Bard Job Guide for FFXIV — Dawntrail 7.2
Bard is a physical Ranged DPS job in Final Fantasy XIV that uses their songs and a flurry of arrows to aid their allies in combat, inspiring them to victory. They can only be played at Level 30 or above, after reciving their job stone as an Archer.
What is Bard's Playstyle?
Bard is a physical ranged DPS job and is Final Fantasy XIV's bow user.
Bard has a priority-based rotation, and the job is heavy on off-global cooldowns
as you cycle through your songs and handle procs.
The centerpiece of the rotation is a big two-minute burst enhanced by their
personal 
Raging Strikes buff, in addition to a pair of party buffs -
Battle Voice and 
Radiant Finale — that give Bard
the strongest group-wide buff package in the game.
Bard mixes its bow skills with a musical motif. They cycle through three
songs - 
The Wanderer's Minuet, 
Mage's Ballad, and
Army's Paeon - that roll an 80% chance to gain some effect every
three seconds. Bard also has frequent off-global cooldowns on top of these,
in addition to other random procs. This makes Bard both one of the fastest-paced jobs,
and it is also one of the more reactive ones.
Bard Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Strongest party-wide burst buffs in the game.- Has two unique support skills.
- Most mistakes do not cause rotation problems later.
Weaknesses
Relies on party to maximize buff value.- Song cycle lacks flexibility.
How do you Unlock Bard?
To unlock Bard, you need to first reach level 30 on Archer and complete the level 30 class quest "The One That Got Away." You also need to complete the level 20 main story quest "Sylph-Management." Once you have done both, talk to Lucianne at the Archer's Guild in New Gridania (x15.4, y11.8) to pick up the quest "A Song of Bards and Bowmen." This quest unlocks Bard.
Bard Gauges
Bard's Song Gauge has three parts - the song-specific gauge, the Soul Gauge beneath it, and your Coda to the right.
The Soul Gauge increases by five any time you get a Repertoire proc, and this is
spent on 
Apex Arrow. You can get one Coda from each of your three
main songs when starting it. Coda is spent by using Radiant Finale,
which then enables 
Radiant Encore.
All three song-specific gauges will show the time remaining on the song. Every three seconds - at 42, 39, 36, and so on down to 3 - you get an 80% chance for a Repertoire proc. Repertoire has a different effect depending on the song.
In The Wanderer's Minuet (above), Repertoire gives you stacks
that are spent on 
Pitch Perfect, up to three. The song gauge
tracks how many you have.
In Mage's Ballad, the song gauge flashes when you get a
Repertoire proc. Procs reduce the cooldown of 
Heartbreak Shot and
Rain of Death.
In Army's Paeon, Repertoire procs give you stacks that are
shown on the gauge, up to four. These are not spent on anything. Instead, they give you
4% increased speed on your weaponskills and auto-attacks.
Bard Actions
| Action Name |
|
|
Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
 Heavy Shot
Lv. 1
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 160. Additional Effect: 20% chance of granting Hawk's Eye Duration: 30s |
 Straight Shot
Lv. 2
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 200. Can only be executed when under the effect of Hawk's Eye. |
 Raging Strikes
Lv. 4
|
|
|
Increases damage dealt by 15%. Duration: 20s |
 Venomous Bite
Lv. 6
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Venom Potency: 15 Duration: 45s |
 Bloodletter
Lv. 12
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 130. Maximum Charges: 3 Shares a recast timer with Rain of Death. |
 Repelling Shot
Lv. 15
|
|
|
Jump 10 yalms away from current target. Cannot be executed while bound. |
 Quick Nock
Lv. 18
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 110 to all enemies in a cone before you. Additional Effect: 20% chance of granting Hawk's Eye Duration: 30s |
 Wide Volley
Lv. 25
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 140 to target and all enemies nearby it. Barrage Potency: 220 Can only be executed while under the effect of Hawk's Eye. |
 Mage's Ballad
Lv. 30
|
|
|
Grants Mage's Ballad to self and all party members within 50 yalms, increasing damage dealt by 1%. Duration: 45s Additional Effect: 80% chance to grant Repertoire This effect can trigger repeatedly while singing the Mage's Ballad. Repertoire Effect: Reduces the recast time of Heartbreak Shot and Rain of Death by 7.5s Additional Effect: Grants Mage's Coda Can only be executed while in combat. |
 Windbite
Lv. 30
|
|
|
Deals wind damage with a potency of 60. Additional Effect: Wind damage over time Potency: 20 Duration: 45s |
 The Warden's Paean
Lv. 35
|
|
|
Removes one select detrimental effect from self or target party member. If the target is not enfeebled, a barrier is created nullifying the target's next detrimental effect suffered. Duration: 30s |
 Barrage
Lv. 38
|
|
|
Grants Barrage, allowing the use of Refulgent Arrow and Shadowbite. Upon execution, Refulgent Arrow will strike the selected target three times, while Shadowbite's potency will be increased to 280. Duration: 10s Additional Effect: Grants Resonant Arrow Ready Duration: 30s |
 Army's Paeon
Lv. 40
|
|
|
Grants Army's Paeon to self and all party members within 50 yalms, increasing direct hit rate by 3%. Duration: 45s Additional Effect: 80% chance to grant Repertoire This effect can trigger repeatedly while singing the Army's Paeon. Repertoire Effect: Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 4% Can be stacked up to 4 times. Additional Effect: Grants Army's Coda Can only be executed while in combat. |
 Rain of Death
Lv. 45
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to target and all enemies nearby it. Maximum Charges: 3 Shares a recast timer with Heartbreak Shot. |
 Battle Voice
Lv. 50
|
|
|
Increases direct hit rate of self and all nearby party members by 20%. Duration: 20s |
 Pitch Perfect
Lv. 52
|
|
|
Delivers an attack to the target and all enemies nearby it. Potency varies with number of Repertoire stacks, dealing full damage for the first enemy, and 55% less for all remaining enemies. 1 Repertoire Stack: 100 2 Repertoire Stacks: 220 3 Repertoire Stacks: 360 Can only be executed when the Wanderer's Minuet is active and you have at least one stack of Repertoire. |
 The Wanderer's Minuet
Lv. 52
|
|
|
Grants the Wanderer's Minuet to self and all party members within 50 yalms, increasing critical hit rate by 2%. Duration: 45s Additional Effect: 80% chance to grant Repertoire This effect can trigger repeatedly while singing the Wanderer's Minuet. Repertoire Effect: Allows execution of Pitch Perfect Can be stacked up to 3 times. Additional Effect: Grants Wanderer's Coda Can only be executed while in combat. |
 Empyreal Arrow
Lv. 54
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 260. |
 Iron Jaws
Lv. 56
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: If the target is suffering from a Caustic Bite or Stormbite effect inflicted by you, the effect timer is reset Additional Effect: 35% chance of granting Hawk's Eye Duration: 30s |
 Sidewinder
Lv. 60
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 400. |
 Troubadour
Lv. 62
|
|
|
Reduces damage taken by self and nearby party members by 15%. Duration: 15s Effect cannot be stacked with machinist's Tactician or dancer's Shield Samba. |
 Caustic Bite
Lv. 64
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 150. Additional Effect: Poison Potency: 20 Duration: 45s Additional Effect: 35% chance of granting Hawk's Eye Duration: 30s |
 Stormbite
Lv. 64
|
|
|
Deals wind damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Wind damage over time Potency: 25 Duration: 45s Additional Effect: 35% chance of granting Hawk's Eye Duration: 30s |
 Nature's Minne
Lv. 66
|
|
|
Increases HP recovery via healing actions by 15% for self and nearby party members. Duration: 15s |
 Refulgent Arrow
Lv. 70
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 280. Can only be executed when under the effect of Hawk's Eye. |
 Shadowbite
Lv. 72
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 180 to target and all enemies nearby it. Barrage Potency: 280 Can only be executed when under the effect of Hawk's Eye. |
 Burst Shot
Lv. 76
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 220. Additional Effect: 35% chance of granting Hawk's Eye Duration: 30s |
 Apex Arrow
Lv. 80
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 120 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Soul Voice Gauge Cost: 20 Potency increases up to 600 as Soul Voice Gauge exceeds minimum cost. Additional Effect: Grants Blast Arrow Ready upon execution while Soul Voice Gauge is 80 or higher Duration: 10s Consumes Soul Voice Gauge upon execution. |
 Ladonsbite
Lv. 82
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 140 to all enemies in a cone before you. Additional Effect: 35% chance of granting Hawk's Eye Duration: 30s |
 Blast Arrow
Lv. 86
|
|
|
Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 600 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies. Can only be executed while under the effect of Blast Arrow Ready. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. ※Apex Arrow changes to Blast Arrow when requirements for execution are met. |
 Radiant Finale
Lv. 90
|
|
|
Increases damage dealt by self and nearby party members. Duration: 20s Effectiveness is determined by the number of different Coda active in the Song Gauge. 1 Coda: 2% 2 Coda: 4% 3 Coda: 6% Additional Effect: Grants Radiant Encore Ready Duration: 30s Can only be executed when at least 1 coda is active. |
 Heartbreak Shot
Lv. 92
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 180. Maximum Charges: 3 Shares a recast timer with Rain of Death. |
 Resonant Arrow
Lv. 96
|
|
|
Delivers an attack to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 600 for the first enemy, and 55% less for all remaining enemies. Can only be executed while under the effect of Resonant Arrow Ready. |
 Radiant Encore
Lv. 100
|
|
|
Delivers an attack to target and all enemies nearby it. Potency is determined by the number of different Coda consumed in the Radiant Finale executed prior, dealing full damage for the first enemy, and 55% less for all remaining enemies. 1 Coda: 500 2 Coda: 600 3 Coda: 900 Can only be executed while under the effect of Radiant Encore Ready. |
Role Actions
| Action Name |
|
|
Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
 Leg Graze
Lv. 6
|
|
|
Afflicts target with Heavy +40%. Duration: 10s |
 Second Wind
Lv. 8
|
|
|
Instantly restores own HP. Cure Potency: 800 |
 Foot Graze
Lv. 10
|
|
|
Binds target. Duration: 10s Cancels auto-attack upon execution. Target unbound if damage taken. |
 Peloton
Lv. 20
|
|
|
Increases movement speed of self and nearby party members. Duration: 30s Effect ends when enmity is generated. Has no effect in battle. |
 Head Graze
Lv. 24
|
|
|
Interrupts the use of a target's action. |
 Arm's Length
Lv. 32
|
|
|
Nullifies most knockback and draw-in effects. Duration: 6s Additional Effect: When you are struck by a physical attack, the striker will be afflicted with Slow +20% Duration: 15s |
Bard Traits
| Action Name | Acquired | Effect |
|---|---|---|
 Heavier Shot |
Lv. 2 |
Adds to Heavy Shot a 20% chance to grant Hawk's Eye. Duration: 30s |
 Increased Action Damage |
Lv. 20 |
Increases base action damage by 10%. |
 Enhanced Quick Nock |
Lv. 25 |
Adds to Quick Nock a 20% chance to grant Hawk's Eye. Duration: 30s |
 Increased Action Damage II |
Lv. 40 |
Increases base action damage by 20%. |
 Bite Mastery |
Lv. 64 |
Upgrades Venomous Bite and Windbite to Caustic Bite and Stormbite respectively. |
 Enhanced Empyreal Arrow |
Lv. 68 |
Guarantees the trigger of the additional effects for current Mage's Ballad, Army's Paeon, and the Wanderer's Minuet when Empyreal Arrow hits a target. |
 Straight Shot Mastery |
Lv. 70 |
Upgrades Straight Shot to Refulgent Arrow. |
 Wide Volley Mastery |
Lv. 72 |
Upgrades Wide Volley to Shadowbite. |
 Bite Mastery II |
Lv. 76 |
Adds to Stormbite, Caustic Bite, and Iron Jaws a 35% chance to grant Hawk's Eye. Duration: 30s |
 Heavy Shot Mastery |
Lv. 76 |
Upgrades Heavy Shot to Burst Shot. |
 Enhanced Army's Paeon |
Lv. 78 |
While under the effect of Army's Paeon with at least one stack of Repertoire, singing Mage's Ballad or the Wanderer's Minuet will grant Army's Muse, reducing weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay. Duration: 10s Allowing the effect of Army's Paeon and accumulated stacks of Repertoire to expire without singing Mage's Ballad or the Wanderer's Minuet will grant Army's Ethos. Duration: 30s While under the effect of Army's Ethos, singing Mage's Ballad or the Wanderer's Minuet will grant Army's Muse. Both Army's Ethos and Army's Muse require stacks of Repertoire, the number of which will determine the potency of the latter. 1 Repertoire: 1% 2 Repertoire: 2% 3 Repertoire: 4% 4 Repertoire: 12% |
 Soul Voice |
Lv. 80 |
Increases Soul Voice Gauge by 5 each time Repertoire is granted. |
 Quick Nock Mastery |
Lv. 82 |
Upgrades Quick Nock to Ladonsbite. |
 Enhanced Bloodletter |
Lv. 84 |
Allows a third charge of Bloodletter and Rain of Death. |
 Enhanced Apex Arrow |
Lv. 86 |
Grants Blast Arrow Ready upon executing Apex Arrow after the Soul Voice Gauge has reached 80 or higher. Duration: 10s Apex Arrow becomes Blast Arrow while under this effect. |
 Enhanced Troubadour |
Lv. 88 |
Reduces Troubadour recast time to 90 seconds. |
 Minstrel's Coda |
Lv. 90 |
Grants Mage's Coda, Army's Coda, or Wanderer's Coda upon singing Mage's Ballad, Army's Paeon, or the Wanderer's Minuet respectively. |
 Bloodletter Mastery |
Lv. 92 |
Upgrades Bloodletter to Heartbreak Shot. |
 Ranged Mastery |
Lv. 94 |
Increases the potency of Empyreal Arrow to 260, Sidewinder to 400, Refulgent Arrow to 280, Burst Shot to 220, and Apex Arrow to 120 up to 600. |
 Enhanced Second Wind |
Lv. 94 |
Increases the healing potency of Second Wind to 800. |
 Enhanced Barrage |
Lv. 96 |
Grants Resonant Arrow Ready upon executing Barrage. Duration: 30s |
 Enhanced Troubadour II |
Lv. 98 |
Improves Troubadour's damage reduction effect to 15%. |
 Enhanced Radiant Finale |
Lv. 100 |
Grants Radiant Encore Ready upon executing Radiant Finale. Duration: 30s |
Bard Lore
The word "bard" ordinarily puts folk in mind of those itinerant minstrels, fair of voice and nimble of finger, who earn their coin performing in taverns and the halls of great lords. Few know, however, that bards in fact trace their origins back to the bowmen of eld, who sang in the heat of battle to fortify the spirits of their companions. In time, their impassioned songs came to hold sway over the hearts of men, inspiring their comrades to great feats and granting peace unto those who lay upon the precipice of death.
Changelog
- 31 Mar. 2025 (keybindings page): Updated for 7.2
- 29 Mar. 2025 (gear page): Updated for Patch 7.21
- 30 Jul. 2024 (gear page): Updated for Patch 7.05
- 22 Jul. 2024 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 7.01
- 22 Jul. 2024 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 7.01
- 22 Jul. 2024 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 7.01
- 22 Jul. 2024 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 7.01
- 22 Jul. 2024 (gear page): Updated for Patch 7.01
- 22 Jul. 2024 (job changes): Page updated with early Dawntrail information.
- 22 Jul. 2024 (melding page): Updated for Patch 7.01
- 22 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 7.01
- 09 Jun. 2024 (job changes): Page updated with information from the Dawntrail media tour.
- 20 May 2024 (job changes): Page updated with patch history and preliminary Dawntrail information.
- 14 May 2024 (keybindings page): Guide added.
- 30 Jan. 2024 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Patch 6.55.
- 30 Jan. 2024 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Patch 6.55.
- 30 Jan. 2024 (rotation page): Reviewed for Patch 6.55.
- 30 Jan. 2024 (Leveling page): Reviewed for Patch 6.55.
- 30 Jan. 2024 (gear page): Reviewed for Patch 6.55.
- 30 Jan. 2024 (melding page): Reviewed for Patch 6.55.
- 30 Jan. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 6.55.
- 13 Oct. 2023 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 6.5
- 13 Oct. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.5
- 12 Oct. 2023 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 6.5
- 12 Oct. 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.5
- 12 Oct. 2023 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 6.5
- 12 Oct. 2023 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.5
- 12 Oct. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.5
- 25 May 2023 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 6.4
- 25 May 2023 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 6.4
- 25 May 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.4
- 25 May 2023 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 6.4
- 25 May 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.4
- 25 May 2023 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.4
- 25 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.4
- 10 Jan. 2023 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 6.3
- 10 Jan. 2023 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 6.3
- 10 Jan. 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.3
- 10 Jan. 2023 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 6.3
- 10 Jan. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.3
- 10 Jan. 2023 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.3
- 10 Jan. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.3
- 20 Sep. 2022 (how to improve page): Updated as of Patch 6.2
- 20 Sep. 2022 (FAQ page): Updated as of Patch 6.2
- 20 Sep. 2022 (rotation page): Updated as of Patch 6.2
- 20 Sep. 2022 (Leveling page): Updated as of Patch 6.2
- 20 Sep. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.2
- 20 Sep. 2022 (melding page): Updated as of Patch 6.2
- 20 Sep. 2022 (this page): Updated as of Patch 6.2
- 20 Apr. 2022 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 6.1
- 20 Apr. 2022 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 6.1
- 20 Apr. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.1
- 20 Apr. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.1
- 20 Apr. 2022 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.1
- 20 Apr. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.1
- 27 Mar. 2022 (Leveling page): Guide added.
- 09 Feb. 2022 (rotation page): Guide added.
- 01 Feb. 2022 (how to improve page): Guide added.
- 01 Feb. 2022 (FAQ page): Guide added.
- 01 Feb. 2022 (melding page): Guide added.
- 01 Feb. 2022 (this page): Guide added.
- 19 Dec. 2021 (job changes): Page added.
- 01 Feb. 2021 (gear page): Guide added.
Guides from Other Classes
This guide was written by Cetonis, who has been a Bard theorycrafter and guide contributor since late ARR. He is also part of The Balance as a Bard mentor. All good theorycraft is a group effort, and credit goes out to the Bards of the ranged theorycraft discord for helping to work things out.
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