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The Bard is one of the most unique classes in Dark and Darker. While his skill set relies on the music he's playing, he can be used offensively, defensively, or even as a supporting character based on the song selection.
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Being such a versatile class, it requires quite a bit of expertise to tap into the full potential of the Bard class. To help you understand this class better, and how you can play it, here's a complete guide on how to build the Bard class in Dark and Darker, including skill builds and equipment setup.
Bard - Class Overview
While being one of the more difficult classes to run in Dark and Darker, the Bard is heavily reliant on his music skills, which, if played with expertise, can turn him into a formidable force.
If you're playing solo, you can use his offensive songs to debuff enemies, while using ranged attacks to gain the upper hand. Alternatively, if you're playing with a party, you can boost their healing, increase their attributes, and buff them in all sorts of ways with the Bard.
Bard Solo Performance
When playing solo using the Bard, it can be tough in the initial few levels because of how weak his overall skill set might seem, especially since it's even harder to run him with two music sheet skills.
But after reaching level 20 and gaining a level of expertise with his skills, you can take down almost every other class with ease, although some classes, like the Barbarian and Wizard, can be a bit tricky to deal with.
Pros:
- Tons of buffs, debuffs, and self-healing skills. Can even use Ale to boost healing and substitute it for 'Potion of Healings'.
- Highly versatile class, filling multiple roles for team matches.
- Good with melee as well as ranged damage.
Cons:
- The health pool is somewhat on the lower side.
- Can be killed easily if ambushed.
- Requires a high level of expertise to get the most value.
Bard Starter Build
As a starter, you should rely more on your rapier skills rather than trying to fight with music. As for perks, you should have 'Rapier Mastery' and 'Wanderer's Luck' if you're playing solo. You can replace the latter with 'Story Teller' if you're in a party.
As for skills, you should try 'Music Memory' and 'Encore' in the beginning to make good use of whatever music sheets you carry. Once you're adept at casting music skills, you can replace 'Encore' with 'Music Memory 2'.
Best Perks And Skills For Bard
Below is the list of Perks and Skills which you can use with the Bard.
Perks
Perk | Effect |
|---|---|
Charismatic Performance | Upgrades a 'good' performance into a 'perfect' performance. |
Dancing Feet | Increases your flat Move Speed by +10 when holding an instrument. |
Fermata | Gain 5 Resourcefulness |
Jolly Time | Drinking Ale heals 5 HP and grants +10 flat Move Speed when drunk. |
Lore Mastery | A high level of understanding of objects increases Regular Interaction Speed and Magical Interaction Speed by an additional flat +25%. |
Melodic Protection | While playing, the caster's Physical Damage Reduction is increased by an additional flat +30%. |
Rapier Mastery | When a rapier is equipped in either hand, "Buff" Weapon Damage increases by +2 and Action Speed increases by an additional flat +5%. |
Reinforced Instruments | 50% increased Physical Power Bonus when attacking with a musical instrument as a weapon. (This perk does not apply to Song playing) |
Story Teller | Give all party members within 4.5 meters +3 Will and Knowledge. |
Superior Dexterity | 50% faster switching time when switching between weapons/utility items. |
Wanderer's Luck | Increases the chances of finding high-quality items when opening treasure chests. Increases Luck by a flat +50. |
War Song | If the performance is successful, increases "Buff" Weapon Damage of yourself and allies within 4.5 meters by +3 for 6 seconds. |
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Skills
Skill | Effect | Cooldown |
|---|---|---|
Dissonance | Creates an unpleasant noise to block hostile targets within a certain area from casting spells and Silence them for 3 seconds. | 30s |
Encore | The next song is automatically played to the end without any input and is sure to succeed. Additionally, the song is played at the maximum 50% play speed regardless of the Bard's Dexterity. | 4s |
Music Memory | You can store up to 5 music sheets as space permits. | NA |
Music Memory 2 | You can store up to 5 music sheets as space permits. | NA |
Party Maker | Remove drunk effect from all allies. | 25s |
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Max Level Bard Build
When you reach level 20 with the Bard and unlock every perk slot, you can use the build below for this class.
Perks | Abilities |
|---|---|
Rapier Mastery | Music Memory |
Charismatic Performance | |
Reinforced Instruments | Music Memory 2 |
Jolly Time |
In the late game, you should try to have sufficient expertise to use two music memory sheets at once to tap into the full musical prowess of the Bard class.
- Rapier Mastery - The rapier mastery perk remains useful even in the late game because the Rapier is the best source of dealing damage for the Bard. Having this perk makes him even more viable offensively.
- Charismatic Performance - When using two music memory sheets, you won't have the luxury of using Encore to get perfect performances. So, this perk helps make up for any musical mistakes.
- Reinforced Instruments - When you don't have the Rapier at hand, this perk helps get good damage output even if you have an instrument at hand. The best option is an offensive alternative.
- Jolly Time - A strong perk that helps you use Ale as a potion of healing, making your runs cheaper and more profitable.
Some must-have song choices when running the Bard class include:
Music | Effect | Instrument |
|---|---|---|
Beats of Alacrity | Grants +5/+7/+9 additional flat Move Speed for 30/60/120 seconds. Song does not stack on itself. This buff only applies to yourself. | Drum |
Harmonic Shield | Grants a buff to self and all nearby allies that lasts for 60/90/120 seconds that gives +15 flat Armor Rating and +15 flat Magic Resistance. | Lyre |
Rousing Rhythms | Increases All Attributes of nearby allies by +2/+2/+2 for 30/60/90 seconds. | Drum |
Accelerando | Gradually increase the flat Move Speed of yourself and nearby allies for 8 seconds. The amount of boost stacks up to 3 times over the duration of one song. | Drum |
Apart from the above options, you should also run Ballad of Courage and Tranquility as good options for buffing your team and boosting the healing of yourself and your party members.
Best Equipment For Bard
When coming to gear for the Bard, you can buy most beginner items from the Tavern Mechant as well as lots of Ale before every run. Once you reach the mid to late game, you should either use a stronger Rapier or substitute it with a Crossbow for better DPS.
- Since most of his skills are reliant on instruments, any better option you can find apart from the starter ones is perfect.
- As for armor, headgear, and other equipment, they are a bit on the rarer kind of loot, so always be on the lookout for green or blue gear that you can equip on your Bard.
You can also craft the Golden Set for the Bard, which is one of the best equipment sets that you can have in this class.
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Dark And Darker: Class Guide
Dark And Darker features your classic class archetypes: Fighter, Barbarian, Rogue, Ranger, Wizard, and Cleric. He's an overview of each class.
