Ashes of Creation Bard Best in Slot and Stat Priority

At level 20, you gain access to the best-in-slot gear. Obtaining these items will be a lengthy process. You can start by obtaining some decent level 20 gear through drops, but true min-maxing comes from crafting the highest quality versions, Legendary quality. This requires a significant amount of time and teamwork from different types of crafters, as well as access to all the necessary crafting stations in the towns. To begin, focus on acquiring the basic versions of level 20 gear through drops or purchases in the marketplace. As you gather more resources, you can gradually craft better versions.

Important note: The higher the quality of a piece of gear or weapon, the more stats it will provide. Additionally, reaching certain quality thresholds can unlock extra stats. The gear listed below represents some of the best options you can acquire at level 20.

Diminishing Returns: At around 200-210 Magic Power you will start getting much less in return for stacking Magic Power Rating, it is suggested to start stacking Magical Critical Chance or Max Health after reaching this threshhold. I have included a few extra options below that allow you to mix and match to best optimize your gear.

Item Name	Location	Level Requirement
Warden Shillelagh	The Lore Wardenat The Murmuring Root, in Southern Mythbreak	Level 20
Tidewarden's Compass	Tidewarden at the Coral Grotto, Island Southeast of Korrin	Level 20
Pinion Pen	Administrator Crucia at the Befallen Forge, West of Joeva	Level 20
Iron Long Spellbow	Dropped from various mobs ranging in levels 18-24	Level 20
Skullcap of the Three Moons	Undertaker Zon at Gravespeak, in Northern Halycon	Level 20
Miraleth Citizens' Cloak	Can be purchased at the Node Vendor in Miraleth for ~136 Citizenship Tickets	Level 20
Khalidur's Heavy Breastplate	Maza's Flame at The Prismarium, in Northeast Azmaran	Level 20
Brine Briches	The Brinefather at The Brig, in the Island East of Brinebarrel	Level 20
Iron Wing Gauntlets	Bind-Master Hakoa at Pools of Stench, in Northwest Arisalon	Level 20
Lungs of the Abyss	Malrhos, Dar'kuu Gravekeeper at Isle of Bones, the smaller island Northeast of Windansea	Level 20
Ragebringer Stone	Lokk the Ragebringer at Stone Hold, West of Squall's End	Level 20
Bloom Warden Bracers	Mob Drop from caster mobs in Citadel of the Steel Bloom, in Southwest Windstead	Level 20
Rosethorn Bracers	Mob Drop from caster mobs in Citadel of the Steel Bloom, in Southwest Windstead	Level 20
Varek's Silk Slippers	Nearly Dead Prisoner at The Gypsum Outpost, in Southwest Djinna	Level 20
Steelbloom Earrings	Mob Drop in Citadel of the Steel Bloom, in Southwest Windstead	Level 10
Voidseer's Vigil	G'Lympes in Northern part of Wreckage of Carphin, in Northern Miraleth	Level 20
Arlogian Collar	Questline starting Southeast of Winstead	Level 20
Ring of Invocation	The Tormented Invoker on the 4th Floor of Tower of Carphin, in Northern Miraleth	Level 20
Obsidian Ring	Crafting at Apprentice Level	Level 20

The items listed above are some of the best gear options for Bards in the late game, but it’s not necessary to match each item exactly. The key focus should be reaching 200 Magic Power, 4500 Max Health, and 40% Magical Critical Chance. When it comes to ranged weapons, wand and longbow are the go to options and have various use cases in which each is best. Melee weapons are generally seen as stat sticks, and sceptre and focus are generally the best options.