Bard Job Guide for FFXIV — Endwalker 6.55

Last updated on Jan 30, 2024 at 12:00 by Cetonis 6 comments

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.

1.

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 Icon Raging Strikes buff, in addition to a pair of party buffs - Battle Voice Icon Battle Voice and Radiant Finale Icon 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 Icon The Wanderer's Minuet, Mage's Ballad Icon Mage's Ballad, and Army's Paeon Icon 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.

2.

Bard Strengths and Weaknesses

V Strengths
  • +Strongest party-wide burst buffs in the game.
  • +Has two unique support skills.
  • +Most mistakes do not cause rotation problems later.
X Weaknesses
  • -Relies on party to maximize buff value.
  • -Song cycle lacks flexibility.
3.

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.

4.

Bard Gauges

Bard FFXIV Wanderer's Minuet Gauge

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 Icon Apex Arrow. You can get one Coda from each of your three main songs when starting it. Coda is spent by using Radiant Finale Icon Radiant Finale.

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 Icon The Wanderer's Minuet (above), Repertoire gives you stacks that are spent on Pitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect, up to three. The song gauge tracks how many you have.

Bard FFXIV Mage's Ballad Gauge

In Mage's Ballad Icon Mage's Ballad, the song gauge flashes when you get a Repertoire proc. Procs reduce the cooldown of Bloodletter Icon Bloodletter and Rain of Death Icon Rain of Death.

Bard FFXIV Army's Paeon Gauge

In Army's Paeon Icon 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.

5.

Bard Video Resources

If you would prefer to watch a video that provides an overview of Bard, feel free to give the video below a watch. The video was provided by Julia Care, a member of the community on The Balance Discord server.

6.

Bard Actions

Action Name
  • Cast
  • Recast
  • Range
  • Radius
Effect
Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot Lv. 1
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 160. Additional Effect: 20% chance of becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 30s
Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot Lv. 2
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 200. Can only be executed when Straight Shot Ready.
Raging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes Lv. 4
  • Instant
  • 120.0s
  • ↔ 0y
  • 0y
Increases damage dealt by 15%. Duration: 20s
Venomous Bite Icon Venomous Bite Lv. 6
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Venom Potency: 15 Duration: 45s
Bloodletter Icon Bloodletter Lv. 12
  • Instant
  • 15.0s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 110. Maximum Charges: 3 Shares a recast timer with Rain of Death.
Repelling Shot Icon Repelling Shot Lv. 15
  • Instant
  • 30.0s
  • ↔ 15y
  • 0y
Jump 10 yalms away from current target. Cannot be executed while bound.
Quick Nock Icon Quick Nock Lv. 18
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 12y
  • 12y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 110 to all enemies in a cone before you. Additional Effect: 35% chance of becoming Shadowbite Ready Duration: 30s
Mage's Ballad Icon Mage's Ballad Lv. 30
  • Instant
  • 120.0s
  • ↔ 25y
  • 0y
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: 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 Repertoire Effect: Reduces the recast time of Bloodletter and Rain of Death by 7.5s Additional Effect: Grants Mage's Coda
Windbite Icon Windbite Lv. 30
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Deals wind damage with a potency of 60. Additional Effect: Wind damage over time Potency: 20 Duration: 45s
The Warden's Paean Icon The Warden's Paean Lv. 35
  • Instant
  • 45.0s
  • ↔ 30y
  • 0y
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 Icon Barrage Lv. 38
  • Instant
  • 120.0s
  • ↔ 0y
  • 0y
Triples the number of strikes for a single-target weaponskill. Additional effects added only once. Duration: 10s Additional Effect: Increases the potency of Shadowbite to 270 Additional Effect: Grants Straight Shot Ready Duration: 30s
Army's Paeon Icon Army's Paeon Lv. 40
  • Instant
  • 120.0s
  • ↔ 25y
  • 0y
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: 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 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
Rain of Death Icon Rain of Death Lv. 45
  • Instant
  • 15.0s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 8y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to target and all enemies nearby it. Maximum Charges: 3 Shares a recast timer with Bloodletter.
Battle Voice Icon Battle Voice Lv. 50
  • Instant
  • 120.0s
  • ↔ 0y
  • 30y
Increases direct hit rate of self and all nearby party members by 20%. Duration: 15s
Pitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect Lv. 52
  • Instant
  • 1.0s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Delivers an attack to the target. Potency varies with number of Repertoire stacks. 1 Repertoire Stack: 100 2 Repertoire Stacks: 220 3 Repertoire Stacks: 360 Can only be executed when the Wanderer's Minuet is active. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
The Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's Minuet Lv. 52
  • Instant
  • 120.0s
  • ↔ 25y
  • 0y
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: 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 Repertoire Effect: Allows execution of Pitch Perfect Can be stacked up to 3 times. Additional Effect: Grants Wanderer's Coda ※Action changes to Pitch Perfect upon execution.
Empyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow Lv. 54
  • Instant
  • 15.0s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 230.
Iron Jaws Icon Iron Jaws Lv. 56
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
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 becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 30s
Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder Lv. 60
  • Instant
  • 60.0s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 300.
Troubadour Icon Troubadour Lv. 62
  • Instant
  • 120.0s
  • ↔ 0y
  • 30y
Reduces damage taken by self and nearby party members by 10%. Duration: 15s Effect cannot be stacked with machinist's Tactician or dancer's Shield Samba.
Caustic Bite Icon Caustic Bite Lv. 64
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 150. Additional Effect: Poison Potency: 20 Duration: 45s Additional Effect: 35% chance of becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 30s
Stormbite Icon Stormbite Lv. 64
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Deals wind damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Wind damage over time Potency: 25 Duration: 45s Additional Effect: 35% chance of becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 30s
Nature's Minne Icon Nature's Minne Lv. 66
  • Instant
  • 120.0s
  • ↔ 0y
  • 30y
Increases HP recovery via healing actions by 15% for self and nearby party members. Duration: 15s
Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent Arrow Lv. 70
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 280. Can only be executed when Straight Shot Ready.
Shadowbite Icon Shadowbite Lv. 72
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 5y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 170 to target and all enemies nearby it. Barrage Potency: 270 Can only be executed when Shadowbite Ready.
Burst Shot Icon Burst Shot Lv. 76
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 220. Additional Effect: 35% chance of becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 30s
Apex Arrow Icon Apex Arrow Lv. 80
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 25y
  • 25y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Soul Voice Gauge Cost: 20 Potency increases up to 500 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. ※Action changes to Blast Arrow while under the effect of Blast Arrow Ready.
Ladonsbite Icon Ladonsbite Lv. 82
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 12y
  • 12y
Delivers an attack with a potency of 130 to all enemies in a cone before you. Additional Effect: 35% chance of becoming Shadowbite Ready Duration: 30s
Blast Arrow Icon Blast Arrow Lv. 86
  • Instant
  • 2.5s
  • ↔ 25y
  • 25y
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.
Radiant Finale Icon Radiant Finale Lv. 90
  • Instant
  • 110.0s
  • ↔ 0y
  • 30y
Increases damage dealt by self and nearby party members. Duration: 15s Effectiveness is determined by the number of different Coda active in the Song Gauge. 1 Coda: 2% 2 Coda: 4% 3 Coda: 6% Can only be executed when at least 1 coda is active.
7.

Role Actions

Action Name
  • Cast
  • Recast
  • Range
  • Radius
Effect
Leg Graze Icon Leg Graze Lv. 6
  • Instant
  • 30.0s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Afflicts target with Heavy +40%. Duration: 10s
Second Wind Icon Second Wind Lv. 8
  • Instant
  • 120.0s
  • ↔ 0y
  • 0y
Instantly restores own HP. Cure Potency: 500
Foot Graze Icon Foot Graze Lv. 10
  • Instant
  • 30.0s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Binds target. Duration: 10s Cancels auto-attack upon execution. Target unbound if damage taken.
Peloton Icon Peloton Lv. 20
  • Instant
  • 5.0s
  • ↔ 0y
  • 30y
Increases movement speed of self and nearby party members. Duration: 30s Effect ends when enmity is generated. Has no effect in battle.
Head Graze Icon Head Graze Lv. 24
  • Instant
  • 30.0s
  • ↔ 3y
  • 0y
Interrupts the use of a target's action.
Arm's Length Icon Arm's Length Lv. 32
  • Instant
  • 120.0s
  • ↔ 0y
  • 0y
Creates a barrier nullifying most knockback and draw-in effects. Duration: 6s Additional Effect: Slow +20% when barrier is struck Duration: 15s
8.

Bard Traits

Action Name Acquired Effect
Heavier Shot Icon Heavier Shot Lv. 2

Adds to Heavy Shot a 20% chance that you will become Straight Shot Ready.

Duration: 30s

Increased Action Damage Icon Increased Action Damage Lv. 20

Increases base action damage by 10%.

Increased Action Damage II Icon Increased Action Damage II Lv. 40

Increases base action damage by 20%.

Bite Mastery Icon Bite Mastery Lv. 64

Upgrades Venomous Bite and Windbite to Caustic Bite and Stormbite respectively.

Enhanced Empyreal Arrow Icon 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 Icon Straight Shot Mastery Lv. 70

Upgrades Straight Shot to Refulgent Arrow.

Enhanced Quick Nock Icon Enhanced Quick Nock Lv. 72

Adds to Quick Nock a 35% chance that you will become Shadowbite Ready.

Duration: 30s

Bite Mastery II Icon Bite Mastery II Lv. 76

Adds to Stormbite, Caustic Bite, and Iron Jaws a 35% chance that you will become Straight Shot Ready.

Duration: 30s

Heavy Shot Mastery Icon Heavy Shot Mastery Lv. 76

Upgrades Heavy Shot to Burst Shot.

Enhanced Army's Paeon Icon 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 Icon Soul Voice Lv. 80

Increases Soul Voice Gauge by 5 each time Repertoire is granted.

Quick Nock Mastery Icon Quick Nock Mastery Lv. 82

Upgrades Quick Nock to Ladonsbite.

Enhanced Bloodletter Icon Enhanced Bloodletter Lv. 84

Allows a third charge of Bloodletter and Rain of Death.

Enhanced Apex Arrow Icon 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 Icon Enhanced Troubadour Lv. 88

Reduces Troubadour recast time to 90 seconds.

Minstrel's Coda Icon 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.

9.

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.

10.

Changelog

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