Instrument of the Bards 5e
Wondrous item, rarity varies (requires attunement by a bard)
An Instrument of the Bards is an exquisite example of its kind, superior to an ordinary instrument in every way. Seven types of these instruments exist, each named after a legendary bard college. The following table lists the spells common to all instruments, as well as the spells specific to each one and its rarity. A creature that attempts to play the instrument without being attuned to it must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 2d4 psychic damage.
You can use an action to play the instrument and cast one of its spells. Once the instrument has been used to cast a spell, it can't be used to cast that spell again until the next dawn. The spells use your spellcasting ability and spell save DC.
You can play the instrument while casting a spell that causes any of its targets to be charmed on a failed saving throw, thereby imposing disadvantage on the save. This effect applies only if the spell has a somatic or a material component.
Instrument of the Bards
| Instrument | Rarity | Spells |
|---|---|---|
| All | - | Fly, Invisibility, Levitate, Protection from Evil and Good, plus the spells listed for the particular instrument |
| Anstruth Harp | Very Rare | Control Weather, Cure Wounds (5th level), Wall of Thorns |
| Canaith Mandolin | Rare | Cure Wounds (3rd level), Dispel Magic, Protection from Energy (lightning only) |
| Cli Lyre | Rare | Stone Shape, Wall of Fire, Wind Wall |
| Doss Lute | Uncommon | Animal Friendship, Protection from Energy (fire only), Protection from Poison |
| Fochlucan Bandore | Uncommon | Entangle, Faerie Fire, Shillelagh, Speak with Animals |
| Mac-Fuirmidh Cittern | Uncommon | Barkskin, Cure Wounds, Fog Cloud |
| Ollamh Harp | Legendary | Confusion, Control Weather, Fire Storm |
Commentary by Sam West, Twitter: @CrierKobold
There are seven different versions of this mythical instrument that range in rarity from Uncommon to Legendary. All share the same property in being wells of bonus spells you can cast once per day. If you want to make your bard a lot more powerful, any of these will be a huge boon to their character sheet.
Each one provides, at minimum, a once-per-day cast of Fly, Invisibility, Levitate, and Protection from Evil and Good. Regardless of which you find, these are more than powerful enough to get excited about.
The Fochlucan Bandalore is the only option that comes with four spells: Entangle, Faerie Fire, Shillelagh, and Speak With Animals.
The name of each instrument is associated with a specific college relevant to bardic lore in the Forgotten Realms setting.
With the lowest rarity instrument with the fewest and lowest level spells, you’re still functionally getting one 3rd level spell slot, three 2nd level spell slots, and three 1st level spell slots, which nearly mirrors 4th-5th level characters.
The highest level spell offered through these instruments is on the very rare Anstruth Harp: the 8th level spell Control Weather.
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