Combos · Support

Bard combos

the Wandering Caretaker

3 Bard combos explained key by key: in which order to cast the abilities, when to use them and what each step does. The main combo is Q › AA. Further down: every ability's cooldown, cost and range, and the skill max order measured over ranked games.

Bard combos

The stun

Q › AA AA

When: An enemy is near a wall or another enemy.

Cosmic Binding slows the first enemy hit; if it hits a wall it stuns the initial target, and a second enemy stuns both. Your Meeps add their damage to your attacks.

The rescue

W › E

When: An ally is low or needs speed.

Caretaker's Shrine reveals a sanctuary that heals and speeds up the first ally to touch it. Magical Journey creates a one-way portal usable by everyone, allies and enemies.

The control ultimate

R › Q

When: A fight is underway.

Tempered Fate briefly places all units and turrets in stasis: use it to save an ally, stop a chase or make an engage pointless.

Common mistakes

• Neglecting chimes: they give you experience, mana and speed.
• Using the ultimate without thinking: it also puts your allies and turrets in stasis.
• Opening Magical Journey without thinking: enemies can use it too.

Cooldowns, costs and ranges

A combo only comes back once its abilities are off cooldown: these values (rank 1 to max rank, in seconds) tell how long to wait between two combos. Source: Data Dragon 16.19.1.

Ability	Cooldown (s)	Cost	Range
Q · Cosmic Binding	11/10/9/8/7	60 Mana	—
W · Caretaker's Shrine	0	70 Mana	800
E · Magical Journey	22/20.5/19/17.5/16	30 Mana	900
R · Tempered Fate	110/95/80	100 Mana	3400

Official ability descriptions

PassiveTraveler's Call

Meeps: Bard attracts lesser spirits that assist with his basic attacks to deal extra magic damage. When Bard has collected enough Chimes, his meeps will also deal damage in an area and slow enemies hit.

Chimes: Ancient chimes randomly appear for Bard to collect. These grant experience, restore mana, and provide out of combat Move Speed.

QCosmic Binding

Bard fires a missile which will slow the first enemy struck, and continue onward. If it strikes a wall, it will stun the initial target; if it strikes another enemy, it will stun them both.

WCaretaker's Shrine

Reveals a Health shrine which powers up over a short time, disappearing after healing and speeding up the first ally that touches it.

EMagical Journey

Bard opens a portal in nearby terrain. Allies and enemies alike can take a one-way trip through that terrain by moving into the portal.

RTempered Fate

Bard sends spirit energy arcing to a location, putting all champions, minions, monsters, and turrets hit into stasis for a brief time.

Skill order

Max order: Q > W > E60.2% · 83 games

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15
Q	●			●	●		●		●
W		●						●		●		●	●
E			●											●	●
R						●					●

The order shows which abilities reach rank 5 first; the grid shows the most-played level-up sequence with that order (measured over 160 games).

Riot's official tips for playing Bard

• It's important to collect chimes to improve your meep's attacks, but don't neglect your lane partner! Try to make a big entrance by bringing an ally into the lane with you with Magical Journey.
• Let your Caretaker's Shrines charge up - they heal for a lot more when at full power.
• Don't forget that enemies can also use your Magical Journey doorways, and that your ultimate can also hit your allies!

How to play around Bard's combos

• Bard's opponents can also travel through his Magical Journey doorways. You can follow him, if you think it's safe.
• You can crush Bard's healing shrines just by walking over them. Don't let his allies take them without a fight.
• Bard's ultimate, Tempered Fate, affects allies, enemies, monsters, and turrets alike. Sometimes it can be to your advantage to jump into it!

Frequently asked questions

Build, runes and counters: full Bard guide · every champion's combos · tier list