Tempo, vision, and clean-chaos support build: Bard wins when he turns a small informational lead into a pick, a save, or a completely rewritten fight. The build must therefore protect his mobility, the quality of his catches, and enough durability for him to replay the map several times.
Standard build maximizing damage output. Use on neutral matchups or when ahead.
10,500 total cost
Nothing dominates on the other side: the standard build maximizes your damage.
Open this draft in the tool →Utility build, maximizes support provided to your carry.
10,450 total cost -50g
Allied carry to protect: Twitch, Aurelion Sol, Draven.
Open this draft in the tool →Defensive build adding survivability. Pick this against high enemy damage or when behind.
11,150 total cost +650g
Share of the roster this champion outclasses, at each stage of the game.
50% = average for the roster at that point of the game, 90% = among the strongest. The three phases come from the site's editorial tempo grid (early/mid/late, rated across 142 champions); the level-by-level curve adds this build's computed spikes — ultimate, completed items — never by more than ±8 points.
Your hardest matchups in this role, and the item from your situational list that answers each one.
Same advisor in the Draft (the MVP sheet applies it to your real draft) and in Ask Nexus, which explains the choice. On counters pages: the variant to take against each counter-pick.
Skill leveling order and rune choices explained, from our in-depth kit analysis (patch 7.0e). Ability numbers are from patch 7.3; up-to-date items are in the section above.
Bard does not win through stats but through imbalance. This build allows him to arrive first, create immediate advantage, and leave before the enemy can respond, turning movement into real pressure.
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Tap an ability for its per-rank numbers. Source: official Tencent data (Chinese server), patch 7.3 — may lead or lag the global server by a sub-patch.
Q Cosmic Binding stun + auto + W Caretaker's Shrine combo triggers Electrocute.
E tunnel exits and roam repositions — the true damage rides the Q-auto after every surprise appearance.
Converted roam picks stack adaptive force — chimes aren't your only scaling curve.
Transforms the wards enemy into vision to him during his collection trips of camps.
Reduces incoming damage during his approaches to place his Q Cosmic Binding.
