College of Swords 5e

Dexterous melee bards who use Blade Flourishes to enhance attacks with defensive, mobile, or slashing options. Elegant warrior-performers.

Part of the Bard class

At a Glance

Parent Class

Bard

Subclass Level

3rd level

Source

Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Focus

Dexterous melee fighter with Blade Flourishes for offense and defense

Feature	Level	Description
Bonus Proficiencies	3rd	Medium armor and scimitar proficiency. Can use weapon as spellcasting focus.
Fighting Style	3rd	Choose Dueling (+2 damage) or Two-Weapon Fighting (add modifier to off-hand damage).
Blade Flourish	3rd	Once per turn when you hit, add Bardic Inspiration to damage and choose: Defensive (+die to AC until next turn), Slashing (hit another creature within 5ft), or Mobile (push 5ft and add die to movement).
Extra Attack	6th	Attack twice when taking the Attack action.
Master's Flourish	14th	Use d6 for Blade Flourish instead of expending Bardic Inspiration.

Common Mistake

Using Blade Flourish every attack and running out of Bardic Inspiration

Common Mistake

Forgetting you can use your weapon as a spellcasting focus

Common Mistake

Not waiting for Master's Flourish at 14th to spam flourishes freely

DM Tip

Swords Bards are melee skirmishers, not tanks - they need to stay mobile

DM Tip

Defensive Flourish can stack with Shield spell for very high AC

DM Tip

At 14th level, free d6 flourishes every turn makes them very efficient