Bard Melding, Stat Priority, and Consumables — Dawntrail 7.1

This section covers the best substats for Bard. This informs your materia melding and can impact gear choices as you work towards your best-in-slot set.

You can find the best-in-slot gear for Bard on our gearing guide linked below. It may include choices that go against this page due to advanced stat formula weighting.

Bard's general stat priorities are:

1. Weapon Damage;
2. Dexterity;
3. Critical Hit;
4. Determination;
5. Direct Hit;
6. Skill Speed

Weapon Damage and Dexterity are much more important than any secondary stat. Critical Hit, Direct Hit, and Determination are relatively close in value.

Skill Speed is much further behind, but we may use a little bit to hit target GCD timings. Most commonly, you may see a single meld used to hit 2.49.

As per the above, prioritize melding Critical Hit first, then Determination, and then Direct Hit. Do not use melds that cannot fit under an item's cap for that stat unless it is only over by one or two points.

The best potion available for Bard is Grade 1 Gemdraught of Dexterity. You do not need to use potions unless you expect a tight DPS check. If you want to practice using potions in your rotation, you can buy lower grades to save some gil.

The best food to use as of 7.01 is Vegetable Soup. New food is expected in 7.05.