Leveling Rotations and Tips for Bard — Endwalker 6.55

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

This page covers the rotation and action usage when leveling Bard to Level 90. This page can also be used to help when doing roulettes with level scaling by using the slider to adjust the information to your desired level.

1.

Gear Options

When leveling up, you should always choose the piece of gear with the highest Dexterity. Aside from gear you buy for gil at vendors, this will always be the Dexterity gear with the higher item level.

Once you are level 50/60/70/80, you can trade Allagan Tomestone of Poetics for gear of the highest item level available for that level. Get these from Rowena's Representatives near the aetheryte of each expansion's major city.

2.

Rotation Overview While Leveling Bard

Bard's rotation does not change substantially after level 56. Most of the skills and traits after that point are upgrades to existing skills. The ones that are not upgrades are skills you slot in once every minute or two, or support abilities.

Remember to do your class and job quests! There are skills locked behind those up to and including Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent Arrow at level 70. The levels here assume you have all quests complete.

Move the slider below to make the guide update to your level!

Level: 1
2.1.

Single Target Openers

  1. Stormbite Icon StormbiteThe Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's MinuetRaging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes
  2. Caustic Bite Icon Caustic BiteEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal ArrowBloodletter Icon Bloodletter
  3. Burst Shot Icon Burst Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent ArrowBattle Voice Icon Battle Voice
  4. Burst Shot Icon Burst Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent ArrowBarrage Icon Barrage and/or Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder
  5. Burst Shot Icon Burst Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent ArrowBarrage Icon Barrage or Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder (if not used yet)
  6. Burst Shot Icon Burst Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent Arrow
  7. Burst Shot Icon Burst Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent Arrow
  8. Burst Shot Icon Burst Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent ArrowEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow
  9. Iron Jaws Icon Iron JawsPitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect
  1. Stormbite Icon StormbiteThe Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's MinuetRaging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes
  2. Caustic Bite Icon Caustic BiteEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal ArrowBloodletter Icon Bloodletter
  3. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBattle Voice Icon Battle Voice
  4. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent ArrowBarrage Icon Barrage and/or Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder
  5. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent ArrowBarrage Icon Barrage or Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder (if not used yet)
  6. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent Arrow
  7. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent Arrow
  8. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent ArrowEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow
  9. Iron Jaws Icon Iron JawsPitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect
  1. Stormbite Icon StormbiteThe Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's MinuetRaging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes
  2. Caustic Bite Icon Caustic BiteEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal ArrowBloodletter Icon Bloodletter
  3. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBattle Voice Icon Battle Voice
  4. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight ShotBarrage Icon Barrage and/or Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder
  5. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight ShotBarrage Icon Barrage or Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder (if not used yet)
  6. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  7. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  8. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight ShotEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow
  9. Iron Jaws Icon Iron JawsPitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect
  1. Windbite Icon WindbiteThe Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's MinuetRaging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes
  2. Venomous Bite Icon Venomous BiteEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal ArrowBloodletter Icon Bloodletter
  3. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBattle Voice Icon Battle Voice
  4. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight ShotBarrage Icon Barrage and/or Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder
  5. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight ShotBarrage Icon Barrage or Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder (if not used yet)
  6. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  7. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  8. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight ShotEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow
  9. Iron Jaws Icon Iron JawsPitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect
  1. Windbite Icon WindbiteThe Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's MinuetRaging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes
  2. Venomous Bite Icon Venomous BiteEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal ArrowBloodletter Icon Bloodletter
  3. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBattle Voice Icon Battle Voice
  4. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBarrage Icon Barrage, or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  5. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBarrage Icon Barrage, or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  6. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  7. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  8. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot or Straight Shot Icon Straight ShotEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow
  9. Iron Jaws Icon Iron JawsPitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect
  1. Raging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes
  2. Windbite Icon WindbiteThe Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's MinuetEmpyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow
  3. Venomous Bite Icon Venomous BiteBloodletter Icon Bloodletter
  4. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBattle Voice Icon Battle Voice
  5. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBarrage Icon Barrage, or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  6. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBarrage Icon Barrage, or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  1. Raging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes
  2. Windbite Icon WindbiteThe Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's MinuetBloodletter Icon Bloodletter
  3. Venomous Bite Icon Venomous Bite
  4. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBattle Voice Icon Battle Voice
  5. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBarrage Icon Barrage, or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  6. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBarrage Icon Barrage, or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  1. Raging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes
  2. Windbite Icon WindbiteMage's Ballad Icon Mage's BalladBloodletter Icon Bloodletter
  3. Venomous Bite Icon Venomous Bite
  4. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBattle Voice Icon Battle Voice
  5. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBarrage Icon Barrage, or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  6. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy ShotBarrage Icon Barrage, or Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  1. Raging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes
  2. Windbite Icon WindbiteMage's Ballad Icon Mage's BalladBloodletter Icon Bloodletter
  3. Venomous Bite Icon Venomous BiteBarrage Icon Barrage
  4. Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  1. Raging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes
  2. Windbite Icon WindbiteMage's Ballad Icon Mage's BalladBloodletter Icon Bloodletter
  3. Venomous Bite Icon Venomous Bite

Notes:

  • Use Bloodletter Icon Bloodletter as able.
  • Use Bloodletter Icon Bloodletter as able once Battle Voice Icon Battle Voice is up.
  • Use Pitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect at three stacks as able.
  • Use Pitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect at two stacks if the next song tick will overlap with Empyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow.
  • Use any Pitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect at stacks you have after Iron Jaws Icon Iron Jaws, the expiring buffs make this worth doing.
  • Do not use Barrage Icon Barrage if you already have the Straight Shot Ready buff.
2.2.

Song Cycle

  1. Use Mage's Ballad Icon Mage's Ballad for 45 seconds.
  2. Use Army's Paeon Icon Army's Paeon for 45 seconds.
  3. No song for 30 seconds.
  1. Use The Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's Minuet for 42-44 seconds.
  2. Use Mage's Ballad Icon Mage's Ballad for 42-44 seconds.
  3. Use Army's Paeon Icon Army's Paeon for 33-35 seconds.
  1. Use The Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's Minuet for 42-44 seconds.
  2. Use Mage's Ballad Icon Mage's Ballad for 33-35 seconds.
  3. Use Army's Paeon Icon Army's Paeon for 42-44 seconds.

Always have a song up while in combat!

You cannot get a repertoire proc in the last three seconds of a song, so once the timer is at three or less, you can move to the next song. If in The Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's Minuet, make sure to use any remaining stacks of Pitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect before doing so.

When exiting Army's Paeon Icon Army's Paeon, try to use The Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's Minuet late in the off-GCD window to best leverage Enhanced Army's Paeon Icon Enhanced Army's Paeon.

2.3.

Single-Target Rotation

2.3.1.

GCD Priorities (in all songs)

  1. Windbite Icon WindbiteVenomous Bite Icon Venomous Bite if DoTs are not up or about to run out
  2. Windbite Icon WindbiteVenomous Bite Icon Venomous Bite if DoTs are not up
  3. Stormbite Icon StormbiteCaustic Bite Icon Caustic Bite if DoTs are not up
  4. Iron Jaws Icon Iron Jaws if DoTs are about to run out
  5. Apex Arrow Icon Apex Arrow if 100 gauge
  6. Apex Arrow Icon Apex ArrowBlast Arrow Icon Blast Arrow - at specific times*
  7. Refulgent Arrow Icon Refulgent Arrow
  8. Straight Shot Icon Straight Shot
  9. Burst Shot Icon Burst Shot
  10. Heavy Shot Icon Heavy Shot

*For Apex and Blast Arrow, you want to use them under two-minute buffs. To make sure you have them available, use Apex at or before 18-16 seconds left in Mage's Ballad Icon Mage's Ballad, or when the gauge fills if that happens first. Then wait until Battle Voice Icon Battle Voice is up before you use it next.

2.3.2.

oGCD Priorities

In Wanderer's Minuet (after buffs):

  1. Pitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect - at three stacks
  2. Pitch Perfect Icon Pitch Perfect - at two stacks, if you are about to Empyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow at the same time as a song tick
  3. Empyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow
  4. Bloodletter Icon Bloodletter

In Mage's Ballad

  1. Bloodletter Icon Bloodletter - if at full charges (try to avoid this)
  2. Empyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow
  3. Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder
  4. Bloodletter Icon Bloodletter

In Army's Paeon

  1. Empyreal Arrow Icon Empyreal Arrow
  2. Bloodletter Icon Bloodletter - do not use if the song timer is 15 or less
  3. Bloodletter Icon Bloodletter - do not use if the song timer is 30 or less
2.3.3.

Burst Sequence

You can wait until level cap to fully perfect your burst sequence, but it is good to get familiar with the general idea as you level.

Every two minutes, you should aim to have your buffs (Raging Strikes Icon Raging Strikes and Battle Voice Icon Battle Voice) active in tandem, and use your biggest damage dealing skills (Barrage Icon Barrage , your DoTs, Iron Jaws Icon Iron Jaws , Sidewinder Icon Sidewinder, Apex Arrow Icon Apex Arrow and Blast Arrow Icon Blast Arrow , and ideally some saved up Bloodletter Icon Bloodletters) during that window. You will also want to be in Mage's Ballad Icon Mage's Ballad The Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's Minuet.

2.4.

AoE Rotation

When in dungeons, feel free to use your songs the same way you would on single target. This can include using buffs inside The Wanderer's Minuet Icon The Wanderer's Minuet, which lets you do good damage on every pack instead of being all or nothing, and keeps bosses mostly normal.

Against two or more enemies, you want to use Quick Nock Icon Quick Nock Ladonsbite Icon Ladonsbite and Shadowbite Icon Shadowbite instead of your single target GCDs. Use Apex Arrow Icon Apex Arrow when the soul gauge is full. Use Apex Arrow Icon Apex Arrow and Blast Arrow Icon Blast Arrow at any soul gauge between 80 and 100.

Use Rain of Death Icon Rain of Death as able. Do not neglect to use your single target abilities in AoE. They are free damage - try to put them on higher HP enemies if you can. Note that Barrage Icon Barrage can buff Shadowbite Icon Shadowbite.

Be careful of Shadowbite Icon Shadowbite's limited hit area. It is much smaller than your conal or Rain of Death Icon Rain of Death, so make sure you target a central enemy for it.

(Related exception for two targets: If you can hit both enemies with Quick Nock Icon Quick Nock but not with Shadowbite Icon Shadowbite, it is better to use Burst Shot Icon Burst Shot in those cases.)

3.

Changelog

  • 30 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 6.55.
  • 12 Oct. 2023: Updated for Patch 6.5
  • 25 May 2023: Updated for Patch 6.4
  • 10 Jan. 2023: Updated for Patch 6.3
  • 20 Sep. 2022: Updated as of Patch 6.2
  • 27 Mar. 2022: Guide added.
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