Rogue / BardMulticlass Build Guide — D&D 5e

Both classes run on Dexterity and stack skills higher than anything else in 5e. A rogue starts with four skill proficiencies and two Expertise at level 1. A bard adds Jack of All Trades (half proficiency to every ability check you are not proficient in) and more skill proficiencies. By the mid levels, this character has Expertise in four skills, proficiency in eight or nine, and a floor on everything else — the single most capable problem-solver any party can field.

College of Swords is the bard half that matters for combat. Blade Flourishes let you spend a Bardic Inspiration die to add damage and a rider (defensive, mobile or pushing) to a melee attack. That die stacks on top of Sneak Attack, and the riders — particularly the defensive and mobile options — solve the rogue’s two biggest combat problems: surviving a hit after you attack, and getting out of melee cleanly.

Full caster progression from the bard side brings real spellcasting to a class that normally has none (or very little via Arcane Trickster). Healing Word picks up downed allies as a bonus action. Faerie Fire grants advantage to the whole party. Greater Invisibility at Bard 7 gives you permanent advantage — guaranteed Sneak Attack every round, invisible, for a full minute. The breadth of the toolkit is what separates this from Rogue/Fighter: less burst, vastly more options.

Ability priority: DEX → CHA → CON — Dexterity for attacks and Sneak Attack. Charisma powers bard spellcasting, Bardic Inspiration uses and the face skills you were going to dominate anyway. Constitution for hit points and concentration on your spells.