League of Legends best Bard build guide: Runes Itemization, Strategy, and more

League of Legends Season 14’s best Bard build paths is helping the Wandering Caretaker have an easier time in the game. His itemization is extremely versatile, and Bard is capable of being flexed to multiple lanes instead of just support.

Apart from his usual build, Bard can also go Tanky, On-Hit, as well as AP. This allows him to be quite effective in both the Mid and Top Lanes in solo queue. He is also a good duo to a Fasting Senna strat and is one of the more rewarding champions that you can pick up this season.

Contents

• Best Bard Support Build
• Best Bard Tank Build
• Best Bard AD (On-Hit/Crit) build
• Best Bard AP build
• Pros and Cons of playing Bard
• Bard tips and tricks for Early Game, Mid Game, and Late Game
• Bard counters, matchups, and ADC synergy

League of Legends 14.11 Best Support Bard build

Runes 

Itemization

Spells

• Flash
• Exhaust/Ignite

Skill Unlock Priority

Q: Cosmic Binding	1			4	5		7		9
W: Caretaker’s Shrine			3					8		10		12	13
E: Magical Journey		2												14	15		17	18
R: Tempered Fate						6					11					16

League of Legends 14.11 Best Tank Bard build (Top Lane)

Runes 

Itemization

Spells

• Flash
• Teleport

Skill Unlock Priority

Q: Cosmic Binding	1			4	5		7		9
W: Caretaker’s Shrine			3					8		10		12	13
E: Magical Journey		2												14	15		17	18
R: Tempered Fate						6					11					16

League of Legends 14.11 Best Bard On-Hit/Crit build (Mid/ADC)

Runes 

Itemization

Spells

• Flash
• Exhaust/Ignite/Teleport

Skill Unlock Priority

Q: Cosmic Binding	1			4	5		7		9
W: Caretaker’s Shrine			3					8		10		12	13
E: Magical Journey		2												14	15		17	18
R: Tempered Fate						6					11					16

League of Legends 14.11 Best AP Bard build

Runes 

Itemization

Spells

• Flash
• Teleport

Skill Unlock Priority

Q: Cosmic Binding	1			4	5		7		9
W: Caretaker’s Shrine			3					8		10		12	13
E: Magical Journey		2												14	15		17	18
R: Tempered Fate						6					11					16

Bard Pros and Cons in League of Legends Season 14

Pros:

• One of Bard’s biggest strengths in Riot’s MOBA is his build and item versatility. As you can go any route with him that you want, you can flex him in multiple lanes and throw the enemy off their game.
• As a support Bard has one of the best carry potential. His Cosmic Binding, Magical Journey, and Tempered Fate help him make plays all across the map. His ultimate especially, can not only nullify a Herald charge but also make key enemy champions useless during the start of a fight.
• Bard is incredible at roaming. This allows him to set up ganks with his jungler on every lane. When played right he can have the biggest impact in the game, allowing you to turn fights to your favor. He is one of the most rewarding champions in the game.

Cons:

• Bard has a comparatively weak laning phase irrespective of the role you are playing him. He struggles a fair bit as a support and as a solo laner. Depending on the match-up you will often be pushed back to your tower.
• As a solo laner Bard needs time to scale. He reaches his power spikes much later on, and your impact in the early-to-mid game will largely depend on your ultimate usage and how you are setting up plays across the map.
• While rewarding, Bard is very hard to master. Tempered Fate can be a coinflip if you don’t know what you are doing. The stasis that you create with it can either go for or against your favor. 

How to play Bard: Tips and Tricks for League of Legends Season 14

Early Game:

• Bard’s early game will all be about playing safe and scale/ As a support you will just need to concentrate on helping your ADC and allow them to CS safely and not fall behind on gold or XP.
• When playing Bard as a solo laner just concentrate on last-hitting minions. Don’t look to go in for aggressive trades as Bard is rather squishy and can be taken down easily if out of position or pushed too far up in lane.
• Look to roam only if you have your lane pushed in. Roaming should not be a priority at this point, but do leave lane from time to time to set up deep wards and track enemy jungle pathing.

Mid Game

• With Bard you should start to roam all over the map during the Mid Game. He is incredible at making cross-map plays, so don’t shy away from helping the rest of your teammates when they are looking to position for a neutral objective.
• Bard’s movement speed and Magical Journey will make it significantly easier for him to place deep wards in the enemy jungle. So when you have pushed in your lane try to roam and place deep vision. Knowledge is everything in the Mid Game.
• Help your team take down neutral objectives. Bard can set up plays around the Dragon and Baron pit. So try to catch out squishy targets who are positioning well. Hold onto Tempered Fate until the right moment and don’t use it prematurely.

Late Game:

• As a solo laner, Bard gets very hard to deal with in the Late Game. If you are building On-Hit or AP, he will start to hit like a truck and melt the health bars of any enemy carry that he finds isolated.
• In the support role, your job to get more vision will continue. Keep placing deep wards and take out enemy vision with the sweepers.
• Bard’s Tempered Fate usage becomes crucial at this stage. One misstep can cost you the entire game, so make sure you access the situation correctly before you pull the trigger.

Bard counters, matchups, and ADC synergy

As Bard is traditionally a support, his counters, matchups, and ADC duo picks will be based around that role.

Countered by:

• Blitzcrank
• Senna
• Pyke
• Shaco
• Lux
• Zyra 
• Xerath
• Brand

Bard struggles in lane against champions that have a hook or can poke him out of lane. 

Favorable matchups:

• Ashe
• Lulu
• Yuumi
• Karma
• Hwei
• Seraphine

Bard has a much easier time in the Bot Lane against these picks.

ADC synergy:

• Caitlyn
• Jhin
• Ezreal
• Tristana
• Kog’Maw
• Smolder

Bard’s kit synergizes extremely well with these ADC picks.