Game patch, matey 26.21Data Dragon 16.21.1

Arrr, reference patch 16.20.1

Bard Arrr, support · Normal Draft

Bard has an established low-income Support course wit' useful course pressure, protection, engage or crew utility.

Arrr, primary roleArrr, standard Summoner's Rift preparation

Old chart, mateyRecommendations await inspection

These patches keep recommendation review, build checks and item lookup on separate charts, matey. Fresh item data does not finish a build review.

Recommendations’ patch: 16.16 Data Dragon
Build check’s patch: 16.19.1 Data Dragon
Item lookup’s patch: 16.20.1 Data Dragon

Arrr, normal Draft · Support

Arrr, evidence-supported Bard Support

Follow th' completed-gear order as a pre-battle reference. Components and owned gear do nay create extra inventory slots.

Arrr, primary role

Draft / Ranked opening · separate from gear 1

World Atlas

400 doubloons

Keep this reviewed late cargo after the prior-patch cross-check; move or trade it only when its named match trouble is aboard.

First aboard gear

Bloodsong

400 doubloons

Keep this reviewed late cargo after the prior-patch cross-check; move or trade it only when its named match trouble is aboard.

Boots

Dead Man's Plate

2,900 doubloons

This cargo be part of the most-supported sound core in the frozen prior-patch public role log. Use the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly named matchup trouble.

Core

Boots of Swiftness

1,000 doubloons

These be the most-supported Boots in the frozen prior-patch public role log; change them when enemy damage or crowd control calls for another defence.

Late

Locket of the Iron Solari

2,200 doubloons

This cargo be part of the most-supported sound core in the frozen prior-patch public role log. Use the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly named matchup trouble.

Flexible

Bandlepipes

2,300 doubloons

This cargo be part of the most-supported sound core in the frozen prior-patch public role log. Use the sample as context, then adjust only for a clearly named matchup trouble.

Arrr, against magic damage

Kaenic Rookern

2,900 doubloons

Keep this reviewed late cargo after the prior-patch cross-check; move or trade it only when its named match trouble is aboard.

Shipshape loadout choices

Pick th' course afore play

Recommendations await inspection

AlternativeArrr, too much healingApply anti-heal only when repeated healing be materially changing fights.

Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Apply anti-heal only when repeated healing be materially changing fights.

First aboard gearBloodsong
BootsDead Man's Plate
CoreBoots of Swiftness
Morellonomicon
FlexibleBandlepipes
Arrr, against magic damageKaenic Rookern

AlternativeArrr, crowd controlMikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; inspect that th' effect can actually be cleansed.

Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; inspect that th' effect can actually be cleansed.

First aboard gearBloodsong
BootsDead Man's Plate
CoreBoots of Swiftness
Mikael's Blessing
FlexibleBandlepipes
Arrr, against magic damageKaenic Rookern

AlternativeCannae set sail fightsShurelya's movement speed helps th' crew engage or disengage when positioning be th' problem.

Spy full course

Arrr, best when: Shurelya's movement speed helps th' crew engage or disengage when positioning be th' problem.

First aboard gearBloodsong
BootsDead Man's Plate
CoreBoots of Swiftness
Shurelya's Battlesong
FlexibleBandlepipes
Arrr, against magic damageKaenic Rookern

Recommendations await inspection

Arrr, runes and summoner spells

Arrr, runes and summoner spellsBardSupport

Stay belay enough to protect th' Bot partner, then use Exhaust when a committed foe can reach th' pair.

Normal Draft, matey

Arrr, primary tree

Resolve

Guardian

Font of Life

Bone Plating

Revitalize

Arrr, secondary tree

Inspiration

Biscuit Delivery

Cosmic Insight

Arrr, summoner spells

Flash

Exhaust

Coordinate th' Bot pair

Inspect which defensive spell th' Bot partner picked afore duplicating Heal, Barrier or Exhaust.

Clash th' course threat

Exhaust answers a committed damage dealer; Ignite adds pressure and anti-heal; Heal protects both nigh th' ship partners.

Arrr, static alternatives

Compare th' problem afore changing th' course

These choices be nay picked from live scores. Use one only after ye identify th' stated clash problem yourself.

Arrr, too much healing

Morellonomicon

Apply anti-heal only when repeated healing be materially changing fights.

Arrr, crowd control

Mikael's Blessing

Mikael's removes eligible crowd control from an ally; inspect that th' effect can actually be cleansed.

Cannae set sail fights

Shurelya's Battlesong

Shurelya's movement speed helps th' crew engage or disengage when positioning be th' problem.

Arrr, kit reference

Bard tricks

Trick names, descriptions and numeric fields come from Riot Data Dragon. Practical reads be independently written; th' present in-battle tooltip remains authoritative.

Tricks Data Dragon 16.20.1Wait fer reload (s) / Cost / Charted reach (units) Data Dragon 16.20.1

Passive

Traveler's Call

Arrr, what it doesEnglishMeeps: Bard attracts lesser spirits that assist with his basic attacks to deal extra magic damage. When Bard has collected enough Chimes, his meeps will also deal damage in an area and slow enemies hit. Chimes: Ancient chimes randomly appear for Bard to collect. These grant experience, restore mana, and provide out of combat Move Speed.

Q trick

Cosmic Binding

Arrr, what it doesEnglishBard fires a missile which will slow the first enemy struck, and continue onward. If it strikes a wall, it will stun the initial target; if it strikes another enemy, it will stun them both.

That exported range ain't a verified in-game distance. Check the ability's current tooltip, matey.

Wait fer reload (s)11/10/9/8/7Cost60

W trick

Caretaker's Shrine

Arrr, what it doesEnglishReveals a Health shrine which powers up over a short time, disappearing after healing and speeding up the first ally that touches it.

Cost70Charted reach (units)800

E trick

Magical Journey

Arrr, what it doesEnglishBard opens a portal in nearby terrain. Allies and enemies alike can take a one-way trip through that terrain by moving into the portal.

Wait fer reload (s)22/20.5/19/17.5/16Cost30Charted reach (units)900

Ultimate

Tempered Fate

Arrr, what it doesEnglishBard sends spirit energy arcing to a location, putting all champions, minions, monsters, and turrets hit into stasis for a brief time.

Wait fer reload (s)110/95/80Cost100Charted reach (units)3400

Adapt th' course

What to do when th' battle changes

Judge th' whole course or sea chart state, nay only personal kills. Pick th' situation closest to th' present battle.

Even course

Balance course pressure wit' protection fer th' carry

Course

Hold th' trick that makes foes respect yer course and trade when both Bot-course partners be shipshape.

Sea chart play

Recall and move on seaworthy wave timings; an unsupported roam can cost th' carry an entire wave or a dive.

Fights

Control one approach and keep enough protection fer th' foe's most likely engage.

Pings, movement and prizes

Bard Support sea chart course

Turn ship's intelligence into a shared decision. Move wit' an ally and preserve th' tool that makes th' next aboard fight seaworthy.

Ahead

Make th' lead open th' sea chart

Ping: Use On Me Way afore changing angle, then Assist Me on Dragon after Bot be seaworthy to move. Use Peril if th' carry starts following through an unsafe course.
Sea chart movement: Roam after a pushed wave, shared recall or when th' carry can collect safely. Deep wards still require th' Jungler or another nigh th' ship ally.
Prize: Arrive early, clear th' deck th' foe entrance and hold th' key engage or peel spell. Do nay chase astern from Dragon and hand th' foe a free course back aboard in.

Even

Create one clear th' deck numbers advantage

Ping: Use On Me Way afore an engage or roam, Foe Lost overboard as soon as a course foe disappears, and Peril when yer carry cannae follow.
Sea chart movement: Leave only on a seaworthy wave or recall timing. If th' carry would meet defeat a full wave or face a dive, stay Bot and communicate that ye be nay moving.
Prize: Lend a hand Bot finish th' wave, then enter river wit' th' Jungler. Set vision afore starting and avoid turning an even prize into an unseen gamble.

Behind

Stop th' next aboard defeat afore seeking a play

Ping: Use Retreat or Peril afore an ally enters darkness, Foe Lost overboard immediately, and Assist Me when ye need company to restore defensive vision.
Sea chart movement: Do nay abandon a crashing wave or vulnerable carry. Move after th' wave be stable and use th' nearest seaworthy ward line rather than forcing deep vision.
Prize: If yer crew cannae enter river safely, ping Retreat and trade fer farm, vision or another sea chart resource. Contest only after creating a seaworthy course together.

Prize setup

Arrr, four calls, in order

Pings create a shared course; they do nay replace checking waves, vision and who can move.

1
Afore th' move
'Round a minute afore Dragon, ping th' course, spend doubloons if needed and make sure Bot and Mid know whether they can move.
2
Arrr, enter together
Walk wit' th' Jungler or another ally. Sweep one course, place useful entrance vision and ne'er face-inspect alone.
3
Afore starting
Inspect nigh th' ship waves and foe positions. Hold th' spell that either starts a reachable fight or protects yer main damage dealer.
4
During th' contest
Keep enemies astern from th' seaworthy entrance, mark th' reachable threat and avoid chasing so far across th' waters that Dragon be left unprotected.

Later prizes: Use th' same pattern fer Rift Herald or Baron: communicate first aboard, move through controlled vision wit' an ally, then choose engage or peel afore th' fight begins.

Use th' chart

Put Bard into a real matchup

Compare a specific foe, return to th' champion overview, or choose another champion without losing th' queue distinction.

Arrr, prepare a matchup Arrr, champion overview Arrr, browse champions

Bard Arrr, support · Normal Draft

Arrr, evidence-supported Bard Support

World Atlas

Bloodsong

Dead Man's Plate

Boots of Swiftness

Locket of the Iron Solari

Bandlepipes

Kaenic Rookern

Pick th' course afore play

Shipshape loadout comparison

Arrr, runes and summoner spellsBardSupport

Resolve

Inspiration

Compare th' problem afore changing th' course

Morellonomicon

Mikael's Blessing

Shurelya's Battlesong

Bard tricks

Traveler's Call

Cosmic Binding

Caretaker's Shrine

Magical Journey

Tempered Fate

What to do when th' battle changes

Use course control to secure vision and seaworthy pressure

Balance course pressure wit' protection fer th' carry

Protect seaworthy farm and rebuild vision one area at a time

Bard Support sea chart course

Make th' lead open th' sea chart

Create one clear th' deck numbers advantage

Stop th' next aboard defeat afore seeking a play

Arrr, four calls, in order

Put Bard into a real matchup