Greetings, adventurer! Welcome to our PVE guide for the Ashes of Creation Bard archetype.
A few points to note down:
- If you are new to the archetype, check out our beginer guide, where skills are explained.
- The build and the equipment are set for the current end game experience. In other words – what you can aim for.
- The build is designed around group play(party/raid).
Skills
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What can you expect from this build:
Restoring mana thanks to Pensive Melody and Hymn of the Mind. Use Hymn of the Mind on the Cleric or the person with the lowest mana. Song Mastery: Harmony will boost the effect of Hymn of the Mind while Pensive Melody is active.
Important: If there are 2 Bards in the group – one of them should be playing Pensive Melody and the other Menacing Melody. Song Mastery: Harmony will increase the effect of Dark Lullaby (AOE) during Menacing Melody.
Crowd Control with the skills Mesmerizing Dance, Dark Lullaby (AOE), Marionette, Get Off The Stage.
Silence with Clever Retort.
Last moment save with Gambit. Use this skill on either the Tank or the Cleric. If you end up not using Gambit and your group is progressing smoothly, consider swapping this last resort skill with Anthem of Alacrity (AOE).
Depending on the amount of mobs pulled, The Myth of Creation from Saga ability can boost your damage significantly.
You can support the party with healing and shielding effects – Shielding Dance, Lovely Serenade, Quick Wit, The Return of Verra from Saga ability.
You can help with AOE damage/effects – Discordance, Dark Lullaby (AOE), Chilling Lament (AOE), Maddening Dance.
Stamina
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Utilize the stamina in order to avoid incoming AOE damage.
For example, Sighted Fanatic’s AOE ability can one-shot you.
Melee Weapon
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Currently, Two-handed swords provide the highest amount of power rating. Furthermore, Steel Great Spellsword has Constitution and Intelligence stats, which can be boosted if your server has a Journeyman Scriber.
- Bleed and Snare for deadly finishers.
- Weapon Training: Disable Duration.
- Swordmaster attack speed buff and while it is active to have bonus damage.
- Rhythmic Swings for more frequent deadly finisher.
Ranged Weapon
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Blood Cursed Spellbook gives the highest magical power.
For deadly finisher (first node) you can choose to either apply Burning or Volatile.
It would be wise to leave the Chill debuff in hands of the Mages.
Different option for Ranged weapon is Steel Long Spellbow.
If you end up choosing the Long Spellbow, aim for:
- Stagger and Wound deadly finishers.
- Weapon Training: Disable Duration.
- Crushing Blows
- Bullseye and Double Bullseye
Equipment
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Important: The gearing process is slow! All the displayed items can drop, but to get them to legendary quality you will need the crafting recipe. It will require considerable dedication or help in order to achieve those crafts. Even if the materials are available, a town with journeyman stations will be required.
The Rosethorn set can be acquired from Citadel of the Steel Bloom.
Eye of Zom or Harrowed Stars Necklace should be the aim for the build, however there is no confirmation of how to obtain them.
Doomsday Necklace is next best option.
Ring of the Raven Caller and Rividium Ring will provide the same healing output. Ring of the Raven Caller is more suitable for damage dealing.
Gearing tips
Tip 1: Do not immediately jump on level 20 items. Some level 10 rare items are worth enchanting and could still provide more than common or uncommon level 20. Especially if there is no Journeyman Scriber available. Head to our starting guide to check for the items, which are worth keeping/grinding for in order to boost up your character, until the meantioned items in this build are available for you.
Tip 2: General rule for weapons would be to always equip the combination, which will provide the highest power rating. Naturally, level 20 weapons will give more than those from level 10:
Forsaken Blades Sword vs Monitor Blade
Tip 3: Be mindful that some weapons (or gear), even in same level range can have very different power rating stats:
Iron Sword is slightly weaker than Steel Sword.
