# Academy of Skalds *[warlord](warlord.md): Academy of War* *Source: Warlord p. 5* > [!tldr] Class and Feature Progression > > <table class="class-progression"> > <thead> > <tr><th colspan='8'></th></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><th class"level">Level</th><th class"pb">PB</th><th class"feature">Features</th><th class="value">Spells Known</th><th class="value">1st</th><th class="value">2nd</th><th class="value">3rd</th><th class="value">4th</th></tr> > </thead><tbody> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">1st</td><td class"pb">+2</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">2nd</td><td class"pb">+2</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">3rd</td><td class"pb">+2</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Academy of Skalds (Level 3)' class='internal-link'>Academy of Skalds</a></td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">4th</td><td class"pb">+2</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">5th</td><td class"pb">+3</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">6th</td><td class"pb">+3</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Gallant Charge (Level 6)' class='internal-link'>Gallant Charge</a>, <a href='#Songs of War & Peace (Level 6)' class='internal-link'>Songs of War & Peace</a></td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">7th</td><td class"pb">+3</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">5</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">8th</td><td class"pb">+3</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">6</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">9th</td><td class"pb">+4</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">6</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">10th</td><td class"pb">+4</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">7</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">11th</td><td class"pb">+4</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">8</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">12th</td><td class"pb">+4</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">8</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">⏤</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">13th</td><td class"pb">+5</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">9</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">14th</td><td class"pb">+5</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Warsong (Level 14)' class='internal-link'>Warsong</a></td><td class="value">10</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">15th</td><td class"pb">+5</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">10</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">2</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">16th</td><td class"pb">+5</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">11</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">17th</td><td class"pb">+6</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">11</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">18th</td><td class"pb">+6</td><td class"feature"><a href='#Skald of Legend (Level 18)' class='internal-link'>Skald of Legend</a></td><td class="value">11</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">⏤</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">19th</td><td class"pb">+6</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">12</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">1</td></tr> > <tr class="class-progression"><td class"level">20th</td><td class"pb">+6</td><td class"feature"></td><td class="value">13</td><td class="value">4</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">3</td><td class="value">1</td></tr> > </tbody></table> ^class-progression ## Class Features ### Academy of Skalds (Level 3) Warlords of the Academy of Skalds wield the power of music and song to inspire their comrades. When they combine their bardic magic with their understanding of strategy, they can turn even an unskilled rabble into a heroic fighting force. ### Skaldic Exploits (Level 3) You learn certain Exploits at the Warlord levels noted in the table below. They don't count against your total number of Exploits Known and can't be switched upon gaining a level. | Warlord Level | Exploit | |---------------|---------| | 3rd | commanding presence, attack order | | 5th | enlivening order, heroic will | | 9th | stand the fallen | ^warlord-level-exploit ### Warrior Poet (Level 3) You combine martial skill and musical talent to inspire your allies. You gain proficiency in martial weapons, two musical instruments of your choice, and in Performance. Also, you have advantage on any Charisma (Performance) checks you make that incorporate a martial weapon. ### Spellcasting (Level 3) When you adopt the Skald Archetype at 3rd level, you learn to cast minor arcane spells, much like a wizard. #### Spell Slots The Skald Spellcasting table shows how many spell slots you have to cast Bard spells of 1st-level or higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher, and you regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest. For example, if you know the 1st-level Bard spell thunderwave and you have a 1st and a 2nd-level spell slot available, you can cast thunderwave using either slot. #### Spells Known of 1st-Level and Higher ou know three 1st-level spells of your choice from the Bard spell list. The Spells Known column of the Skald Spellcasting table shows when you learn more spells of 1st-level or higher. Any spell you learn must be a level for which you have spell slots. Additionally, each time you gain a level in this class, you can choose one of the Bard spells you know and replace it with another spell of your choice from the Bard spell list, which also must be of a level for which you have spell slots. #### Spell Focus You can use any musical instrument you are proficient in as a spellcasting focus for your spells. #### Spellcasting Ability You use your Leadership modifier when setting the saving throw DC or making a spell attack roll for any Bard spells you know through this feature. <span class='abilityDc'>**Spell save DC**: Charisma + Proficiency Bonus</span> <span class='abilityAttackMod'>**Spell attack modifier**: Charisma + Proficiency Bonus</span> ### Gallant Charge (Level 6) When you roll initiative, you can expend a use of Inspiring Word to rally a heroic charge. You, and any creatures of your choice within 15 feet that can hear you gain a bonus to your initiative rolls equal to one roll of your Exploit Die. You cannot use this feature if you are surprised or incapacitated when rolling initiative. ### Songs of War & Peace (Level 6) Your music can soothe and inspire. Creatures that spend a short rest with you have advantage on their Hit Die rolls. Also, whenever you use your action to cast a Bard spell of 1st-level or higher or expend an Exploit Die to use a Tactical Exploit, you can make one weapon attack as a bonus action. ### Warsong (Level 14) You inspire your comrades to stand and fight against all odds. When you target a friendly creature with an Inspiring Word, a Rallying Cry, or Tactical Exploit, it has advantage on the first saving throw it makes before the start of your next turn. ### Skald of Legend (Level 18) The Skalds of legend were said to be able to turn the tide of the most desperate battles, fanning the flames of hope in all who heard their Warsong. Whenever you use an Exploit, one target of that Exploit gains temporary hit points equal to your Leadership modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point). Also, when you take the Attack action on your turn, you can cast a Bard spell in place of one of your weapon attacks.