The Skald Class Features

“Epic tales first require epic deeds.”

Arcane Leader: You inspire your allies to great deeds through the magic inherent in
Level 1: Bardic Virtue
Benefit: Choose one of the following virtues.
ancient verses and songs. Your selection of Bardic Virtue lets you lean towards either
Controller (Wile), Defender (Courage), or Striker (Swiftness) as a secondary role. Virtue of Courage
Key Abilities: Charisma; Constitution, Dexterity, or Intelligence Your virtue bolsters your allies’ ability to stay in the fight. You gain the following at-will
Hit Points at 1st Level: 12 + Constitution Score. power and the following feature.
Hit Points per level gained: 5
Healing Surges per Day: 7 + Constitution Modifier
Virtue of Courage Bard Utility
At-Will  Arcane
Bonus to Defenses: +1 Reflex, +1 Will. Immediate Interrupt Close burst 5
Armor Proficiencies: Cloth, leather, hide, chainmail; light shield Target: the triggering ally
Weapon Proficiencies: Simple melee, simple ranged, military ranged, longsword, Trigger: an enemy hits an ally within the burst
scimitar, short sword. Effect: Reduce the damage taken by the target by 2 + your Constitution modifier.
Implements Proficiencies: Wands, Songblades, Songbows. Level 11: 4+ your Constitution modifier
Level 21: 6+ your Constitution modifier
Class Skills: Acrobatics (Dex), Arcana (Int), Athletics (Str), Bluff (Cha), Diplomacy (Cha),
Dungeoneering (Wis), Heal (Wis), History (Int), Insight (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Nature Virtue of Courage Feature: You gain a +1 bonus to AC and Reflex while wearing
(Wis), Perception (Wis), Religion (Int), Streetwise (Cha) chainmail or light armor.
Trained Skills: Arcana, plus the choice of four skills from the list of class skills
Build Options: Courageous Skald, Swift Skald, Wily Skald.
Virtue of Swiftness
Your virtue focuses on ending a battle as quickly and decisively as possible. You gain the
following at-will power and the following feature.
Creating a Skald
The Skald has three basic builds you can use to start; the Courageous Skald, the Swift Virtue of Swiftness Bard Utility
Skald, and the Wily Skald. All Skalds use Charisma for their attacks, but different ability At-Will  Arcane
scores govern their other abilities depending upon the virtue they choose. Immediate Reaction Melee or Ranged weapon
Target: the triggering enemy
Courageous Skald Trigger: an enemy within your weapon range hits an ally
Your primary focus is protecting your fellow party members. To this end you typically fight Effect: The target takes damage equal to your Dexterity modifier.
from the front line with a sword and shield in hand and chain armor for protection. Level 11: 3+ your Dexterity modifier
Charisma is primary, Constitution secondary, and Dexterity or Intelligence tertiary. Level 21: 5+ your Dexterity modifier
Suggested Bardic Virtue: Courage Virtue of Swiftness Feature: You may use bard at-will weapon powers with a ranged
Suggested Bardic Trainings: Song of Rest, Traveler’s Chant weapon you are proficient with.
Suggested At-Will Spells: Thunder Strike, Vigorous Strike
Swift Skald Virtue of Wile
Your primary focus is on ending fights quickly with deadly efficiently. You typically fight Your virtue focuses on maneuver and trickery to win the day. You gain the following at-
from a distance using a ranged weapon and light armor to take advantage of your high will power and the following feature.
Dexterity. Charisma is primary, Dexterity secondary, and Constitution tertiary. Virtue of Wile Bard Utility
Suggested Bardic Virtue: Swiftness At-Will  Arcane
Suggested Bardic Trainings: Song of Rest, Song of Wakefulness Immediate Reaction Close burst 5+ your Intelligence modifier
Suggested At-Will Spells: Covering Strike, Disruptive Strike Target: the triggering ally
Trigger: an enemy hits or misses an ally within the burst
Wily Skald Effect: Slide the target 1 square.
Your primary focus is on using guile and cunning to sway the flow of battle. You typically
fight using a wand implement and in light armor to take advantage of your high Virtue of Wile Feature: You may also shift 2 as a move action.
Intelligence. Charisma is primary, Intelligence secondary, and Constitution tertiary.
Suggested Bardic Virtue: Wile Level 1: Skill Versatility
Suggested Bardic Trainings: Glib Limerick, Words of Friendship Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to all your untrained skills.
Suggested At-Will Spells: Staggering Note, Vicious Mockery
Level 1: Implement Talent Thunder Strike Bard Attack 1
Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls with arcane attack powers. In addition, At-Will  Arcane, Weapon, Thunder
while wielding a Songblade or Songbow, you may use any feat bonus to weapon attack Standard Action Close burst 1
rolls with your implement attacks as well. Target: each enemy in burst
Attack: Charisma vs. AC
Hit: 1d6 + Charisma modifier thunder damage and you can slide the target 1 square.
Level 1: Bard At-Will Attack Spells Level 21: 2d6 + Charisma modifier damage.
Benefit: You may select two bard at-will spells from the following list
Covering Strike Bard Attack 1 Vicious Mockery Bard Attack 1
At-Will  Arcane, Weapon At-Will  Arcane, Implement, Psychic
Standard Action Melee weapon Standard Action Range 10
Target: one creature Target: one creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC Attack: Charisma vs. Will
Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage and one ally adjacent to the target may shift 1 Hit: 1d6 + Charisma modifier psychic damage and the target takes a -2 penalty to its
square as a free action. attack rolls until end of your next turn.
Level 21: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage Level 21: 2d6 + Charisma modifier damage.

Disrupting Strike Bard Attack 1 Vigorous Strike Bard Attack 1

At-Will  Arcane, Weapon At-Will  Arcane, Weapon
Standard Action Melee weapon Standard Action Melee weapon
Target: one creature Target: one creature
Attack: Charisma vs. AC Attack: Charisma vs. AC
Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage and the target takes a -2 penalty to its defenses Hit: 1[W] + Charisma modifier damage and one ally within 5 squares of you gains
until the end of your next turn. temporary hit points equal to your Charisma modifier + half your level.
Level 21: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage Level 21: 2[W] + Charisma modifier damage.

Jinx Chant Bard Attack 1 Level 1: Majestic Strike

At-Will  Arcane, Implement, Psychic Benefit: You gain the Majestic Strike power.
Standard Action Range 10
Target: one creature Majestic Strike Bard Attack
Attack: Charisma vs. Reflex Encounter  Arcane
Hit: 1d8 + Charisma modifier psychic damage and you can slide the target 2 squares. Free Action Close burst 10
Level 21: 2d8 + Charisma modifier damage Trigger: You hit with an arcane at-will attack power.
Target: one ally within burst
Effect: the target can shift 1 square and either spend a healing surge or make a basic
Misdirected Mark Bard Attack 1
attack on the target you just hit with a bonus to the attack roll equal to your Charisma
At-Will  Arcane, Implement
modifier.
Standard Action Range 10
Level 17: The triggering attack inflicts an extra 1d8 damage.
Target: one creature
Level 27: The triggering attack inflicts an extra 2d8 damage.
Attack: Charisma vs. Reflex
Hit: 1d8 + Charisma modifier damage and the target is marked by one of your allies
within 5 squares of you until the end of your next turn. Level 1: Majestic Word
Level 21: 2d8 + Charisma modifier damage Benefit: You gain the Majestic Word power.
Majestic Word Bard Attack
Staggering Note Bard Attack 1
Encounter (Special)  Arcane, Healing
At-Will  Arcane, Implement, Thunder
Minor Action Close burst 5 (10 at 11th level, 15 at 21st level)
Standard Action Range 10
Target: You or one ally in the burst
Target: one creature
Effect: The target can slide 1 square, spend a healing surge and regain additional hit
Attack: Charisma vs. Will
points equal to your Charisma modifier (+1d6 at levels 6, 11, 16, 21, and 26).
Hit: Charisma modifier thunder damage, you can push the target 2 squares, and one of
Special: You can use this power twice per encounter, but only once per round. At 16th
your allies makes a melee basic attack on the target before, during, or after the push.
level, you can use this power three times per encounter.
Level 21: 2x Charisma modifier damage.
Level 1: Bardic Training Traveler’s Chant Bard Utility
Benefit: Select two bardic trainings from the following list. At-Will  Arcane, Aura
Minor Action Personal
Chorus of Truth Bard Utility Effect: You activate an Aura 5 that lasts until you end it as a minor action or you fall
Encounter  Arcane, Charm unconscious. You and all allies within your aura add two to their overland travel speed.
Minor Action Close burst 5
Target: each enemy in burst Tune of Trust Bard Utility
Effect: The target takes a -5 penalty to their next Bluff check during this encounter. At-Will  Arcane
No Action Personal
Comprehend Languages Bard Utility Trigger: You make a Diplomacy check.
At-Will  Arcane Effect: You roll twice for the check and use either result.
No Action Personal
Effect: You know four additional languages that are selected when you take this power. Words of Friendship Bard Utility
Encounter  Arcane
Fool’s Speech Bard Utility Minor Action Personal
At-Will  Arcane, Aura Effect: You gain a +5 bonus to the next Diplomacy check you make this encounter.
Minor Action Personal
Effect: You activate an Aura 5 that lasts until you end it as a minor action or you fall
unconscious. You and all allies in the aura can speak and understand a language that only Level 2: Utility Power
the others under the effect of the aura can understand. Benefit: You may select a Bard utility power of level 2 or less.

Glib Limerick Bard Utility Level 3: Improved Majestic Strike

At-Will  Arcane Benefit: You gain a second use of the Majestic Strike power each encounter, but can still
No Action Personal only use the power only once per round.
Trigger: You make a Bluff check.
Effect: You roll twice for the check and use either result.
Level 3: Bardic Training
Legend Lore Bard Utility Benefit: Select an additional bardic training from the list above.
At-Will  Arcane
Minor Action Personal Level 5: Bardic Mastery
Trigger: You make a Knowledge check. Benefit: You gain a +1 bonus to damage with arcane at-will attacks. You also select one
Effect: You roll twice for the check and use either result. of the following additional benefits.

Lullaby Bard Utility Charmed Attack

Encounter  Arcane, Charm Benefit: Your basic attacks gain the arcane keyword, and you can use Charisma in
Minor Action Close burst 5 place of Strength or Dexterity for them.
Target: Each enemy in burst Combat Training
Effect: The targets take a -5 penalty to their passive Perception checks until the end of
Benefit: You suffer no movement or skill penalties from hide or chain armor.
the encounter or until they or their allies are subject to an attack.
Cunning Attack
Song of Rest Bard Utility Benefit: You gain a bonus to your defenses against opportunity attacks equal to
At-Will  Arcane, Aura, Healing your Intelligence modifier.
Minor Action Personal
Effect: You activate an Aura 5 that lasts until the end of your next rest. You and any Operatic Endurance
allies in the aura regain additional hit points equal to your Charisma modifier each time Benefit: You gain an additional healing surge.
they spend a healing surge during a rest. Sly Concealment
Benefit: You gain an additional +1 bonus to your defenses when you have cover or
Song of Wakefulness Bard Utility concealment.
At-Will  Arcane, Aura
Minor Action Personal Valorous Recovery
Effect: You activate an Aura 5 that lasts until the end of your next rest. The duration of Benefit: Increase your healing surge value by your Constitution modifier.
the extended rest you or any ally in the aura needs is reduced by two hours.
Level 6: Utility Power Level 11: Improved Bardic Virtue (Paragon Path)
Benefit: You may select a Bard utility power of level 6 or less. Benefit: You may use your Bardic Virtue power when you are subject to the triggering
condition instead of an ally.
Level 7: Bard At-Will Attack Spell
Benefit: Select an additional bard at-will spell from the level one list. Level 11: Improved Majestic Strike (Paragon Path)
Benefit: You gain a forth use of Majestic Strike, but can still use it only once per round.
Level 7: Improved Majestic Strike
Benefit: You gain a third use of Majestic Strike. Select one of the following benefits for it. Level 12: Bolster Virtue (Paragon Path)
Benefit: You gain the paragon path utility power associated with your Bardic Virtue.
Courageous Recovery
Benefit: Your ally also regains hit points equal to your Constitution modifier +2. This Bolster Courage Master Skald Utility 12
increases to +4 at level 11, and to +6 at level 21. Encounter  Arcane
Minor Action Close Burst 10
Swift Shot Target: You and each ally in burst
Benefit: Your triggering attack inflicts your Dexterity modifier +2 extra damage. This Effect: Targets gain a power bonus to attack and damage rolls equal to your Constitution
increases to +4 at level 11, and to +6 at level 21. score until the end of your next turn.
Wily Riposte
Benefit: Your ally also has combat advantage against your target until the end of Bolster Swiftness Master Skald Utility 12
your next turn. Encounter  Arcane
Minor Action Close Burst 10
Target: You and each ally in burst
Level 9: Bardic Training Effect: Targets may use immediate action powers as free actions until the end of your
Benefit: Select an additional bardic training from the list above. next turn.

Level 9: Improved Bardic Virtue Bolster Wile Master Skald Utility 12

Benefit: Improve your Bardic Virtue’s feature. Encounter  Arcane
Immediate Interrupt Close Burst 10
Virtue of Courage Target: The triggering ally
Benefit: You gain an additional +1 to AC (+2 total) while in chainmail or light armor. Trigger: an attack hits an ally within burst
Virtue of Swiftness Effect: Targets gain a power bonus to all defenses equal to your Intelligence modifier. If
Benefit: You do not provoke opportunity attacks with your ranged weapon attacks. the triggering attack misses, the bonus lasts until the end of your next turn. If the
triggering attack still hits, the target regains hit points as if it had spent a healing surge.
Virtue of Wile
Benefit: You may shift 3 as a move action.
Level 13: Improved Majestic Strike
Benefit: Your majestic strike gains one of the following benefits of your choice.
Level 10: Utility Power
Benefit: You may select a Bard utility power of level 10 or less. Courageous Resolve
Benefit: Your ally makes a saving throw with a power bonus to the roll equal to your
Constitution modifier.
Level 11: Master Skald’s Action (Paragon Path)
Benefit: You gain the paragon path feature associated with your Bardic Virtue. Swift Kill
Benefit: Your ally’s granted attack inflicts an extra 1[W] or 1 die (if a non-weapon
Virtue of Courage attack) of damage if it hits.
Benefit: When you spend an action point, allies within 5 gain a bonus to attack and
damage rolls equal to your Constitution modifier until the end of your next turn. Wily Shift
Benefit: Your ally shifts a number of squares equal to 1 + your Intelligence modifier.
Virtue of Swiftness
Benefit: When you spend an action point, one ally can also make a basic attack.
Level 15: Virtuous Talent
Virtue of Wile Benefit: You gain an additional +1 bonus to damage with arcane at-will attacks (+2
Benefit: When you spend an action point, you and one ally within 5 become invisible total), plus select an additional Virtuous Talent from the level 5 list.
until the end of your next turn.
Level 16: Improved Healing (Paragon Path) Level 22: Utility Power
Benefit: You gain the paragon path feature associated with your Bardic Virtue. Benefit: You may select a Bard utility power of level 22 or less.
Virtue of Courage
Benefit: When you grant healing with a bard power, add your Constitution modifier Level 23: Improved Majestic Strike
to the hit points regained. Benefit: Your majestic strike gains one of the following benefits of your choice.

Virtue of Swiftness Courageous Smite

Benefit: when you grant healing with a bard power, the affected ally gains a bonus Benefit: Your ally gains a bonus to damage rolls equal to your Constitution modifier
to damage rolls equal to your Dexterity modifier until the start of your next turn. until the end of your next turn.

Virtue of Wile Swift Smite

Benefit: when you use a bard healing power on an ally, that ally becomes invisible Benefit: If your ally misses it’s granted attack it still inflicts damage equal to twice
until the start of their next turn. your Dexterity modifier.
Wily Defense
Level 16: Utility Power Benefit: Your ally gains a bonus to their defenses equal to ½ your Intelligence
Benefit: You may select a Bard utility power of level 16 or less. modifier until the end of next turn.

Level 17: Bard At-Will Attack Spell Level 25: Virtuous Talent
Benefit: Select an additional bard at-will spell from the level one list. Benefit: You gain an additional +1 bonus to damage with arcane at-will attacks (+3
total), plus select an additional Virtuous Talent from the level 5 list.
Level 19: Bardic Training
Benefit: Select an additional bardic training from the list above. Level 27: Bardic Training
Benefit: Select an additional bardic training from the list above.
Level 19: Improved Bardic Virtue
Benefit: Improve your Bardic Virtue’s feature. Level 29: Bardic Training
Benefit: Select an additional bardic training from the list above.
Virtue of Courage
Benefit: you gain an additional +1 to your Reflex defense (+2 total) while wearing
chainmail or light armor. Level 29: Improved Bardic Virtue
Benefit: Improve your Bardic Virtue’s feature.
Virtue of Swiftness
Benefit: You do not suffer any penalties for long range when making ranged attacks. Virtue of Courage
Benefit: you gain an additional +1 to AC (+3 total) while in chainmail or light armor.
Virtue of Wile
Benefit: you may shift 4 as a move action. Virtue of Swiftness
Benefit: You suffer no penalties for cover or concealment with ranged attacks.
Level 20: Guided Strike (Paragon Path) Virtue of Wile
Benefit: You gain the paragon path feature associated with your Bardic Virtue. Benefit: you may shift 5 as a move action.
Virtue of Courage
Benefit: Adjacent allies who miss with a melee attack still inflict damage equal to
your Constitution modifier.
Virtue of Swiftness
Benefit: Adjacent allies who miss with a ranged attack still inflict damage equal to
your Dexterity modifier.
Virtue of Wile
Benefit: If an adjacent ally misses with a melee attack you may use an immediate
interrupt to allow them to make the attack again against a different target. If the attack
hits it inflicts half damage.