Bards are one of the more fast-paced DPS classes in Final Fantasy XIV. They have been a part of the games' world since A Realm Reborn, starting the players off as Archers and working their way up to Bards. Their weapon is a bow and arrow, but they also use songs and instruments once they change from Archers to Bards.
As a Bard, the player's job is to do damage output while also buffing up other party members with their songs. While it may sound simple, there are tips for the best ways to utilize the many abilities at your disposal.
While DPS may feel like the easiest type of class, they can make or break a boss fight or dungeon run-through based on whether they really know what they are doing or not.
Updated September 3rd, 2021 by Russ Boswell: Final Fantasy 14 continues to grow in both size and player base. There are tons of newbies making their way to the lands of Eorzea and many of them are just dipping their toes into FFXIV's robust job system. For those out there looking at the Bard of Final Fantasy XIV, this guide has been updated to add additional tips and tricks pertaining to the class. The FFXIV Bard is an incredibly rewarding class that can help inspire their teammates through songs while dishing out their own damage. Here's an updated look at FFXIV's Bard and all it's capable of.
13 Use Empyreal Arrow As Soon As It Is Ready
Unlocked at level 54, Empyreal Arrow is off global cooldown, allowing Bards to deal damage faster and not worry about having to choose one attack over the other. Once the Bard hits level 68, Empyreal Arrow also activates Repertoire. Repertoire is basically an additional effect that can range from unlocking another attack or buffing up the party.
Typically, Repertoire is made by the combination of a Bards' songs and damage over time. Empyreal Arrow is a special case to take advantage of.
12 Focus On The Team
Some players may find themselves drawn to the Bard job thanks to its beautiful bows, fancy armors, and penchant for music. Those that expecting to walk tall into any situation and out-damage the competition may be sorely disappointed. Although the Bard is very capable of producing solid damage numbers in its own right, it's definitely not where the class shines.
Bards are incredibly useful because they offer up situation utility to a party. This is especially sought-after in raids, where Bards can help turn the tides of battle by inspiring a team to do more damage. They can help reduce casting times for their teammates, reduce the damage that everyone takes, and even heal. They're incredibly team-based and the best Bards will focus on their team more than themselves in tense situations.
11 Utilize The Warden’s Paean To Help The Team
The Warden’s Paean is an incredibly useful spell that will peel one negative status effect from the player or a teammate and then proceeds to put up a barrier that will "block" the next negative effect that may come their way.
While players might be tempted to spam this on all teammates as much as possible, it's important to focus on keeping the healers of the group safe. Saving The Warden’s Paean and using it when a healer may be in trouble will allow them to better focus on the party. At the end of the day, dedicated healers will always be able to heal better than a Bard, and therefore, should be kept safe from harm at all times.
10 Always Use Damage Over Time
Venomous Bite, Caustic Bite, Windbite, and Stombite are all attacks that do damage over time (Stormbite is upgraded Windbite and Venomous to Caustic). They are important because in addition to Repertoire effects, some of the Bards' attacks such as Sidewinder deal more damage against targets that have a damage-over-time effect.
Once Bards have two damage-over-time effects on a target, they can also use Iron Jaws to refresh the timer of both of them at once.
9 Use Army's Paeon Only When The Other Songs Are On Cooldown
Compared to their other songs like Mages Ballad and The Wanderer's Minuet, Army's Paeon may seem pretty useless to a party. All it does is make everyone attack faster. Furthermore, it is the only song that does not change what the Bard themselves can do. Mages Ballad allows Bards to use two of your attacks more frequently and The Wanderer's Minuet allows the Bard to use a completely new attack.
Army's Paeon does not interact with the Bard in this way, making it an easy ability to forget. It is advised to just use it when the other songs are on cooldown.
8 Always Have A Song Up
Songs are basically a Bards' purpose. They form the backbone of the job with several of a Bards attacks and abilities including Apex Arrow (which currently is a Bards' most powerful attack) can only be used during or after playing a song.
These songs also provide a buff to all nearby party members.
7 Use Repertoire Effects As Soon They Are Charged
Every song reaches a point where it cannot gain anymore Repertoire effects. For Mages Ballad and The Wanderer's Minuet, this limit can be removed by performing a certain action. For Mages Ballad, which resets the cooldown of two of those attacks, it is using one of those attacks. For The Wanderer's Minuet, which activates and charges a new attack, it is using that attack once it has reached maximum charge.
6 You Can Unlock Instruments In Girdania
Being able to unlock actual instruments that you can play outside of combat is part of what makes Bard so special. Not all players use this feature, but those that do can often be seen playing music in the cities. The range of instruments unlocked is vast, as they include drums, horns, flutes, and lutes.
Some players just button smash to play the instrument for fun while others actually bless the world of Eorzea with musical pieces. For music lovers, this can be a very fun benefit to playing Bard. Even if the player is not so skilled at music, getting instruments is an entertaining addition to play with.
5 Use Peloton After Every Fight
Peloton is an ability shared by Bards, Dancers, and Machinists. It is not usable in combat, but all parties crave it because it gives them the simple ability to just move faster. This is especially desired when their Sprint is on cooldown.
So at the end of any fight, use Peloton immediately to give the party a boost. Even better, keep using it to that the party remains fast between fights. The party will definitely appreciate the speed.
4 Combo Raging Strikes With Barrage
Raging Strikes is one of the first abilities a Bard gets (back when they are still an Archer). It increases all damage the Bard deals by ten percent. When combined with Barrage, which allows the Bard to use their attack three times in rapid succession, it creates a burst of high damage.
Furthermore, these two abilities both have the same amount of cooldown time. So you do not have to wait for one to cooldown after the other is ready. They are meant to be used together.
3 Combo Pitch Perfect With Barrage
There are a lot of great skills you can pair with Barrage, but Pitch Perfect offers up some great single-target DPS, especially for Bards that may be busy tending to their team and don't have the opportunity to rotate between Raging Strikes and Barrage.
What makes the combo so deadly is the fact that Pitch Perfect will gain stacks with Repertoire. It can stack up to three times and on its third stack it strikes for a potency of 420. Pair this with the triple-striking effect of Barrage and it's easy to see why it's such a nuke-heavy ability.
2 Be Sure To Stay In Range Of Your Party
It can be very easy for a Bard to get too far away from a party for the party to even obtain the buffs that the Bard gives. After all, it can be tempting to stay distant in order to avoid damage. At all times though, Bards should stay near enough to the party to be able to give them anything from Peloton to Army's Paeon.
Try to get a feel of how far certain abilities reach.
1 If You Have To Get Close, Get Close Enough For Repelling Shot
Bards typically keep a distance from their enemies, but sometimes AOE attacks make it so Bards have to get close. If this happens, it is best for them to get close enough to use Repelling Shot. The attack deals damage while also having the Bard leap backward to go back to maintaining distance from their target.
However, the player should make sure that they cannot fall off the battle stage. That is an accident that can happen when it comes to leaping backward.