Bard DPS Gear and Best in Slot — Dawntrail 7.2

Last updated on Mar 29, 2025 at 12:00 by Cetonis 10 comments

On this page, you will find the best gear and best-in-slot items for your Bard DPS in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (Patch 7.2).

1.

Bard Gearsets (BiS)

This section covers best-in-slot sets for common needs. If you are working on gearing up at level 100, use the highest item level pieces you can get. If you have two pieces with the same item level, use the one with better substats. Visit our Bard melding guide for more details.

2.

Best in Slot by Encounter

i760 Best-in-Slot Cruiserweight Savage Prog Set Futures Rewritten The Omega Protocol Dragonsong's Reprise The Epic of Alexander The Weapon's Refrain The Unending Coil of Bahamut
2.1.

Item level 760 Best-in-Slot

If you would like to play at a 2.48 or 2.50, swap a Direct Hit materia for Skill Speed ones or vice versa.

2.2.

7.21 Cruiserweight Savage Prog Crafted Sets

Use the first set if you will have enough tomes to get the chest before going in. Otherwise, go with the second.

2.3.

Futures Rewritten Best-in-Slot

Portions of this gear set can only be acquired by completing the Arcadion Light-Heavyweight raid tier. A guide for the content can be found links below.

2.4.

The Omega Protocol Best-in-Slot

It is not recommended to pursue specific gear for old ultimates. That time is better spent studying the fight mechanics, as there are no notable DPS checks.

Your current level 100 gear will maximize your synced vitality, which is the most important thing. You will not lose more than a fraction of a percent in damage compared to min-maxing synced gear. Practice your rotation at that level and study the fight instead of worrying about gear.

The one deviation to consider (if you have it) is the Endwalker relic weapon, Majestic Manderville Harp Bow Icon Majestic Manderville Harp Bow. Its entire extra substat is a bit more of a gain than what you can typically get from using old gear. If you have one, set its major stats to Critical Hit and Determination, and its minor stat to Direct Hit.

Note that this is an even smaller and less relevant gain than using Blade's Muse Icon Blade's Muse on level 80 or less ultimates. But if you have the weapon, you may as well use it.

2.5.

Dragonsong's Reprise Best-in-Slot

It is not recommended to pursue specific gear for old ultimates. That time is better spent studying the fight mechanics, as there are no notable DPS checks.

Your current level 100 gear will maximize your synced vitality, which is the most important thing. You will not lose more than a fraction of a percent in damage compared to min-maxing synced gear. Practice your rotation at that level and study the fight instead of worrying about gear.

The one deviation to consider (if you have it) is the Endwalker relic weapon, Majestic Manderville Harp Bow Icon Majestic Manderville Harp Bow. Its entire extra substat is a bit more of a gain than what you can typically get from using old gear. If you have one, set its major stats to Critical Hit and Determination, and its minor stat to Direct Hit.

Note that this is an even smaller and less relevant gain than using Blade's Muse Icon Blade's Muse on level 80 or less ultimates. But if you have the weapon, you may as well use it.

2.6.

The Epic of Alexander (TEA) Best in Slot

It is not recommended to pursue specific gear for old ultimates. That time is better spent studying the fight mechanics, as there are no notable DPS checks.

Your current level 100 gear will maximize your synced vitality, which is the most important thing. You will not lose more than a fraction of a percent in damage compared to min-maxing synced gear. Practice your rotation at that level and study the fight instead of worrying about gear.

The one piece of gear that makes a slight difference is the Shadowbringers relic weapon, Blade's Muse Icon Blade's Muse. Because you can customize its substats, you can work around the item level sync to get more total substats than intended. If you have one, set its stats to:

  • 184 Critical Hit / 184 Determination / 99 Direct Hit

Note that a relic is NOT necessary to clear these fights. It provides a small amount of extra cushion to give you a little more of a chance to pass a phase with some player deaths. It is up to you whether to put the work into getting a relic or not.

2.7.

The Weapon's Refrain (UWU) Best in Slot

It is not recommended to pursue specific gear for old ultimates. That time is better spent studying the fight mechanics, as there are no notable DPS checks.

Your current level 100 gear will maximize your synced vitality, which is the most important thing. You will not lose more than a fraction of a percent in damage compared to min-maxing synced gear. Practice your rotation at that level and study the fight instead of worrying about gear.

The one piece of gear that makes a slight difference is the Shadowbringers relic weapon, Blade's Muse Icon Blade's Muse. Because you can customize its substats, you can work around the item level sync to get more total substats than intended. If you have one, set its stats to:

  • 136 Critical Hit / 136 Determination / 133 Direct Hit / 63 Skill Speed

Note that a relic is NOT necessary to clear these fights. It provides a small amount of extra cushion to give you a little more of a chance to pass a phase with some player deaths. It is up to you whether to put the work into getting a relic or not.

2.8.

The Unending Coil of Bahamut (UCoB) Best in Slot

It is not recommended to pursue specific gear for old ultimates. That time is better spent studying the fight mechanics, as there are no notable DPS checks.

Your current level 100 gear will maximize your synced vitality, which is the most important thing. You will not lose more than a fraction of a percent in damage compared to min-maxing synced gear. Practice your rotation at that level and study the fight instead of worrying about gear.

The one piece of gear that makes a slight difference is the Shadowbringers relic weapon, Blade's Muse Icon Blade's Muse. Because you can customize its substats, you can work around the item level sync to get more total substats than intended. If you have one, set its stats to:

  • 127 Critical Hit / 127 Determination / 123 Direct Hit / 90 Skill Speed

Note that a relic is NOT necessary to clear these fights. It provides a small amount of extra cushion to give you a little more of a chance to pass a phase with some player deaths. It is up to you whether to put the work into getting a relic or not.

3.

Changelog

  • 29 Mar. 2025: Updated for Patch 7.21
  • 30 Jul. 2024: Updated for Patch 7.05
  • 22 Jul. 2024: Updated for Patch 7.01
  • 30 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 6.55.
  • 13 Oct. 2023: Updated for Patch 6.5
  • 25 May 2023: Updated for Patch 6.4
  • 10 Jan. 2023: Updated for Patch 6.3
  • 20 Sep. 2022: Updated for Patch 6.2
  • 20 Apr. 2022: Updated for Patch 6.1
  • 01 Feb. 2021: Guide added.
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