What can bards use as a spellcasting focus?

A bard can use a musical instrument as a spellcasting focus. Each type of musical instrument requires a separate proficiency. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, of course, and your bard could use any musical instrument that exists in your world.

Do bards have a spellcasting focus?

While bards have the advertised feature of being ABLE to use musical instruments as their spellcasting focus, they don’t actually HAVE to. They would, however, need some kind of object to serve as an Arcane Focus…an amulet, item, or something otherwise on their person, which helps to “focus” their spellcasting.

What can a spellcasting focus be?

An arcane focus is a special item— an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item— designed to channel the power of arcane spells. A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus, as described in chapter 10.

How do I get a bard character?

Quick Build Expanded: Building Your Bard

Choose bard as your class (obviously).
Choose skills that fit the character you want to play. Most bards should be proficient in the Performance skill, because it’s essential to the fantasy of their class.
Consider what role you want to fill in the party.

When do you get bonus proficiencies in College of Swords?

The College of Swords bard subclass from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (p. 15) gains the Bonus Proficiencies feature at 3rd level when they choose the subclass. One of its benefits is: If you’re proficient with a simple or martial melee weapon, you can use it as a spellcasting focus for your bard spells.

Can a swordsy Bard take a shroog action?

Applying that kind of analogy with a swordsy bard doesn’t sound like too much of a stretch… but then depending on your dm drawing a new weapon to use may or may not also take an action *shroog*. In the case that you do go with dual-wielding that may be a thing to ask them about.

Can a bard cast a spell without a focus?

It doesn’t really affect the bard’s ability to cast his spells whether he has a focus or not — there’s always the option of a component pouch — and not all spells require foci. All in all if you want to allow it there’s no real problem; in the end it doesn’t make much of a difference.

Can a bard use a weapon as a bonus action?

The feature allows you to make a weapon attack as a bonus action when you cast a bard spell. The bard would literally have to play his instrument with both hands, draw his weapon and attack, then sheath it again so he can cast again on his next turn. Over and over again. That just doesn’t seem right.