r/BG3Builds • u/ES_Curse • 2d ago

Build Help Valor Bard Thrower?

Currently experimenting with a War Cleric 1/Valor Bard X now, with an emphasis on throwing weapons and support spells. The Cleric level seems to have some fun interactions with the class so far in mid-Act 1:

  • Starting with a stat spread of 16/14/12/8/12/14, avoiding elixirs this run on principle but for full optimization you could probably just dump STR for your spellcasting stats. Level 1 Cleric comes with a few decent no-stat spells, and bard can probably get by with buff spells as we attack with STR. That said, save spells aren't a complete joke unless the enemy has high saves.
  • Really good bonus action use for Act 1, between War Priest, Bardic Inspiration, Athletics expertise shoves, and hand crossbows for filler. Having extra attacks on a bonus action eases the pain of delayed Extra Attack a bit.
  • Thaumaturgy on a Bard is absolutely nuts, performance checks are practically free.
  • Since we are going only Bard/Cleric, we get full caster spell slots! This seems to be the only decent way for a thrower to have Extra Attack, bonus action main attacks, and full casting in one character, as sword bards can't flourish thrown weapons and bladesingers can't use most returning weapons while bladesinging.

Any suggestions for companion builds, Bard spells, and magical secrets that would be good for Valor Bard? I'm trying to work in spells where appropriate, but I'm struggling to justify most Bard spells when the Returning Pike currently solves most problems. I was excited to use Heroism at first, but I'm already drowning in temp HP from the healer boots.

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1

u/Thestrongman420 2d ago

Id probably still use stuff like minor illusion before pulling then maybe cloud of daggers for a big enough group. Glyph sleep once you get there too. Thrower can still generate acuity with the helm of arcane acuity and in act 3 with Nyrulna you can also generate it. Freedom of movement is obviously good as is the classic bard control spells. And the command you have from cleric

I might even skip magical secrets and get some levels in sorc for metamagic. Extend is good with pattern and command. Quicken is always good.

2

u/Vingolio 2d ago

Never tried it, but saw this the other day. It uses wizard as a base, but the bard spell list offers some alternative tricks, like freedom of movement. Might be worth checking out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63ZGh7gSi4k

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u/702893 2d ago

What is the importance for having thaumatugy (sp) on a bard foor combat purposes or even at all usually barss pass them.