Bard Support Build

Bard Champion Guide

Role: Support

Lane: Support

Bard Support performs best with a build featuring Bloodsong, Boots of Swiftness, Dead Man's Plate, Wit's End, and Liandry's Torment. The most effective rune setup for Bard Support includes Electrocute, Cheap Shot, Deep Ward, and Treasure Hunter in the primary tree, paired with Magical Footwear and Biscuit Delivery in the secondary tree.

Bard Champion Abilities

Traveler's Call

Bard attracts chimes randomly around the map. When Bard moves near a chime he collects it, gaining 24% movement speed out of combat for 20 seconds which stacks up to 10 times, 20 (+1 per minute after 5 minutes) experience, and restoring 12% max mana.

Bard attracts a Meep every 8 seconds (max: 1). Bard's attacks consume a Meep to deal an additional dealing 35 (+40% of ability power) plus 10 per 5 chimes as magic damage, plus additional effects based on chimes collected.

At 5 chimes, Meeps also slow by 25-75% (depending on the number of chimes) for 1 second.
At 15 chimes, Meeps also hit in an area around and behind the enemy.
At 35 chimes, the area is larger. P

Cosmic Binding

Bard fires an energy bolt, dealing 80 / 120 / 160 / 200 / 240 (+80% of ability power) magic damage to the first two enemies hit. The first target hit is slowed by 60% for 1 / 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.8 seconds. If the bolt hits a second enemy or a wall, any enemies hit are stunned for 1 / 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.8 seconds. Q

Caretaker's Shrine

Bard creates a health shrine that grants 20 / 22.5 / 25 / 27.5 / 30% (+5% per 100 ability power) movement speed decaying over 1.5 seconds and restores at least 25 / 50 / 75 / 100 / 125 (+30% of ability power) health to the first ally to enter. The shrine grows to restore 50 / 87.5 / 125 / 162.5 / 200 (+60% of ability power) after existing for 5 seconds.

Bard can have up to 3 shrines at once. If an enemy champion enters a shrine, it is destroyed. This ability has 2 charges. W

Magical Journey

Bard opens a one-way portal through Terrain for 10 seconds. Any champion can enter the portal by moving onto it while near the entrance. E

Tempered Fate

Bard hurls magical protective energy to an area, placing all units and structures hit into Stasis for 2.5 seconds. R

Bard Summoner Spells

Flash

Flash is a location-targeted summoner spell that causes your champion to blink to the location in range of your cursor.

Ignite

Ignite is a unit-targeted summoner spell that burns an enemy champion for a few seconds, dealing periodic true damage, applying healing reduction, and revealing the target over the duration.

Bard Runes

Bard Items

Bard Ability Order

Bard Matchups Overview

Strong against

Mel

Pantheon

Soraka

Blitzcrank

Zyra

Alistar

Weak against

Elise

Pyke

Xerath

Vel'Koz

Senna

Poppy

Bard Tips and Tricks

The best time to pick up nearby Chimes is when there are no minions in lane about to die. Otherwise, you’ll fall behind in XP trying to collect them. When playing against melee champions, try to use your empowered auto-attack on them every time they walk forward to last hit minions. Do not place your health shrines W in a position where the enemy can easily take them, but don’t place them too far away where you can’t get to them quickly. Position them slightly behind you and the ADC.

Bard Best Build, Runes, Items

Most Popular

For the most popular Bard Support build, take Flash and Ignite as your Summoner Spells. Use Electrocute as your keystone, followed by Cheap Shot, Deep Ward, and Treasure Hunter in the primary tree, with Magical Footwear and Biscuit Delivery in the secondary tree. For rune shards, take Attack Speed in offense, Health Scaling in flex, and Health Scaling in defense, depending on the matchup. Start with Bloodsong, followed by Boots of Swiftness and Dead Man's Plate. Finish with Wit's End, Liandry's Torment, and Vigilant Wardstone. Stick to the ability max order of Q - W - E.

Optional

Another option for Bard Support is taking Flash and Ignite as your Summoner Spells. Use Guardian as your keystone, with Font of Life, Bone Plating, and Unflinching in the primary tree, and Relentless Hunter with Sixth Sense in the secondary tree. For rune shards, take Attack Speed in offense, Health Scaling in flex, and Health Scaling in defense. Start with Bloodsong, followed by Boots of Swiftness and Dead Man's Plate. Finish with Locket of the Iron Solari, Redemption, and Vigilant Wardstone. Stick to the ability max order of Q - W - E.

Alternative

For an alternative build, take Flash and Ignite as your Summoner Spells. Use Guardian as your keystone, with Font of Life, Bone Plating, and Unflinching in the primary tree, and Relentless Hunter with Sixth Sense in the secondary tree. Take Attack Speed, Adaptive Force, and Health Scaling as rune shards. Start with Solstice Sleigh, followed by Symbiotic Soles and Locket of the Iron Solari. Finish with Redemption, Vigilant Wardstone, and Shurelya's Battlesong. Stick to the ability max order of Q - W - E.

Off-Meta

For an off-meta Bard Support build, take Flash and Ignite as your Summoner Spells. Use Fleet Footwork as your keystone, with Triumph, Legend: Haste, and Cut Down in the primary tree, and Conditioning with Overgrowth in the secondary tree. Take Attack Speed, Health Scaling, and Health Scaling as rune shards. Start with Bloodsong, followed by Boots of Swiftness and Dead Man's Plate. Finish with Statikk Shiv, Locket of the Iron Solari, and Vigilant Wardstone. Stick to the ability max order of Q - W - E.

Situational Bard Runes and Items

Depending on your game context, matchup, and enemy champions, you may want to adjust your items or runes. Carefully consider your team composition, the enemy team, and the game state when planning your Bard build. For example, if facing an opponent with high Magic damage, you may want to consider Magic Resist in your rune shards, or take Armor if you need more resistance against physical damage.