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 and completing the quests "Sylph-management" and "The One that Got Away."
Contents
Profile[edit | edit source]
Archer[edit | edit source]
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.
Bard[edit | edit source]
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 role actions with Machinist and Dancer, as all three are classified as Physical Ranged DPS. Bards specialize in various songs that enchant allies with buffs. Songs can only be executed by targetting an enemy. Songs extend Archer's abilities by granting additional effects, such as resetting recast time of other abilities.
Story[edit | edit source]
Archer[edit | edit source]

Bard[edit | edit source]

Heavensward[edit | edit source]

Stormblood[edit | edit source]

Equipment[edit | edit source]

An auri bard with the Failnaught and Storyteller's artifact armor.
Archers and bards wield bows as their weapons. Their armor is primarily made up of "Aiming" gear, light armor with average defenses that they share with other ranged physical DPS classes.
The primary attribute for archers and bards is dexterity, which boosts their attack power, and should always be prioritized over other attributes. As DPS disciplines, they draw the most benefit from the critical hit, direct hit, skill speed, and determination secondary attributes, which all improve their damage dealing capabilities in some way.
Lists of archer and bard equipment | |
---|---|
Job Gauge[edit | edit source]

Mage's Ballad Gauge.
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.

Army's Paeon Gauge.
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 Wanderer's Minuet Gauge.
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.
Abilities[edit | edit source]
Ability | Level | Type | Cast | Recast | MP Cost | Range | Radius |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heavy Shot![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
Ability | Instant | 80s | — | — | — |
Increases damage dealt by 10%. Duration: 20s | |||||||
Venomous Bite![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
Ability | Instant | 15s | — | 25y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 150. Shares a recast timer with Rain of Death. | |||||||
Repelling Shot![]() |
![]() |
Ability | Instant | 30s | — | 5y | — |
Jump 10 yalms back from current position. Cannot be executed while bound. | |||||||
Quick Knock![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
Ability | Instant | 3s | — | 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![]() |
![]() |
Ability | Instant | 15s | — | 25y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 230. | |||||||
Iron Jaws![]() |
![]() |
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 | |||||||
Sidewinder![]() |
![]() |
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 350 for both Shares a recast timer with Shadowbite. | |||||||
Troubadour![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
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![]() |
![]() |
Ability | Instant | 90s | — | 30y | — |
Increases HP recovery via healing magic for a party member or self by 20%. Duration: 15s | |||||||
Refulgent Arrow![]() |
![]() |
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 340. Can only be executed when Straight Shot Ready. | |||||||
Shadowbite 48px |
![]() |
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 |
![]() |
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 240. Additional Effect: 35% chance of becoming Straight Shot Ready Duration: 10s | |||||||
Apex Arrow 48px |
![]() |
Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be | — | 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 Actions[edit | edit source]
Traits[edit | edit source]
Name | Level | Description |
---|---|---|
Heavier Shot![]() |
![]() |
Adds to Heavy Shot a 20% chance that you will become Straight Shot Ready. Duration: 10s |
Increased Action Damage![]() |
![]() |
Increases base action damage by 10%. |
Increased Action Damage II![]() |
![]() |
Increases base action damage by 20%. |
Bite Mastery![]() |
![]() |
Upgrades Venomous Bite and Windbite to Caustic Bite and Stormbite respectively. |
Enhanced Empyreal Arrow![]() |
![]() |
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 |
![]() |
Upgrades Straight Shot to Refulgent Arrow. |
Enhanced Quick Nock![]() |
![]() |
Adds to Quick Nock a 30% chance that the recast timer for Bloodletter and Rain of Death will be reset. |
Bite Mastery II 48px |
![]() |
Adds to Stormbite, Caustic Bite, and Iron Jaws a 35% chance that you will become Straight Shot Ready. Duration: 10s |
Heavy Shot Mastery![]() |
![]() |
Upgrades Heavy Shot to Burst Shot. |
Enhanced Army's Paeon 48px |
![]() |
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 |
![]() |
Increases Soul Voice Gauge by 5 each time Repertoire is granted. |
PvP Actions[edit | edit source]
Ability | Type | Cast | Recast | MP Cost | Range | Radius |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Burst Shot |
Weaponskill | Instant | 2.4s | — | 25y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 1,200. 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 |
Weaponskill | Instant | 2.4s | — | 12y | 12y cone |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 800 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 |
Weaponskill | Instant | 2.4s | — | 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 1,000. 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 | — | 25y | — |
Delivers an attack whose potency increases based on your stacks of Repertoire. Repertoire 1 Potency: 600 Repertoire 2 Potency: 1,200 Repertoire 3 Potency: 1,800 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 |
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 800. 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 20 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 |
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 Actions[edit | edit source]
Common Actions have no cost
Action | Type | Cast | Recast | Range | Radius |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head Graze 48px |
Ability | Instant | 30s | 25y | — |
Silences target. Duration: 2s | |||||
Bolt 48px |
Ability | Instant | 30s | — | — |
Movement speed is increased. Duration: 10s | |||||
Medical Kit 48px |
Ability | Instant | 15s | — | — |
Restores own HP. Cure Potency: 3,000 Potency increases up to 6,000 as HP decreases. Maximum Charges: 3 |
Additional PvP Actions[edit | edit source]
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 | 30s | 25y | — |
Afflicts target with Heavy +50%. Duration: 5s | |||||
Foot Graze 48px |
Ability | Instant | 30s | 25y | — |
Binds target. Duration: 3s | |||||
Concentrate 48px |
Ability | Instant | 15s | — | — |
Increases potency of next weaponskill by 50%. 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 Break[edit | edit source]
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 appearances[edit | edit source]
Final Fantasy Trading Card Game[edit | edit source]
Bard and Archer appear on cards. Bard has an Ice-elemental card and Archer a Wind-elemental.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
- Arms and Gear sets
- Abilities
- Role Actions
- Removed Abilities