Bard
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Good (6/10)
Epic Relics
Bard offers a unique scaling fantasy that focuses on massive stat growth and keyword generation. While capable of reaching unmatched heights in the late game, his high dependence on specific relics like Echoing Spirit and a generally slow setup phase make him less consistent than other top-tier options. He requires significant patience and specific investments to thrive in the highest difficulty content.
Chime Maximization (Best-in-Slot)
Increases the number of Bard copies in the deck to accelerate Chime planting while reducing the cost of his champion spell for constant board scaling.
Allows Bard to absorb the stats and keywords of supported allies, condensing the widespread Chime buffs into a single, overwhelming threat.
Provides essential spell mana upon playing Bard, enabling the immediate use of his champion spell to trigger Boons and stabilize the board.
Strategy
This build focuses on generating a critical mass of Chimes as early as possible. Echoing Spirit is the engine, ensuring that every draw is likely to trigger multiple buffs. Use the champion spell at every opportunity to accelerate Bard's level-up and activate Boons. Corrupted Star Fragment ensures that even if the board is wide with small units, Bard can consolidate that power to punch through enemy defenses.
Defensive Scaling
- Essential for maintaining chime momentum and ensuring Bard remains the central focus of the deck.
Provides a massive safety net by stunning the entire enemy board upon Bard's level-up, buying the necessary time to close out the game.
Generates a consistent stream of champion spells to ensure the deck never runs out of Chime-activating triggers.
Strategy
In encounters where the enemy is highly aggressive, this setup prioritizes survival. Tempest Blade acts as a reset button, allowing you to survive a lethal turn while your stats continue to scale. By using The Grand General's Counterplan, you ensure a steady flow of chimes even if you haven't drawn multiple copies of the champion.
Other Relic Options
A budget alternative to Echoing Spirit that increases deck thickness and Chime generation potential.
Synergizes with Bard's high base stats and Chime buffs to create an exponentially large unit that can end games via a single strike.
Used to double the impact of Bard's on-summon effects, though it requires surviving the initial countdown phase.
Encourages a deck-thickening playstyle that rewards not cutting cards, resulting in massive flat stat bonuses across the entire board.
Bard is highly reliant on deck density and Chime activation. If Epic relics are unavailable, focus on items that refill spell mana (Lost Chapter) or generate additional copies (Chameleon's Necklace) to maintain momentum.
Constellation
Bard's constellation focus is primarily on improving his sluggish early game and making his keyword generation more reliable. His power is heavily gated behind his ability to reach higher mana counts and his level-up trigger.
Caretaker's Blessing
When you summon an ally with buffed stats, grant it a random keyword.
Cosmic Presence
+1 Starting Mana. When you draw a card with chimes on it, plant two Chimes in your deck.
Caretaker's Blessing II
When you summon an ally with buffed stats, grant it two random keywords.
Gameplay Tips
Manage Deck Thickness
Unlike most champions, Bard often benefits from a slightly larger deck. Using relics that add copies of the champion increases the density of Chimes, making his champion spell significantly more powerful when used to activate Boons.
Prioritize Early Chime Units
Units like Byrd, Bellringer are vital. If you do not establish a Chime economy in the first two rounds, Bard will often fail to outscale aggressive AI modifiers. Mulligan aggressively for your low-cost Chime generators.
The 'Gold Digger' Strategy
If using relics that reward high card counts or specific items, avoid cutting 'filler' cards at healer nodes. Bard is one of the few champions who can turn a bloated deck into an advantage by having more targets for his various Boon-shuffling effects.
Keyword Fishing for Lifesteal
Bard's level 2 power provides random keywords. In high-difficulty adventures, your primary win condition is often stalling until you hit Lifesteal on a unit with significant stats. Use Corrupted Star Fragment to ensure Bard himself gains that Lifesteal to keep your Nexus healthy.
Optimal Spell Timing
Activating Chimes via Bard's spell does not consume them from the deck. This is a critical distinction; use the spell to gain stats without thinning your future scaling potential. Always prioritize using the spell over natural draws if you need immediate board presence.