Bard (Final Fantasy XIV)

The Bard is a Job in Final Fantasy XIV, introduced as the Discipline of War Archer (弓術士, Kyuujutsu Shi?) in the original release. Players start as an Archer, and then may upgrade to Bard using the Soul Crystal obtained from the quest A Song of Bards and Bowmen after Archer reaches level 30. The quest is given by Luciane after clearing The One that Got Away.

ProfileEdit

ArcherEdit

The enduring popularity of the Bow is a testament to its elegant design, but this simple weapon would be of little worth without the surpassing skill of those who master it - the archers. Bow techniques such as high-angle fire enable archers to assail their foes with deadly precision, even from great distances.

Constant assessment of the battlefield enables them to carefully determine the most advantageous ground from which to loose, as well as the nature of the arrows best suited to their enemy. Along with the longbow sentries of the Elezen military, the shortbow hunters among the Miqo'te are widely regarded as the most skilled with a bow. The guild's teachings cover a variety of long distance weapons, down to the simplest throwing rock.

Lodestone

Archers wield a bow and, while not possessing as much damage dealing potential as other DPS classes, Archers have the advantage of range. While their HP and defense is rather low compared to other disciplines, Archers possess the unique trait of being able to attack while running away from aggressive enemies.

Archers do not possess any combo actions, but they do possess abilities that increase the chance of critical strikes, allowing them to quickly deplete an enemy's HP. Archers also have access to area-of-effect attacks and are able to inflict several status effects on their enemies.

BardEdit

The word bard ordinarily puts folk in mind of those itinerant minstrels, fair of voice and nimble of finger, who earn their coin performing in taverns and the halls of great lords. Few know, however, that bards in fact trace their origins back to the bowmen of eld, who sang in the heat of battle to fortify the spirits of their companions.

In time, their impassioned songs came to hold sway over the hearts of men, inspiring their comrades to great feats and granting peace unto those who lay upon the precipice of death.

Lodestone

Bard shares same role actions with Machinist, as both are classified as Physical Ranged DPS. Bards specialize in various songs that enchant allies, if they are in range, and self with buffs. Some songs can only be executed while other songs are being sung, while some can drain MP while being sung. Songs extends Archer's abilities by granting additional effects, such as resetting recast time of other abilities.

StoryEdit

ArcherEdit

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BardEdit

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HeavenswardEdit

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StormbloodEdit

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EquipmentEdit

The Archer class is defined by wielding bows. Unlike in version 1.0, arrows are no longer equipped.

In terms of late game armor and accessories, Archers and Bards wear "Aiming" gear sets, which tend to be more flamboyant than other DPS classes. While the armor is shared only with Machinists, the Aiming accessories are additionally shared with Rogues and Ninjas.

Job GaugeEdit

The Job Gauge was introduced to players in 4.0 Stormblood. The Bard uses the Mage's Ballad, Army's Paeon, and The Wanderer's Minuet Gauges.

The Job Gauges share the same trigger effect called Repertoire. Repertoire can be triggered if either Caustic Bite or Stormbite has dealt critical damage over time. Repertoire grants more effect stacks, except for Mage's Ballad, and additional effects to songs.

The Mage's Ballad Gauge indicates the time remaining for its duration. While Mage's Ballad is being sung, the Repertoire effect resets the recast times for Bloodletter and Rain of Death.

The Army's Paeon Gauge indicates the time remaining for its duration and the number of stacks it currently has. If the Repertoire effect is triggered while Army's Paeon is being sung, the bard is granted one stack and reduced action cast and recast time.

The Wanderer's Minuet Gauge indicates the time remaining for its duration and the number of stacks it currently has. The action Pitch Perfect will become available if the Repertoire effect is triggered while the Wanderer's Minuet is being sung.

Upon reaching level 80 and acquiring the Soul Voice trait, the Soul Voice Gauge unlocks. The gauge increases every time Repetoire is accumulated.

AbilitiesEdit

Ability	Level	Type	Cast	Recast	Cost	Range	Radius
Heavy Shot	1	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 180. Additional Effect: 20% chance of becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 10s
Straight Shot	2	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 200. Can only be executed while Straight Shot Ready.
Raging Strikes	4	Ability	Instant	80s	—	—	—
	Increases damage dealt by 10%. Duration: 20s
Venomous Bite	6	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Venom Potency: 30 Duration: 30s
Bloodletter	12	Ability	Instant	15s	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 150. Shares a recast timer with Rain of Death.
Repelling Shot	15 (Complete the quest "Violators Will Be Shot")	Ability	Instant	30s	—	5y	—
	Jump 10 yalms back from current position. Cannot be executed while bound.
Quick Knock	18	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	12y	12y cone
	Delivers an attack with potency of 150 to all enemies in a cone in front of you. Additional Effect: 30% chance the recast timer for Bloodletter and Rain of Death will be reset
Windbite	30 (Complete the quest "The One That Got Away")	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	25y	—
	Deals wind damage with a potency of 60. Additional Effect: Wind damage over time Potency: 40 Duration: 30s
Mage's Ballad	30 (Complete the quest "A Song of Bards and Bowmen")	Spell	Instant	80s	—	25y	—
	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Grants Mage's Ballad to all party members within 30 yalms, increasing their damage dealt by 1% Duration: 30s Additional Effect: 40％ chance to grant Repertoire when damage over time is dealt by Caustic Bite or Stormbite Repertoire Effect: Resets the recast timer of Bloodletter and Rain of Death This action does not share a recast timer with any other actions. Furthermore, the recast timer cannot be affected by other actions.
the Warden's Paean	35 (Complete the quest "The Archer's Anthem")	Ability	Instant	45s	—	30y	—
	Removes one select detrimental effect from self or target party member. If the target is not enfeebled, a barrier is created nullifying the target's next detrimental effect suffered. Duration: 30s
Barrage	38	Ability	Instant	80s	—	—	—
	Triples the number of strikes for a single-target weaponskill. Additional effects added only once. Duration: 10s Additional Effect: Grants Straight Shot Ready Duration: 10s
Army's Paeon	40 (Complete the quest "Bard's-eye View")	Spell	Instant	80s	—	25y	—
	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Grants Army's Paeon to all party members within 30 yalms, increasing their direct hit rate by 3% Duration: 30s Additional Effect: 40％ chance to grant Repertoire when damage over time is dealt by Caustic Bite or Stormbite Repertoire Effect: Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 4% Can be stacked up to 4 times. This action does not share a recast timer with any other actions. Furthermore, the recast timer cannot be affected by other actions
Rain of Death	45 (Complete the quest "Doing It the Bard Way")	Ability	Instant	15s	—	25y	8y circle
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 130 to the target and all enemies near it. Shares a recast timer with Bloodletter.
Battle Voice	50 (Complete the quest "Requiem for the Fallen")	Ability	Instant	180s	—	—	20y circle
	Increases direct hit rate of all nearby party members by 20%. Duration: 20s Can only be executed while singing Mage's Ballad, Army's Paeon, or the Wanderer's Minuet.
the Wanderer's Minuet	52 (Complete the quest "The Stiff and the Spent")	Spell	Instant	80s	—	25y	—
	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Grants the Wanderer's Minuet to all party members within 30 yalms, increasing their critical hit rate by 2% Duration: 30s Additional Effect: 40％ chance to grant Repertoire when damage over time is dealt by Caustic Bite or Stormbite Repertoire Effect: Allows execution of Pitch Perfect. Can be stacked up to 3 times. This action does not share a recast timer with any other actions. Furthermore, the recast timer cannot be affected by other actions.
Pitch Perfect	52	Ability	Instant	3s	All Repertoire	25y	—
	Delivers 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. Can only be executed when the Wanderer's Minuet is active.
Empyreal Arrow	54 (Complete the quest "Requiem on Ice")	Ability	Instant	15s	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 230.
Iron Jaws	56 (Complete the quest "When Gnaths Cry")	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: If the target is suffering from Caustic Bite or Stormbite effect inflicted by you, the effect timer is reset. Additional Effect: 35% chance of becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 10s
The Warden's Paean	58 (Complete the quest A Saint of Song)	Weaponskill	Instant	45.00s	—	30y	—
	Removes one select detrimental effect from a target party member or pet. If the target is not enfeebled, a barrier is created nullifying the target's next detrimental effect suffered. Duration: 30s
Sidewinder	60 (Complete the quest "The Ballad of Oblivion")	Ability	Instant	60s	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: If the target is suffering from a Caustic Bite or Stormbite effect inflicted by you, Sidewinder's potency is increased to 200 for one effect, or 300 for both Shares a recast timer with Shadowbite.
Troubadour	62	Ability	Instant	120s	—	—	20y circle
	Reduces damage taken by self and nearby party members by 10%. Duration: 15s Effect cannot be stacked with machinist's Tactician or dancer's Shield Samba.
Caustic Bite	64	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 150. Additional Effect: Poison Potency: 40 Duration: 30s Additional Effect: 35% chance of becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 10s
Stormbite	64	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	25y	—
	Deals wind damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Wind damage over time Potency: 50 Duration: 30s Additional Effect: 35% chance of becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 10s
Nature's Minne	66	Ability	Instant	90s	—	30y	—
	Increases HP recovery via healing magic for a party member or self by 20%. Duration: 15s
Refulgent Arrow	70 (Complete the quest "Sweet Dreams Are Made of Peace")	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 330. Can only be executed when Straight Shot Ready.
Shadowbite 48px	72	Ability	Instant	60s	—	25y	5y circle
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: If the target is suffering from a Caustic Bite or Stormbite effect inflicted by you, Shadowbite potency is increased to 160 for one effect, or 220 for both Shares a recast timer with Sidewinder.
Burst Shot 48px	76	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 230. Additional Effect: 35% chance of becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 10s
Apex Arrow 48px	80	Weaponskill	Instant	2.5s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	All Soul Voice	25y	25y line
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 120 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Soul Voice Gauge Cost: 20 Potency increases up to 600 as Soul Voice Gauge exceeds minimum cost. Consumes Soul Voice Gauge upon execution.

Role ActionsEdit

Action	Level	Type	Cast	Recast	Range	Radius	Role Affinity
Leg Graze	6	Ability	Instant	30s	25y	—
	Inflicts target with Heavy +40%. Duration: 10s
Second Wind	8	Ability	Instant	120s	—	—
	Instantly restores own HP. Cure Potency: 500
Foot Graze	10	Ability	Instant	30s	25y	—
	Binds target. Duration: 10s Cancels auto-attack upon execution. Target unbound if damage taken.
Peloton	20	Ability	Instant	5s	—	20y circle
	Increases movement speed of self and nearby party members as long as they remain within distance. Duration: 30s Effect ends when enmity is generated. Cannot be used in battle.
Head Graze	24	Ability	Instant	30s	25y	—
	Interrupts the use of a target's action.
Arm's Length	32	Ability	Instant	120s	–	–
	Creates a barrier nullifying most knockback and draw-in effects. Duration: 6s Additional Effect: Slow +20% when barrier is struck Duration: 15s

TraitsEdit

Name	Level	Description
Heavier Shot	8	Adds to Heavy Shot a 20% chance that you will become Straight Shot Ready. Duration: 10s
Increased Action Damage	20	Increases base action damage by 10%.
Increased Action Damage II	40	Increases base action damage by 20%.
Bite Mastery	64	Upgrades Venomous Bite and Windbite to Caustic Bite and Stormbite respectively.
Enhanced Empyreal Arrow	68	Guarantees the trigger of the additional effects for current Mage's Ballad, Army's Paeon, and the Wanderer's Minuet when Empyreal Arrow hits a target.
Straight Shot Mastery 48px	70	Upgrades Straight Shot to Refulgent Arrow.
Enhanced Quick Nock	74	Adds to Quick Nock a 30% chance that the recast timer for Bloodletter and Rain of Death will be reset.
Bite Mastery II 48px	76	Adds to Stormbite, Caustic Bite, and Iron Jaws a 35% chance that you will become Straight Shot Ready. Duration: 10s
Heavy Shot Mastery	76	Upgrades Heavy Shot to Burst Shot.
Enhanced Army's Paeon 48px	78	While under the effect of Army's Paeon with at least one stack of Repertoire, singing Mage's Ballad or the Wanderer's Minuet will grant Army's Muse, reducing weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay. Duration: 10s Allowing the effect of Army's Paeon and accumulated stacks of Repertoire to expire without singing Mage's Ballad or the Wanderer's Minuet will grant Army's Ethos. Duration: 30s While under the effect of Army's Ethos, singing Mage's Ballad or the Wanderer's Minuet will grant Army's Muse. Both Army's Ethos and Army's Muse require stacks of Repertoire, the number of which will determine the potency of the latter. 1 Repertoire: 1% 2 Repertoire: 2% 3 Repertoire: 4% 4 Repertoire: 12%
Soul Voice 48px	80	Increases Soul Voice Gauge by 5 each time Repertoire is granted.

PvP ActionsEdit

Ability	Type	Cast	Recast	Cost	Range	Radius
Burst Shot 48px	Weaponskill	Instant	2.4s	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 1,000. Minuet/Paeon Additional Effect: Grants Repertoire if under the effect of the Wanderer's Minuet or Army's Paeon Additional Effect: Increases Soul Voice Gauge by 10 if under the effect of the Wanderer's Minuet or Army's Paeon
Quick Knock 48px	Weaponskill	Instant	2.4s	—	12y	12y cone
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 600 to all enemies in a cone before you. Additional Effect: Increases Soul Voice Gauge by 10 for each enemy hit while under the effect of the Wanderer's Minuet or Army's Paeon
Apex Arrow 48px	Weaponskill	Instant	2.4s	All Soul Voice	25y	25y line
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 1,200 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Soul Voice Gauge Cost: 50 Potency increases up to 2,400 as Soul Voice Gauge exceeds minimum cost. Consumes Soul Voice Gauge upon execution.
Empyreal Arrow	Ability	Instant	15s	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 800. Additional Effect: Grants Repertoire if under the effect of the Wanderer's Minuet or Army's Paeon Additional Effect: Increases Soul Voice Gauge by 10 if under the effect of the Wanderer's Minuet or Army's Paeon Maximum Charges: 2
Pitch Perfect	Ability	Instant	1s	All Repertoire	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 400 when Repertoire stack is 1, 800 when Repertoire stack is 2, and 1,200 when Repertoire stack is 3. Can only be executed when the Wanderer's Minuet is active.
Sidewinder	Ability	Instant	30s	—	25y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 800. Potency increases up to 2,400 as the target's HP decreases.
Shadowbite 48px	Ability	Instant	30s	—	25y	5y circle
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 600 to target and all enemies nearby it. Potency increases up to 1,800 as target's HP nears maximum.
Repelling Shot	Ability	Instant	30s	—	5y	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 400. Additional Effect: 10-yalm backstep Additional Effect: Grants Repertoire if under the effect of the Wanderer's Minuet or Army's Paeon Additional Effect: Increases Soul Voice Gauge by 10 if under the effect of the Wanderer's Minuet or Army's Paeon Cannot be executed while bound.
The Wanderer's Minuet	Ability	Instant	45s	—	25y	—
	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 600. Additional Effect: Grants the Wanderer's Minuet, increasing damage dealt by all party members within a radius of 30 yalms by 5% Duration: 30s Repertoire Effect: Allows execution of Pitch Perfect Can be stacked up to 3 times.
Army's Paeon	Ability	Instant	45s	—	25y	—
	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 600. Additional Effect: Grants Army's Paeon, reducing weaponskill cast time and recast time, as well as spell cast time and recast time of all party members within a radius of 30 yalms by 5% Duration: 30s Repertoire Effect: Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time by 5% Can be stacked up to 4 times.
Nature's Minne 48px	Ability	Instant	45s	—	30y	—
	Reduces damage taken by self or target party member by 10%, while increasing HP recovered by healing actions by 20%. Duration: 10s

Common ActionsEdit

Common Actions have no cost

Additional PvP ActionsEdit

Players are restricted to equipping two Additional PvP Actions at once. These actions have no cost.

Action	Type	Cast	Recast	Range	Radius
Leg Graze	Ability	Instant	45s	25y	—
	Afflicts target with Heavy +50%. Duration: 5s
Foot Graze 48px	Ability	Instant	45s	25y	—
	Binds target. Duration: 3s
Concentrate 48px	Ability	Instant	30s	—	—
	Increases potency of next weaponskill by 20%. Duration: 5s
Recuperate 48px	Ability	Instant	45s	—	—
	Restores own HP. Cure Potency: 3,000 Additional Effect: Removes Heavy, Bind, and Holmgang effects
Peloton 48px	Ability	Instant	60s	—	20y circle
	Increases movement speed of self and nearby party members. Duration: 10s

Limit BreakEdit

Archers' and Bards' Limit Breaks focus dealing powerful damage to enemies in a straight line in front of the player. They both share the same Level 1 and Level 2 limit breaks as Machinist.

Ability	Level	Description	Image
Big Shot	1	Deals damage in a line to enemies in front of player.
Desperado	2	Deals damage in a line to enemies in front of player.
Sagittarius Arrow	3	Deals damage in a line to enemies in front of player.

Other appearancesEdit

Final Fantasy Trading Card GameEdit

Bard and Archer appear on cards. Bard has an Ice-elemental card and Archer a Wind-elemental.

GalleryEdit

Arms and Gear sets

Abilities

Role Actions

Removed Abilities

ReferencesEdit