spell for metagmagic class passives.
- Twinned Spell: Cast a single target spell on multiple targets.
- Extended Spell: Double the duration of conditions, summons, and surfaces caused by spells.
- Magic Missile (spell): Create three darts of magical force, each dealing 1d4 +1 Force damage to its target.
You can now Twinned your Booming Blade or Extended Stinking Cloud or status effect spells.
Level 9
With another point into the Sorcerer class, at character Level 9 you will get two subclass features that essentially function the same, but one costs a spell slot to cast, while the other uses sorcery points. Additionally, you can make another metamagic selection, and pick up a new spell. We’ll also be swapping out an old spell for a different one at this level.
- Darkness (subclass feature): Create a cloud of magical darkness that Heavily Obscures and inflicts Blind to creatures within. Creatures cannot make ranged attacks into or out of it.
- Eye of the Darkness (subclass feature): Create a dark shroud that Heavily Obscures and Blinds creatures within. Creatures cannot make ranged attacks into or out of it.
- Quickened Spell (metamagic): Spells that take an Action take a Bonus action instead.
- Shadow Blade (spell): Weave a shadowy shortsword in your hand that deals 2d8Psychic damage.
- Mirror Image (swap with Magic Missile): Create 3 illusory duplicates of yourself to distract attackers. Each duplicate increases your Armour Class by 3.
You can now cast Darkness ontop of your self and still see through it. Moreover, you should now have access to Shadow Blade, and want to summon that weapon in your hand with a bonus action. Combine the Shadow Blade attack with Booming Blade cantrip (twinned if possible) for huge damage.
Level 10
At this level in the Sorcerer class, we’ll get to choose a feat, cantrip, and spell.
- Savage Attacker (feat): When making melee weapon attacks, you roll your damage dice twice and use the highest result.
- Bone Chill (cantrip): Prevent the target from healing until your next turn. An undead target receives Disadvantage on Attack rolls.
- Misty Step (spell): Surrounded by silver mist, you teleport to an unoccupied space you can see.
Savage Attacker is taken her because it will help your Shadow Blade. Make sure to keep running Elixir of Strength to make this combo work.
Level 11
With five levels into Sorcerer for our best Baldur’s Gate 3 College of Glamour build we’ll get access to some powerful level 3 spells. We’ll take one new spell, and swap out a previously prepared spell for another.
- Fireball (spell): Shoot a bright flame from your fingers that explodes upon contact, torching everything in the vicinity for 8d6 Fire damage.
- Counterspell (swap with Chromatic Orb): Try to stop a spell being cast.
Level 12
One our final level in the College of Glamour build we’ll put a last level into Sorcerer. You’ll get one subclass feature
- Hound of Ill Omen (subclass feature): Summon Nimbus, a shadow mastiff. Has actions Ominous Bite, Umbral Tangle, and Splinter Shadow.
- Haste (spell): Target yourself or an ally to become Hastened. They recieve a +2 bonus to Armour Class, Advantage on Dexterity Saving throws, its Movement Speed is doubled, and can take one additional Action per turn.
Best Gear for College of Glamour Bard Build
Beginner
Here’s the best beginner gear, items, and equipment for College of Glamour Bard Build in Baldur’s Gate 3:
Gear Slot | Best Gear Item | Effect |
---|---|---|
Head | Cap of Curing | Inspiration Heals |
Cape | Deathstalker Mantle (optional) | Invisibility on Kill |
Chest | Blazer of Benevolence | HP on Bardic Inspiration |
Gloves | Gloves of the Growling Underdog | Advantage on Melee |
Boots | Disintegrating Night Walkers | Free Misty Step |
Necklace | Broodmother’s Revenge | 1d6 when healed |
Ring | Strange Conduit Ring | Concenreation + Damage |
Ring | Caustic Band | Poison Damage |
Weapon 1 Main Hand | Shadow Blade (weapon) | Summoned with Spell |
Off-Hand | Adamantine Shield | +2 AC |
Weapon 2 Ranged | Bow of Awareness | +1 Initiative |
List of best College of Glamour Bard Baldur’s Gate 3 Equipment in Act 1:
- Cap of Curing: The locked gilded chest behind Alfira is singing in the Druid Grove (alternatives Circlet of Blasting, or Haste Helm).
- Deathstalker Mantle: Automatically acquired as part of Dark Urge story.
- Blazer of Benevolence: Reward for rescuing Volo from the Goblin Camp (alternative Drow Studded Armour).
- Gloves of the Growling Underdog: Chest behind Razglin’s throne room (Alternatives Gloves of Heroism, Gloves of Dexterity, or Gloves of Missile Snaring).
- Disintegrating Night Walkers: Obtained in Gyrmforge as part of Free True Soul Nere questline (Alternatives Boots of Striding, Boots of Genial Striding, or Boots of Speed).
- Broodmother’s Revenge: Carried by Kagha’s body in the Emerald Grove.
- Strange Conduit Ring: Crèche Y’llek X: 1360 Y: -657.
- Caustic Band: Obtained from merchant Derryth Bonecloak in the Myconid Colony (Alternatives Fetish of Callarduran Smoothhands, or The Sparkswall).
- Shadow Blade (weapon): created via a spell or item. Alternatively, use Phalar Aluve.
- Adamantine Shield: Crafted in Adamantine Forge.
- Bow of Awareness: Sold by Vendor Roah Moonglow in the Shattered Sanctum (Alternatives Hunting Shortbow, Bow of Banshee, Titanstring Bow).
Advanced



Gear Slot | Best Gear Item | Effect |
---|---|---|
Head | Birthright | +2 Charisma |
Cape | Cloak of the Weave | +1 Spell Save & Roll |
Chest | Elegant Studded Leather | +2 Initiative, Advantage on Stealth |
Gloves | Craterflesh Gloves | Crits + Damage |
Boots | Helldusk Boots | Mobility |
Necklace | Amulet of Greater Health | 23 Constitution |
Ring | Killer’s Sweetheart | Auto Critical |
Ring | Strange Conduit Ring | Self-healing |
Weapon 1 Main Hand | Nyrulna | + Movement |
Off-Hand | Viconia’s Walking Fortress | +3 AC |
Weapon 2 Ranged | Hellriders | +3 initiative |
Misc | Resonance Stone | Double Psychic Damage |
Below is the best Act 3 Armor, Weapons, and Equipment for College of Glamour Bard build in BG3:
- Birthright: Sorcerer’s Sundries store in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate (Alternatives Hood of the Weave, or Helldusk Helmet).
- Cloak of the Weave: Sold by Helsik at the Devil’s Fee (Alternative Cloak of Protection).
- Deathstalker Mantle: Automatically acquired as part of Dark Urge story. (Alternatives Cloak of Protection, Fleshmelter).
- Elegant Studded Leather: Reward for Return Rakath’s Gold quest (Alternative Helldusk Armour).
- Craterflesh Gloves: murder tribunal vendor (Alternatives Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength, Helldusk Gloves, Legacy of the Masters)
- Helldusk Boots: In a locked chest, Wyrm’s Rock Fortress (Alternative Disintegrating Night Walkers).
- Amulet of Greater Health: Obtained in Archive of the House of Hope (Alternative Surgeon’s Subjugation Amulet).
- Killer’s Sweetheart: Obtained from the Gauntlet of Shar in Act 2 (Alternative Ring of Protection, Risky Ring).
- Ring Of Regeneration: Sold by Rolan at Sorcerous Sundries (Alternative Ring of Free Action, Shifting Corpus Ring).
- Nyrulna: Obtained from Akabi in the Circus of the Last Days (Alternatives Balduran’s Giantslayer, Silver Sword of the Astral Plane).
- Hellriders: Rivington X: 43 Y: -101: Sold by Ferg (Alternative darkfire shortbow).
- Resonance Stone: End of act 2 in puzzle mind flayer colony.
How to Play College of Glamour Bard
The best way to play College of Glamour Bard is using a Sorcerer Multiclass and Shadow Blade spell combined with Booming Blade. You can stack Charisma and use Elixir of Hill Giant to have high strength, allowing you to effective at spellcasting and melee combat.
Below are some general tips on how to play the best College of Glamour Bard build in BG3:
- Loot Everything: You will need a lot of gold to buy consumables, potions, and ammunition so loot and sell constantly.
- Crafting: Elixirs and potions are vital, and you need to purchase materials when trading for crafting.
- Reach Level 6: Spend the early part of the game completing every quest to reach level 6 where your power dramatically increases.
- Sell Often: Your carrying capacity will be limited so sell often, and store excessive items in your traveler’s chest.
- Stealth: Start combat in stealth if at all possible to trigger the Surprise status effect.
- Consider Illithid Powers: While it can come with an altered appearance, the powers are powerful and can help you.
- Oils + Elixiris: Combine both oils/coatings and Elixir during combat for a dual benefit.
- Persuasion: Try to avoid combat through dialogue if possible.
Best Tips and Tricks for College of Glamour Bard in BG3
The best tip to playing the College of Valour Bard is using the Resonance Stone with the Shadow Blade spell from Sorcerer or Magic Initative Feat. This doubles Psychic damage and allows for you to upcast the Sword, giving you massive damage.
Best Consumables, Potions, Ammunition, and Items
The following list is the best consumable items that will aid in our Best Baldur’s Gate 3 College of Glamour Bard Build Guide:
- Elixir of Bloodlust: Once per turn when you kill a foe, you gain HP 5 temporary hit points and an additional action.
- Elixir of Hill Giant Strength: Increases Strength ability score to 21 until Long Rest.
- Potion of Speed: Gain extra action, +2 AC, Advantage on Dexterity Saving Throws, and double movement speed.
- Drow Poison: Weapon poison that adds Constitution Saving Throw or becomes Poisoned and falls Asleep.
- Potion of Flying: Drink to gain a flying speed of 60ft for one hour.
- Elixir of Heroism: Gain 10 temp HP and become Blessed until a long rest.
- Potion of Greater Healing: 4d4 + 4 hit points restored.
- Oil of Accuracy: Coat Weapon. Bonus of +2 in Attack Rolls.
- Elixir of Vigilance: Drink to gain a +5 bonus to Initiative and you can’t be Surprised.
Permanent Bonuses

Throughout Baldur’s Gate 3, you will have the ability to gain permanent bonuses to your character. These can grant additional spells, ability scores, and other bonuses. Permanent Bonuses are not displayed throughout the campaign but are vital to increase overall combat performance. We have all permanent bonuses here in a guide, but the most important ones for you to collect are listed below.
Act 1 | Act 2 | Act 3 |
---|---|---|
Auntie Ethel’s Hair: Gain +1 to an Ability Score. | Potion of Everlasting Vigour: Gain +2 Strength. | Mirror of Loss – +2 to an Ability Score of your choice. |
Awakened: Use illithid powers as a Bonus Action. | Slayer Form: Ability to transform into the Slayer. | Partial Ceremorphosis: Access to tier 3 illithid Powers. |
Scratch: Gain Find Familiar Scratch. | Summon Us: Allows you to summon Us. | Sweet Stone Features: Blessed permanent. |
Cheeky Quasit: Gain Summon Quasit Shovel. | Statue of the Gods: +2 to Saving Throws | |
Loviatar’s Love: 30% Hit Points or less, you gain a +2 bonus to Attack Rolls and Wisdom saving throws. | ||
Necromancy Of Thay: access to powerful spells in Act 3. | ||
Volo’s Ersatz Eye: See Invisibility |
College of Glamour Bard Changes in Patch 8 for BG3

BG3 released 12 new subclass in patch 8 including the College of Glamour Bard. This new subclass focused on Charmed and group utility. It can be combined with a Sorcerer multiclass to take advantage of two new spells: Shadow Blade and Booming Blade.
Build Summary – Best Baldur’s Gate 3 College of Glamour Bard
Classes – Bard, Sorcerer
Subclasses – College of Glamour, Shadow Magic
Armor – Light Armour
Weapons: Simple
Race – High-Half Elf
Ability Score
- Strength – 8
- Dexterity – 16
- Constitution – 14
- Intelligence – 8
- Wisdom – 10
- Charisma – 17
Level Progression
- Level 1 – Booming Blade, Vicious Mockery, Fire Bolt, Thunderwave, Longstrider, Dissonant Whisper, Charm Person
- Level 2 – Tasha’s Hideous Laughter
- Level 3 – Subclass: College of Glamour, Heat Metal, Swap Thunderwave for Cloud of Daggers
- Level 4 – Feat: Ability Improvement Charisma, Mage Hand, Invisibility
- Level 5 – Glyph of Warding, Swap Cloud of Daggers for Stinking Cloud
- Level 6 – Fear
- Level 7 – Multiclass: Sorcerer, Subclass: Shadow Sorcerer
- Level 8 – Metamagic: Twinned, Extended, Magic Missile
- Level 9 – Metamagic: Quickened, Shadow Blade, Swap Magic Missile with Mirror Image
- Level 10 – Feat: Savage Attacker, Bone Chill, Misty Step
- Level 11 – Fireball, Swap Chromatic Orb for Counterspell
- Level 12 – Haste
FAQs about the College of Glamour Bard build in Baldur’s Gate 3
What abilities should the College of Glamour Bard prioritize for my class?
The College of Glamour Bard should focus on Charisma for spellcasting and dialogue, Constitution for concentration saving throws, and Dexterity for armour class.
What are the best feats for College of Glamour Bard builds?
The spell sniper feat is the best for a spellcasting College of Glamour Bard, while Savage Attacker is best for Melee builds.
What are the best multiclass combos?
The best multiclass options for Bard are the Paladin to gain Divine Smite or the Sorcerer to gain Sorcery points.
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