The Bard is a DPS class in Final Fantasy 14, a ranged physical fighter who specializes in bows to dispatch enemies quickly from a safe distance. While the Bard can output a fair bit of damage, they also offer utility through their healing songs and buffs.
In raids, Bards can be a real asset due to their supportive abilities. Not only can they deal consistent damage to foes from afar, but they can also assist with healing when things get a little hectic.
If you’re having trouble deciding whether to play DPS class or a healer class in Final Fantasy 14, the Bard is a good in-between as their playstyle has a mixture of both roles. Here are the basics of what you need to know about the Bard job so you can become the ultimate songsmith.
Final Fantasy 14 Bard Job Basics
You can unlock the Bard job once you’ve leveled up an Archer, one of the initial starting classes, to level 30. They are a Disciple of War, which are classes and jobs that use weaponskills as their main offensive abilities.
Bards wear armor that is mostly composed of “Aiming” gear. Their primary attribute is dexterity, which enhances their attack power. While Bards benefit the most from dexterity, critical hit, skill speed, determination, and direct hit are ideal secondary attributes for increasing their overall damage potential.
The Bard is a long-ranged fighter who primarily uses bows that can fire arrows. This allows them to take out enemies with ease without being knee-deep in the action.
Alongside their damage-dealing capabilities, the Bard also provides support to party members through their songs. In fact, the Bard’s main strength is their utility rather than their DPS.
Raids can go a lot smoother with a Bard around as they can assist with healing, as well as perform abilities that can increase damage, reduce cooldown timers, and decrease damage taken for all party members.
How to Become a Bard in Final Fantasy 14
The Bard job isn’t available straight away – you’ll first need to level up an Archer to level 30. Once you’ve leveled up, complete the L30 ARC class quest, “The One That Got Away”.
After you’ve finished this quest, you’ll unlock “A Song of Bards and Bowmen”, which allows you to actually become a bard. This quest is issued by Luciane, the Archer’s guildmaster, and is found at Quiver’s Hold in Gridania – New Gridania.
Make sure you’ve completed the level 20 “Sylph-management” quest too, which is also located in Gridania.
Upon completing “A Songs of Bards and Bowman”, equip the “Soul of the Bard” to officially become a Bard.
Final Fantasy 14 Bard Actions
Here’s a full list of all of the Bard’s PVE actions. Much of these are DOT effects and buffs, both of which make the Bard so effective. Choosing the best actions and rotations are vital for improving both you and your party’s performance, with the added chance to drastically change the outcome of a difficult encounter.
Heavy Shot
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 180.
Straight Shot
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 200.
Raging Strikes
Increases damage by 10%.
Venomous Bite
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Bloodletter
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 150. Also shares a recast timer with Rain of Death.
Repelling Shot
Jump 10 yalms away from your current target. Cannot be performed while bound.
Quick Nock
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 150 to all enemies in a cone in front of you.
Windbite
Deals wind damage with a potency of 60.
Mage’s Ballad
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100.
The Warden’s Paean
Removes one select debuff from self or a party member. If the target is not enfeebled, a barrier is made to nullify the target’s next detrimental effect.
Barrage
Triples the number of strikes for a single-target weapon skill. Additional effects added only once.
Army’s Paeon
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100.
Rain of Death
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 130 to a target and all enemies close to it.
Battle Voice
Increases direct hit rate by 20% for all closeby party members.
The Wanderer’s Minuet
Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100.
Pitch Perfect
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100 when Repertoire stack is 1, 250 when Repertoire stack is 2, and 450 when Repertoire stack is 3.
Empyreal Arrow
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 230.
Iron Jaws
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Sidewinder
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Troubadour
Decreases damage taken by 10% for self and all closeby party members.
Caustic Bite
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 150.
Stormbite
Deal wind damage with a potency of 100.
Nature’s Minne
Increases HP recovery by 20% via healing magic for self or a single party member.
Refulgent Arrow
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 340.
Shadowbite
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100 to a target and all enemies close to it.
Burst Shot
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 250.
Apex Arrow
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 120 to all enemies in a straight line in front of you.
Final Fantasy 14 Bard Playstyle
Despite being a DPS class, the Bard’s main power lies in their utility and supportive abilities. Their damage-per-second is pretty low – it’s actually the lowest out of all the DPS jobs in Final Fantasy 14.
If you prefer running into battle and being in the midst of the action, the Bard job probably isn’t for you. Bards have a rather passive playstyle that, unlike more hectic jobs like the Monk and Dragoon, doesn’t require precise positioning or complex combos.
As a Bard, your role is to stand at the back away from the danger, slowly whittling down enemies and providing support to your party members.
Their kit doesn’t include any heavy-hitting damage abilities, so most of the offensive capabilities of the job stem from DOT (damage-over-time) actions. Stormbite and Caustic Bite chip away at enemy’ health bars, providing constant pressure.
The Bard changes their rotation based on the situation. For example, if the party is under pressure, casting Troubadour will decrease the amount of damage taken for everyone. Alternatively, if a party member is hit with a debuff, Bards can use Wanderer’s Paean to remove it.
They complement other DPS classes by enhancing their performance through their useful buffs, which in turn increases their survivability and helps the party take down foes quicker
You need to be quick-minded while playing Bard, which is where much of the job’s complexity comes from. The job requires swift reaction times so you can adjust your rotation accordingly and select the best abilities for the situation.
Similarly to healer roles in Final Fantasy 14, Bards help protect their party members while also dishing out some damage of their own.
Final Fantasy 14 Bard Tips
The Bard job can seem a little overwhelming for new players as it requires fast decision-making and full situational awareness, so here are a few Bard tips to help you get the basics.
Always use DOT effects
Most of your damage as a Bard comes from DOT attacks. Venomous Bite, Caustic Bite, Windbite, and Stormbite should always be used on a target to slowly but constantly deal out damage.
In addition, some of your attacks like Sidewinder put out more damage when a target has a DOT effect on them.
Always keep a song up
Songs are the main focus of the Bard job, providing buffs to nearby party members and extra damage to foes when used in correlation with other abilities. For example, Apex Arrow, a potent attack, can only be used during a song or just after one.
Make use of Peloton at every moment
Bards, Dancers, and Machinists all have the Peloton ability, which gives you and nearby party members a speed boost. It’s especially helpful when Sprint is on cooldown.
While you can’t use Peloton in combat, it’s still useful when used solo or in raids for getting to the next area quicker.
The Bard’s power lies in their utility, and when you choose the right abilities for a given scenario, it can be the difference between your party’s survival and death.
Keep an eye on your range
Although Bards are long-range fighters, you don’t want to be so far away from your party to the point they can’t benefit from buffs. Be aware of your distance and keep an eye on your abilities’ maximum reach.
Final Fantasy 14 is available on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
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