| Spell lvl | Spellname | Category | Why take it? |
|---|
| 0 | Eldritch Blast | Damage | The Bard doesn't have good damage cantrips. |
| 0 | Toll the Dead | Damage | The Bard doesn't have good damage cantrips. |
| 0 | Sacred Flame | Damage | The Bard doesn't have good damage cantrips. Less damage but radiant damage |
| 1 | Find Familiar | Utility | Ritual - Summon Owl - Free help action + scout |
| 1 | Bless | Buff | Stacks with Inspiration. If you often run out of Inspiration consider this spell. |
| 1 | Entangle | Debuff | AOE control - low spell level - Bard already has some options |
| 2 | Pass without Trace | Utility | +10 Stealth for everyone |
| 2 | Spiritual Weapon | Damage | No concentration - one free Attack as a Bonus Action |
| 2 | Misty Step | Utility | Bonus Action teleport |
| 3 | Summon Undead | Summon | If you need another body in the fight. |
| 3 | Fireball | Damage | BOOM |
| 3 | Haste | Buff | One of the best buffs for your fighter |
| 3 | Revivify | Healing | The most basic form to revive |
| 3 | Fly | Utility | Flying speed is one of the most useful things to have |
| 3 | Aura of Vitality | Healing | Constant healing. Averages the same amount of healing as the 6th level spell Heal. |
| 3 | Crusaders Mantle | Buff | Give everyone around you radiant damage. Best with a lot of bodies. |
| 3 | Hunger of Hadar | Damage | AOE damage, blindness and tentacles |
| 3 | Spirit Guardians | Damage | constant damage around you. Radius is a bit small though. |
| 3 | Counterspell | Utility | Say "no" to the enemy wizard |
| 4 | Summon Aberration | Summon | If you need another body in the fight. |
| 4 | Conjure Woodland Beings | Summon | A lot of summons that can be summoned with this have a strong special ability. Summoned creatures are random though. No material cost + action to cast |
| 4 | Sickening Radiance | Debuff | Causes exhaustion -> if comboed becomes strongest spell in the game |
| 4 | Banishment | Debuff | Banish one creature - only one save |
| 4 | Stone Shape | Utility | Usefulness limited by your imagination (and you need to be near stone). |
| 4 | Find Greater Steed | Summon | 90 ft. Flying speed with a fancy pegasus to ride. Also spells targeting yourself will also target the pegasus. |
| 4 | Arcane Eye | Utility | One of the best scouting options. |
| 4 | Shadow of Moil | Damage | Good personal buff. Good when you get focused by monsters a lot. |
| 5 | Summon Celestial | Summon | If you need another body in the fight. |
| 5 | Swift Quiver | Damage | 2 Ranged Attacks as a Bonus action for a minute |
| 5 | Telekinesis | Utility | 10 minutes to move items or restrain enemy |
| 5 | Wall of Force | Utility | Impassable wall |
| 5 | Commune | Utility | You can phone a god. Very helpful when planning your aproach. |
| 5 | Summon Draconic Spirit | Summon | If you need another body in the fight. |
| 5 | Maelstrom | Damage | AOE control - Bard already has some options |
| 5 | Circle of Power | Buff | Counter for spellcasters |
| 5 | Telepathic Bond | Utility | Telepathy for 1 hour. Mostly useful for intrigue-focused games. |
| 5 | Holy Weapon | Damage | For College of Swords/Valor |
| 6 | Heal | Healing | heal 70 hit points |
| 6 | Disintegrate | Damage | One of the strongest single target Damage spells |
| 6 | Contingency | Utility | You can setup spells beforehand, possibly activating them as a free action without needing any spell components |
| 6 | Investiture of Stone | Buff | If you are playing a frontline Bard, gives resistance to being punched and stabbed |
| 7 | Crown of Stars | Damage | 4d12 radiant damage *7 |
| 7 | Reverse Gravity | Debuff | Suspend enemies in the air |
| 7 | Plane Shift | Utility | Save or suck - doesnt do damage but will most likely end the fight. Also necessary for high level adventuring in other planes. |
| 8 | Illusory Dragon | Debuff | Scare Everyone + AOE damage |
| 8 | Maze | Debuff | Banish one enemy. Low INT enemies can't escape |
| 8 | Holy Aura | Buff | Best party wide defensive buff |
| 8 | Clone | Utility | Easiest way to achieve immortality |
| 9 | Wish | Utility | It's wish |
| 9 | Mass Heal | Healing | Restore up to 700 hit points |