Bard
Hit Points
At first level and every level thereafter, you increase your maximum hit points by 8 plus your constitution modifier.
Key Ability
At first level, you increase one of these ability scores by 2. Some of these options might be tied to subclasses (such as the rogue’s rackets).
Key Ability: Charisma
Initial Proficiencies
Saves
Expert in Perception
Trained in Reflex Saves
Expert in Will Saves
Trained in Fortitude Saves
Weapons
Trained in unarmed attacks
Trained in simple weapons
Trained in longsword, rapier, sap, shortbow, shortsword, and whip
Armor
Trained in unarmored and light armor
Untrained in medium and heavy armor
Skills
Trained in Occultism and Performance
Trained in a number of skills equal to 4 plus your intelligence modifier
Class Features
| Level | Features |
| 1 | Ancestry Feat, Occult Spellcasting, Muses, Spell Repertoire, Composition Spells |
| 2 | Class Feat, Skill Feat |
| 3 | General Feat, Skill Increase, Signature Spells, Lightning Reflexes |
| 4 | Class Feat, Skill Feat |
| 5 | Ability Boost, Ancestry Feat, Skill Increase |
| 6 | Class Feat, Skill Feat |
| 7 | General Feat, Skill Increase, Expert Spellcaster |
| 8 | Class Feat, Skill Feat |
| 9 | Ancestry Feat, Skill Increase, Great Fortitude, Resolve |
| 10 | Ability Boost, Class Feat, Skill Feat |
| 11 | General Feat, Skill Increase, Bard Weapon Expertise, Vigilant Senses |
| 12 | Class Feat, Skill Feat |
| 13 | Ancestry Feat, Skill Increase, Light Armor Expertise, Weapon Specialization |
| 14 | Class Feat, Skill Feat |
| 15 | Ability Boost, General Feat, Skill Increase, Master Spellcaster |
| 16 | Class Feat, Skill Feat |
| 17 | Ancestry Feat, Skill Increase, Greater Resolve |
| 18 | Class Feat, Skill Feat |
| 19 | General Feat, Skill Increase, Legendary Spellcaster, Magnum Opus |
| 20 | Ability Boost, Class Feat, Skill Feat |
Occult Spellcasting Feature 1
You draw upon magic from esoteric knowledge. You can cast occult spells using the Cast a Spell activity, and you can supply material, somatic, and verbal components when casting spells. Because you're a bard, you can usually play an instrument for spells requiring somatic or material components, as long as it takes at least one of your hands to do so. If you use an instrument, you don't need a material component pouch or another hand free. You can usually also play an instrument for spells requiring verbal components, instead of speaking.
Each day, you can cast up to two 1st-level spells. You must know spells to cast them, and you learn them via the spell repertoire class feature. The number of spells you can cast each day is called your spell slots.
As you increase in level as a bard, your number of spells per day increases, as does the highest level of spells you can cast.
Some of your spells require you to attempt a spell attack roll to see how effective they are, or have your enemies roll against your spell DC (typically by attempting a saving throw). Since your key ability is Charisma, your spell attack rolls and spell DCs use your Charisma modifier.
Muses Feature 1
As a bard, you select one muse at 1st level. This muse leads you to great things, and might be a physical creature, a deity, a philosophy, or a captivating mystery.
Spell Repertoire (Bard) Feature 1
The collection of spells you can cast is called your spell repertoire. At 1st level, you learn two 1st-level spells of your choice and five cantrips of your choice. You choose these from the common spells from the occult spell list, or from other occult spells to which you have access. You can cast any spell in your spell repertoire by using a spell slot of an appropriate spell level.
You add to this spell repertoire as you increase in level. Each time you get a spell slot, you add a spell of the same level to your spell repertoire. At 2nd level, you select another 1st-level spell; at 3rd level, you select two 2nd-level spells, and so on. When you add spells, you might choose a higher-level version of a spell you already have so that you can cast a heightened version of that spell.
Though you gain them at the same rate, your spell slots and the spells in your spell repertoire are separate. If a feat or other ability adds a spell to your spell repertoire, it wouldn't give you another spell slot, and vice versa.
Swapping Spells in your Repertoire
As you gain new spells in your spell repertoire, you might want to replace some of the spells you previously learned. Each time you gain a level and learn new spells, you can swap out one of your old spells for a different spell of the same level. This spell can be a cantrip. You can also swap out spells by retraining during downtime.
Composition Spells Feature 1
Composition Spells
You can infuse your performances with magic to create unique effects called compositions. Compositions are a special type of spell that often require you to use the Performance skill when casting them. Composition spells are a type of focus spell. It costs 1 Focus Point to cast a focus spell, and you start with a focus pool of 1 Focus Point. You refill your focus pool during your daily preparations, and you can regain 1 Focus Point by spending 10 minutes using the Refocus activity to perform, write a new composition, or otherwise engage your muse.
Focus spells are automatically heightened to half your level rounded up, much like cantrips. Focus spells don't require spell slots, and you can't cast them using spell slots. Taking feats can give you more focus spells and increase the size of your focus pool, though your focus pool can never hold more than 3 Focus Points.
You learn the Counter Performance composition spell, protecting against auditory and visual effects.
Composition Cantrips
Composition cantrips are special composition spells that don't cost Focus Points, so you can use them as often as you like. Composition cantrips are in addition to the cantrips you choose from the occult list. Generally, only feats can give you more composition cantrips. Unlike other cantrips, you can't swap out composition cantrips gained from bard feats at a later level, unless you swap out the specific feat via retraining. You learn the Inspire Courage composition cantrip, which boosts your allies' attacks, damage, and defense against fear.
Signature Spells Feature 3
Experience enables you to cast some spells more flexibly.
For each spell level you have access to, choose one spell of that level to be a signature spell. You don't need to learn heightened versions of signature spells separately; instead, you can heighten these spells freely. If you've learned a signature spell at a higher level than its minimum, you can also cast all its lower-level versions without learning those separately. If you swap out a signature spell, you can replace it with any spell you could have chosen when you first selected it (i.e., of the same spell level or lower).
You can also retrain specifically to change a signature spell to a different spell of that level without swapping any spells; this takes as much time as retraining a spell normally does.
Lightning Reflexes Feature 3
Your reflexes are lightning fast. Your proficiency rank for Reflex saves increases to expert.
Expert Spellcaster Feature 7
Bard Your proficiency ranks for occult spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to expert.
Druid Your command of primal forces has deepened, empowering your spells. Your proficiency ranks for primal spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to expert.
Magus Your fundamental understanding of magic improves, making your spells harder to resist. Your proficiency ranks for arcane spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to expert.
Oracle The intricacy of your divine power has grown clearer over time. Your proficiency ranks for divine spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to expert.
Psychic Self-reflection has brought you greater knowledge of yourself and, with it, psychic power. Your proficiency ranks for occult spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to expert.
Sorcerer Your inherent magic responds easily and powerfully to your command. Your proficiency ranks for spell attack rolls and spell DCs for spells of your bloodline's tradition increase to expert.
Summoner As your connection to your eidolon deepens, the power of your spells increases. Your proficiency ranks for spell attack rolls and spell DCs for spells of your eidolon's tradition increase to expert.
Witch You've learned to better control the power your patron has granted you. Your proficiency ranks for spell attacks and spell DCs for your witch spellcasting increase to expert.
Wizard Extended practice of the arcane has improved your capabilities. Your proficiency ranks for arcane spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to expert.
Great Fortitude Feature 3
Your physique is incredibly hardy. Your proficiency rank for Fortitude saves increases to expert.
Resolve Feature 7
You've steeled your mind with resolve. Your proficiency rank for Will saves increases to master. When you roll a success on a Will save, you get a critical success instead.
Bard Weapon Expertise Feature 11
You have become thoroughly adept with bardic weapons. You gain expert proficiency in simple weapons and unarmed attacks, plus the longsword, rapier, sap, shortbow, shortsword, and whip. When you critically succeed at an attack roll using one of these weapons while one of your compositions is active, you apply the critical specialization effect for that weapon.
Vigilant Senses Feature 7
Through your adventures, you've developed keen awareness and attention to detail. Your proficiency rank in Perception increases to master.
Light Armor Expertise Feature 13
You've learned how to dodge while wearing light or no armor. Your proficiency ranks for light armor and unarmored defense increase to expert.
Weapon Specialization Feature 7
Champion, Fighter, Gunslinger, Inventor, Investigator, Magus, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, Swashbuckler: You've learned how to inflict greater injuries with the weapons you know best. You deal 2 additional damage with weapons and unarmed attacks in which you are an expert. This damage increases to 3 if you're a master, and to 4 if you're legendary.
Alchemist, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Oracle, Psychic, Sorcerer, Summoner, Witch, Wizard You've learned how to inflict grave wounds with your most practiced weapons. You deal 2 additional damage with weapons and unarmed attacks in which you are an expert. This damage increases to 3 if you're a master, and to 4 if you're legendary.
Barbarian: Your rage helps you hit harder. You deal an additional 2 damage with weapons and unarmed attacks in which you have expert proficiency. This damage increases to 3 if you're a master, and 4 if you're legendary.
You gain your instinct's specialization ability. See specific instincts for more information.
Master Spellcaster Feature 15
Bard You've mastered the occult. Your proficiency ranks for occult spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to master.
Druid Primal magic answers your command. Your proficiency ranks for primal spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to master.
Magus You fortify your spells with masterful prowess. Your proficiency ranks for arcane spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to master.
Oracle You truly understand the deep and complex divine power within your mystery. Your proficiency ranks for divine spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to master.
Psychic You've gained access to the deepest corners of your own mind. Your proficiency ranks for occult spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to master.
Sorcerer You have achieved mastery over the magic in your blood. Your proficiency ranks for spell attack rolls and spell DCs for spells of your bloodline's tradition increase to master.
Summoner Your connection to your eidolon is strong enough to grant you mastery over associated spells. Your proficiency ranks for spell attack rolls and spell DCs for spells of your eidolon's tradition increase to master.
Witch You've achieved mastery over your patron's magic. Your proficiency ranks for spell attacks and spell DCs for your witch spellcasting increase to master.
Greater Resolve Feature 17
Your unbelievable training grants you mental resiliency.
Your proficiency rank for Will saves increases to legendary. When you roll a success at a Will save, you get a critical success. When you roll a critical failure at a Will save, you get a failure instead. When you roll a failure on a Will save against a damaging effect, you take half damage.
Legendary Spellcaster Feature 19
Bard Your command of occult magic is the stuff of legends. Your proficiency ranks for occult spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to legendary.
Druid You have developed an unparalleled rapport with the magic of nature. Your proficiency ranks for primal spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to legendary.
Oracle You can harness divine power at a level few others can match. Your proficiency ranks for divine spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to legendary.
Psychic As your training reaches its peak, you understand not just your own mind, but the collective unconscious from which all psychic power stems. Your proficiency ranks for occult spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to legendary.
Sorcerer You demonstrate prodigious talent for spellcasting. Your proficiency ranks for spell attack rolls and spell DCs for spells of your bloodline's tradition increase to legendary.
Witch You've perfected your command of the magic your patron provides. Your proficiency ranks for spell attacks and spell DCs for your witch spellcasting increase to legendary.
Wizard You are a consummate spellcaster, with a comprehensive understanding of both arcane theory and practical spellcraft. Your proficiency ranks for arcane spell attack rolls and spell DCs increase to legendary.
Magnum Opus Feature 19
You have tuned your spellcasting to the highest caliber. Add two common 10th-level occult spells to your repertoire. You gain a single 10th-level spell slot you can use to cast one of those two spells using bard spellcasting. You don't gain more 10th-level spells as you level up, unlike other spell slots, and you can't use 10th-level slots with abilities that give you more spell slots or that let you cast spells without expending spell slots.