D&D 5E Lore Bard Magical Secret Picks

[rgoodbb]

Looking to when I get to 6th level, I will have an abundance of spells to choose from. With EE and XGTE adding more choices, I got to wondering what spells others folks have chose or seen chosen for Magical Secrets and Additional Magical Secrets bard features at 6th and 10th.

I'm playing a Debuffing bard so Counterspell or Slow will be one pick. (I'm loving Bane + Cutting words + Blindness + VM at the moment). I also want to be a bard-taxi so was thinking of Thunderstep from XGTE. I have also considered choosing another cantrip maybe.

What are some interesting choices others have seen/used?

 

[jgsugden]

I think your thought process is right: What does my bard like to do and what is out there that I can't do? However, there is also room to grab that one spell that is something completely out of your wheel house that allows you to do something entirely new.

Some people like Find Steed, but I think it gets outclassed soon after selected. Damage spells (fireball) and Haste are also popular, as is Hex. Revivfy needs to be mentioned. I also think the idea of a Tiny Servant might be fun for a Bard - making your instrument talk, or animating a puppet, could be fun for a performer. Augury, Dust Devil, Healing Spirit, and Spiritual Weapon also might make the cut.

 

[gyor]

I think your thought process is right: What does my bard like to do and what is out there that I can't do? However, there is also room to grab that one spell that is something completely out of your wheel house that allows you to do something entirely new.

Some people like Find Steed, but I think it gets outclassed soon after selected. Damage spells (fireball) and Haste are also popular, as is Hex. Revivfy needs to be mentioned. I also think the idea of a Tiny Servant might be fun for a Bard - making your instrument talk, or animating a puppet, could be fun for a performer. Augury, Dust Devil, Healing Spirit, and Spiritual Weapon also might make the cut.

If you have XGTE Find Steed is out of date for the Bard, Improved Find Steed is better.

 

[jgsugden]

If you have XGTE Find Steed is out of date for the Bard, Improved Find Steed is better.

... but too high levl to be taken with the level 6 Magical Secrets of the Lore bard. Good at 10, though.

 

[GlassJaw]

Do a google search for "bard guide" or the like. There are a few really good guides out there.

 

[rgoodbb]

Thanks for all your replies.

Just to clarify a little. What are the picks you have seen in your games or have chosen/would choose and why?

I'm really looking passed the obvious: Fireball, Haste etc.

Tiny Servent does seem fun. What else can be done with it?

 

[jgsugden]

Tiny Servant is an amusing (but expendable) spy, servant, entertainment, invisibility detector (blindsight) and weak combatant. It is very versatile. It isn't a powergamer move in a high combat party, but it can 'fill a bunch of gaps' with just one spell. I think it becomes more reasonable to use once you get to 9th or 10th level and have more than a few 3rd level plus slots... but it is nice. It is especially nice to use it to perform simple things that require an action when you don't want to do so. It might activate magical items for you, for example. There is nothing preventing it from attuning magic items, either (other than a short life span). There are some magic items that you just want to have in the party - not necessarily have on a given PC.

However, there are some creative things you can do with this spell in a story driven game. One example is an NPC casting this on a murder weapon and having the weapon plant itself on a PC to frame them. Another is to enchant an item in a store and instruct it to break out of the store after closing. One more is to cast the spell on a bomb and have the bomb deliver itself to a target and detonate itself.

 

[Rydac]

The 3rd level Paladin spell (they can't get it until they're 9th) Aura of Vitality does some great healing even if just used out of combat, but handy running in combat.

 

[Mistwell]

Healing spirit or Aura of Vitality can heal your whole party during a rest.

Bless is, of course, popular.

 

[Mr. Wilson]

Bless and Counterspell are my two defaults.

Revivify if you are the parties' sole healing.