Disclaimer: This is somewhat of a ignorant build, but that's ok. If you are playing top primarily climb from the Support role this build an playstyle is viable in that sense, you will be able to carry otherwise uncarriable games with it.

That being said and understood. This build deals a ton of damage, Bard having only 2 damaging abilities in his Q Cosmic Binding and Meep auto attack Traveler's Call making it very easy to deal damage, pay attention to their brief cooldowns and don't over commit in fights for basic - non empowered auto attacks since you will be building AP.

Early Game you don't have to do much in lane, drop W's Caretaker's Shrine you can put 2 points W level 3-4 the sustain helps you and your ADC a ton during the laning phase vs 2 points in Q Cosmic Binding.

During the laning phase you should look to punish the enemy ADC for moving up to CS with either a meep auto attack or a Q Cosmic Binding. That's all the damaging abilities Bard has. Don't over do it for extra auto attacks early. Build up damage over time with the Meep Empowered auto attacks, then look for good all ins by landing a Q Cosmic Binding stun off a minion or against a wall.



Look at the edge of the minion wave to throw a Q Cosmic Binding if you are trying to get a high value stun into Meep empowered auto attack. If the enemy has already blow their damaging or high threat CC abilities than feel free to walk up to them for a point blank hard to miss Q Cosmic Binding get 1 Meep auto attack then walk away, if you get them low enough then simply Ignite and keep auto attacking them to finish off the kill.

Chimes

Chimes are unique to Bard but aren't all that complicated. Early game you are able to exhaust your mana spamming W Caretaker's Shrine then pick up 1-2 chimes in the river after you have pushed out the lane, allowing you to sustain the lane longer.

Mid - Late Game they are simple there to be picked up as a reward for gaining map advantage.

Every 5 Chimes give Bard additional damage on his Meep auto attacks, factor this in when looking to pick up chimes. For example it's not worth to leave lane level 6 when you are full mana and the wave isn't pushed to pick up 1 chimes that doesn't give you the completion of 5 chimes for additional damage.

Ask yourself if you should get the chimes now, if there is any threat to picking them up the answer is probably no.




If you are incapable of winning lane consistently with the simple method of building up damage over time with meep auto attacks and all inning with Q Cosmic Binding stuns, then probably don't use this build for Bard and look to master a standard support such as Alistar or Nami. If those champions don't make sense to you either please go to Annie Mid lane.

Pros:

• High Damage & Burst Mid Game
• Ability to carry with damage through the Support role
• Simple a straight forward playstyle (Deal Damage to the enemy carries)

Cons:
[*]Has bad Support matchups ( see matchups )
[*]Tank Carries such as Lissandra, Urgot, Galio don't really care about how much Damage bard builds, making them terrible targets, and stand in your way of damage squishier enemies.
[*]Damage build sucks if you are incapable of casting bards Q Cosmic Binding properly.