My off-meta Bard builds
Build Guide By Clarkened
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Bard Build Guide By Clarkened
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Choose Champion Build:
-
Snowfall on Judgment Day
![LoL Champion: Bard]()
-
The Human Equation
![LoL Champion: Bard]()
-
Distance Over Time
![LoL Champion: Bard]()
-
The Black Halo
![LoL Champion: Bard]()
-
Coming Soon!
![LoL Champion: Bard]()
Recommended Items
Runes:
Domination
Inspiration
+10% Attack Speed
+9 Adaptive (5.4 AD or 9 AP)
+65 Base Health
Spells:
Flash
Ignite
Champion Build Guide
Snowfall on Judgment Day
Introduction
This was heavily inspired by Divine Vigilante by Bardjo on "10 builds and a cringe guide for drunk people playing Bard". It's a great guide and I truly recommend checking it if you haven't yet.
This build is based on killing your opponents using
Redemption and Tempered Fate.
Items
- Hextech Alternator is your first buy alongside Boots. This will allow you to play more aggressively and get easier Dark Harvest stacks. Hextech Alternator will be upgraded into Luden's Companion later.
- Redemption is the firstcore item of the build. This is why you pick the Item Haste runes. Spam Redemption to get Dark Harvest and Ingenious Hunter stacks.
- Sorcerer's Shoes are bought after Redemption, you should also have already stacked Zaz'Zak's Realmspike at this point.
- Luden's Companion is your second full item. Keep in mind that Cosmic Insight and Ingenious Hunter also work with it.
- Hextech Alternator is your third FULL ITEM. As soon as you upgrade the first one into Luden's Companion, you should buy a second one.
- Liandry's Torment is always your last item. This is a good item for Bard overall and fits the build well.
Important comments
- Redemption will proc Zaz'Zak's Realmspike, Luden's Companion, Hextech Alternator, Liandry's Torment and Dark Harvest. This should deal a lot of damage.
- If you have Hextech Alternator up, Tempered Fate will proc all your items and Dark Harvest. Since enemies will be invulnerable for 2.5 seconds, Zaz'Zak's Realmspike won't do damage and Liandry's Torment will burn only for one tick. Hextech Alternator, Luden's Companion and Dark Harvest will deal full damage.
- This build was made for killing enemies with Redemption and Tempered Fate, but keep in mind that you also deal a lot of damage with your passive Traveler's Call and your Q Cosmic Binding.
- Hextech Alternator and Redemption are very strong power spikes. This is why you should always pick Future's Market on the runes.
- The second Hextech Alternator could be upgraded into Shadowflame. Remember that this WILL reduce your Redemption damage and WILL make killing enemies with Tempered Fate impossible. It's just a better item for combat.
Item Sequence
Zaz'Zak's Realmspike
400
Hextech Alternator
1100
Redemption
2300
Sorcerer's Shoes
1100
Luden's Companion
2900
Liandry's Torment
3000
Introduction
This was heavily inspired by Divine Vigilante by Bardjo on "10 builds and a cringe guide for drunk people playing Bard". It's a great guide and I truly recommend checking it if you haven't yet.
This build is based on killing your opponents using
Redemption and Tempered Fate.Items
-
Hextech Alternator is your first buy alongside Boots. This will allow you to play more aggressively and get easier Dark Harvest stacks. Hextech Alternator will be upgraded into Luden's Companion later.-
Redemption is the firstcore item of the build. This is why you pick the Item Haste runes. Spam Redemption to get Dark Harvest and Ingenious Hunter stacks.-
Sorcerer's Shoes are bought after Redemption, you should also have already stacked Zaz'Zak's Realmspike at this point.-
Luden's Companion is your second full item. Keep in mind that Cosmic Insight and Ingenious Hunter also work with it.-
Hextech Alternator is your third FULL ITEM. As soon as you upgrade the first one into Luden's Companion, you should buy a second one.-
Liandry's Torment is always your last item. This is a good item for Bard overall and fits the build well.Important comments
-
Redemption will proc Zaz'Zak's Realmspike, Luden's Companion, Hextech Alternator, Liandry's Torment and Dark Harvest. This should deal a lot of damage.- If you have
Hextech Alternator up, Tempered Fate will proc all your items and Dark Harvest. Since enemies will be invulnerable for 2.5 seconds, Zaz'Zak's Realmspike won't do damage and Liandry's Torment will burn only for one tick. Hextech Alternator, Luden's Companion and Dark Harvest will deal full damage.- This build was made for killing enemies with
Redemption and Tempered Fate, but keep in mind that you also deal a lot of damage with your passive Traveler's Call and your Q Cosmic Binding.-
Hextech Alternator and Redemption are very strong power spikes. This is why you should always pick Future's Market on the runes.- The second
Hextech Alternator could be upgraded into Shadowflame. Remember that this WILL reduce your Redemption damage and WILL make killing enemies with Tempered Fate impossible. It's just a better item for combat.
The Human Equation
Introduction
This is probably one of the strongest, yet one of the hardest builds in this guide.
This build is focused on buffing your entire team by proccing Font of Life on multiple enemies with your passive Traveler's Call.
Items
- Imperial Mandate is always your first buy (after boots). It increases your team's damage when you slow or immobilize an enemy. This works with your passive Traveler's Call, your Q Cosmic Binding and also your ultimate Tempered Fate.
- Ardent Censer and Staff of Flowing Water should be the second and the third items depending on your team composition. These items only work on Bard because of your runes. You can proc Font of Life on multiple enemies by abusing your passive's AOE (15 chimes, increased at 35). When allies attack enemies marked by Font of Life they will get healed and buffed by Ardent Censer and Staff of Flowing Water.
- Dawncore is the last item. Since this build has a lot of mana regeneration, it will give you good stats. It also decreases the cooldown of your summoner's spells.
Important comments
- This build makes you want to auto attack enemies, but, at the same time, it makes you very squishy. This is why you should choose Celestial Opposition as your support item and Flash and Heal as your summoner's spells.
- Ionian Boots of Lucidity work well with Dawncore and Cosmic Insight. They will decrease your Flash and Heal cooldown by a lot.
- YOU also get buffed by Ardent Censer and Staff of Flowing Water when you heal allies. Heal buffs both you and an ally (abuse it).
- It is usualy better building Ardent Censer before Staff of Flowing Water. If your team doesn't rely on auto attacks to deal damage and has good AP carries, building Staff of Flowing Water before should be better.
- Dawncore fits the build perfectly. It is currently one of the weakest items in the game and I expect it to get buffed soon. The buffs should make the build even better.
- Take Second Wind against poke and Bone Plating against engage supports.
- Hextech Flashtraption is optional. Future's Market and Biscuit Delivery are also possible.
Item Sequence
Celestial Opposition
400
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
950
Imperial Mandate
2300
Ardent Censer
2300
Staff of Flowing Water
2300
Dawncore
2700
Introduction
This is probably one of the strongest, yet one of the hardest builds in this guide.
This build is focused on buffing your entire team by proccing
Font of Life on multiple enemies with your passive Traveler's Call.Items
-
Imperial Mandate is always your first buy (after boots). It increases your team's damage when you slow or immobilize an enemy. This works with your passive Traveler's Call, your Q Cosmic Binding and also your ultimate Tempered Fate.-
Ardent Censer and Staff of Flowing Water should be the second and the third items depending on your team composition. These items only work on Bard because of your runes. You can proc Font of Life on multiple enemies by abusing your passive's AOE (15 chimes, increased at 35). When allies attack enemies marked by Font of Life they will get healed and buffed by Ardent Censer and Staff of Flowing Water.-
Dawncore is the last item. Since this build has a lot of mana regeneration, it will give you good stats. It also decreases the cooldown of your summoner's spells.Important comments
- This build makes you want to auto attack enemies, but, at the same time, it makes you very squishy. This is why you should choose
Celestial Opposition as your support item and Flash and Heal as your summoner's spells.-
Ionian Boots of Lucidity work well with Dawncore and Cosmic Insight. They will decrease your Flash and Heal cooldown by a lot.- YOU also get buffed by
Ardent Censer and Staff of Flowing Water when you heal allies. Heal buffs both you and an ally (abuse it).- It is usualy better building
Ardent Censer before Staff of Flowing Water. If your team doesn't rely on auto attacks to deal damage and has good AP carries, building Staff of Flowing Water before should be better.-
Dawncore fits the build perfectly. It is currently one of the weakest items in the game and I expect it to get buffed soon. The buffs should make the build even better.- Take
Second Wind against poke and Bone Plating against engage supports.-
Hextech Flashtraption is optional. Future's Market and Biscuit Delivery are also possible.
Distance Over Time
Distance Over Time
Introduction
Probably the strongest and the hardest build of this guide.
This is focused on building Movement Speed items. It is great for roaming and short trades, Cosmic Drive helps you deal damage and dodge all skillshots!
Items
- Shurelya's Battlesong is the first item of the build alongside Boots of Swiftness. This item has nice stats and a good active effect. It gives the AP and the Movement Speed that you need for this build.
- Cosmic Drive is the core item for this build. This allows you to go for short trades (Q + basic attack + passive), proc Electrocute and run away.
- Mejai's Soulstealer seems like a bad item at first, but it's cheap and gives you AP and Movement Speed. If you play this build correctly, it shouldn't be easy for your enemies to kill you. Mejai's Soulstealer is the reason why this build is hard to play.
- Lich Bane is your last item. It also gives AP, Movement Speed and helps with the short trades. Since Bard's passive Traveler's Call makes you want to auto attack a lot, building Sheen is always welcome.
Important comments
- This is a hard build to play. It might take some games for you to get used to it.
- You won't do much damage against tanks, try to always hit squishy enemies.
- Play around your Q Cosmic Binding cooldown. While fighting, go in, hit an enemy, press Q and go out.
- If you are full build and die, Mejai's Soulstealer can be replaced by Stormsurge.
- Remember that you have a good amount of AP, your W Caretaker's Shrine should heal for a lot.
- Zaz'Zak's Realmspike is great for short trades, don't go Solstice Sleigh.
Item Sequence
Zaz'Zak's Realmspike
400
Boots of Swiftness
900
Shurelya's Battlesong
2200
Cosmic Drive
3000
Mejai's Soulstealer
1600
Lich Bane
3100
Introduction
Probably the strongest and the hardest build of this guide.
This is focused on building Movement Speed items. It is great for roaming and short trades,
Cosmic Drive helps you deal damage and dodge all skillshots!Items
-
Shurelya's Battlesong is the first item of the build alongside Boots of Swiftness. This item has nice stats and a good active effect. It gives the AP and the Movement Speed that you need for this build.-
Cosmic Drive is the core item for this build. This allows you to go for short trades (Q + basic attack + passive), proc Electrocute and run away.-
Mejai's Soulstealer seems like a bad item at first, but it's cheap and gives you AP and Movement Speed. If you play this build correctly, it shouldn't be easy for your enemies to kill you. Mejai's Soulstealer is the reason why this build is hard to play.-
Lich Bane is your last item. It also gives AP, Movement Speed and helps with the short trades. Since Bard's passive Traveler's Call makes you want to auto attack a lot, building Sheen is always welcome.Important comments
- This is a hard build to play. It might take some games for you to get used to it.
- You won't do much damage against tanks, try to always hit squishy enemies.
- Play around your Q
Cosmic Binding cooldown. While fighting, go in, hit an enemy, press Q and go out.- If you are full build and die,
Mejai's Soulstealer can be replaced by Stormsurge.- Remember that you have a good amount of AP, your W
Caretaker's Shrine should heal for a lot.-
Zaz'Zak's Realmspike is great for short trades, don't go Solstice Sleigh.
The Black Halo
The Black Halo
Introduction
Build all the armour and magic resistance items, become immortal in long fights!
Coming soon!
Item Sequence
Bloodsong
400
Ionian Boots of Lucidity
950
Locket of the Iron Solari
2200
Jak'Sho, The Protean
3200
Terminus
3000
Vigilant Wardstone
2300
Introduction
Build all the armour and magic resistance items, become immortal in long fights!
Coming soon!
Clarkened
Bard Guide
My off-meta Bard builds
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