Subclass Bard College of Lore

What Is the College of Lore?

The College of Lore is a Bard subclass built around knowledge, versatility, and debuffing. Cutting Words at Level 3 uses Bardic Inspiration as a Reaction to subtract from enemy rolls. Bonus Proficiencies expands the Bard's already wide skill list by 3 more choices. Magical Discoveries at Level 6 provides Magical Secrets access 4 levels early — two spells from any class list.

Class Features

Progression Overview

LEVEL	FEATURE
3	Cutting Words, Bonus Proficiencies
6	Magical Discoveries

Level 3

Cutting Words When a creature that you can see within 60 feet of you makes an attack roll or an ability check, or deals damage, you can use your Reaction and expend one use of Bardic Inspiration to roll the Bardic Inspiration die and subtract the number rolled from that roll.

Bonus Proficiencies You gain proficiency in 3 additional skills of your choice from the Bard skill list.

Level 6

Magical Discoveries You learn two spells of your choice from the Bard, Cleric, Druid, and Wizard spell lists — the same pool the class's Level 10 Magical Secrets draws from. A spell you choose must be a level you can cast.

The chosen spells count as Bard spells for you but don't count against the number of Bard spells you know.

Playstyle Notes

The College of Lore is the knowledge and control Bard. Cutting Words is a versatile Reaction — spending Bardic Inspiration to subtract the die roll from an enemy attack or ability check, potentially turning a hit into a miss or a successful check into a failure. With Font of Inspiration at Level 5 recovering uses on Short Rest, Cutting Words becomes a reliable per-encounter resource.

The real payoff is Magical Discoveries at Level 6, which mirrors Magical Secrets 4 levels early. Two spells from the Cleric, Druid, and Wizard lists open a lot of flexibility: Counterspell or Shield from Wizard, Spirit Guardians from Cleric, Call Lightning from Druid — whatever the party most needs. Combined with the base Bard's 3 skill choices plus Lore's 3 Bonus Proficiencies plus Expertise in 2 skills, the Lore Bard covers more of the skill check space than almost any other class.