Magic · Bard Spell Reference
Bard Spells
Bards turn performance, story, wit and remembered lore into magic. The Bard spell list changes substantially between editions, so choose the ruleset being played before selecting spells.
| 5.5e / 2024 | Cantrips to 9th level |
|---|---|
| 5e / 2014 | Cantrips to 9th level |
| Pathfinder 1e | 0 to 6th level |
| D&D 3.5e | 0 to 6th level |
Rules
Bard Spell Lists by Edition
Bard Spells — 5.5e / 2024
The core list below follows SRD 5.2.1.
Cantrips
- Dancing Lights
- Light
- Mage Hand
- Mending
- Message
- Minor Illusion
- Prestidigitation
- Starry Wisp
- True Strike
- Vicious Mockery
1st Level
- Animal Friendship
- Bane
- Charm Person
- Color Spray
- Command
- Comprehend Languages
- Cure Wounds
- Detect Magic
- Disguise Self
- Dissonant Whispers
- Faerie Fire
- Feather Fall
- Healing Word
- Heroism
- Hideous Laughter
- Identify
- Illusory Script
- Longstrider
- Silent Image
- Sleep
- Speak with Animals
- Thunderwave
- Unseen Servant
2nd Level
- Aid
- Animal Messenger
- Blindness/Deafness
- Calm Emotions
- Detect Thoughts
- Enhance Ability
- Enlarge/Reduce
- Enthrall
- Heat Metal
- Hold Person
- Invisibility
- Knock
- Lesser Restoration
- Locate Animals or Plants
- Locate Object
- Magic Mouth
- Mirror Image
- See Invisibility
- Shatter
- Silence
- Suggestion
- Zone of Truth
3rd Level
- Bestow Curse
- Clairvoyance
- Dispel Magic
- Fear
- Glyph of Warding
- Hypnotic Pattern
- Major Image
- Mass Healing Word
- Nondetection
- Plant Growth
- Sending
- Slow
- Speak with Dead
- Speak with Plants
- Stinking Cloud
- Tiny Hut
- Tongues
4th Level
- Charm Monster
- Compulsion
- Confusion
- Dimension Door
- Freedom of Movement
- Greater Invisibility
- Hallucinatory Terrain
- Locate Creature
- Phantasmal Killer
- Polymorph
5th Level
- Animate Objects
- Awaken
- Dominate Person
- Dream
- Geas
- Greater Restoration
- Hold Monster
- Legend Lore
- Mass Cure Wounds
- Mislead
- Modify Memory
- Planar Binding
- Raise Dead
- Scrying
- Seeming
- Telepathic Bond
- Teleportation Circle
6th Level
- Eyebite
- Find the Path
- Guards and Wards
- Heroes’ Feast
- Irresistible Dance
- Mass Suggestion
- Programmed Illusion
- True Seeing
7th Level
- Arcane Sword
- Etherealness
- Forcecage
- Magnificent Mansion
- Mirage Arcane
- Prismatic Spray
- Project Image
- Regenerate
- Resurrection
- Symbol
- Teleport
8th Level
9th Level
- Foresight
- Power Word Heal
- Power Word Kill
- Prismatic Wall
- True Polymorph
Additional 2024 Bard Spells
These spells appear on the public 2024 Basic Rules Bard list in addition to the SRD 5.2.1 subset.
Cantrips
- Blade Ward
- Friends
- Thunderclap
2nd Level
- Cloud of Daggers
- Crown of Madness
- Phantasmal Force
3rd Level
- Feign Death
4th Level
- Fount of Moonlight
5th Level
- Synaptic Static
- Yolande’s Regal Presence
7th Level
- Power Word Fortify
Bard Spells — 5e / 2014
The list below follows the SRD 5.1 Bard spell list.
Cantrips
- Dancing Lights
- Light
- Mage Hand
- Mending
- Message
- Minor Illusion
- Prestidigitation
- True Strike
- Vicious Mockery
1st Level
- Animal Friendship
- Bane
- Charm Person
- Comprehend Languages
- Cure Wounds
- Detect Magic
- Disguise Self
- Faerie Fire
- Feather Fall
- Healing Word
- Heroism
- Hideous Laughter
- Identify
- Illusory Script
- Longstrider
- Silent Image
- Sleep
- Speak with Animals
- Thunderwave
- Unseen Servant
2nd Level
- Animal Messenger
- Blindness/Deafness
- Calm Emotions
- Detect Thoughts
- Enhance Ability
- Enthrall
- Heat Metal
- Hold Person
- Invisibility
- Knock
- Lesser Restoration
- Locate Animals or Plants
- Locate Object
- Magic Mouth
- See Invisibility
- Shatter
- Silence
- Suggestion
- Zone of Truth
3rd Level
- Bestow Curse
- Clairvoyance
- Dispel Magic
- Fear
- Glyph of Warding
- Hypnotic Pattern
- Major Image
- Nondetection
- Plant Growth
- Sending
- Speak with Dead
- Speak with Plants
- Stinking Cloud
- Tiny Hut
- Tongues
4th Level
- Compulsion
- Confusion
- Dimension Door
- Freedom of Movement
- Greater Invisibility
- Hallucinatory Terrain
- Locate Creature
- Polymorph
5th Level
- Animate Objects
- Awaken
- Dominate Person
- Dream
- Geas
- Greater Restoration
- Hold Monster
- Legend Lore
- Mass Cure Wounds
- Mislead
- Modify Memory
- Planar Binding
- Raise Dead
- Scrying
- Seeming
- Teleportation Circle
6th Level
- Eyebite
- Find the Path
- Guards and Wards
- Irresistible Dance
- Mass Suggestion
- Programmed Illusion
- True Seeing
7th Level
- Arcane Sword
- Etherealness
- Forcecage
- Magnificent Mansion
- Mirage Arcane
- Project Image
- Regenerate
- Resurrection
- Symbol
- Teleport
8th Level
9th Level
- Foresight
- Power Word Kill
- True Polymorph
Bard Spells — Pathfinder 1e
This is the Pathfinder Core Rulebook Bard list. Later Pathfinder books add further Bard spells; those expanded entries remain in the catalogue below.
0 Level
- Dancing Lights
- Daze
- Detect Magic
- Flare
- Ghost Sound
- Know Direction
- Light
- Lullaby
- Mage Hand
- Mending
- Message
- Open/Close
- Prestidigitation
- Read Magic
- Resistance
- Summon Instrument
1st Level
- Alarm
- Animate Rope
- Cause Fear
- Charm Person
- Comprehend Languages
- Lesser Confusion
- Cure Light Wounds
- Detect Secret Doors
- Disguise Self
- Erase
- Expeditious Retreat
- Feather Fall
- Grease
- Hideous Laughter
- Hypnotism
- Identify
- Magic Aura
- Magic Mouth
- Obscure Object
- Remove Fear
- Silent Image
- Sleep
- Summon Monster I
- Undetectable Alignment
- Unseen Servant
- Ventriloquism
2nd Level
- Alter Self
- Animal Messenger
- Animal Trance
- Blindness/Deafness
- Blur
- Calm Emotions
- Cat’s Grace
- Cure Moderate Wounds
- Darkness
- Daze Monster
- Delay Poison
- Detect Thoughts
- Eagle’s Splendor
- Enthrall
- Fox’s Cunning
- Glitterdust
- Heroism
- Hold Person
- Hypnotic Pattern
- Invisibility
- Locate Object
- Minor Image
- Mirror Image
- Misdirection
- Pyrotechnics
- Rage
- Scare
- Shatter
- Silence
- Sound Burst
- Suggestion
- Summon Monster II
- Summon Swarm
- Tongues
- Whispering Wind
3rd Level
- Blink
- Charm Monster
- Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
- Confusion
- Crushing Despair
- Cure Serious Wounds
- Daylight
- Deep Slumber
- Dispel Magic
- Displacement
- Fear
- Gaseous Form
- Lesser Geas
- Glibness
- Good Hope
- Haste
- Illusory Script
- Invisibility Sphere
- Major Image
- Phantom Steed
- Remove Curse
- Scrying
- Sculpt Sound
- Secret Page
- See Invisibility
- Sepia Snake Sigil
- Slow
- Speak with Animals
- Summon Monster III
- Tiny Hut
4th Level
- Break Enchantment
- Cure Critical Wounds
- Detect Scrying
- Dimension Door
- Dominate Person
- Freedom of Movement
- Hallucinatory Terrain
- Hold Monster
- Greater Invisibility
- Legend Lore
- Locate Creature
- Modify Memory
- Neutralize Poison
- Rainbow Pattern
- Repel Vermin
- Secure Shelter
- Shadow Conjuration
- Shout
- Speak with Plants
- Summon Monster IV
- Zone of Silence
5th Level
- Mass Cure Light Wounds
- Greater Dispel Magic
- Dream
- False Vision
- Greater Heroism
- Mind Fog
- Mirage Arcana
- Mislead
- Nightmare
- Persistent Image
- Seeming
- Shadow Evocation
- Shadow Walk
- Song of Discord
- Mass Suggestion
- Summon Monster V
6th Level
- Analyze Dweomer
- Animate Objects
- Mass Cat’s Grace
- Mass Charm Monster
- Mass Cure Moderate Wounds
- Mass Eagle’s Splendor
- Eyebite
- Find the Path
- Mass Fox’s Cunning
- Geas/Quest
- Heroes’ Feast
- Irresistible Dance
- Permanent Image
- Programmed Image
- Project Image
- Greater Scrying
- Greater Shout
- Summon Monster VI
- Sympathetic Vibration
- Veil
Bard Spells — D&D 3.5e
This is the core 3.5e SRD Bard list.
0 Level
- Dancing Lights
- Daze
- Detect Magic
- Flare
- Ghost Sound
- Know Direction
- Light
- Lullaby
- Mage Hand
- Mending
- Message
- Open/Close
- Prestidigitation
- Read Magic
- Resistance
- Summon Instrument
1st Level
- Alarm
- Animate Rope
- Cause Fear
- Charm Person
- Comprehend Languages
- Lesser Confusion
- Cure Light Wounds
- Detect Secret Doors
- Disguise Self
- Erase
- Expeditious Retreat
- Feather Fall
- Grease
- Hideous Laughter
- Hypnotism
- Identify
- Magic Aura
- Magic Mouth
- Obscure Object
- Remove Fear
- Silent Image
- Sleep
- Summon Monster I
- Undetectable Alignment
- Unseen Servant
- Ventriloquism
2nd Level
- Alter Self
- Animal Messenger
- Animal Trance
- Blindness/Deafness
- Blur
- Calm Emotions
- Cat’s Grace
- Cure Moderate Wounds
- Darkness
- Daze Monster
- Delay Poison
- Detect Thoughts
- Eagle’s Splendor
- Enthrall
- Fox’s Cunning
- Glitterdust
- Heroism
- Hold Person
- Hypnotic Pattern
- Invisibility
- Locate Object
- Minor Image
- Mirror Image
- Misdirection
- Pyrotechnics
- Rage
- Scare
- Shatter
- Silence
- Sound Burst
- Suggestion
- Summon Monster II
- Summon Swarm
- Tongues
- Whispering Wind
3rd Level
- Blink
- Charm Monster
- Clairaudience/Clairvoyance
- Confusion
- Crushing Despair
- Cure Serious Wounds
- Daylight
- Deep Slumber
- Dispel Magic
- Displacement
- Fear
- Gaseous Form
- Lesser Geas
- Glibness
- Good Hope
- Haste
- Illusory Script
- Invisibility Sphere
- Major Image
- Phantom Steed
- Remove Curse
- Scrying
- Sculpt Sound
- Secret Page
- See Invisibility
- Sepia Snake Sigil
- Slow
- Speak with Animals
- Summon Monster III
- Tiny Hut
4th Level
- Break Enchantment
- Cure Critical Wounds
- Detect Scrying
- Dimension Door
- Dominate Person
- Freedom of Movement
- Hallucinatory Terrain
- Hold Monster
- Greater Invisibility
- Legend Lore
- Locate Creature
- Modify Memory
- Neutralize Poison
- Rainbow Pattern
- Repel Vermin
- Secure Shelter
- Shadow Conjuration
- Shout
- Speak with Plants
- Summon Monster IV
- Zone of Silence
5th Level
- Mass Cure Light Wounds
- Greater Dispel Magic
- Dream
- False Vision
- Greater Heroism
- Mind Fog
- Mirage Arcana
- Mislead
- Nightmare
- Persistent Image
- Seeming
- Shadow Evocation
- Shadow Walk
- Song of Discord
- Mass Suggestion
- Summon Monster V
6th Level
- Analyze Dweomer
- Animate Objects
- Mass Cat’s Grace
- Mass Charm Monster
- Mass Cure Moderate Wounds
- Mass Eagle’s Splendor
- Eyebite
- Find the Path
- Mass Fox’s Cunning
- Geas/Quest
- Heroes’ Feast
- Irresistible Dance
- Permanent Image
- Programmed Image
- Project Image
- Greater Scrying
- Greater Shout
- Summon Monster VI
- Sympathetic Vibration
- Veil
Legacy and Expanded Bard Spells
This catalogue retains the older spell traditions and expanded selections. Spell names and descriptions here do not grant access in another edition: use the individual spell’s rules and source for the character being played.
Cantrips (0 Level)
| 0-Level Bard Spells (CANTRIPS) | |
|---|---|
| Candlelight | You cause an object to glow like a candle, shedding light in a 5-foot radius from the point you touch. |
| Comprehend Writing | Your can make sense of foreign writing and strange symbols. |
| Dancing Lights | Creates torches or other lights. |
| Daze | humanoid creature of 4 HD or less loses next action. |
| Depilatory | This spell enables you to selectively shave hair and prevent its regrowth for 24 hours. |
| Detect Magic | Detects spells and magic items within 60 ft. |
| Direct Conversation | |
| Flare | Dazzles one creature (-1 on attack rolls). |
| Ghost Sound | Figment sounds. |
| Giggle | The target suddenly finds something humorous enough to start giggling (New) |
| Grope | This variation of the mage hand spell lets you “feel” a creature from a distance as if you were actually touching it. |
| Know Direction | You discern north. |
| Light | Object shines like a torch. |
| Lullaby | Makes subject drowsy; -5 on Spot and Listen checks, -2 on Will saves against sleep. |
| Mage Hand | 5-pound telekinesis. |
| Mending | Makes minor repairs on an object. |
| Message | Whispered conversation at distance. |
| Minor Disguise | You use magic to make minor, cosmetic changes in your appearance. |
| Open/Close | Opens or closes small or light things. |
| Prestidigitation | Performs minor tricks. |
| Read Magic | Read scrolls and spellbooks. |
| Resistance | Subject gains +1 on saving throws. |
| Songbird | Your control over your voice improves, your unruly hair straightens, and your flesh radiates a healthy glow. You’re ready for showtime. |
| Song of Serenity | You channel positive energy through your song, rejuvenating a fatigued target. |
| Summon Instrument | Summons one instrument of the caster’s choice. |
1 Level
| 1st-Level Bard Spells | |
|---|---|
| Alarm | Wards an area for 2 hours/level. |
| Ale Goggles | The target perceives everyone else as having a +4 circumstance bonus to his or her Appearance. |
| Allure | The recipient of this spell becomes more desirable, likeable, and popular. |
| Animate Image | This spell creates a visual representation of a piece of text or static graphic. |
| Animate Rope | Makes a rope move at your command. |
| Anticipate Peril | A creature affected by anticipate peril gains a preternatural sense of danger. |
| Apollo’s Blessing | counters all darkness spells, those within the spell’s radius receive bonuses on Perform and Heal checks. |
| Block the Seed | You are incapable of getting someone pregnant or becoming impregnated for the duration of this spell. |
| Cause Fear | One creature of 5 HD or less flees for 1d4 rounds. |
| Charm Person | Makes one person your friend. |
| Cheat | Caster rerolls when determining the success of a game of chance. |
| Comprehend Languages | You understand all spoken and written languages. |
| Corrupt Weapon | Weapon confirms critical hits against good foes. |
| Critical Strike | Upon uttering the ancient phrase that completes the spell, you feel the weapon in your hand drawn toward a creature standing nearby. |
| Cure Light Wounds | Cures 1d8 damage +1/level (max +5). |
| Detect Secret Doors | Reveals hidden doors within 60 ft. |
| Disguise Self | Changes your appearance. |
| Distract | The targets are distracted as they study – anything and everything gets their attention, if just for a moment. |
| Erase | Mundane or magical writing vanishes. |
| Expeditious Retreat | Your speed increases by 30 ft. |
| Extract Drug | Creates drug from inanimate object. |
| Feather Fall | Objects or creatures fall slowly. |
| Friendly Face | Everyone you meet sees you as friendly and nonthreatening. |
| Fury Eyes | Your fiery eyes give you an intimidating presence. |
| Grease | Makes 10-ft. square or one object slippery. |
| Harmony | When you play your instrument, sing your song, recite your epic poem, you fill your allies with greater confidence than normal. |
| Hideous Laughter | Subject loses actions for 1 round/ level. |
| Honoring the Host | Subject praised or shamed, influencing reactions of witnesses accordingly. |
| Hot Foot | With a successful ranged touch attack, magical flames spring to life on the target’s feet. |
| Hypnotism | Fascinates 2d4 HD of creatures. |
| Identify | Determines properties of magic item. |
| Invigorate | This spell banishes feelings of weariness. For the duration, the subject takes no penalties from the fatigued or exhausted conditions. |
| Joyful Noise | You create sonic vibrations that negate any magical silence effect in the area. |
| Lesser Confusion | One creature is confused for 1 round. |
| Little Dipper | A small ladle of glittery lights pours water at your command. |
| Magic Mouth | Speaks once when triggered. |
| Magic Aura | Alters object’s magic aura. |
| No Light | Prevents normal light from illuminating. (New) |
| Obscure Object | Masks object against scrying. |
| Phantom Musician | This spell causes a Musical instrument to hover above the ground and allows it to animate and play. (New) |
| Quickswim | This spell increases your base swim speed by 10 feet; this adjustment counts as an enhancement bonus. |
| Ray of Hope | Subject, gains a +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, and skill checks. |
| Remove Fear | Suppresses fear or gives +4 on saves against fear for one subject + one per four levels. |
| Remove Scent | With a touch of a wax-covered finger to the subject, you inhale deeply and smell nothing. |
| Serene Visage | You gain an insight bonus equal to one-half your caster level (maximum +10) on Bluff checks. |
| Share Sensation | This spell enables you to feel physical sensations just like your target feels. |
| Silent Image | Creates minor illusion of your design. |
| Silver Tongue | Gain +10 bonus to 1 Charisma based skill check, affects 1 sentence only |
| Sleep | Puts 4 HD of creatures into magical slumber. |
| Sorrow | Subject takes -3 penalty on attacks, saves, and checks. |
| Summon Monster I | Calls extraplanar creature to fight for you. |
| Undetectable Alignment | Conceals alignment for 24 hours. |
| Unnatural Lust | Your target is filled with lust and desire for a single creature or object as designated by you at the time of casting |
| Unseen Servant | Invisible force obeys your commands. |
| Ventriloquism | Throws voice for 1 min./level. |
| Vision of Exquisite Pleasure | Images of tantalizing and overwhelming sexual pleasure consume the affected target, causing him to pause in his tracks and revel in eroticism. |
2 Level
| 2nd-Level Bard Spells | |
| Addiction | Subject becomes addicted to a drug. |
| Alter Self | Assume form of a similar creature. |
| Animal Messenger | Sends a Tiny animal to a specific place. |
| Animal Trance | Fascinates 2d6 HD of animals. |
| Aura of Glory | Legacy Mongoose d20 version: touch spell granting a 1d4+1 enhancement bonus to Charisma. The separate 3.5e Spell Compendium version is Paladin-only. |
| Beguile | As Charm Person, except target is romantically inclined towards you. |
| Big Dipper | A large ladle of glittery lights pours refreshments at your command. |
| Blindness/Deafness | Makes subject blind or deaf. |
| Blur | Attacks miss subject 20% of the time. |
| Broca’s Curse of Babble | One subject can speak only babble. |
| Calm Emotions | Calms creatures, negating emotion effects. |
| Cat’s Grace | Subject gains +4 to Dexterity for 1 min./level. |
| Circle Dance | You divine the relative direction and condition of another creature. |
| Cloak of Silence | Sometimes there are situations in which you don’t want to be heard – and yet, you have to speak. |
| Cure Moderate Wounds | Cures 2d8 damage +1/level (max +10). |
| Dance of Ruin | Nondemons take 2d20 damage. |
| Darkness | 20-ft. radius of supernatural shadow. |
| Daze Monster | Living creature of 6 HD or less loses next action. |
| Delay Poison | Stops poison from harming subject for 1 hour/ level. |
| Detect Thoughts | Allows “listening” to surface thoughts. |
| Discord | Hidden hostilities become prevalent. |
| Eagle’s Splendor | Subject gains +4 to Charisma for 1 min./level. |
| Elation | Your allies become elated, full of energy and joy. |
| Eminently Talented | This spell grants a caster a +5 competance bonus on Perform (sexual techniques) checks. |
| Enhance Ability | |
| Enthrall | Captivates all within 100 ft. + 10 ft./level. |
| Escape of the Snake | Skin becomes flexible, +10 bonus to Escape Artist checks. |
| Fleet Feet of Hermes | This spell increases your base land speed by 60 feet. |
| Fool’s Gold | This spell makes metal objects, such as a bronze statue or a handful of copper coins, appear to be made of gold. |
| Gold Finder | You can sense the presence of gold within the range of the spell. |
| Fox’s Cunning | Subject gains +4 to Intelligence for 1 min./level. |
| Ghostbane Dirge | The target coalesces into a semi-physical form for a short period of time. |
| Glitterdust | Blinds creatures, outlines invisible creatures. |
| Heroism | Gives +2 on attack rolls, saves, skill checks. |
| Hero’s Visage | The caster emanates an aura of greatness, appearing like a hero of ancient legend, who only the bravest dare to approach, let alone fight. |
| Hold Person | Paralyzes one humanoid for 1 round/level. |
| Hypnotic Pattern | Fascinates (2d4 + level) HD of creatures. |
| Karma | You become more charismatic, more intelligent, and wiser. |
| Invisibility | Subject is invisible for 1 min./level or until it attacks. |
| Irritating Sniveler | Subject appears to be continuously sniveling. |
| Limited Telepathy | This spell enables you to create a connection with one other creature with an Intelligence score of 6 or higher within range. |
| Locate Object | Senses direction toward object (specific or type). |
| Mantle of Love | You imbue the subject with magical energy that protects her from harm, granting her a +4 morale bonus on all saves. |
| Mindless Rage | You fill the subject with so great a rage that it can do nothing but focus on engaging you in personal physical combat. |
| Minor Image | As silent image, plus some sound. |
| Mirror Image | Creates decoy duplicates of you (1d4 +1 per three levels, max 8). |
| Misdirection | Misleads divinations for one creature or object. |
| Peacock’s Beauty (Hera’s) | The transmuted creature becomes more attractive |
| Physique | You become more agile, more resilient, and stronger. |
| Pyrotechnics | Turns fire into blinding light or choking smoke. |
| Rage | Gives +2 to Strength and Constitution, +1 on Will saves, -2 to AC. |
| Rainbow Spray | A spray of rainbow colors stuns and blinds your enemies. |
| Resist Temptation | The caster becomes hardened to sexual advances and magical effects that entice him. |
| Scare | Panics creatures of less than 6 HD. |
| Shatter | Sonic vibration damages objects or crystalline creatures. |
| Shriek | Subjects within burst are shaken. |
| Silence | Negates sound in 20-ft. radius. |
| Snapdragon Fireworks | A favorite display at midsummer festivals, this spell lets you create fireworks in the shape of tiny dragons. |
| Song of Festering Death | Subject takes 2d6 damage per round while caster concentrates. |
| Sound Burst | Deals 1d8 sonic damage to subjects; may stun them. |
| Suggestion | Compels subject to follow stated course of action. |
| Summon Monster II | Calls extraplanar creature to fight for you. |
| Summon Swarm | Summons swarm of bats, rats, or spiders. |
| Tongues | Speak any language. |
| Touch Me Not | This spell charges your body with protective energy. |
| Vertigo | Subject dizzied, -4 to Dexterity |
| Wave of Grief | All within cone take -3 penalty on attacks, saves, and checks. |
| Whirling Blade | As you cast this spell, you hurl a single slashing weapon at your foes. |
| Whispering Wind | Sends a short message 1 mile/level |
3 Level
| 3rd-Level Bard Spells | |
|---|---|
| Adoration | One subject cannot attack you. |
| Ale Goggles, Mass | This spell functions as ale goggles, except that it affects multiple creatures. |
| Analyze portal | You know the sizes and locations of any magic portals in the area. |
| Apollo’s Grace | Through your song, you channel positive energy into your touch, granting temporary hit points. |
| Aversion | The target of this spell becomes repulsed and completely disgusted. |
| Babble | Victims in 20+5 ft per caster level cone speak babble |
| Beauty’s Caress | When touched, the target becomes much more attractive, poised, and self-confident. |
| Blink | You randomly vanish and reappear for 1 round/level. |
| Celebration | You cause any creatures in the area to feel increasingly more intoxicated the longer you perform a drinking song. |
| Charm Monster | Makes monster believe it is your ally. |
| Clairaudience/Clairvoyance | Hear or see at a distance for 1 min./level. |
| Combat Blessing | By invoking the favour of the gods, the caster augments the combat prowess of himself and his allies. |
| Confusion | Subjects behave oddly for 1 round/level. |
| Crushing Despair | Subjects take -2 on attack rolls, damage rolls, saves, and checks. |
| Cure Serious Wounds | Cures 3d8 damage +1/level (max +15). |
| Curse of the Putrid Husk | Subject is unconscious for 1d10 minutes. |
| Curse of the Suspicious Mind | Renders subject completely paranoid for 1 hour per level. (New) |
| Dance Macabre | Dance holds 1 target per level. |
| Daylight | 60-ft. radius of bright light. |
| Deep Slumber | Puts 10 HD of creatures to sleep. |
| Dispel Magic | Cancels magical spells and effects. |
| Displacement | Attacks miss subject 50%. |
| Empathic Surge | You broadcast your emotions to those around you – if they fail their saves, those nearby suddenly feel exactly the way you do. |
| Fascinate | The victim to become intrigued and infatuated with the caster. |
| Fear | Subjects within cone flee for 1 round/level. |
| Gaseous Form | Subject becomes insubstantial and can fly slowly. |
| Geas, Lesser | Commands subject of 7 HD or less. |
| Glibness | You gain +30 bonus on Bluff checks, and your lies can escape magical discernment. |
| Good Hope | Subjects gain +2 on attack rolls, damage rolls, saves, and checks. |
| Haste | One creature/level moves faster, +1 on attack rolls, AC, and Reflex saves. |
| Haunting Tune | The spell wrapped within your music makes even the most hard-hearted quail. (New) |
| Illusory Script | Only intended reader can decipher. |
| Imagery | Your music projects an image into peoples minds. (New) |
| Invisibility Sphere | Makes everyone within 10 ft. invisible. |
| Major Image | As silent image, plus sound, smell and thermal effects. |
| Orgasmic Vibrations | A grand, shuddering orgasm overwhelms a living creature that fails its saving throw, making the creature dazed for the duration of the spell. |
| Phantom Steed | Magic horse appears for 1 hour/level. |
| Remove Curse | Frees object or person from curse. |
| Repulsiveness | The target becomes hideous to gave upon, taking 1d6 points of Appearance damage per caster level (maximum 5d6). |
| Sadism | For every 10 hp damage caster deals, he gains +1 on attacks, saves, and checks. |
| Scrying | Spies on subject from a distance. |
| Sculpt Sound | Creates new sounds or changes existing ones. |
| Secret Page | Changes one page to hide its real content. |
| See Invisibility | Reveals invisible creatures or objects. |
| Sepia Snake Sigil | Creates text symbol that immobilizes reader. |
| Siren’s Call | The targets of this spell hear a sudden, distant song that instills in them a longing for the sea. |
| Slow | One subject/level takes only one action/round, -1 to AC, reflex saves, and attack rolls. |
| Speak with Animals | You can communicate with animals. |
| Stunning Screech. | All within 30 ft. are stunned for 1 round. |
| Summon Monster III | Calls extraplanar creature to fight for you. |
| Tiny Hut | Creates shelter for ten creatures |
| Virgin Innocence | Makes target believe the caster is innocent of one deed |
4 Level
| 4th-Level Bard Spells | |
|---|---|
| Amnesia | This spell causes the target to forget who he is and where he is from. |
| Bloodcurdling Scream | Subjects within burst flee for 1 round/level. |
| Break Enchantment | Frees subjects from enchantments, alterations, curses, and petrification. |
| Cat’s Grace, Greater | This spell functions like cat’s grace, except as noted above. |
| Cure Critical Wounds | Cures 4d8 damage +1/level (max +20). |
| Deceptive Object | Subject believes that an item is something else that it really is. |
| Detect Scrying | Alerts you of magical eavesdropping. |
| Dimension Door | Teleport’s you short distance. |
| Dolorous Motes | This spell creates flickering motes of light that cause intense mental anguish. |
| Dominate Person | Controls humanoid telepathically. |
| Eagle’s splendor, Greater | This spell functions like eagle’s splendor, except as noted. |
| Empathic Transfer | As empathic surge, but you tap the emotions of another creature within 30 feet and broadcast that individual’s emotions to the target area. |
| False Success of the Fool | Subject believes that he completed the task at hand despite being not the case. |
| Flowsight | By touching a nearby source of water – you can perceive creatures and objects in contact with the water. |
| Freedom of Movement | Subject moves normally despite impediments. |
| Ghostbane Dirge, Mass | This spell functions as ghostbane dirge, except that it affects multiple targets. |
| Hallucinatory Terrain | Makes one type of terrain appear like another (field into forest, or the like). |
| Hold Monster | As hold person, but any creature. |
| Improved Cat’s Grace | As Cat’s Grace , but with a longer duration. |
| Improved eagle’s splendor | As eagle’s splendor , but with a longer duration. |
| Improved Erase | This spell functions as erase except that it can affect all magical symbols, including all symbol spells. |
| Improved Fox’s Cunning | As fox’s cunning, but with a longer duration. |
| Improved Karma | This spell functions like Karma, except as noted above. |
| Improved Physique | As physique, but with a longer duration. |
| Insistent Beat | Subjects are at -4 on mental ability and skill checks. |
| Invisibility, Greater | As invisibility, but subject can attack and stay invisible. |
| Legend Lore | Lets you learn tales about a person, place, or thing. |
| Locate Creature | Indicates direction to familiar creature. |
| Mark of Apollo | You draw an indelible mark on the subject worthy of Apollo’s blessings |
| Martyr’s Cry | Scream, if caster dies in 1 hr, all who heard scream save or cursed. |
| Masque | The bard looks like multiple targets close friends. |
| Mind to Mind | This spell links the caster with one other individual. |
| Modify Memory | Changes 5 minutes of subject’s memories. |
| Neutralize Poison | Immunizes subject against poison, detoxifies venom in or on subject. |
| Rainbow Pattern | Lights fascinate 24 HD of creatures. |
| Repel Vermin | Insects, spiders, and other vermin stay 10 ft. away. |
| Secure Shelter | Creates sturdy cottage. |
| Seduction | Come to me. |
| Shadow Conjuration | Mimics conjuring below 4th level, but only 20% real. |
| Shout | Deafens all within cone and deals 5d6 sonic damage. |
| Sirine’s Grace | Upon completion of this spell, you are infused with unearthly grace and confidence. |
| Speak with Plants | You can talk to normal plants and plant creatures. |
| Succor | The spell prevents 1 negative energy level or level drain per 5 caster levels (maximum 4 levels). |
| Summon Monster IV | Calls extraplanar creature to fight for you. |
| Vision of Exquisite Pleasure, Mass | The spell functions as vision of exquisite pleasure except that it affects multiple creatures. |
| Voice of the Dragon | You gain a +10 enhancement bonus on your Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks. |
| Zone of Silence | Keeps eavesdroppers from overhearing conversations. |
5 Level
| 5th-Level Bard Spells | |
|---|---|
| Adoring Crowd | A number of subjects within close range cannot attack you. |
| Aim of Sagittarius | Your ranged attacks strike with uncanny accuracy. |
| Malediction | A malediction is a more severe form of bestow curse. |
| Cure Light Wounds, Mass | Cures 1d8 damage +1/level for many creatures. |
| Dispel Magic, Greater | As dispel magic, but +20 on check. |
| Dissonant Chorus | Music causes Wisdom damage, prevents verbal spellcasting. |
| Dream | Sends message to anyone sleeping. |
| False Vision M | Fools scrying with an illusion. |
| Hedonist’s Delight | confer on the subject heightened sensitivity to pleasurable sensations. |
| Heroism, Greater | Gives +4 bonus on attack rolls, saves, skill checks; immunity to fear; temporary hp. |
| Mind Fog | Subjects in fog get -10 to Wisdom and Will checks. |
| Mirage Arcana | As hallucinatory terrain, plus structures. |
| Mislead | Turns you invisible and creates illusory double. |
| Morality Undone. | Subject becomes evil. |
| Nightmare | Sends vision dealing 1d10 damage, fatigue. |
| Orpheus’s Song of Sanctuary | This spell wards allies from direct attack. |
| Persistent Image | As major image, but no Concentration required. |
| Primal Scream | 5 HD or less take 6d6 sonic damage, greater than 5 takes 4d6, all subjects must save or Scare. |
| Seeming | Changes appearance of one person per two levels. |
| Shadow Evocation | Mimics evocation of lower than 5th level, but only 20% real. |
| Shadow Walk | Step into shadow to travel rapidly. |
| Song of Discord | Forces targets to attack each other. |
| Soul Shackles | Imprisons soul of dead creature in talisman, from which caster can question it. |
| Suggestion, Mass | As suggestion, plus one subject/level. |
| Summon Monster V | Calls extraplanar creature to fight for you. |
6 Level
| 6th-Level Bard Spells | |
|---|---|
| Analyze Dweomer | Reveals magical aspects of subject. |
| Animate Objects | Objects attack your foes. |
| Apollo’s Grace, Mass | This spell functions like Apollo’s grace, save that affects multiple subjects. |
| Apollo’s Song of Healing | Through your song, you channel positive energy into a creature to wipe away injury and afflictions. |
| Bestow Greater Curse | Subject takes -6 penalty to two abilities; -8 penalty on attacks, saves, and checks; or 75% chance of taking no action. |
| Blind Love | Subject falls in love with any creature that you want him to. |
| Cat’s Grace, Mass | As Cat’s Grace, affects one subject/level. |
| Charm Monster, Mass | As charm monster, but all within 30 ft. |
| Cure Moderate Wounds, Mass | Cures 2d8 damage +1/level for many creatures. |
| Eagle’s Splendor, Mass | As eagle’s splendor, affects one subject/level. |
| Eyebite | Target becomes panicked, sickened, and comatose. |
| Find the Path | Shows most direct way to a location. |
| Fool’s Forbiddance | Through your antics and performance, you create an area of warding that adversely affects all enemies that dare enter it. |
| Fox’s Cunning, Mass | As fox’s cunning, affects one subject/level. |
| Geas/Quest | As lesser geas, plus it affects any creature. |
| Glam Dicinn | Subject’s appearance and reputation changed forever for the worst. |
| Heroes’ Feast | Food for one creature/level cures and grants combat bonuses. |
| Irresistible Dance | Forces subject to dance. |
| Karma Mass | As Karma, but affecting multiple creatures. |
| Nixie’s Grace | You feel a longing for cool waters, and a forceful confidence manifests within you. Your movements and thoughts become filled with grace. |
| Orgasmic Vibrations, Mass | As orgasmic vibrations, except this spell affects multiple creatures. |
| Permanent Image | Includes sight, sound, and smell. |
| Programmed Image | As major image, plus triggered by event. |
| Project Image | Illusory double can talk and cast spells. |
| Physique Mass | As physique, but affecting multiple creatures. |
| Ray of Light | You direct a short ray at the eyes of a target. |
| Scrying, Greater | As scrying, but faster and longer. |
| Shout, Greater | Devastating yell deals 10d6 sonic damage; stuns creatures, damages objects. |
| Sirine’s Song | All within the area must make a Will save or become mesmerized by the music and be drawn to it. |
| Sleep of Ages | You throw the targeted creature into an endless sleep. |
| Smitten | This spell operates similarly to the fascinate spell, however its effects are more extreme. |
| Snowsong | While the snow falls, allies in the area hear a soft, lilting song that bolsters their spirits and confidence. |
| Spirit Bow | A phantom bow fire magical arrows at your enemies. |
| Summon Monster VI | Calls extraplanar creature to fight for you. |
| Sympathetic Vibration | Deals 2d10 damage/round to freestanding structure. |
| Wave of Pain | Stuns all within cone for 1 round/2 levels. |
| Veil | Changes appearance of group of creatures. |
| Youth and Beauty | You return the vigor of youth. |
Bardic Performance
Sources and Licensing
- 2024 core list: SRD 5.2.1. Additional 2024 names follow the 2024 Basic Rules Bard list.
- 2014 core list: SRD 5.1. Other sourcebooks expand this list.
- Pathfinder core list: Pathfinder Reference Document.
- 3.5e core list: 3.5e SRD.
This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 (“SRD 5.2.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC, available at https://www.dndbeyond.com/srd. The SRD 5.2.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work includes material taken from the System Reference Document 5.1 (“SRD 5.1”) by Wizards of the Coast LLC and available at https://dnd.wizards.com/resources/systems-reference-document. The SRD 5.1 is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, John D. Rateliff, Thomas Reid, James Wyatt, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.
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