In Dark and Darker, the Bard is one of the two classes that you can purchase with shards. It is known for its complexity, offering a plethora of spells, perks, and unique abilities. The Bard excels in providing support, delivering potent buffs to teammates, slowing down enemies, and enhancing overall group performance. In this guide, we will explore the Bard's starter kit, its perks, music spells, and offer gameplay tips and strategies.

 

• Starter Kit
• Strengths & Weaknesses
• Perks
• Builds
• Spells
• Stat Allocation
• Gameplay Pattern
• Tips and Strategies

 

 

↖ Starter Kit

Let's begin with a quick overview of Bard's starting inventory. The Bard comes equipped with a Rapier and four instruments: Lute, Flute, Drum, and Lyre. You also have two torches and basic starting gear. While the Rapier may not be the best weapon in terms of DPS, the Bard's strength lies in the unique set of abilities and skills rather than raw combat power.

 

↖ Strengths & Weaknesses

Pros

Cons

Diverse passive buffs: Offers powerful passive healing, spell restoration, and defensive/offensive buffs. Crowd control expertise: Effectively manipulates NPCs, debuffs their resistance, and excels against bosses. Versatile combat options: Provides melee, shield, and ranged capabilities for adaptability. Strong AoE abilities: Facilitates area control and cooperative play with AoE damage and debuffs. Swift interactions and mobility: High interaction speed and movement when buffed. Superior Luck stat: Maximize Luck and unlock chests with Unchained Harmony.

Tunnel vision: Challenging to multitask, affecting situational awareness. Buff dependency: Slower solo play and vulnerability in PvP without buffs. Limited gear selection: Constraints in weapon and armor choices. Timing complexity: Tunes may be challenging to use effectively in critical moments. Durability and armor limitations: Low durability and limited protective gear. High audibility: Musical activities may attract attention from other players.

 

↖ Perks

Let's start by exploring the various perks available to the Bard class. Each perk serves a distinct purpose, and your choice should depend on your playstyle and the specific objectives of your dungeon run. Here are the perks you should consider:

Perk Name	Usage
Charismatic Performance	Enhances song speed and is useful for low knowledge characters.
Jolly Time	Provides health regeneration when consuming ale, great for budget runs.
Lore Mastery	Increases interaction speed with objects in the game, useful for mining runs.
Rapier Mastery	Boosts damage with rapiers, great for rapier users and fighting trolls.
Reinforced Instruments	Enhances damage with musical instruments, suitable for musical weapon users.
Storyteller	Increases will and knowledge, good for solo play and supporting clerics and wizards.
Superior Dexterity	Makes object-switching faster, useful for certain playstyles.
Melodic Protection	Offers damage reduction while playing songs, ideal for support-focused players.
War Song	Increases attack power, beneficial for certain combat strategies.
Dancing Feet	Improves positioning for instrument-based damage, great for specific songs.
Wanderer's Luck	Adds a luck bonus for better loot generation, recommended for most scenarios.

 

↖ Builds

Choosing the right perks depends on your desired playstyle and your group composition. Let's explore various Bard builds based on different situations:

 

Build 1. Default Geared-Up Fighter Bard

• Charismatic Performance
• Storyteller
• Instrument Speed
• Instrument Damage

This build is well-rounded and suitable for most situations. It offers a balance between playing songs and engaging in combat effectively. It ensures you have decent knowledge and will to maintain buffs while dealing reliable damage.

 

Build 2. Budget Run Bard

• Charismatic Performance
• Jolly Time
• Lore Mastery
• Reinforced Instruments

This build is perfect for cost-effective dungeon runs. Jolly Time allows you to use ale for healing without spending much, and Reinforced Instruments enhances your instrument-based damage.

 

Build 3. Troll Slayer Bard

• Charismatic Performance
• Rapier Mastery
• Reinforced Instruments
• Wanderer's Luck

If your goal is to defeat the troll in the dungeon, this build is the way to go. Rapier Mastery makes you highly effective against the troll, and Reinforced Instruments complements your damage output.

 

Build 4. Full Support Bard:

• Charismatic Performance
• Storyteller
• Allegro
• Rousing Rhythms

This build focuses on providing robust support for your group. You'll be playing songs to buff your allies while maintaining a considerable knowledge stat. Allegro and Rousing Rhythms enhance your group's overall performance.

 

Build 5. Niche Composition Bard:

• Charismatic Performance
• Melodic Protection
• Peacemaking
• Reinforced Instruments

This unique build is suitable for specific niche compositions where you don't have a dedicated fighter. You'll be playing support songs from the backline and using Peacemaking strategically. Reinforced Instruments allows you to contribute to combat with your instruments.

 

↖ Spells

Bard's power lies in the unique songs that you can play, providing various buffs and debuffs to influence the battlefield. Here is a breakdown of Bard's musical abilities:

 

Drum Songs:

• Rousing Rhythms: Boosts Strength, Agility, Will, Knowledge, and Resourcefulness by three.
• Den of Darkness: Inflicts dark magical damage in an area around the Bard.
• Beats of Alacrity: Grants increased movement speed.
• Allegro: Gradually increases action speed over time.

 

Flute Songs:

• Unchained Harmony: Unlocks doors and containers.
• Streak of Weakness: Weakens the physical power bonus and lowers armor rating.
• Piercing Shrill: Inflicts physical damage and an "echo" sound effect.

 

Lyre Songs:

• Song of Silence: Silences enemy spellcasting and healing.
• Peacemaking: Temporarily stops combat in a small area.
• Lament of Langour: Slows enemy movement speed.

 

Bard's Debut Album

Here are some specific recommendations for Bard spells based on their effectiveness:

Recommended Drum Songs:

• Rousing Rhythms: Enhances attributes.
• Allegro: Speeds up your action.
• Accelerando: Increases your movement speed.
• Beats of Alacrity: Further improves your movement speed.

 

Recommended Flute Songs:

• Unchained Harmony: Useful for unlocking doors.
• Piercing Shrill: Deals damage and creates an "echo" effect.
• Streak of Weakness: Great for reducing physical power bonus and armor rating.

 

Recommended Lyre Songs:

• Song of Silence: Silence enemy spellcasting.
• Harmonic Shield: Provides significant armor and magic resistance.
• Coral of Clarity: Partially restores spells for Wizards and Clerics.

 

↖ Stat Allocation

For your Bard character, you'll want to focus on the following primary stats:

• Knowledge: Knowledge is vital for a Bard because it directly impacts your song speed. Aim for a reasonably high knowledge stat to ensure your songs play swiftly.
• Will: Will affects the duration of your self-buffs and is essential to maintain their uptime. It's also crucial when playing with a group, as it boosts your entire party's will.
• Luck: Luck is essential for finding rare loot during your dungeon runs. Stack this stat whenever possible to maximize your rewards.
• Agility: Agility enhances your movement speed, making it easier to dodge enemies and avoid unnecessary combat.
• Strength: Strength affects your damage with instruments, rapiers, and other weapons. It's particularly important if you intend to engage in combat.
• Stamina: Stamina contributes to your maximum health and is always useful for increased survivability.

 

↖ Gameplay Pattern

• Always start with Arya of Alacrity to increase action speed.
• Follow with Allegro, Accelerando, Rousing Rhythms, and Beats of Alacrity for maximum effectiveness.
• Switch to Lyre and use Song of Silence to counter enemy spellcasters, especially Clerics.
• Use Piercing Shrill for damage and debuff through walls and doors.
• Keep Harmonic Shield up to protect your teammates.
• Tranquility for healing.
• Be ready to cancel your songs and engage in combat if needed.

 

↖ Tips and Strategies

• Practice Your Songs: Familiarize yourself with the songs you plan to use and practice their patterns. Playing songs correctly is key to maximizing your Bard's effectiveness.
• Manage Your Song Rotation: Keep track of your active songs and their durations. Reapply essential songs before they expire to maintain their effects.
• Stay Mobile: Use your movement speed buffs effectively to navigate the dungeon quickly and avoid unnecessary confrontations.
• Team Communication: Coordinate with your group, especially when playing support songs. Ensure your group members are aware of your buffs and are ready to capitalize on them.
• Prioritize Healing: If you're the designated healer, prioritize Tranquility to maintain your party's health. Keeping your team alive is a top priority.
• Engage in Combat Strategically: If you're fighting, use your songs to bolster your party's offensive capabilities. Focus on supporting your team with buffs and playing instruments effectively.
• Carry Healing Potions: Always have a supply of healing potions for emergency situations. You can't solely rely on your songs for healing in high-stress encounters.
• Stay Behind in Challenging Fights: In tough battles, it's best to stay behind your group, play support songs, and use instruments for damage. You're more valuable to your team alive than in the front lines.
• Use Instruments Wisely: Don't underestimate the power of your instruments. Even with a focus on songs, your instruments can deal significant damage in combat. Use them strategically.
• Adapt to Your Group: Your role and song selection might vary depending on your group composition. Be ready to adjust your build and song choices to complement your team's strengths and weaknesses.

 

Previous: Dark and Darker Wizard Class Guide

 

Conclusion:

The world of Dark and Darker is vast and full of challenges, and as a Bard, you play a pivotal role in your party's success. Practice your songs, master your instrument, and lead your group to victory with the power of music. With the right perks, builds, and songs, you'll become a legend in the dark and mysterious realms of the game.