Smite Swords Bard

RESPEC BUILD

Can’t be bothered to respec? Then just follow the planner for the end result.
By choosing not to respec the build comes down to: 2 Paladin of Vengeance / 10 Swords Bard.

Abilities are distributed differently before and after the respec! I will still post both versions to make sure you get it right.
Level progression for the Bard stays exactly the same after the respec. You can just search the Build Planner for whatever skills you need.

“Hand Drum” is this build’s musical instrument and not without reason.

Optimal Race: Half-Orc

Why?: Because Hulk SMITES! Hulk SINGS! The respec is there just to optimise when and where in the game you level up.

Abilities for Quick Build 2 Paladin + 10 Bard:

• 16 Strength (14+2)
• 08 Dexterity
• 14 Constitution
• 10 Intelligence
• 10 Wisdom
• 16 Charisma (15+1)

Abilities for the actual build:

• 12 Strength
• 16 Dexterity (15+1)
• 14 Constitution
• 08 Intelligence
• 08 Wisdom
• 16 Charisma (14+2)

Level Progression

1. Bard – Cantrips: Minor Illusion + Friends.
   Spells: Longstrider, Sleep, Disguise Self and Tasha’s Hideous Laughter.
   Skills: Athletics, Deception and Persuasion.
2. Bard – Skills of note: Song of rest. Spells: Healing Word.
3. Bard – Subclass: College of Swords – Spell: Hold Person. Fighting Style: Duelling.
   Expertise: Deception and Persuasion.
4. Bard – Cantrips: Light. Spells: Enhance Ability. Feat: Great Weapon Master.
5. Bard – Spell: Glyph of Warding.
6. Bard – Spell: See Invisibility.
7. Bard – Spell: Knock.
8. RESPEC. We will start off the respec with 2 levels of Paladin.

   After having taken the 2 levels of Paladin, finish the build off by adding levels of College of Swords Bard again.
   Do not forget to rearrange the abilities. (See the Build Planner.)
   The Build Planner also shows the Skill Proficiencies when starting out as Paladin.

Post-RESPEC Level Progression

1. Paladin – Subclass: Oath of Vengeance.
2. Paladin – Fighting Style: Great Weapon Fighting.
   Spells: Command and Bless. The rest is optional for now and interchangeable later on.
3. Bard – Cantrips: Minor Illusion + Friends.
   Spells: Longstrider, Sleep, Disguise Self and Tasha’s Hideous Laughter.
   Skills: Athletics, Deception and Persuasion.
4. Bard – Skills of note: Song of rest. Spells: Healing Word.
5. Bard – Subclass: College of Swords – Spell: Hold Person. Fighting Style: Duelling.
   Expertise: Deception and Persuasion.
6. Bard – Cantrips: Light. Spells: Enhance Ability. Feat: Great Weapon Master.
7. Bard – Spell: Glyph of Warding.
8. Bard – Spell: Heroism.
9. Bard – Spell: Knock.
10. Bard – Spell: See Invisibility. Feat: Savage Attacker!
11. Bard – Spell: Hold Monster.
12. Bard – Cantrip: Mage Hand. Spell: Dimension Door. Magical Secrets: Misty Step and Counterspell.
    Expertise: Performance and Deception / Athletics.

Alternative Gear & Weapons:

The Build Planner shows the most optimal equipment but the alternatives are good replacements and/or can be found way earlier in the game.
The Gloves of Dexterity are canonically meant to be used after the Respec.
* The Deva Mace is an alternative when using Elixirs of Hill Giant Strength instead of the Potion of Everlasting Vigour. (Just throwing it out there.)
** The Chancer’s Carcanet is only really viable if for some reason you are not able to equip the Band of the Mystic Scoundrel and Helmet of Arcane Acuity.

Helmet
Act 1: Haste Helm.
Act 2: Helmet of Arcane Acuity, Haste Helm.
Act 3: Helmet of Arcane Acuity.

Armor
Act 1: Hide Armour +2, Breastplate +1, Faded Drow Leather Armour.
Act 2: Yuan-Ti Scale Mail.
Act 3: Bhaalist Armour, Yuan-Ti Scale Mail.

Cloak:
Act 2: Cloak of Protection.
Act 3: Cloak of the Weave, Cloak of Protection.

Gloves
Act 1: Gloves of the Growling Underdog, Gloves of Dexterity.
Act 2: Gloves of Dexterity.
Act 3: Gloves of Dexterity.

Boots
Act 1: Disintegrating Night Walkers, Linebreaker Boots.
Act 2: Disintegrating Night Walkers, Boots of Brilliance, Evasive Shoes.
Act 3: Disintegrating Night Walkers.

Weapon
Act 1: Rapier, Larethian’s Wrath, Sword of Screams, Phalar Aluve.
Act 2: Phalar Aluve, Larethian’s Wrath.
Act 3: Shar’s Spear of Evening, Larethian’s Wrath, Duellist’s Prerogative, Deva Mace*.

Off-hand
Act 1: Nope.
Act 2: Nope.
Act 3: Nope.

Ranged:
Act 1: Hand Crossbow +1, Longbow +1,
Act 2: Longbow +1, Hand Crossbow +1,
Act 3: Hellrider Longbow, Hand Crossbow +2, Longbow +2.

Amulet:
Act 1: Amulet of Misty Step, Komira’s Locket, Broodmother’s Revenge.
Act 2: Komira’s Locket, The Ever-Seeing Eye, Amulet of the Unworthy, Surgeon’s Subjugation Amulet.
Act 3: Broodmother’s Revenge, Moondrop Pendant, Surgeon’s Subjugation Amulet, Chancer’s Carcanet**.

Rings:
Act 1: Crusher’s Ring, Ring of Protection, Caustic Band, Strange Conduit Ring.
Act 2: Risky Ring, Crusher’s Ring, Killer’s Sweetheart, Strange Conduit Ring.
Act 3: Band of the Mystic Scoundrel, Killer’s Sweetheart.