Bard

Description

Though they often use melee weapons, bards are primarily a magic-using class, with the ability to wear plate armor and wield many different types of weapons and instruments. Their songs can regenerate health and mana, increase attack speed and accuracy, momentarily charm angry enemies, help friends resist many types of damage and even directly damage enemies. Bards are perhaps best known, however, for their ability to greatly increase the foot speed of their group. Bards have the unique ability to create multiple effects at once. By weaving different songs together, a bard can customize effects to any situation.

Stengths/Weaknesses

Pros

• Wide variety of songs allows them to fill different roles depending on the situation
• Unique buffs benefit any group (Travel, Haste/Overhaste, Regen, Resists, and more)
• Availability of /melody and bandolier make life easier on IxiQuest than some classic servers
• Rewards in-depth knowledge of mechanics and encounters more than most classes
• Some AOE damage and debuff capabilities
• Some mez, charm and pacify abilities
• Can run super fast

Cons

• While they can wear plate armor and dual wield, bards will fall behind other melee classes in direct combat
• Expect to manage many different instrument and equipment setups to maximize your potential
• Need to manage song selection carefully and switch things up more quickly than other classes
• Limited single-target damage output

Grouping

Can be paired with nearly any other class and will improve any group. With the right combination of songs, they can adapt to many different challenges. Some players take a very active role and utilize their bard for pulling, crowd control, damage, and debuffs, while others prefer to let their bard take a more passive role and provide steady regen and buffs to the group. A well geared bard can even tank in some small group situations.

Raiding

Bards are a welcome addition to any raid group, and can play a variety of roles due to their wide selection of abilities. Depending on the encounter, a bard might find themselves in the main tank group focused on resist songs, in a melee group focused on amping up melee abilities, in a caster group for mana regen, or assisting a puller with their movement speed buff. They possess a unique magic resist debuff, and in some situations may even be called on for their kiting ability. Expect to spend some time learning how bard songs stack and interact with other classes buffs, figuring out what songs are appropriate for different situations, and be ready to adapt on short notice. Take note that while some bard songs affect everyone in the area, most apply only to their group.

IxiQuest Spells & Abilities

Alternate Advancement

The following is a partial list of AAs available to the class.

In addition, all classes get access to some general abilities such as Origin, Run Speed, Bandolier Slots, Improved Stats and Stat Caps, Increased Max Buffs, Improved HP/Mana Regen, and more.

• Extended Notes (Increased song range)
• Fading Memories (Make all enemies forget about you)
• Singing/Instrument Mastery
• Jam Fest (Play songs at a higher level)
• Scribble Notes (Reduces song memorization time)
• Additional song slot(s)
• Ambidexterity (Improved Dual Wield)
• Various melee combat AAs
• Spell Casting Mastery, Fury, Expertise
• Improved Tracking, Safe Fall, Trap Disarm

Disciplines

Bard disciplines were introduced with the Velious expansion; they offer short term advantages with a long re-use: These are most useful in dragon/boss encounters.

Bards MUST turn off songs in order to start Disciplines, failure to do so will result in the Discipline being cancelled but the cool-down will still activate.

Discipline Name	Level Obtained	Description	Duration	Reuse Time
Resistant Discipline	51	+10 to all resistances. The reuse time for this discipline will decrease as you level.	1 Min	72 Min
Fearless Discipline	54	Immunity to "Fear" and all spells that cause "fear". The reuse time for this discipline will decrease as you level.	11 Sec	72 Min
Deftdance Discipline	55	Auto dodge attacks from the front and auto dual-wield	10 Sec	72 Min
Puretone Discipline	60	Makes it as if you are wielding the best instrument of every type, whether or not you are actually wielding an instrument. Increases to 28 modifier, and does work on singing mod.	4 Min	72 Min

Messages for activation and ending

Resistant Discipline: Staring: You channel your will into magical resistance. / Ending: Your resistance fades.

Fearless Discipline: Starting: Your will drives fear from your mind. / Ending: The specter of fear returns to your mind.

Deftdance Discipline: Starting: You dance about nimbly. / Ending: Your movements return to normal.

Puretone Discipline: Starting: Your voice becomes perfectly melodious. / Ending: Your voice loses its perfection.

The following is a full list of songs available on IxiQuest

Songs

Level	Song Name	Effect(s)	Mana	Instrument	Target Type	Locations
1	Chant of Battle	Increase STR, DEX, AC	0	Percussion	Group	Location
2	Chords of Dissonance	DoT	0	Stringed	Area of effect around the caster	Location
4	Lyssa's Locating Lyric	Locate Corpse	0	Singing	Self only	Location
5	Selo's Accelerando	Increase Movement Speed	0	Percussion	Group	Location
6	Hymn of Restoration	Increase HP Regeneration	0	Stringed	Group	Location
7	Jonthan's Whistling Warsong	Increase STR, AC, Attack Speed	0	Singing	Self only	Location
8	Kelin's Lugubrious Lament	Lull	0	Stringed	Single target	Location
9	Elemental Rhythms	Increase AC, MR, FR, CR	0	Percussion	Group	Location
9	Magical Monologue	Make Weapons Magical	0	Singing	Self only	Location
10	Anthem de Arms	Increase STR, Attack Speed	0	Singing	Group	Location
11	Cinda's Charismatic Carillon	Improve Faction	0	Wind	Single target	Location
12	Brusco's Boastful Bellow	DD	0	Singing	Single target	Location
13	Purifying Rhythms	Increase AC, MR, PR, DR	0	Percussion	Group	Location
14	Lyssa's Cataloging Libretto	Identify	0	Singing	Single target	Location
15	Kelin's Lucid Lullaby	Mesmerize (up to level 30)	0	Stringed	Single target	Location
15	Song of Sustenance	Food/Water	0	Stringed	Group	Location
16	Tarew's Aquatic Ayre	Enduring Breath	0	Wind	Group	Location
17	Guardian Rhythms	Increase AC, MR	0	Percussion	Group	Location
18	Denon's Disruptive Discord	DoT, Decrease AC	0	Brass	Area of effect around the caster	Location
19	Shauri's Sonorous Clouding	Invisibility, See Invisible	0	Wind	Group	Location
20	Cassindra's Chant of Clarity	Increase Mana Regeneration	0	Singing	Group	Location
20	Largo's Melodic Binding	Decrease AC, Attack Speed	0	Singing	Area of effect around the caster	Location
21	Melanie's Mellifluous Motion	Short Range Teleport	0	Wind	Group	Location
22	Alenia's Disenchanting Melody	Remove Buffs	0	Stringed	Group	Location
23	Selo's Consonant Chain	Decrease Movement Speed, Attack Speed	0	Singing	Single target	Location
24	Lyssa's Veracious Concord	See Invisible, Ultravision	0	Wind	Group	Location
25	Psalm of Warmth	Increase CR, Damage Shield	0	Singing	Group	Location
26	Angstlich's Appalling Screech	Fear (up to level 52)	0	Brass	Area of effect around the caster	Location
27	Solon's Song of the Sirens	Charm NPC, Decrease MR	0	Wind	Single target	Location
28	Crission's Pixie Strike	Mesmerize (up to level 45), Decrease MR	0	Wind	Single target	Location
29	Psalm of Vitality	Increase AC, DR	0	Singing	Group	Location
30	Amplification	Increase Singing Skill	0	Singing	Self only	Location
30	Fufil's Curtailing Chant	DoT, Decrease MR	0	Percussion	Single target	Location
31	Agilmente's Aria of Eagles	Levitation	0	Wind	Group	Location
32	Cassindra's Chorus of Clarity	Increase Mana Restoration	0	Singing	Group	Location
33	Psalm of Cooling	Increase FR, Damage Shield	0	Singing	Group	Location
34	Cantata of Soothing	HP, Mana, and Endurance Regeneration	0	Stringed	Group	Location
34	Lyssa's Solidarity of Vision	Bind Sight	0	Wind	Single target	Location
35	Denon's Dissension	Decrease Mana	0	Brass	Area of effect around the caster	Location
36	Vilia's Verses of Celerity	Increase AC, AGI, Attack Speed	0	Singing	Group	Location
37	Psalm of Purity	Increase AC, PR	0	Singing	Group	Location
38	Tuyen's Chant of Flame	DoT, Decrease FR	0	Percussion	Single target	Location
39	Solon's Bewitching Bravura	Charm, Decrease MR	60	Wind	Single target	Location
40	Sionachie's Dreams	Mesmerize (up to level 45), Decrease MR	0	Wind	Single target	Location
40	Syvelian's Anti-Magic Aria	Remove Buffs	0	Singing	Single target	Location
41	Psalm of Mystic Shielding	Increase HP Regeneration, Absorb Magic Damage, AC, MR	0	Singing	Group	Location
42	McVaxius' Berserker Crescendo	Increase STR, AC, Attack Speed	0	Brass	Group	Location
43	Denon's Desperate Dirge	AoE DD (4 Targets)	800	Singing	Area of effect around the target	Location
44	Cassindra's Elegy	Increase WIS, INT	0	Singing	Group	Location
45	Jonthan's Provocation	Increase STR, ATK, Attack Speed	0	Singing	Self only	Location
45	Rizlona's Embers	Increase Spell Damage	0	Singing	Group teleport	Location
46	Tuyen's Chant of Frost	DoT, Decrease CR	0	Percussion	Single target	Location
47	Niv's Melody of Preservation	Increase STR, HP Regeneration, Absorb Magic Damage	0	Stringed	Group	Location
48	Selo's Chords of Cessation	DoT, Decrease Attack Speed	0	Stringed	Area of effect around the caster	Location
49	Selo's Accelerating Chorus	Increase Movement Speed	0	Percussion	Group	Location
49	Shield of Songs	Absorb Damage, Magic Damage	0	Stringed	Group	Location
50	Melody of Ervaj	Increase AC, Attack Speed	0	Brass	Group	Location
50	Verses of Victory	Increase STR, AGI, Attack Speed	0	Singing	Group	Location
51	Klob's Melodious Groove	Snare	0	Singing	Single target	Location
51	Largo's Assonant Binding	Decrease AGI, AC, Attack Speed, Movement Speed	0	Singing	Single target	Location
51	Selo's Song of Travel	Increase Movement Speed, Invisibility, See Invisible, Levitate	0	Percussion	Group	Location
52	Battlecry of the Vah Shir	Increase Attack Speed (v3)	0	Brass	Group	Location
52	Nillipus' March of the Wee	Increase AGI, AC, Absorb Damage, Shrink	0	Percussion	Group	Location
53	Rizlona's Fire	Increase Spell Damage	0	Singing	Group teleport	Location
53	Song of Dawn	Decrease Hate	0	Wind	Single target	Location
53	Song of Twilight	Mesmerize (up to level 55), Decrease MR	0	Wind	Single target	Location
54	Elemental Chorus	Increase AC, MR, FR, CR	0	Percussion	Friendly area of effect	Location
54	Selo's Assonant Strain	Decrease Attack Speed, Movement Speed	0	Stringed	Area of effect around the caster	Location
54	Vilia's Chorus of Celerity	Increase Attack Speed	0	Singing	Group	Location
55	Aura of Insight	Increase Attack Speed (v3), Spell Damage	0	Brass	Self only	Location
55	Brusco's Bombastic Bellow	DD, Stun	0	Singing	Single target	Location
55	Cantata of Replenishment	HP, Mana, and Endurance Regeneration	0	Stringed	Group	Location
55	Occlusion of Sound	Unresistable Decrease CR, FR, MR	0	Percussion	Single target	Location
56	Purifying Chorus	Increase AC, MR, PR, DR	0	Percussion	Friendly area of effect	Location
56	Song of Highsun	Stun, Remove Buffs, Short Distance Teleport	0	Wind	Single target	Location
56	Song of Midnight	DoT, Fear (up to level 52), Increase Movement Speed	0	Brass	Area of effect around the caster	Location
57	Cassindra's Insipid Ditty	Decrease Mana, INT, WIS	0	Stringed	Single target	Location
57	McVaxius' Rousing Rondo	Increase STR, ATK, Attack Speed, Damage Shield	0	Brass	Group	Location
58	Chorus of Replenishment	HP, Mana, and Endurance Regeneration	0	Stringed	Friendly area of effect	Location
58	Dreams of Ayonae	Mesmerize (up to level 57), Memblur	0	Wind	Single target	Location
58	Jonthan's Inspiration	Increase STR, ATK, Attack Speed	0	Singing	Self only	Location
58	Niv's Harmonic	Increase AC	0	Singing	Group	Location
59	Denon's Bereavement	Dot, Poison, Stun, Decrease MR	0	Stringed	Area of effect around the caster	Location
59	Solon's Charismatic Concord	Increase CHA	0	Singing	Group	Location
60	Ancient: Lcea's Lament	HP Regeneration, Mana Regeneration, Endurance Regeneration	0	Stringed	Friendly area of effect	Location
60	Ancient: Lullaby of Shadow	Mesmerize (up to level 59), Memblur	0	Singing	Single target	Location
60	Angstlich's Assonance	DoT, Decrease Attack Speed	0	Brass	Single target	Location
60	Composition of Ervaj	Increase AC, Attack Speed	0	Brass	Group	Location
60	Echo of the Trusik	Increase Attack Speed (v3), Spell Damage	0	Singing	Group teleport	Location
60	Ervaj's Lost Composition	Mana Drain	0	Brass	Single target	Location
60	Kazumi's Note of Preservation	Invulnerability	0	Wind	Group	Location
60	Psalm of Veeshan	Increase AC, All Resists, Damage Shield	0	Singing	Group	Location
60	Song of the Storm	Add Proc	0	Singing	Group teleport	Location
60	Warsong of the Vah Shir	Increase Attack Speed (v3)	0	Brass	Group	Location

Bard Song Merchants

North Freeport

• Lysric Loresinger - Song: Chant of Battle, Song: Chords of Dissonance, Song: Hymn of Restoration, Jaxan's Jig O' Vigor, Song: Jonathan's Whistling Warsong, Song: Lyssa's Locating Lyric, Song: Selo's Accelerando
• Inisis Trimpet - Song: Anthem de Arms, Song: Brusco's Boastful Bellow, Song: Chant of Battle, Song: Chords of Dissonance, Song: Denon's Desperate Dirge, Song: Denon's Disruptive Discord, Song: Denon's Dissension, Song: Fufil's Curtailing Chant, Song: Jonathan's Provocation, Song: Jonathan's Whistling Warsong, Song: Largo's Melodic Binding, McVaxius Berserker Crescendo, Song: Tuyen's Chant of Flame, Song: Tuyen's Chant of Frost, Song: Verses of Victory, Song: Vilia's Verses of Celerity

Kelethin

• Beleth Streamfoot - Song: Chords of Dissonance, Song: Hymn of Restoration, Song: Jaxan's Jig o' Vigor, Song: Jonthan's Whistling Warsong, Song: Lyssa's Locating Lyric, Song: Selo's Accelerando
• Astar Leafsinger - Song: Cassindra's Chorus of Clarity, Song: Hymn of Restoration, Song: Purifying Rhythms, Song: Psalm of Warmth, Song: Psalm of Purity , Song: Psalm of Cooling, Song: Niv's Melody of Preservation, Song: Psalm of Mystic Shielding, Song: Elemental Rhythms, Song: Guardian Rhythms, Song: Psalm of Vitality
• Serilia Whistlewind - Song: Angstlich's Appalling Screech, Song: Cinda's Charismatic Carillon, Song: Crission's Pixie Strike, Song: Kelin's Lucid Lullaby, Song: Kelin's Lugubrious Lament, Song: Solon's Bravura, Song: Solon's Song of the Sirens, Song: Syvelian's Anti-Magic Aria

South Qeynos

• Topala Xenem - Song: Alenia's Disenchanting Melody, Song: Cassindra's Chorus of Clarity, Song: Elemental Rhythms, Song: Guardian Rhythms, Song: Hymn of Restoration, Song: Niv's Melody of Preservation, Song: Psalm of Cooling, Song: Psalm of Mystic Shielding, Song: Psalm of Purity, Song: Psalm of Vitality, Song: Psalm of Warmth, Song: Purifying Rhythms
• Lysric Loresinger - Song: Chant of Battle, Song: Chords of Dissonance, Song: Hymn of Restoration, Jaxan's Jig O' Vigor, Song: Jonathan's Whistling Warsong, Song: Lyssa's Locating Lyric, Song: Selo's Accelerando
• Chalea Volesga - Song: Anthem de Arms, Song: Brusco's Boastful Bellow, Song: Chant of Battle, Song: Chords of Dissonance, Song: Denon's Desperate Dirge, Song: Denon's Disruptive Discord, Song: Denon's Dissension, Song: Fufil's Curtailing Chant, Song: Jonathan's Provocation, Song: Jonathan's Whistling Warsong, Song: Largo's Melodic Binding, McVaxius Berserker Crescendo, Song: Tuyen's Chant of Flame, Song: Tuyen's Chant of Frost, Song: Verses of Victory, Song: Vilia's Verses of Celerity

Erudin (Library)

• Altrusan Belstince - Song: Cassindra's Elegy, Song: Lyssa's Cataloging Libretto, Song: Lyssa's Locating Lyric, Song: Lyssa's Solidarity of Vision, Song: Lyssa's Veracious Concord, Song: Psalm of Cooling, Song: Psalm of Warmth, Song: Shauri's Sonorous Clouding, Song: Shield of Song

Highkeep

• Justin Rhymes - Song: Agilmente's Aria of Eagles, Song: Jaxan's Jig O' Vigor, Song: Melanie's Mellifluous Motion, Song: Selo's Accelerando, Song: Selo's Chords of Cessation, Song: Selo's Consonant Chain, Song: Tarew's Aquatic Ayre

Note: Instrument information marked with an (*) was pulled from an archive of EQ Casters Realm [1]. If you can confirm (or correct) this with in game information or experience, the help would be much appreciated.