Creation Bard Build Guide – Gain Unlimited Utility – 2024 Update

For all D&D guides on Nat1gaming, they only use the main sourcebooks (Player’s Handbook, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything) as well as Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos (mostly for Silvery Barbs) as those tend to be the most commonly used books at tables. Always be sure that if you’re following a guide that you’re adhering to your tables rules about what sourcebooks you are allowed to follow.

Any spell, class, feature, or other game item that is linkable on this website is covered by the 5th edition Open Games License and will be in the Player’s Handbook, but not everything in the Player’s Handbook will be linked to. All other materials that aren’t linked to are from other sourcebooks or aren’t allowed to be linked to per the 5th Edition Open Games License, so please refer to the appropriate sourcebooks for that information.

For the purposes of this guide, it will be assumed that you would not be multiclassing. While multiclassing can be excellent for many of these, this is for those who want to play the build all the way through in the same class. Guides that use multiclassing will be separate from these.

For spellcasters, you may notice substantial overlap between the spell lists of builds with the same base class. This is due to each guide utilizing a generically good spell list and not considering extenuating factors that will influence how you particularly sculpt your spell list. When creating your own spell list, you should take into account the campaign setting, what spells any other party members are capable of casting, potential overlap (ritual spells tend to overlap so it’s rare you need multiple people capable of casting them), or potential shortcomings in the parties total spell list. While this guide can definitely help point you in the right direction for crafting a spell list, you should use your judgement and preferences to figure out what spells make the most sense for your character.

To that end, please refer to the Spell List and Spell Tier list for any substitutions you’d want to make to the build.

The Complete Bard Spell List

Bard Spell Tier List – The Best Bard Spells

Magical Secrets Tier List – The Best Non-Bard Spells for Bards

College of Creation is great for Bards who like approaching their problems in creative ways. Since you can create items out of thin air, the angles at which an issue can be tackled are functionally innumerable.

Even if you aren’t the most creative problem solver, College of Creation is still a solid subclass that adds a lot of utility to the Bard kit which is more than welcome.

Mote of Potential (Level 3) – B+ Tier – Bardic Inspiration is already good, and making it even better is always a good thing. While the attack roll buff isn’t great

Performance of Creation (Level 3) – C Tier – Creating non-magical objects is neat, but this is not a feature you’re going to use particularly often. Still nice to have in a pinch!

Animating Performance (Level 6) – B- Tier – This is a decent summon option, even if the scaling isn’t necessarily the best. Solid in earlier levels and still alright in later levels as a distraction.

Creative Crescendo (Level 14)- C Tier – Performance of Creation is alright, and upgrading it is just alright.

The Ultimate 2024 One D&D Subclass Tier List

DnD 2024 Class and Subclass Tier List Breakdown

Level	Class Features/Feat	Notes
1	Spellcasting, Bardic Inspiration (d6)	+ Prestidigitation + Vicious Mockery + Detect Magic + Faerie Fire + Feather Fall + Healing Word
2	Expertise, Jack of All Trades	+ Comprehend Languages
3	Mote of Potential, Performance of Creation	+ Suggestion
4	Feat: Inspiring Leader (CHA)	+ Mage Hand + Aid
5	Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration	+ Dispel Magic + Hypnotic Pattern
6	Animating Performance	+ Tiny Hut
7	Countercharm	+ Polymorph
8	Feat: Resilient (CON)	+ Dimension Door
9	Expertise	+ Greater Restoration + Telepathic Bond
10	Bardic Inspiration (d10), Magical Secrets	– Faerie Fire + Minor Illusion + Revivify + Wall of Force
11	–	– Comprehend Languages + Counterspell + Mass Suggestion
12	Feat: Charisma to 20	None
13	–	– Aid + Crown of Stars + Teleport
14	Creative Crescendo	None
15	Bardic Inspiration (d12)	+ Maze
16	Feat: Constitution to 18	– Polymorph + Simulacrum
17	–	+ Wish
18	Superior Inspiration	+ True Polymorph
19	Epic Boon: Boon of Luck	+ Mass Heal
20	Words of Creation	+ Power Word: Heal (Words of Creation) + Power Word: Kill (Words of Creation) + Shapechange

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Species: Aasimar

Attributes:

	POINT BUY
STRENGTH	8
DEXTERITY	15 (+1 background) = 16
CONSTITUTION	15
INTELLIGENCE	8
WISDOM	8
CHARISMA	15 (+1 background) = 17

Class: Bard

Class Features: Spellcasting, Bardic Inspiration

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Performance, and Persuasion

Background: Entertainer (Musician)

Starting Equipment: Leather Armor, 2 Daggers, Musical Instrument of choice, Entertainer’s Pack, and 19 gp + 50gp from background

Starting Spells:

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic
1st Level Spell	Faerie Fire
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word

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Species: Aasimar

The best species for your average build. Human is a consideration as well to grab Alert on top of Musician, but Aasimar just give a lot of value, and since you have a background you’re happy with, Aasimar is the next best choice.

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Attributes

	POINT BUY
STRENGTH	8
DEXTERITY	15 (+1 background) = 16
CONSTITUTION	15
INTELLIGENCE	8
WISDOM	8
CHARISMA	15 (+1 background) = 17

A Bard’s main stat is Charisma so that has to be buffed. Beyond that, Dexterity and Constitution are most important to not get constantly downed, so pumping those up is also a great idea.

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Proficiencies: Insight, Performance, and Persuasion

As a Bard, you should be really good at playing instruments and really good at talking with people. These skills allow that the best in my opinion, but you can change these as you want.

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Background: Entertainer

You need a background that gives you a bonus to Charisma at a minimum, but if you can get the best Origin feat to boot? This is an easy choice for Bards.

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Starting Equipment – Leather Armor, 2 Daggers, Musical Instrument of choice, Entertainer’s Pack, and 19 gp + 50gp from background

Standard Bard fare, nothing novel.

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Class – Bard

Bards get two inherent features at level one: Spellcasting and Bardic Inspiration.

Spellcasting will be discussed more in the next section, but like the other full casters now (sans Wizard who’s slightly different), you have a prepared list of spells rather than spells known which is a nice change.

Bardic Inspiration is a unique feature that grants allies a die that can be used to aid any d20 test for a full hour, and better yet, they can wait to see the result of the roll before deciding. This is a very powerful feature and one that really helps the Bard stand out.

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Starting Spells

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Faerie Fire
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word

For Bards, this is going to pretty much always be the starting spell list I would recommend.

For your cantrips, most players would say that Vicious Mockery is mandatory as it’s the Bards best attack cantrip. There is Starry Wisp if you prioritize damage, but giving up an average of 1 point of damage for a little bit of CC is well worth it in my eyes. For your second cantrip, it’s more up to you on what utility cantrip you’re interested in. I’m in the camp that Prestidigitation is the most versatile, but if you like Mage Hand or Minor Illusion more, absolutely feel free to take those (as this build will do eventually anyway).

Since Bards don’t have the best damage options, I recommend sticking to what they’re good at – utility (Detect Magic, Feather Fall), support (Healing Word), and CC (Faerie Fire).

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Level 2

Class Features: Expertise, Jack of All Trades

Spell Change Log: + Comprehend Languages

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Faerie Fire
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word

Level 2 immediately brings a lot to the table in terms of abilities.

The first ability you get at level 2 is Expertise, so you get Expertise in any two skill proficiencies you have. Always fine, use these on skill checks you have been using often.

The second Bard ability you gain access to is Jack of All Trades, where you can add half your proficiency bonus to any skill check you aren’t proficient in. While this isn’t going to do very much early, if your campaign is going into the later levels, being able to pick up an additional 2 or more on your skill checks is quite good.

For your spell choice, I like picking up Comprehend Languages nice and early. In some campaigns this is not going to be a helpful spell, but in most, you will get use out of this.

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Level 3

Class: College of Creation

Class Features: Mote of Potential, Performance of Creation

Spell Change Log: + Suggestion

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Faerie Fire
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion

You pick your subclass at level 3, and of course, it’s College of Creation! Creation gives you two new abilities right off the bat with Mote of Potential and Performance of Creation.

Mote of Potential is just a functional buff to your Bardic Inspiration – depending on what that target uses it on, they inspiration gives an additional effect. None of these additional effects are ground-breaking, but all are solid so you don’t feel pigeonholed in what type of roll you use your Bardic Inspiration on. To that end, I’d argue that the additional effect granted to the ability check is the best one which is unfortunate since using Bardic Inspiration on an ability check is probably the weakest use, but at least the other two are still good.

The second ability has a lot of discourse surrounding it with Performance of Creation. Since this can create items, there is a bit of ambiguity on how it would work, how much certain items cost, etc. Some of the strength of this ability is how your DM is going to interpret it and your creativity, but even the least creative of players can definitely find a lot of good uses for this.

With all of that out of the way, level 3 also brings second level spells! My favorite second level spell for Bards is easily Suggestion. This spell is extremely versatile as it has both in and out of combat utility as you can compel the target to do what you want. Out of combat you can have someone fork over all of their possessions. In combat, you can convince the target to just leave or something another action that’s just as impactful! The possibilities and power of this spell are quite endless!

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Level 4

Feat: Inspiring Leader (CHA)

Class Features: None

Spell Change Log: + Mage Hand + Aid

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Faerie Fire
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Aid
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion

Level four brings an feat, a new cantrip, and a new spells!

Since you want to get that coveted 18 Charisma, you should take the excellent feat – Inspiring Leader. Inspiring Leader gives you and your team a good amount of temporary health at the end of every short or long rest which is really powerful. If you already have an ally with this feat, I would opt for Fey-Touched instead to grab Silvery Barbs (or Hideous Laughter if your campaign doesn’t allow Silvery Barbs) and Misty Step. If you do use this feat, don’t forget about using Musician as well!

For your cantrip, you can pick up another utility cantrip and I’m picking up Mage Hand at this point. This or Minor Illusion would be a great choice right now.

Finally, you get a new spell with Aid.

I’m a big fan of Aid. 15 health split amongst three allies is definitely solid, and this scales up reasonably well with upcasting which makes it a solid spell over all.

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Level 5

Class Features: Bardic Inspiration (d8), Font of Inspiration

Spell Change Log: – Faerie Fire + Dispel Magic + Hypnotic Pattern

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Faerie Fire
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Aid
2nd Level Spell	Lesser Restoration
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern

Level 5 gives you a buff to Bardic Inspiration, Font of Inspiration, and third level spells.

First your Bardic Inspiration increases to 1d8 which is great considering the average roll will be a 4.5 which is a sizable buff, especially at this level.

Furthermore, Font of Inspiration lets you regain your Bardic Inspiration on both short and long rests which can, at a minimum, double the amount of Inspiration you get to pass around which is obviously incredible.

With so many third level spells we’re interested in, something has to go to make room. While it’s likely served you well thus far, Faerie Fire has to hit the bench. You’ll have enough Concentration spells you’re interested in that you won’t need Faerie Fire anymore.

For the spells you get, you have Dispel Magic and Hypnotic Pattern.

While Bards can’t normally get Counterspell (until Magical Secrets anyway), Dispel Magic is the next best thing. Being able to cancel a magical effect can be extremely important both in and out of combat.

For a combat spell, this is a good time to pick up the excellent Hypnotic Pattern. This spell is such a potent CC spell that it’s in contention for best third level combat spell with Fireball. Being able to potentially lock down multiple enemies with one spell slot is extremely powerful.

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Level 6

Class Features: Animating Performance

Spell Change Log: + Tiny Hut

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Faerie Fire
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Aid
2nd Level Spell	Lesser Restoration
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)

Level 6 brings another ability with Animating Performance.

Animating Performance gives you a powerful pet to use in battle that can be surprisingly tanky and a real hindrance to your enemies as it can deal decent damage and use a small form of CC. While this won’t scale the best, this is a solid ability until the later levels.

For your spell choice, this is a good opportunity to pick up the excellent ritual spell – Tiny Hut. This is just a generally good spell to use if you have to camp out for the night as it can protect you from enemies, the elements, and it can let you get the the drop on someone who doesn’t notice it.

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Level 7

Class Feature: Countercharm

Spell Change Log: + Polymorph

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Faerie Fire
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Aid
2nd Level Spell	Lesser Restoration
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Polymorph

For your regular Bard ability, you get Countercharm. If you or an ally fail a save to stave off the charmed or frightened condition, you can force a reroll with advantage. This is a nice ability to have, it just comes up pretty infrequently so it’s a bit easy to forget about it.

Now that you’re level 7, you get access to the best fourth level spell in the game – Polymorph. Polymorph is so egregiously good as it can take yourself or an ally who’s low on health, low on resources, or for whatever reason not able to fight and turn you back into a threat. While the Beasts don’t scale past level 8, Giant Ape and Tyrannosaurus Rex will remain viable for quite a long time regardless. Furthermore, this can function as CC as well to turn an enemy into something harmless like a Crab for a little bit in case you need that. Excellent spell all around.

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Level 8

Feat: Resilient (CON)

Class Features: None

Spell Change Log: + Dimension Door

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Faerie Fire
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Aid
2nd Level Spell	Lesser Restoration
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
4th Level Spell	Polymorph

Level 8 brings your second feat and this is a good time to pick up Resilient (CON). Getting more health on top of proficiency in constitution saving throws is really good for casters, especially if you don’t pick up War Caster.

For your spell choice, you can pick up one of the best teleportation spells in the game – Dimension Door. Being able to teleport without seeing where you’re going is excellent for infiltrations, escapes, and you can even bring an ally along!

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Level 9

Class Features: Expertise

Spell Change Log: + Greater Restoration + Telepathic Bond

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Faerie Fire
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Aid
2nd Level Spell	Lesser Restoration
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
4th Level Spell	Polymorph
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)

Expertise comes back this level around so your skill checks are even better now.

You now get access to fifth level spells and you can pick up Greater Restoration and Telepathic Bond.

Greater Restoration is a nice healing spell if you need it as being able to save yourself or an ally from a variety of really nasty condition is really nice, even if you don’t have to use this often.

Telepathic Bond is a great option to talk covertly with your buds which is stronger than it may seem, and since it’s a ritual, it doesn’t eat into one of your precious fifth level spell slots nor your prepared spell list!

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Level 10

Class Features: Bardic Inspiration (d10), Magical Secrets

Spell Change Log: – Faerie Fire / + Minor Illusion + Revivify + Wall of Force

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Aid
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
4th Level Spell	Polymorph
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force

Level 10 brings a lot to the table with a buff to Bardic Inspiration (d10), Expertise, and Magical Secrets.

The Bardic Inspiration buff, like last time, is great. An average of 5.5 added to a roll is pretty massive.

Finally, you get Bard’s best ability – Magical Secrets. Now moving forward, you can pull spells from the Bard spell list, Cleric spell list, Druid spell list, or Wizard spell list. Realistically, you’re mostly just going to pull spells from the Wizard list, but having the versatility to grab spells from four spell lists is obviously incredible.

Since there are so many spells you want at this point, you have to nix ones to make room. While it’s likely been a bit helpful at this point, Faerie Fire can hit the bin for now as this is nice to have, but far from a necessity.

Revivify is yet another staple for every party and you really can’t have too many Revivify casters as, if the lone Revivify is the one to go down, your party will be out of luck.

Finally, you get to pick up one of the best spells in the game, Wall of Force! Splitting an encounter in half is unbelievable or even just trapping the main enemy of the encounter, taking out all of the minions, and then going after the boss is an incredible use of this. You do have to be careful how often you use this as your DM might start preparing more active countermeasures to not have their encounters hosed by this, but otherwise, this is going to be incredible.

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Level 11

Class Feature: None

Spell Change Log: – Comprehend Languages / + Counterspell + Mass Suggestion

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Aid
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Counterspell
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
4th Level Spell	Polymorph
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force
6th Level Spell	Mass Suggestion

You get more spells and you definitely want to swap out some spells to get more room. To that end, Comprehend Languages has to get the boot to make room.

Counterspell is absolutely broken and you should have as many people capable of casting this as possible. Stopping a spell with a reaction is incredible.

Now that you have sixth level spells, you get access to the best one – Mass Suggestion. Suggestion is already an excellent spell, and being able to to do that to up to twelve targets is extremely powerful.

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Level 12

Feat: Charisma to 20

Spell Change Log: None

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Aid
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Counterspell
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
4th Level Spell	Polymorph
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force
6th Level Spell	Mass Suggestion

Your next feat is here and you should look to max out your Charisma. The best spells and conversation skills possible is really nice.

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Level 13

Class Feature: None

Spell Change Log: – Aid / + Crown of Stars + Teleport

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Counterspell
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
4th Level Spell	Polymorph
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force
6th Level Spell	Mass Suggestion
7th Level Spell	Crown of Stars
7th Level Spell	Teleport

Seventh level spell time, and like third level spells, you need to make room for your best ones.

Aid is a good spell, but it definitely loses its utility in high levels of play as the health just does not scale well anymore. Poor Aid, but it’s time to go.

Crown of Stars is a good damage spell that can be set up ahead of time, requires no Concentration, and only takes future bonus actions. Nothing too showstopping, but very solid, especially in a class that doesn’t normally get good damage spells.

Your second spell is one of the best utility spells in Teleport. Being able to move long distances instantaneously is extremely helpful and saves massive amounts of time in travel.

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Level 14

Class Features: Creative Crescendo

Spell Change Log: None

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Counterspell
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
4th Level Spell	Polymorph
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force
6th Level Spell	Mass Suggestion
7th Level Spell	Crown of Stars
7th Level Spell	Teleport

You get your final subclass feature to work with – Creative Crescendo.

Creative Crescendo simply buffs your Song of Creation by allowing you to make more items. How good this is, again, depends on how good Song of Creation has been for you thus far.

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Level 15

Class Features: Bardic Inspiration (d12)

Spell Change Log: + Maze

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Counterspell
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
4th Level Spell	Polymorph
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force
6th Level Spell	Mass Suggestion
7th Level Spell	Crown of Stars
7th Level Spell	Teleport
8th Level Spell	Maze

Level 15 brings your final upgrade to Bardic Inspiration up to d12, which again, is great.

Maze is always a fun one as Intelligence saving throws are pretty hard to pass for most characters, and if you’re facing an enemy with a negative bonus to Intelligence, they literally can’t escape (barring your DM doesn’t rule nat 20s as auto-successes no matter the DC like Baldur’s Gate 3 does), making this excellent.

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Level 16

Feat: Constitution to 18

Class Feature: None

Spell Change Log: – Polymorph / + Simulacrum

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Counterspell
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force
6th Level Spell	Mass Suggestion
7th Level Spell	Crown of Stars
7th Level Spell	Simulacrum
7th Level Spell	Teleport
8th Level Spell	Maze

Level 16 brings your final feat, and now is a great time to buff your Constitution a bit. Getting better concentration saves and more health can never be a bad thing.

While you don’t normally get a spell this level, you can if you swap one out. To that end, it’s time to take out Polymorph. While an excellent spell, it’s not necessarily going to hold up at these super high levels.

Simulacrum, while a spell you won’t prepare often, is very messed up. This will break easily and none of the spells nor abilities refresh, but having a mini-me can be invaluable if you know you’re heading into a really tough encounter. Look to prepare this only if you intend on spending a day to cast this rather than having it perpetually prepared. Furthermore, remember that any spells you have prepared on the day you cast this will be what it has access to, so be mindful of that.

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Level 17

Class Features: None

Spell Change Log: + Wish

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Counterspell
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force
6th Level Spell	Mass Suggestion
7th Level Spell	Crown of Stars
7th Level Spell	Simulacrum
7th Level Spell	Teleport
8th Level Spell	Maze
9th Level Spell	Wish

Wish is the best spell in the game, but can come with some real drawbacks depending on what you wish for, one of them being the potential to lose the ability to cast Wish. You can safely replicate eighth level spell effects or lower, but it’s just pure chaos from that point. Know who wouldn’t mind casting Wish though? Your Simulacrum! Make them cast the Wish for you, and then next level, True Polymorph them into something better. What a combo!

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Level 18

Class Features: Superior Inspiration

Spell Change Log: + True Polymorph

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Counterspell
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force
6th Level Spell	Mass Suggestion
7th Level Spell	Crown of Stars
7th Level Spell	Simulacrum
7th Level Spell	Teleport
8th Level Spell	Maze
9th Level Spell	True Polymorph
9th Level Spell	Wish

You get your penultimate class ability this level with Superior Inspiration. This simply gives you a Bardic Inspiration die when you enter a combat if you’re out of them. A bit unexciting, but it’s something.

You get yet another excellent spell this level with True Polymorph.

True Polymorph has all the advantages of Polymorph, but you get to pick from any creature that’s your CR or lower, and if you hold Concentration for an hour, the change is permanent* (once you lose the temp HP pool, you revert, but this is still pretty good). While the old version of this spell was stronger, you can use the “permanent” transformation more liberally as you can always revert once you take enough damage. Better yet, once your Simulacrum has almost run its course, you can just permanently change it into a huge threat to get more use out of it!

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Level 19

Epic Boon: Boon of Luck

Class Features: None

Spell Change Log: + Mass Heal

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Counterspell
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force
6th Level Spell	Mass Suggestion
7th Level Spell	Crown of Stars
7th Level Spell	Simulacrum
7th Level Spell	Teleport
8th Level Spell	Maze
9th Level Spell	Mass Heal
9th Level Spell	True Polymorph
9th Level Spell	Wish

Level 19 brings your Epic Boon, and it’s hard to go wrong with Boon of Fate. Being able to potentially turn a failure into a success and vice versa, even if it’s once per short or long rest, can be the difference between surviving an encounter and not.

For your spell choice, you can pick up Mass Heal. Mass Heal simply doles out SEVEN HUNDRED points of healing amongst your team, which in nearly every scenario, is going to be a full heal. Use this in a tough combat to really turn the tide on the enemy.

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Level 20

Class Feature: Words of Creation

Spell Change Log: + Power Word: Heal (Words of Creation) + Power Word: Kill (Words of Creation) + Shapechange

SPELL LEVEL	SPELL NAME
Cantrip	Mage Hand
Cantrip	Minor Illusion
Cantrip	Prestidigitation
Cantrip	Vicious Mockery
1st Level Spell	Comprehend Languages (R)
1st Level Spell	Detect Magic (R)
1st Level Spell	Feather Fall
1st Level Spell	Healing Word
2nd Level Spell	Suggestion
3rd Level Spell	Counterspell
3rd Level Spell	Dispel Magic
3rd Level Spell	Hypnotic Pattern
3rd Level Spell	Revivify
3rd Level Spell	Tiny Hut (R)
4th Level Spell	Dimension Door
5th Level Spell	Greater Restoration
5th Level Spell	Telepathic Bond (R)
5th Level Spell	Wall of Force
6th Level Spell	Mass Suggestion
7th Level Spell	Crown of Stars
7th Level Spell	Simulacrum
7th Level Spell	Teleport
8th Level Spell	Maze
9th Level Spell	Mass Heal
9th Level Spell	Power Word: Heal
9th Level Spell	Power Word: Kill
9th Level Spell	Shapechange
9th Level Spell	True Polymorph
9th Level Spell	Wish

For your capstone ability, you get Words of Creation! Words of Creation gives you both Power Word: Heal and Power Word: Kill for free, which isn’t that exciting as neither spell is that great. However, this ability lets you target an additional creature within 10 feet of your original target which is super cool. I don’t envision that you are going to use this too often, but this can be pretty high impact when you do.

Your final spell choice is Shapechange! Shapechange does a very similar thing as True Polymorph, but instead of being able to make the transformation permanent, you can change forms in order to reset health and any other abilities the new form you’re switching to will have. Excellent for tough fights, just a bit less versatile than True Polymorph.