Bard Skill Glossary

Last updated on Jan 24, 2025 at 00:00 by Constantine

Welcome to the Ashes of Creation skill glossary for Bard! This page is great for people new to the Bard Archetype, as it contains the basic information players need to know to excel at both PvE and PvP.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE

1. Bard Skills

Bard Skills

Below is a full list of all available skills for the Bard archetype. Each skill includes a brief description, along with important information regarding its casting and cooldown times, Mana costs, range, and more.

1.1.

Anthem of Alacrity

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Anthem of Alacrity	Cast: 2s Cooldown: 25s	25 Mana	Range: 30m	Target ally gains Anthem of Alacrity: Attack speed increased by 25% and casting speed increased by 25%. Lasts 10 seconds.

1.2.

Anthem of Alacrity (AoE)

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Anthem of Alacrity (AoE)	Cast: 2s Cooldown: 25s	25 Mana	Range: 15m	You and the 3 closest allies in front of you gain Anthem of Minor Alacrity: Attack speed increased by 10% and casting speed increased by 10%. Lasts 10 seconds.

1.3.

Cathartic Melody

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Cathartic Melody	Cast: 2s Cooldown: 0s	0 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Cathartic Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.

1.4.

Chaos

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Chaos	Cast: 1s Cooldown: 30s	25 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Chaos buff : 15% Magical Critical Chance. Generates Theme of Tragedy. Lasts 30s.

1.5.

Cheerful Melody

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Cheerful Melody	Cast: 2s Cooldown: 0s	0 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Cheerful Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.

1.6.

Chilling Lament

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Chilling Lament	Cast: 3.1s Cooldown: 25s	25 Mana	Range: 30m	Target enemy is dealt (75%🢆) Ice damage and afflicted with four seconds of Chilled every second. Deals bonus damage to frozen targets.

1.7.

Chilling Lament (AoE)

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Chilling Lament (AoE)	Cast: 3.1s Cooldown: 25s	25 Mana	Range: 15m	Enemies in front of you are dealt (50%🢆) Ice damage and afflicted with three seconds of chilled every second. Deals bonus damage to frozen targets.

1.8.

Clever Retort

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Clever Retort	Cast: 0s Cooldown: 30s	15 Mana	Range: 30m	Interrupt your target with a clever retort, applying 1 stacks of Silenced. Applies Humiliated if the target is Demoralized.

1.9.

Conflict

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Conflict	Cast: 1.1s Cooldown: 30s	25 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Chaos buff: Increase physical power by 110%. Generates Theme of Tragedy. Lasts 30s.

1.10.

Triumph

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Triumph	Cast: 1s Cooldown: 30s	25 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Triumph buff : Gain 10% Max health and 1 Stamina Regeneration. Generates Theme of Comedy. Lasts 30s.

1.11.

Wonder

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Wonder	Cast: 1s Cooldown: 30s	25 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Wonder buff : Increase magical power by 10%. Generates Theme of Mystery. Lasts 30s.

1.12.

Dark Lullaby

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Dark Lullaby	Cast: 3s Cooldown: 25s	15 Mana	Range: 30m	Deal (50-100%🢆) Spirit damage to target enemy each second (scales in power over the course of the cast). This damage will not wake an incapacitated target. The final hit applies Stunned for 6 seconds if the target is incapacitated.

1.13.

Dark Lullaby (AoE)

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Dark Lullaby	Cast: 3s Cooldown: 25s	20 Mana	Range: 15	Deal (25-75%🢆) Spirit damage each second to enemies in front of you (scales in power over the course of the cast). This damage will not wake incapacitated targets. The final hit applies Stunned for 6 seconds to any incapacitated targets.

1.14.

Destiny

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Destiny	Cast: 1.1s Cooldown: 30s	25 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Destiny buff: 15% Physical Critical Chance. Generates Theme of Mystery. Lasts 30s.

1.15.

Discordance

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Discordance	Cast: 1.2s Cooldown: 25	20 Mana	Range: 30m	Launch a wild burst of 3 discordant notes at your target, each dealing (75%🢆) Arcane damage and applying Staggered. The notes will bounce to random nearby enemies dealing reduced damage. Song Mastery: Dissonance.

1.16.

Epic Melody

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Epic Melody	Cast: 2s Cooldown: 0s	0 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Cheerful Melody. Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.

1.17.

Flourish

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Flourish	Cast: 0s Cooldown: 20s	10 Mana	Range:	Slide forward gracefully in your aimed direction and gain Pep. Can be used concurrently with any other ability.

1.18.

Gambit

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Gambit	Cast: 0s Cooldown: 60s	20 Mana	Range:30m	In a daring maneuver, transfer life to or from target party member, depending on who has a lower percent health. This ability will not reduce either player below 25% health. The character that loses life in this exchange gains Solace.

1.19.

Get Off The Stage

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Get Off The Stage	Cast: 0s Cooldown: 25s	15 Mana	Range:4m	Knockback enemies in front of you with your instrument, dealing (175%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applying 3 stacks of Snared that tapers off over the course of 6 seconds. Also applies Disarmed to targets with Staggered.

1.20.

Hymn of the Mind

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Hymn of the Mind	Cast: 1.5s Cooldown: 25s	0 Mana	Range:30m	Target ally gains Mana equal to 2+5% magical power. Every second Mana gained increases up to 200% based on the amount of Mana the target is missing.

1.21.

Hymn of the Mind (AoE)

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Hymn of the Mind (AoE)	Cast: 1.5s Cooldown: 25s	0 Mana	Range:15m	Up to 4 allies in front of you gain Mana equal to 0.8 + 4% magical power every second. Mana gained increases up to 200% based on the amount of Mana the target is missing. This ability will favor low Mana party members and yourself

1.22.

Jest

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Jest	Cast: 0s Cooldown: 8s	10 Mana	Range:30m	Jest with target ally, healing for (150%🢆) Healing and applying Glee and Pep.

1.23.

Joy

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Joy	Cast: 1.1s Cooldown: 30s	25 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Joy buff: Gain temporary health equal to 10% of your maximum health Generates Theme of Comedy. Lasts 30s.

1.24.

Lovely Serenade

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Lovely Serenade	Cast: 3.5s Cooldown: 25s	15 Mana	Range: 30m	Target ally is healed for (150%🢆) Healing every second. The final hit applies Glee. Lasts 30s.

Upgrade	Description
Spirited Serenade	Single target Serenade applies Emboldened.
Emboldened	Gain (150%) Healing in temporary health. Additionally, gain 30% Base Mitigation while the shield holds. Lasts 8 seconds.

1.25.

Lovely Serenade (AoE)

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Lovely Serenade (AoE)	Cast: 3.5s Cooldown: 25s	20 Mana	Range: 15m	Up to five allies in front of you are healed for (50%🢆) Healing every second. This ability will favor injured party members and yourself.

Upgrade	Description
Spirited Serenade	AoE Serenade healing increased by 20% and applies Glee to targets below 50% health.

1.26.

Maddening Dance

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Maddening Dance	Cast: 3.5s Cooldown: 25s	20 Mana	Range: 5m	Deal (55%🢆) Arcane damage and dispel 1 buff on nearby enemies every second. Damage increases with less targets, up to (55%🢆) Arcane damage.

Upgrade	Description
Avert Your Gaze	Each tick of Maddening Dance also applies Shaken, and the final tick will apply Humiliated to any targets facing you.

1.27.

Marionette

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Marionette	Cast: 0s Cooldown: 30s	15 Mana	Range:30m	Incapacitates the target for 10 seconds or until damage taken exceeds 10% of the instigator's maximum health.

1.28.

Menacing Melody

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Menacing Melody	Cast: 2s Cooldown: 0s	0 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Menacing Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.

1.29.

Mesmerizing Dance

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Mesmerizing Dance	Cast: 2s Cooldown: 25s	15 Mana	Range: 5m	Incapacitates all enemies for 10 seconds. Any targets with Staggered gain 1 stack of Stunned for 3 seconds.

1.30.

Misdirection

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Misdirection	Cast: 2s Cooldown: 30s	20 Mana	Range: 5m	Reduce both your own and nearby party members threat by (1000%🢆) Magical damage. Additionally breaks all disabling effects on the caster.

1.31.

Mock

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Mock#a79c9c	Cast: 0s Cooldown: 8s	10 Mana	Range: 30m	Ridicule target enemy, damaging them for (110%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applying 1 stack of Demoralized. Fierce Wit shares cooldown with Jest.

1.32.

Nimble Dance

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Nimble Dance	Cast: 0s Cooldown: 25s	20 Mana	Range: 5m	Grants Nimble, Pep, and cleanses 1 debuff from yourself and nearby allies every second.

1.33.

Pensive Melody

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Pensive Melody	Cast: 2s Cooldown: 0s	0 Mana	Range: 30m	Nearby party members gain Pensive Melody Melodies can be played concurrently with other abilities. Multiple instances of the same melody do not stack.

1.34.

Quick Wit

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Quick Wit	Cast: 0s Cooldown: 8s	10 Mana	Range:30m	Jest with target ally, healing for (150%🢆) Healing and applying Glee and Pep. Ridicule target enemy, damaging them for (110%🢆) Bludgeon damage and applying 1 stacks of Demoralized.

1.35.

Saga

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Saga	Cast: 2.6s Cooldown: 1s	50 Mana	Range:30m	Complete your tale with a grand finale, consuming all of your current themes. The specific saga you have access to is determined by the combination of your current themes.

Upgrade	Description
The Apocalypse	Conjure a scene at your location that depicts this fabled event. Enemies in front of you will be hit for (150%🢆) Fire damage. A lingering zone of flames will be left behind that deals (30%🢆) Fire damage each and applies (30%🢆) Fire damage. Lasts 8 seconds.
The Return to Verra	After a short cast, launch 3 bursts of healing to up to 8 allies, favoring injured party members, healing for. The first hit applies Glee if the targets have Pep, otherwise it applies Pep.
The Silent Pantheon	Scatter a variety of magical buff zones around you. Nearby allies can enter these zones to each gain a random blessing of the Gods.
The Myth of Creation	Apply a pair of status effects to all nearby enemies around your target, depending on your target's primary archetype.

1.36.

Shielding Dance

Action Name	Timers	Cost	Range & Radius	Description
Shielding Dance	Cast: 0.9s Cooldown: 25s	20 Mana	Range: 5m	Heal yourself and nearby allies for (50%🢆) Healing every second and apply up to one instance of 1 stacks of Shield to each target as they enter the dance radius.

Upgrade	Description
Mighty Step	Your Shield applies at an additional 50% power. When any of your applied Shield effects are fully absorbed, you gain a stack of Resonance.

Changelog

24 Jan. 2025: Guide added.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This guide is written by Constantine, one of the top bards in Ashes of Creation and a top 200 Marvel Rivals support player. With over 600 hours of experience as a bard, he specializes in both PvP and Min-Maxing PvE. You can catch his stream on Twitch.

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Bard Ability/Skill Glossary for Ashes of Creation