Bard Class In Log Horizon

Type: Weapon Attack
Role: Vanguard attacker, Rearguard sniper, All-range support
HP Level: Average
MP Level: Average
Although categorized as a Weapon Attack class, Bards lack the offensive power of Assassins and Swashbucklers, and their equippable weapons are limited to lightweight one-handed weapons, musical instruments, bows, and a select few types of two-handed weapons.

Despite these limitations, Bards' spell-songs are the reason why they fall under the Weapon Attack category. Spell-songs have a wide range of possible effects. These powerful abilities are how Bards fight even if their personal damage is low.

Bards have their chance to shine in high-difficulty battles such as raids, and some even say that a raid party's success chance is directly tied to having a Bard around. First-class guilds that understand the class' potential even go out of their way to recruit promising rookie Bards so they can be trained up as powerful raiders.

There are three main builds for this class: the Concertmaster (buffing spell-song specialization), the Prima Actor (special attack specialization), and the Virtuoso (debuffing spell-song specialization that forgoes all damage).

• Concertmaster: This build was developed to support raid parties, as continuous support songs can affect up to twenty-four players (the size of a full raid).
• Prima Actor: A build that aims on maximizing the player's damage potential.
• Virtuoso: Focusing on maximizing the effects of their spell-songs and weakening enemies, this build abandons any pretense of dealing damage.

Known Skills

Bards have the unique ability to use spell-songs, which have myriad effects and remain in effect until toggled off or switched out for another song. Out of the fifteen total songs that can be learned, up to two can be used at a time. The level of variety and potential combinations that can be created with these songs make Bards equal to an Enchanter's support abilities.

Attack Skills

Arpeggio
(Special Skill) A broken chord. A ranged attack that targets all enemies, causing musical notes to pop out from the target that is hit. However, the resonance from the target disperses and decreases in damage dealt, and combined with a long cooldown time, this makes the skill less effective than a Swashbuckler's ranged attack. At the same time, because both the cooldown time and the decrease in damage is lowered (to around 90% normal damage at level 90) at higher levels, this skill is worth training.

Battle Conduct
The damage is hardly any different from a normal attack, but gives the target a ! icon and puts them in the condition where "No matter how much it is hit, there will be no increase in hate". The icon appearance is short, around 5–15 seconds. Because of this, Bards will call their comrades when using it and all of them will use their most powerful skills in this limited time to pound the enemy into dust. When used, an attention-drawing whistle will be sounded. On forums, this whistle is also known as "Wolf Pack", "Beatdown Order" or "It's Hunting Time," among other nicknames. It allows all the party members to participate without restraint so it is a highly popular skill.

Dissonance Scream
(Debuffing) By causing a jarring dissonance in a circular radius around yourself, inflicting upon enemies within that area a small amount of damage and the Confusion status. When timed well, it can also cancel out spell incantations, so it is often used around Mage-type enemies. An effect of cracked notes flying about appears, and there is a shrieking sound effect echoes.

Duet
(Melee Attack) A skill performed with a melee weapon and an ally. Designate a friend as the target. When the ally hits the opponent during the time frame of this skill, you can follow up with another attack at a fixed chance. This attack is set as an auto-attack and only deals moderate damage, but you can expect an increase in damage dealt because it does not require practice or an incantation. Because it is necessary to stand in a position where a melee attack can reach the target when you activate this skill, it is most often used with a tank, but some people take the chance and use it with a Swashbuckler, who has a higher attack speed. Damage dealt and duration of this spell depend on skill level, while the probability depends on skill rank.

Elegant Act
An elegant attack from a beautiful dance. The damage dealt is normal, but this skill boosts Evasion for a period of time after usage, so it's popular with front-line Bards since it improves their survivability. It is notable for the elaborate movements that vary depending on the weapon. With a sword, it's a sword dance; with a spear, the spear is twirled like a baton; with a scythe, the scythe is twirled like a pencil and is quite a sight to behold.

Final Strike
(Special Skill) Hurl your weapon and deal a large amount of damage. Damage depends on the remaining durability and attack power of the weapon, and even a normally-powerless player can be strong. However, the weapon's durability will become 0, and the weapon will be useless until repaired. Furthermore, the cooldown time is long, so you can't keep reusing this skill with several weapons on hand. Despite being a difficult skill to use, the fact that it creates a flashy effect when the weapon slices through an enemy and explodes makes it known as a "charming" skill that is rather popular. For a while, it was popular among Bards to use this skill as a finishing blow while strumming a stringed instruments.

Grand Finale
(Special Skill) A special attack that deals the most damage of Bard's attacks in exchange for its slower-than-normal motions. Damage is further increased against targets with a debuff. After killing an opponent with this skill, the screen turned darker, the camera angle would change, and three spotlights would shine on the player. In subsequent updates, the camera angle part was removed after receiving feedback that it was "overdone" and "made it hard to see." Bragging about this skill is forbidden because even with the strongest Bard, it's only around 60% the strength of an Assassin's or Sorcerer's attack.

Maestro Echo
(Attack Support) (Special Skill) For approximately 30 seconds, copy a designated ally's magic attack on the same target. Since equipment bonuses and character stats are not copied over, your attack will be weaker, but will still deal around 150%-180% damage, especially if you copy a Sorcerer. When used, this skill creates a guitar-riff-like sound effect and a shining appearance. The attack will be a beat behind the original.

Resonance Beat
Imbues a weapon with a melody that causes a shockwave upon impact and resonates with the target's body. If another attack lands during the resonance period, additional damage will be dealt with a resonance explosion. You have to attack twice for it to work, so the damage dealt is quite high. Bards who use percussion instruments or blunt weapons like maces and have Resonance Beat as their signature move are known as "Drummers" or "Taiko Masters."

Spell-Songs

Anthem of the Affectionate Mother
(Continuous Support Song) (Recovery Support) Increases rate of HP recovery for allies. Although the amount of HP recovered per second is far less than a Druid's "pulsation recovery" ability, it has a similar effect, and can be used in conjunction with their skills. Also, the effect lasts until the cover song is switched, while Druid skills are finite in duration. When in use, a green note appears every two minutes. It can also be used outside of battle to shorten break times.

Ballad of the Slowpoke Snail
(Special Attack) (Move Obstruction) An offensive spell-song that deals minor damage-over-time and decreases the speed of the target and other monsters around it. The damage range is surprisingly large and can trap groups of 5 or 6 enemies at a time. However, this skill garners more Hate, and you can become targeted if you are too careless with this skill. In situations where this isn't a concern, such as solo play or a party without a tank, this can be used to your advantage by dragging enemies around and wearing them down with ranged attacks. It seems there are anecdotes of wearing down a high level boss with only the ballad. While in use, a distorted spiral effect will appear around the target.

Circular Carol
(Continuous Support Song) (Attack Support) When the caster's ally casts magical attacks, follows up with an additional attack in the form of a rainbow beam. This skill maximizes the damage potential of magical attackers.

Coward's Fugue
(Continuous Support Song) (Aggro Management) Reduces Hate an ally receives when attacking by 5~15%, depending on skill proficiency. As proficiency rises, the percentage reduced increases. It is a powerful skill, powerful enough that it would accidentally decrease a tank's ability to aggro opponents. Now, Bards can choose whom not to affect with this skill. While in use, it creates dark blue notes that appear slowly.

Dancing Peacock Melody
(Continuous Support Song) (Status Buff) Raises the agility of the members of the caster's party, helping them avoid enemy attacks.

Dirge of the Trapped Lion
(Special Attack) An attack spell-song that traps enemies in a certain area and continuously deals damage. Although the damage dealt is low, as with all spell-songs, the damage builds up as you continue singing and the effect of an instant death is very powerful. The impact of an opponent who was fighting vigorously suddenly collapsing and dying has a very strong effect, and has given this skill the name of “Dying Song” and “Death Voices,” inspiring fear. When this skill is being used, a mark of a lion appears over the target’s head and a stinging chain wraps around them.

Fawn March
(Continuous Support Song) (Buffing) Increases allies' movement speed.

Lullaby of the Mermaid in Moonlight
(Special Attack) (Debuffing) A support curse song that puts the target enemy and those around it to Sleep. It is set so that the difference in level between the target and caster will affect how long it takes for them to fall asleep, so the effect is not instantaneous, and you might be countered if the target can see through the time it has before the effect occurs and cause a "Sleep Lock": "Attack right before effect occurs" then Sleep -> (Get hit) Wake up -> Immediate Sleep, rinse and repeat. When used, an aqua-blue ripple effect will occur and an image of a singing mermaid will appear over the head of the caster.

Nocturne of Meditation
(Continuous Support Song) (Recovery Support) Allies' MP, which is usually not restored during battle, recovers slowly. Although the rate is slower than when you are resting, its ability in the long run cannot be underestimated. In use, a cool-colored note (purple/blue) appears from your body.

Onslaught Prelude
(Continuous Support Song) (Attack Support) Shorten cooldown times of your allies' skills. It is a basic song used in battle to decrease the cooldown of magic and weapon attacks. Popular skill that is known to be refreshing to hear.

Pavane Dance
(Continuous Support Song) (Defensive Support) Increases the agility and evasion rate of allies. It allows Guardians, who usually don't have high evasion, to take advantage of it the way Monks do. In use, a yellow-colored note appears from the Bard's body.

Rainbow Arabesque
(Continuous Support Song) (Attack Support) Grants your allies an attribute such as fire or ice. This way, you can compound on an enemy's weak point. There are six attributes in total (if you don't have any selected, it is the seven colors of the rainbow), and you could click on which one use. After the Catastrophe, you can select it with your mind. A note of the corresponding color appears, and the weapons have a different effect depending on the attribute.

Sword-Speed Etude
(Continuous Support Song) (Attack Support) Raises the weapon attack speed and accuracy of surrounding allies. You can immediately switch cover songs if necessary as long as you have a prerequisite song prepared [TL: will revisit]. However, having two cover songs active reduces MP. When this song is in use, a red-colored note appears from the Bard's body. Additionally, a sword icon appears over the allies under this effect.

Traumerei of the Bear Cub's Dreams
(Special Attack) (Debuffing) A support curse song that gives the target and enemies within a certain area around it a Charm effect. A target that fails to resist it will be drawn to the Bard, advancing unsteadily. Because the effect wears off upon taking damage, allies will attack all at once. While in use, this skill creates a teddy bear turning a music box above the user's head, and the target has a spinning yellow star over its head. "Keep turning the music box" is a rough way of saying "Fool" in Elder Tale.

Venomoid Tarantella
(Continuous Support Song) (Recovery Support) Speeds up recovery from afflictions. Although you do not cure it immediately, you can cut down the normal time it takes to recover from them (around half). While some afflictions cannot be cured with this song, it is still an important skill for Raids. This skill becomes more effective by raising skill rank, so many seek the Secret scroll for this skill.

Other Skills

War Conductor
(Support) Decreases your own movement speed to continue supporting allies from behind while they go on ahead. Because it is an auto-attack, incantations are shortened, and strength increases. It creates an effect of a person waving a baton overhead.

Curtain Drop
(Aggro Management) Decreases the Hate of one ally. The number isn't shown, but because the enemy switches targets quite quickly, the amount of Hate reduced must be appropriately large. You can evade attack by using it on yourself, or you can use it on an ally at a higher MP cost. This creates an effect of a curtain wrapping around the target.

Repeated Notes
(Attack Support) Immediately repeats an attack/skill on the same target. However, you will be paralyzed for a short while after activating this skill. Furthermore, this attracts quite a bit of Hate, so using it too hastily can result in a disaster.

Shifting Tact
(Support) For a short duration (approx. 10 seconds), drastically decrease an ally's skill cooldowns. At Elementary-level, cooldowns are shortened by 7%, and the Secret-level scroll, which raises the effect to 32%, is in high demand. A metronome appears over the ally, and a "katchikatchikachikachikachi..." sound effect is heard.

Decrescendo
(Aggro Management) Become paralyzed for a while and decrease Hate slowly. While you can dispel this effect at any time, the amount of Hate that decreases is in proportion to the duration held. Although you cannot use any other skills during this time without dispelling the effect, cover songs are still in play, so you're still contributing to the fight.

Performance
Perform on the streets or in taverns to earn money. The amount you make depends on your skill and Luck.

Bard Style
Increases your endurance.

Typical Props
Special ability that allows you to know the lore behind the songs you learn as a Bard and understand their views.

No Further Information
Impromptu, Rondo of the Wind Maiden, Robust Pastoral, Tuning, Harp-Bow Style, Bard Style, Blade Singer Style, Ritardando, Troll's Carol, Router's Song