Introduction

Bard is a character, often seen as a support or off-mage, in the game known as ‘League of Legends’. Known for his cosmic caretaker role, Bard skilfully manoeuvres throughout matches by rewarding precise crowd control, vision, and map movement. If played effectively, Bard will prepare battles before they even begin and convert narrow corridors into pitfall traps. This article will take a close look at Bard’s statistics, strategies, and a general guide to using him at every stage of the game.

Bard’s Abilities

Understanding Bard’s abilities is key to using him effectively and maximizing his potential on ‘Summoner’s Rift’. His abilities allow him to strategically control the battlefield, move swiftly across the map, and support his allies.

• Passive: Traveler’s Call: Bard collects Chimes randomly generated on the map which increases the power of his Meeps, speed, and experience. Playing this role encourages Bard to roam all over the map.
• Q: Cosmic Binding: Bard shoots an arrow that damages and slows the first enemy it hits. If another enemy or element of terrain is hit, they too are stunned. This move is key in creating opportunities for crowd control.
• W: Caretaker’s Shrine: Bard sets down a Shrine that allies can use for speedy healing. The longer the shrine is left to charge, the more healing it provides. This makes Bard a great provider of sustain and mobility support.
• E: Magical Journey: Bard produces a portal on terrain that can be used by allies and enemies to traverse the map. This move exemplifies Bard’s roaming capabilities.
• R: Tempered Fate: Bard’s ultimate ability induces stasis in all units in a large area for 2.5 seconds. This high-risk, high-reward ability can be used for initiating fights or disrupting objectives.

Strategy

Bard’s capabilities change depending on the stage of the game, and knowing how to deploy him effectively can significantly influence the outcome of a match.

Early Game: Bard starts off strong; his basic attacks combined with his Q ability can poke and harass enemies. By collecting Chimes early in the game, Bard can roam effectively and maintain his mana levels.

Mid-Game: During this stage, Bard’s focus switches to roaming and creating opportunities across the map with his E ability. His passive rewards him for leaving his lane periodically providing crowd control utility to other teammates.

Late Game: At this stage, Bard’s ultimate ability becomes key in determining the outcome of team fights. Using ‘Tempered Fate’ effectively can catch enemies off guard or rescue allies. Bard also has substantial damage and utility from his Meeps during extended fights.

Bard’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Being aware of Bard’s strengths and weaknesses can greatly enhance gameplay and allow players to strategize more effectively.

• Strengths: Bard has excellent roaming capability due to his E ability and passive. His ultimate is versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. He also has infinite scaling potential by collecting chimes around the map using his passive ability. Lastly, he can sustain his lane with his W ability and has good crowd control with his Q.
• Weaknesses: Bard is a champion that demands high skill due to the complexity of his ultimate ability and other moves. He is vulnerable to crowd control and burst damage and falls short when not effectively roaming out or misusing his ultimate ability.

General Tips

To succeed as Bard, ensure to rarely leave your ADC unprotected for a prolonged period of time in the laning phase whilst prioritizing collecting Chimes. Remember to use your Q ability creatively near terrain to land stuns more effectively. You should also only use your ultimate ability when necessary in order to avoid aiding the enemy team or inhibiting your own. Lastly, consider pairing Bard with ADCs who can safely farm the lane while he is off roaming.

Building Bard

Players often experiment with various builds when using Bard, including damage-focused, tankier, or utility-support builds. It’s important to remember that building and equipping Bard is largely tied to individual play style and match circumstances, which can vary each game. Bard’s unique mechanics and roaming style make him stand out amongst other ‘League of Legends’ champions. Harnessing his capabilities not only requires mechanical knowledge but also strong understanding of the game for optimal roaming, map pressure, and team support.