How to optimise an elven melee bard?

Question

The challenge here is creating a bard character that has to be some flavor of pure blooded elf and utilises that to help in its melee abilities.

I was thinking Valor with maybe High Elf for booming blade?
A dip in hexblade?

Objective: Decent competitive damage output.

What spells and feats would be optimal to take to do so?

Constraints:

It should

1. Be able to come online before level 15 as the campaign probably won't go on for that long
2. Be able to deal decent damage while utilising elf racial abilities and not rendering them useless or obsolete.
3. Multiclassing is allowed but bard should be the dominating class.

Ability scores at level 1

(rolled) 12,16,16,10,15,17. (These rolls can be assigned to stats in any order, though I think the current order they are in is optimal (for Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, and Cha respectively).)

Answer 1

If you just want "decent" output, there is no need to hyperoptimize

You can take a normal Bard without multiclassing, I would recommend maybe a College of Swords, which gets a free figthing style in dueling for +2 to damage in melee and has Slashing Flourish on level 3 to add some more extra damage from his Bardic Inspiration to attacks, and like College of Valor gets the crucial Extra Attack on level six. (You mention Hexblade and Booming Blade, so I assume no limitation to core rules.)

For race, a high elf or wood elf works well. If your DM allows spells from the non-core rules (which would seem likely if they allow College of Swords), then High Elf with Booming Blade is a reasonable cantrip to pick up and help. Wood Elf with increased speed is also useful for a melee build. For more exotic options, a Shadar-Kai or Eladrin will give you a misty step equivalent for free, which can help with maneuvering in close combat.

You can pick up Hunters Mark or Hex with one of your magical secrets on level 10 to help with damage output.

If you want extra help with AC, consider picking up two levels in Bladesinger, which fits nicely to the elf theme (in that case, put more into Int and dump Str, you can use Rapier as your weapon of choice).

Answer 2

Tashas variant race ability score increase rules

High elf, Bard 3 (college of swords), Cleric 1 (forge domain)

Stats

Str 12 (+1) Dex 18 (+4) Con 16 (+3) Int 10 (+0) Wis 15 (+2) Cha 18 (+4)

Hp 46 ; HD 4d8 Init +5 ; Speed 30 ft.

AC 16 (scale mail 14, Dex +2)

Rapier. Melee : +6 (1d8+4 piercing ; finesse)

Spells that matter

Spellcasting Ability Charisma ; Spells Save DC 14 ; Spells Attack Bonus +6 Slots 4 / 2 Known Spells (2) / 5 / 1

• Lvl 0 : booming blade
• Lvl 1 : healing word, command, searing smite
• Lvl 2 : mirror image

(others are your choice)

Other

• Blessings of the forge for either better damage or better AC
• Tough feat for that extra health.

Now just a reminder, bard is built to be a support class despite their versatility. So you will never be on par with the other attackers. But, you have a pretty nice piece of HP, +6/7 to hit, and seeing as how most monsters have about 14-15 AC at this level, you are going to be hitting on anything more than an 8. on average, you are doing 8.5-9.5 damage on each hit. and your blade flourishes are going to be quite strong if you use them correctly.