Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - Help Tips & Tricks Magical Secrets vs Pact of Blade?

As a wannabe melee/hybrid Bard, planning on College of Swords, which would serve me better, Magical Secrets or Pact of Blade?

Full Bard 12, getting Magical Secrets, but nothing from any other class, other than the 2 spells from Magical Secrets of course.

Bard 11, Warlock 1 for Magical Secrets & Eldritch Blast, but no Pact of Blade, and no Eldritch Invocations.

Bard 10, Warlock 2 for Magical Secrets & Eldritch Blast with Eldritch Invocations, but still no Pact of Blade.

Bard 9, Warlock 3 for Eldritch Blast, Eldritch Invocations & Pact of Blade, but no Magical Secrets, so my melee weapon is based off my CHA, but I lose out on those 2 spells from other classes?

Thanks for your help and insight.

Take care.

For a melee build I would do 3 warlock or 0 warlock. EB isn't worth the dip if you are going to be in close quarters the whole time.

For melee if you want a 2/10 dip so you can keep the lvl 10 Bard goodies, Paladin is better. It gets you the smites and a spell level so you get the 6th level slot.

For a 3/9, pact of the blade is great to keep you SAD and lets you focus on the other ability scores that have lots of skill checks rather than just pumping up Dex.

Would there be any merit in taking a level in Draconic Sorcerer (White Dragon Bloodline) with a Swords Bard instead? Would give access to the Shield Spell and Armour of Agathys early on, which would both seem to be good things for a Swords Bard to have, as well as a selection of melee and ranged damage spells and cantrips.

Also if taken at level 1 would give you the bonus to Con saves (would need to play as a Drow to get Rapier, Short Sword and Hand Crossbow proficiency in this case, though that was going to be my racial choice anyway), which would help a lot with concentration checks, though obviously would delay your Bard progression from the off (and I don't want to mess around with respect, if I can avoid it).

Any trying to decide between just playing a single-class Swords Bard or Draconic Sorc 1/Bard 11 or a (Dex-based) Paladin 2/Bard 10 - the latter can certainly do more melee damage, but I'm not so keen on the idea of playing a Paladin (for RP reasons and concerns about maintaining an Oath), nor on using up a load of my spell slots on Smites instead of casting spells. Have even considered Ranger 2 / Swords Bard 10 (not necessarily in that order).

Actually that very thing was suggested to me on Reddit, but for this guy I want Pact of Blade... as much for RP as anything else.

Based on that Reddit advice I plan to make an 11 Bard, 1 Sorc, starting with Sorc/White Dragon, for the Armor of Agathys, and a more damaging cantrip. He'll be College of Lore though.

I'm going for Bard 9, Warlock 3. Also going to play as a drow that gives me Darkness at lv 5 and taking Devil's Sight alongside agonising blast for my invocations, pact of the blade and College of Swords. That way, I can get in melee range and cast Darkness on my opponents while being immune to it. Basically like throwing a smoke bomb to their faces.

If Swords Bard is in the game, Warlock 1 with Hex Warrior (if that's in the game), then Swords Bard all the way after that. Best gish in PnP, in my opinion. Throw in a background that adds good skills. If no Swords Bard, I'll make do with Valor. But if no Hex Warrior feature, I see no reason to take any levels of Warlock.

Sword bard is in. Pact of the blade (at level 3) is like hex warrior. It makes attacks scale with Cha. But u can get the spell hex at level 1. + some short rest spell replenishment, eldritch blast, some spells etc. 2 lock will get u eldritch invocations and a lock spellslot.
Thats why people are wondering if 1,2 or 3 levels of lock. Also maybe get magical secrets at 10.

Myself, i think i will go 8 bard 3 lock. Then at 12 respec 10 bard 2 lock. By then i will have tested things out and see what i will prefer.
Probably level in this order: 1 bard, 1 lock, 5 bard (extra attack,spells etc), 2 lock, 2 bard. Then respec 10 2.
I am leaning towards magical secrets being better then pact of the blade. Since dex seems to be such a good stat anyway. We will have to wait and see.

Ive also considered 2/3 (hunter)Ranger. I will make a drizzt-like character (with some twists). Sword bard with a Lock or Ranger dip seems to fit that. Would actually prefer Ranger RP-wise and for proficencies. Lock dip just seems so much better.
Also, i think i will do 5 ranger for Shadowheart (4cleric/5ranger/3rogue) , so that covers ranger a bit already.