Class
This build is a 18 Bard, 1 Fighter, 1 Sorcerer build. The path is: 1 levels in Fighter, 18 levels in Bard, 1 level in Sorcerer. The detailed path is:
- Lvl 1: Fighter 1 – Fighting Style: Archery (+Second Wind +Crossbow Expert)
At this point, thanks to Crossbow Expert (you don’t need a free hand to reload the crossbow and you can use the bonus action to fire with a hand crossbow), you can wield 2 hand crossbow for 2 actions in the same turn. The damage will be 2x(1d6 + 3) up to level 4.
- Lvl 2: Bard 1 (+Barding Inspiration +Spellcasting | +Light +Mage hand | +Cure Wound +Faerie Fire +Detect Magic +Healing Word)
Remember that Faerie Fire gives advantage over attack rolls for the whole party.
- Lvl 3: Bard 2 (+Jack of All Trades +Song of Rest | +Comprehend Languages)
- Lvl 4: Bard 3 (+Bard College: Swords +Blade Flourish +Fighting Style: Dueling +Expertise | +Heat Metal)
At this point you apply Heat Metal to your target (assuming it is wearing some metal piece of armor). When you do so, you need to spend your bonus action on this spell to keep damaging. Hence you cannot use the second hand crossbow and you better move to a heavy crossbow for your action. The effect lasts for 1 minute (10 rounds). While the effect is active you can use 1 Heavy Crossbow attack per turn and 1 application of Heat Metal dealing 1d10 + 3 + 2d8 damage. Heat Metal only needs to succed the first attack while the 2x hand crossbow alternative needs you to repeat the attack at every turn. You should keep this rotation up to level 8.
- Lvl 5: Bard 4 (+Sharpshooter feat | +Proficiency +1 | +Mending | +See invisibility)
Sharpshooter adds 10 to your damage with a -5 penalty on the attack. The damage becomes 1d10 + 13 + 2d8.
- Lvl 6: Bard 5 (+Bardic Inspiration d8 +Font of Inspiration | +Dispel Magic)
- Lvl 7: Bard 6 (+Counter Charm +College Feature: Second Attack | +Catnap)
You can now perform two attacks. The damage becomes 2d10 + 2d8 + 26.
- Lvl 8: Bard 7 (-Faerie Fire +Feather Fall | +Greater Invisibility)
You can now go back to the 2x hand crossbow setup which allows you to perform 3 attacks (Second Attack) with advantage (Greater Invisibility) for 3d6 + 39 damage (Sharpshooter).
- Lvl 9: Bard 8 (+2 DEX +Proficiency +Polymorph)
The increased proficiency brings the damage to: 3d6 + 42