Dragonborn Bard 5e D&D Guide

Unleash the power of draconic blood and musical prowess, weaving spells through song and striking fear into the hearts of adversaries with a symphony of fire and rhythm.

With this unique and versatile character, experience a fantastical adventure where the resonance of your draconic heritage harmonizes seamlessly with the charm of a Bard’s artistry.

Creating a Dragonborn Bard

Dragonborn

The Dragonborn were born of dragons, feared by many because of their frightening appearance. Long ago, Dragonborn hatched from dragon eggs, creating a unique race and combining the best attributes of dragons and humanoids.

Even with their powerful past, Dragonborn is a divided race; many serve true dragons, others fight in wars, and some merely drift through the world without a cause.

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

Dragonborn Subraces

Dragonborn has 6 subraces, each relating to their dragon kin or influence through decades of relations with other races. 

You’ll also get to choose a type of dragon you relate to, determining your damage and the area of your breath weapon, as well as the resistance you gain.

Note: Choosing Chromatic, Gem, or Metallic dragon ancestry only changes your damage type.

Standard Dragonborn – These are the most common Dragonborn, having increased Strength and Charisma.

Draconblood – Draconblood Dragonborn are socially manipulative and very intelligent, even remembering the days when they were fearsome conquerors.

Ravenite – Ravenite Dragonborn have no tails but possess a sturdy physique, having increased Strength and Charisma.

Many Ravenites remember the days they were enslaved to Draconbloods, retelling the time they overthrew their overlords.

Chromatic Dragonborn – Chromatic Dragonborn trace their ancestry back to beautiful chromatic dragons.

Choose your damage type from the table below:

Gem Dragonborn – Gem Dragonborn trace their ancestry back to breathtaking gem dragons.

Choose your damage type from the table below:

Metallic Dragonborn – Metallic Dragonborn trace their ancestry back to impenetrable metallic dragons.

Choose your damage type from the table below:

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 Dragonborn

Determining Your Dragonborn Bard Subclass

You’ll be making your own subjective choice when choosing your subclass, so before choosing, try to understand what your character wants to do and how well the chosen subclass fits with your subrace.

Optimal Dragonborn Subrace

If you’re looking to fully customize your character without having to navigate through all the potential ability scores, you should choose between the Chromatic, Metallic, or Gem Dragonborn.

Chromatic, Metallic, and Gem Dragonborn are easily incorporated into any class because of their custom ability score options.

While their stats (Intelligence 2 and Charisma 1) do compliment the Bard to some degree, it’s their sociability and knack for manipulation that really makes them stand out as a perfect subrace when playing a Bard.

Your Background

Your Dragonborn 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 a Dragonborn 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 

Dragonborn Bards are more common than adventures would like to believe, often being the loudest Bard in the room and singing of great draconic warriors and times in which their race reigned supreme.

But don’t be led astray, Dragonborn Bards are a lot like their Human counterparts, being capable of betrayal, manipulation, and even murder.

Dragonborn Bard Examples:

• Insults and sarcasm are my weapons of choice.

• I would rather focus on making new friends than new enemies.

Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws

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

Friendship. Material goods will come and go, but bonds of friendship last forever.

Bonds – Think of a single bond that your Dragonborn 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.

The instrument I play is my most treasured possession, reminding me of someone I love.

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

I have a ‘tell’ that quickly reveals when I’m telling a lie.

Inspiration

Inspiration can be used by the DM to reward you for playing according to your bond, personality traits, ideals, and flaws.

When I get to sing or play music, it often has something to do with the glorious Dragonborn race. I especially enjoy performing these Dragonborn concerts in taverns!

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

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

Dragonborn Bards might not be as unique as other combos, but their various roleplaying options and powerful magic make them an enjoyable combination.

Personally, I would never think twice about letting a Dragonborn Bard into my party, as they often bring an unmatched dynamic to a D&D campaign!