Bard is a champion in League of Legends primarily played in the support position, classified as a Catcher. This Wandering Caretaker uses Mana (350 – 1333.25 at max level) and deals Magic damage. Bard was released on March 12, 2015, and is currently in patch V25.21.
📊 Base Statistics
| Statistic | Base Value | Max Value (lvl 20) |
| HP | 630 | 2655.5 |
| Mana (MP) | 350 | 1333.25 |
| Attack Damage (AD) | 52 | 111 |
| Movement Speed (MS) | 335 | 335 (fixed) |
| Attack Range | 500 (Ranged) | 500 (fixed) |
💡 Chime Scaling: Collecting Chimes permanently empowers Meeps AND grants stacking movement speed (up to 150%)! Roam for Chimes to scale!
🎵 Passive: Traveler’s Call
INNATE – ANCIENT CHIMES:
Bard’s presence causes sacred Chimes to appear at random locations on the map, lingering for up to 10 minutes. Collecting a Chime restores 12% maximum mana and grants Bard 20 + (1 per minute after 5 minutes) experience, as well as 24% bonus movement speed out of combat for 20 seconds, which stacks up to 10 times. Each Chime collected beyond the first instead grants an additional 14% bonus movement speed, up to a total of 150% bonus movement speed. Bard empowers his Meeps each time he collects 5 Chimes.
INNATE – MEEPS:
Bard’s presence attracts Meeps, which are small spirits that come to his side. While he has Meeps, his basic attacks are empowered to each consume a Meep on-attack to deal 35 (+ 10 per 5 Chimes collected) (+ 40% AP) bonus magic damage.
- At 5 Chimes, Meeps slow damaged enemies by 25% – 75% (based on number of Chimes) for 1 second.
- At 15 Chimes, Meeps deal the damage to enemies within 150 units of the primary target as well as those in a cone behind them.
- At 35 Chimes, the cone’s radius increases.
Bard can have up to 1 – 9 (based on number of Chimes) Meeps at a time.
⚡ Q: Cosmic Binding
Cost: 60 Mana | Cooldown: 11 / 10 / 9 / 8 / 7s | Cast Time: 0.25s
ACTIVE: Bard fires an energy bolt in the target direction that deals magic damage to the first enemy hit and slows them by 60% for a duration.
After Cosmic Binding hits an enemy, the bolt continues behind them for 300 units. If the bolt hits terrain or a second enemy, it stuns both targets for the same duration, dealing the same damage to the secondary target.
| Parameter | Value |
| Magic Damage | 80 / 120 / 160 / 200 / 240 (+ 80% AP) |
| Disable Duration | 1 / 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.6 / 1.8 seconds |
✨ W: Caretaker’s Shrine
Cost: 70 Mana | Cast Time: 0.25s | Recharge: 18s | Target Range: 800
ACTIVE: Bard conjures a shrine at the target location that grants sight of its surroundings for 1 second and gathers power over 5 seconds. Up to 3 shrines may be active at a time. Shrines may last indefinitely until being consumed by a champion moving over them.
If the champion is an ally or Bard himself, they are healed for an amount based on the shrine’s power and gain bonus movement speed decaying over 1.5 seconds. The bonus movement speed can stack with subsequent shrines triggered. If the champion is an enemy, the shrine is destroyed.
| Parameter | Value |
| Minimum Heal | 25 / 50 / 75 / 100 / 125 (+ 40% AP) |
| Bonus Movement Speed | 20 / 22.5 / 25 / 27.5 / 30% (+ 6% per 100 AP) |
Bard periodically stocks a Caretaker’s Shrine charge, up to a maximum of 2.
🌀 E: Magical Journey
Cost: 30 Mana | Cooldown: 22 / 20.5 / 19 / 17.5 / 16s | Cast Time: 0.25s
ACTIVE: Bard opens a one-way magical corridor through a piece of terrain in the target direction for 10 seconds.
A champion can pass through the corridor by selecting it while within proximity of it, becoming revealed during the travel. Bard and allies travel through the portal at 33% increased speed.
⏸️ R: Tempered Fate (Ultimate)
Cost: 100 Mana | Cooldown: 110 / 95 / 80s | Cast Time: 0.5s | Effect Radius: 350
ACTIVE: Bard sends magical energy arcing to the target location, granting sight of the area during travel. Upon impact, it puts all units within into stasis for 2.5 seconds, as well as stunning all enemy champions, minions, and turrets struck for the same duration. Enemies are revealed for the duration.
Epic monsters and turrets are affected by Tempered Fate despite being immune to crowd control.
💡 Pro Tip: R puts EVERYONE in stasis – allies AND enemies! Use to save allies, zone enemies, or stop Baron/Dragon!
🎯 Strategies and Gameplay Tips
Early Game (Levels 1-6)
- Chime Collection: Roam for Chimes! They grant 12% max mana + XP + movement speed. Collecting 5 Chimes empowers Meeps!
- Q Stun Setup: Hit enemy with Q, bolt continues 300 units. If hits wall/second enemy = DOUBLE STUN!
- W Shrine Placement: Place shrines pre-fight (3 max). They last indefinitely! Pre-heal allies!
Mid Game (Levels 7-13)
- E Roaming: Use Magical Journey to roam faster! Creates 10s portal through terrain. Allies travel 33% faster!
- Meep Empowerment: At 5 Chimes, Meeps slow! At 15 Chimes = cone AoE! At 35 Chimes = bigger cone!
- R Timing: Tempered Fate = 2.5s stasis on EVERYONE! Use to save allies, zone objectives, or stop enemy engage!
Late Game (Level 14+)
- 150% Movement Speed: With enough Chimes, gain up to 150% bonus MS! Roam EVERYWHERE!
- Meep Scaling: Meeps deal 35 + 10 per 5 Chimes! Late game = massive empowered auto damage!
❌ Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Not Collecting Chimes: Chimes = permanent scaling! Every 5 Chimes empowers Meeps. Don’t ignore them!
- Poor R Placement: R puts ALLIES in stasis too! Don’t freeze your carries! Use to save/zone!
- Wasting W Charges: Only 2 W charges, 18s recharge! Pre-place shrines strategically – don’t spam!
- Bad E Portals: E can help enemies too! Don’t create portals that help enemies chase/escape!
⚙️ Recommended Build and Itemization
Core Items
- Shurelya’s Battlesong / Locket of the Iron Solari: Shurelya’s for engage speed; Locket for teamfight protection.
- Mobility Boots: ESSENTIAL for roaming! Combine with Chime MS for maximum map presence!
- Zhonya’s Hourglass: Invulnerability for aggressive plays. Synergizes with R stasis mechanics!
Situational Items
- Imperial Mandate: Marks enemies for ally damage. Great with Q stuns!
- Redemption: AoE heal + damage. Synergizes with roaming playstyle!
- Mikael’s Blessing: Cleanse for carries. Essential vs heavy CC teams!
⚔️ Counter Picks & Matchups
✅ Bard Counters
1. Sona
Why: Bard outroams Sona. Q stun stops her healing. E portals create pick opportunities. Chime scaling outscales her.
2. Soraka
Why: E roaming pressure prevents Soraka passive healing. Q stun stops her silence. R can zone her from healing.
3. Yuumi
Why: Bard roaming creates map pressure while Yuumi is attached. Q + Meeps = poke damage. R zones her ADC.
❌ Bard is Countered By
1. Blitzcrank
Why: Hook punishes roaming. Bard is squishy – one hook = death. E portals can’t escape hooks.
2. Thresh
Why: Flay stops E portal entry. Hook punishes roaming. Death Sentence follows through portals.
3. Nautilus
Why: Hook + CC chain kills Bard. Tank stats absorb Q damage. Ultimate follows through portals.
FAQ
Q: How do Chimes work?
A: Chimes spawn randomly on map (10 min duration). Collecting grants 12% max mana + XP + stacking MS (up to 150%)! Every 5 Chimes empowers Meeps!
Q: Does R affect allies?
A: YES! Tempered Fate puts EVERYONE in stasis – allies AND enemies! Use carefully to save/zone!
Q: How do I get Q double stun?
A: Hit enemy with Q. Bolt continues 300 units. If hits wall/second enemy = stuns BOTH targets! Aim for walls!
Q: Is Bard good for beginners?
A: NO. Bard requires excellent roaming, Chime management, and R timing. Practice in normals first!