Bardic Inspiration: the die, the uses and when they come back
Bardic Inspiration in D&D's 2024 rules (SRD 5.2.1) is a d6 at first level, a d8 from level 5, a d10 from 10 and a d12 from 15. A bard has as many uses as their Charisma modifier, at least 1, and regains them on a long rest. BardRoll counts the uses and shows the die for your level.
| Bard level | Die |
|---|---|
| 1 | d6 |
| 2 | d6 |
| 3 | d6 |
| 4 | d6 |
| 5 | d8 |
| 6 | d8 |
| 7 | d8 |
| 8 | d8 |
| 9 | d8 |
| 10 | d10 |
| 11 | d10 |
| 12 | d10 |
| 13 | d10 |
| 14 | d10 |
| 15 | d12 |
| 16 | d12 |
| 17 | d12 |
| 18 | d12 |
| 19 | d12 |
| 20 | d12 |
| Charisma modifier | Uses per long rest |
|---|---|
| -1 | 1 |
| +0 | 1 |
| +1 | 1 |
| +2 | 2 |
| +3 | 3 |
| +4 | 4 |
| +5 | 5 |
Inspiration
- Ordwin4md8
What die does Bardic Inspiration use at level 5?
A d8. The die starts as a d6 and steps up at levels 5, 10 and 15, reaching a d12, and the table marks each step. An ally who holds the die can roll it once, after failing a D20 Test, and add the result to the roll, which can turn the failure into a success.
How many times can a bard use Bardic Inspiration?
As many times as the bard's Charisma modifier, with a minimum of 1, so a bard with a Charisma penalty still has a use. The uses table runs from a modifier of -1 to +5. BardRoll asks for the Charisma modifier when you create a bard and sets the uses from it; it asks for no other ability.
Does Bardic Inspiration come back on a short rest?
From level 5, yes. That is when Font of Inspiration arrives: expended uses return on a short or a long rest, and a bard can also spend a spell slot to regain one. Below level 5 they return only on a long rest. BardRoll's short rest restores them from level 5 and says so when it cannot; to trade a slot for a use, spend the slot and take a die back by hand.
How long does a Bardic Inspiration die last?
Up to an hour. An ally keeps the die until they roll it after failing a D20 Test or the hour runs out, and a creature can hold only one Bardic Inspiration die at a time. BardRoll keeps no clock of its own. Tracking who holds a die is an optional setting, off by default, with no expiry timer: a die stays given until you mark it back.
What does BardRoll track for Bardic Inspiration?
Your uses, as a row of orbs you spend with a tap and the rests restore, and the die for your level. With the optional tracking turned on (it is off by default, with no expiry timer), giving a die asks which ally took it and shows their name and how long ago. A College of Lore bard also gets Cutting Words from level 3, spending the same uses.
Questions
- Is Bardic Inspiration a bonus action?
- Yes. Under the 2024 rules a bard gives Bardic Inspiration as a Bonus Action to another creature within range that can see or hear them. That creature holds one die at a time and can add it to a D20 Test it has just failed, which may turn it into a success. The die is spent once it is rolled.
- What does Bardic Inspiration do at level 15?
- At level 15 the Bardic Inspiration die becomes a d12, the largest it gets, and it stays a d12 to level 20. The number of uses does not change with level; it follows the Charisma modifier. From level 5 a bard already regains the uses on a short rest, so a high-level bard hands out dice freely.