Instruct me how to mistrel

Hello! I recently started leveling bard as my fc had literally no other people playing it. I'm not all the way to 60 yet (honestly not 50 yet, I think I'm 43) and wanted to know how to play to the fullest. How I play currently (be kind, its my first DPS)

Apply all the dots to non main focus enemies (trash) or keep it up always on bosses while straight shot is up.

Don't know how to maximize barrage utility currently, maybe it works with some post 50 skills but right now I use it on heavy shot.

Use songs when a teammate is low on tp/mp (I have never queued with a mage DPS) or when phase shifting.

Any tips are appreciated!

Blunt arrow when off CD, same with blood letter.

Advice is appreciated, thanks in advance!

It sounds like you have the basics. Barrage works well with Empyreal Arrow once you get that. For very in depth endgame guides, there's this and one somewhere here on the OF I think...

Make a user macro for windbite.

Use venom bite first

/macroicon windbite
/ac windbite
<wait.16>
/e BITE <se.8>

Venom bite lasts 18 seconds. Minus (rounded up) 2 seconds in between actions. The /e command makes it so only you can hear the sound effect. This way, you'll hear a "ping" right before venom bite wears off. It's a lot easier that constantly looking at the status bar.

Ehhmm... there's a (potentially) very big problem with macros--they stop skill queuing. If the OP wants more convenience tracking DoT timers... well, parsers can do it without the drawback.

Let's say one has a parser, and lets say that parser rhymes with fact, how would one add dot timers? Thanks for the tips!

Theoretically, one might right click on timer window. They might then add the skill name and duration, add a sound or text to speech notifier. They would probably also be sure to check the right tickboxes so it will restart the timer even if it the last one hasn't ended (clipping) and to make sure it doesn't track other peoples' DoTs. I imagine popular search engines might have graphical guides or even video tutorials.

I've been a Bard since the game first came out in the US. My forever role. I have to say, I'm the queen of Macros when it comes to Barding it up.

If you're starting out, macros will help you learn your 60 rotations. If you don't want to stick with macros because of reasons, you can un-macro your skill bars (sadface).

Before 60 I wouldn't worry about it too much, just do what you thinks best for you, because 1-59 is not the same as 60. :)

Personally, some people are against macros and some are for it. I'm ALL for macroing. If you would like a list, I can come up with one later and link it to you.

I should note that I'm talking macros strictly for PvE.

Generally you want to use all available cooldowns slightly before then directly after applying straight shot, then applying your dots and then barraging a heavy shot after those are up. If you want to get really fancy, you can reapply those dots once your shortest cooldown is sitting at 5 seconds so you can clip a second set of dots with all cds again. Not necessary but it's a dps increase generally. Definitely easier to do once you get iron jaws. I don't recommend using macros for very long, because they slow your output significantly. Just find a rotation that works and get it committed to muscle memory while you're leveling. Get into a habit of spamming your bloodletter button once you get the river of blood trait if you can. Use battle voice generally on pull with foe requiem up (even healer dps can get a good bump up with it). Don't worry too much about singing songs in dungeons or anything unless your damage is super low, resources will generally survive if dps is good.

Your MP/TP songs lower your damage output, so it's best to use them situationally. No small pulls or short skirmishes. Other classes have their own ways of handling or regenerating MP/TP.

Foe's Ballad doesn't lower your DPS, though.

Thanks for the tips, I'll get in the habit of using foes more often, thanks again!

While I don't play Bard, I will also note that while Foes is mainly to boost caster DPS, it also increases the damage of Ninja's Ninjutsu skills, and a few of Dark Knight's attacks. Not necessarily worth draining your MP over in most situations, but if your party is just barely missing a DPS check, it could help get that extra bit of damage in that you need. Regardless of whether you ever find use for this knowledge, it doesn't hurt to know it.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Strawberry_Mimosa

I've been a Bard since the game first came out in the US. My forever role. I have to say, I'm the queen of Macros when it comes to Barding it up.

If you're starting out, macros will help you learn your 60 rotations. If you don't want to stick with macros because of reasons, you can un-macro your skill bars (sadface).

Before 60 I wouldn't worry about it too much, just do what you thinks best for you, because 1-59 is not the same as 60. :)

Personally, some people are against macros and some are for it. I'm ALL for macroing. If you would like a list, I can come up with one later and link it to you.

I should note that I'm talking macros strictly for PvE.

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Would be really nice if you could share the list please.

Thanks in advance

:)

Been keeping a close eye on this thread as there has been some really quality and useful information in here for making the most of this class. Now I do have one question, with my Tank I ploughed all the Att Points into STR and with my Bard so far I have put all the points into DEX. Is this a good idea or should I maybe put some into VIT. At the moment it just feels like my Bard is a Glass Cannon :/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UltraPikey

I have put all the points into DEX. Is this a good idea or should I maybe put some into VIT. At the moment it just feels like my Bard is a Glass Cannon :/

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Better gear will alleviate this significantly. Just spec all into dex and don't worry too much about it. Extra vit isn't all that worth it for group content anyway.

Just a side note for macros: You can use it as a sort of priority system for popping buffs. Just put the most important buffs (those you want fired first) at the top, the least important on bottom. What you want to avoid is macroing GCD skills most of all, since queuing tends to be a little more important there (at least IMO, to each their own). Timer macros will be interrupted by using other macros. But for just making sure buffs get popped as they come up, a macro can be of great help.

Technically, you can stick Bloodletter in there too... but then if you need to use rain of death, well...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Risvertasashi

Just a side note for macros: You can use it as a sort of priority system for popping buffs. Just put the most important buffs (those you want fired first) at the top, the least important on bottom. What you want to avoid is macroing GCD skills most of all, since queuing tends to be a little more important there (at least IMO, to each their own). Timer macros will be interrupted by using other macros. But for just making sure buffs get popped as they come up, a macro can be of great help.

Technically, you can stick Bloodletter in there too... but then if you need to use rain of death, well...

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I am on the PS4 and not entirely sure how you do the macros. But would love it loads if I could make one up that would cast most of my buffs for me as it would save some time. So just want to know what would the actual commands look like when I am typing it in ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UltraPikey

I am on the PS4 and not entirely sure how you do the macros. But would love it loads if I could make one up that would cast most of my buffs for me as it would save some time. So just want to know what would the actual commands look like when I am typing it in ?

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Code:

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/ac "Misery's End" <t>
/ac "Bloodletter" <t>
/ac "Internal Release" <me>
/ac "Hawk's Eye" <me>
/ac "Blood for Blood" <me>
/ac "Raging Strikes" <me>

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Something like this. Though once more I don't particularly recommend sticking bloodletter in there but for lazybarding, it works.

Barrage is not there since it really should be used with empyreal arrow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UltraPikey

Been keeping a close eye on this thread as there has been some really quality and useful information in here for making the most of this class. Now I do have one question, with my Tank I ploughed all the Att Points into STR and with my Bard so far I have put all the points into DEX. Is this a good idea or should I maybe put some into VIT. At the moment it just feels like my Bard is a Glass Cannon :/

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No, that's correct. It is squishy but bards shouldn't be taking focused damage in group content, anyway.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FunkYeahDragons

No, that's correct. It is squishy but bards shouldn't be taking focused damage in group content, anyway.

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Shouldn't yeah... yet we often end up tanking things... even with 3(just last night in VA first boss) or even 6 tanks around(CT OTed the iron giants at behemoth cause 5 other tanks were being lazy), and sometimes by choice - green add in garuda, I'm so glad I always end up with great healers that keep me up through that... I put in early levels 4 points in vit, still keep that around - and I've taken quite some hits as well - at least a few of them ended with me being on 1 hp... Built in bard holmgang OP ;)