Aasimar Bard 5e D&D Guide

In the ethereal realm where celestial blood intertwines with mortal lineage, an Aasimar Bard emerges as a harmonious blend of celestial grace and artistic prowess. 

Gifted with radiant wings that shimmer with the luminosity of the heavens, this enigmatic bard weaves tales that echo the celestial chorus, channeling divine melodies that stir the very essence of both mortal hearts and celestial beings.

With each note, the Aasimar Bard becomes a living conduit between realms, a celestial maestro whose music transcends the boundaries of the material world.

Creating an Aasimar Bard

Aasimar

Aasimar have the light of the heavens in their soul as they descended from humans who were touched by the power of Mount Celestia, the divine realm where many lawful good deities reside.

The Aasimar are born to serve the gods as champions, and their births are hailed as blessed events. These people have an otherworldly visage with luminous features that present their celestial heritage.

Aasimar always have a link to an angelic being, except for when one has turned evil. The (usually a deva) will guide the Aasimar, although be it only in dreams. These dreams will never be direct commands and will always be received as feelings, prophecies, and visions.

Note: These features can be slightly changed or modified if some variations don’t fit your character.

Aasimar Subraces

Aasimar have 4 different subraces you can choose from, each having its own advantages, disadvantages, and preferred playstyles.

Protector Aasimar – Protector Aasimar are identical to normal Aasimar. However, they have access to a Radiant Soul upon reaching level 3.

When used, they unleash powerful divine energy, sprouting luminous, incorporeal wings and obtaining glimmering eyes. While in this transformation, they can fly and deal extra Radiant damage to one target.

Scourge Aasimar – Scourge Aasimar have the Radiant Consumption ability, which unleashes their divine energy, causing searing light to pour out of their mouth and eyes, threatening to char them.

The transformation makes the Scourge Aasimar shed bright light for a 10-foot radius and dim light for another 10-foot. It also makes those who are within 10 feet of them take Radiant damage, also dealing extra Radiant damage on an attack or spell.

Fallen Aasimar – Much like the Protector and Scourge Aasimar, a Fallen Aasimar unlocks their own ability at level 3, called Necrotic Shroud.

When activated, the ability transforms them, turning their eyes into pools of endless darkness and sprouting skeletal, ghostly wings from their back.

Upon activation, creatures will have to make a Charisma save, or else they become frightened. The transformation also allows them to deal extra Necrotic damage when they attack or cast a spell.

Aasimar (DMG) – DMG Aasimar are the most similar to traditional Aasimarm, but the main difference is their stats and the new ability, Celestial Legacy.

Celestial Legacy unlocks not only the Light cantrip but the Lesser Restoration and Daylight spell at their respective levels.

Bard Class Features

Hit Points

Proficiencies

Bard Colleges

Once you reach level 3, you’ll be able to unlock the techniques of different bard colleges; choosing one will give you specific features, so try optimizing your choices with your subrace.

Creation – College of Creation Bards are obsessed with the cosmos, believing it is a work of art, a creation of the first dragons and gods.

You can often hear them sing the Song of Creation, filling those around them with deep emotions.

Eloquence – College of Eloquence Bards are master orators, using persuasion, reason, and a well-spoken argument to solve most problems. These Bards are experts at plucking the heartstrings of those listening and even winning over skeptics.

Glamour – College of Glamour Bards learned their craft in the Feywild, using their magic to enlighten and captivate those who listen to their song. There are tales of these Bards successfully lulling powerful dragons with their song and speech.

Lore – College of Lore Bards knows something of everything, having diverse knowledge about almost any matter. They are experts at unraveling lies, exposing corruption, and telling the truth in the most compelling manner.

Spirits – College of Spirits Bards study fiction, histories, and legends in search of great power. They use magic to call upon forces to once again change the world, just as in their books.

Swords – College of Swords Bards entertain through weapon prowess – swallowing swords, juggling knives, and mocking combatants. They are skilled with weapons and often combine them with powerful magical effects.

Valor – College of Valor Bards tells the tales of legendary heroes, both in the past and in the present. They usually travel to these great events to catch a firsthand experience, which is why their songs are so emotional and detailed.

Whispers – College of Whispers Bards seem like ordinary Bards, singing and dancing as usual, but their motives are as dangerous as their teachings.

These Bards are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They uncover secrets and turn people against each other using threats and extortion. In most cases, these Bards claim to follow a different college, only revealing their true college when it is absolutely necessary.

Note: Watch out for College of Whispers Bards in royal courts and among the highest echelons of society, as they can worm themselves into any situation.

Combining Bard With Aasimar

Determining Your Bard Subclass

Choosing your ideal subclass is subjective, but if your objective is optimization, try understanding what your character wants to do and what stats fit best with their subclass.

Optimal Aasimar Subrace

Each Aasimar subrace could work quite well on a Bard, as you already get ample Ability Score increases by simply choosing an Aasimar (increase one ability score by 2 points and one ability score by 1 point).

Note: Volo’s Guide to Monsters only grants a +2 to Charisma for base Aasimars, and the subraces increase Wisdom (Protector), Constitution (Scourge), or Strength (Fallen) by 1.

Bards will mainly make use of the Charisma, and the Constitution increase you get as a Scourge Aasimar isn’t bad, as you have quite a low base HP.

However, the other subraces are all dependent on what you want your Bard to do and what will fit your character best.

Your Aasimar Bard Background

Your Aasimar Bard needs a unique background that will affect its choices, as well as the way it sees the world and what it wants to achieve.

Start by asking yourself some basic questions: Where were they born, and where did they come from? Do they have any goals, bonds, or ideals, and what are their flaws? Where do they belong in social circles and society as a whole? What inspires them?

Place of Birth

Think of the environment an Aasimar Bard grew up in and how it affected them physically and emotionally and eventually shaped their view of the world.

Try to make their place of birth and upbringing correspond with their personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws – this will truly bring their character alive.

Note: The birthplaces of races are usually mentioned in the Player’s Handbook or some of its expansion books.

Characteristics and Personality Traits 

Aasimar Bards carry their proud heritage but display it in a light-hearted and often cheerful rendition of dances and melodious songs.

Aasimar Bard Examples:

• Flattery is my preferred trick for getting what I want.

Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws

Ideal – Express one ideal that is a driving force in an Aasimar Bard’s life – their conviction, ethical principle, and moral standing (probably something about nature).

If we all do the work, we will share the rewards.

Bonds – Think of a single bond that your Aasimar Bard has to an event, person, or place. Bonds will tie them to their background and can inspire bravery or stimulate memories driving them against their ideals.

I have a family, but I have no idea where they are. One day, I hope to see them again. 

Flaws – Choose a single flaw for an Aasimar Bard – their unhealthy compulsion, greatest fear/weakness, or most vile vice.

I judge others harshly and myself even more severely.

Inspiration

The DM can use inspiration to reward you for playing according to your bond, personality traits, ideals, and flaws.

I am proud of my heritage, upholding many of my people’s traditions, but I have become accustomed to socializing and making people laugh whenever I’m able to.

Note: If you’re struggling to create your background or just don’t want to think, the Player’s Handbook has well-thought-through backgrounds that you can use for your character or use as a mold.

Supplies and Gear For Aasimar Bards

Bards start with the following equipment, together with the equipment from their background. Choosing equipment based on your situation and your character’s proficiencies is the easiest way to go about things.

• (a) A rapier (b) A longsword (c) Any simple weapon
• (a) A diplomat’s pack or (b) An entertainer’s pack
• (a) A lute or (b) Any other musical instrument
• A dagger and leather armor

You can decide how your character came about these goods – whether they stole, inherited, or purchased them some time back – adding to your character’s background.

Note: If you aren’t satisfied with your equipment, you can always use your starting wealth to buy other equipment (5d4 x 10 GP for Bards).

Final Thoughts

Though Aasimar Bards aren’t your most common match, they can definitely work, especially with all the different forms an Aasimar can take and the vast subclasses the Bard has.

This combo might not revolutionize the 5e scene, but it serves as an example that even some of the most unlikely candidates can find an inkling and be played together.