The big idea of this build is to maximize melee damage as a swords bard while also maximizing fun. It works great as a party face and can be fantastic for inflicting conditions and helping with crowd control in fights. In my experience, this is a true “jack of all trades” build.
Right off the bat I like to do an 8/4 split between swords bard/hexblade warlock in order to have access to all feats possible but if you’re willing to sacrifice two feats, doing 6/4/2 between swords bard, hexblade and paladin makes your character an absolute menace on the battlefield, to the point that it might be a bit overkill. Regardless, it’s fun!
Important feats are the ability improvement with 2 points in charisma to pair later with Auntie Ethel’s Boon, also in charisma – stacking these will give you a max 20 in charisma and a +5 to your spellcasting. By the time we unlock the first level of hexblade and bind our weapon with the hex bound feature, we’ll be using the +5 in damage to all melee attacks.
Booming blade is also a fun feature in this build with all the thunder gear we stack – and with it being a cantrip, we get infinite uses of it. But that’s not the only tool in our tool belt!
Pairing the helmet of arcane acuity that you can retrieve in act 2 with the band of the mystic scoundrel in act 3 is par for the course with bard builds these days – you get stacks of arcane acuity through your melee attacks and then use your bonus action to lay down the proverbial hand of whatever demon you forged a pact with in the form of enchantment and illusion spells – what you don’t have in your spell slots you can certainly make up for in scrolls. It’s how I, and how I imagine many others, took Raphael out in their honor mode run without ever giving him a chance to have a turn. It can absolutely be done here as well, with any enemy.
Gear overall is up to your personal liking. I usually stick with the Phalar Aluve until act 3 when the Duellist’s Prerogative becomes available, but it comes down to whatever you’re most comfortable with. As far as crossbows go, I like Bow of the Banshee for the frightened condition it inflicts but it comes down to your preference – sometimes hand crossbows are just as good, and certainly fun.
Regardless of what you choose to do, I hope you find this build as fun as I do!
P.S. Race is flexible – I prefer Zariel Tiefling for my bards because of the thaumaturgy cantrip to give me advantage on performance and intimidation checks.
