Bard Too Bursty?

[Chilla]

At the start of a solo 4v4 match while having defense kit buff on:

[Chevronone]

I main brd in Feast and our burst is literally one of the only things actually going for us dps wise there. Our sustained damage is pretty lol. We have a silence, bind, knockback and basically an instant cast esuna which also prevents the next negative status effect as well.

Ignoring a well-played brd in Feast is a bad idea. You'd be surprised how many people just ignore me because they think "lol a lame brd," and that is just how I like it.

My opening burst has been foiled by a fast skilled healer many times. Unless you have def buff, a CD and a good healer, brd burst is an almost guaranteed KO.

[Chilla]

To clarify, a guaranteed ~6500 damage in PVP from a single attack is absolutely ridiculous.

"Barrage" has no pre-requisites and will flat out TRIPLE the potency of Empyreal Arrow (220). This leads to 660 potency from a single attack, the most powerful in the game if I'm not mistaken.

In comparison, Machinist's PVP ability "Between the Eyes" (which was just nerfed from 180 > 150 potency) requires CC for the maximum possible 450 potency. If you're able to pull that off it's still significantly less than the hassle-free and guaranteed 660 potency of Barrage + Empyreal Arrow.

[xTysonx]

Technically speaking, you could achieve a similar effect with a Gauss Round and Single target Ricochet (200+300), the major difference being you have the potential to crict all 3 hits unlike barrage (which will never crict), follow up with a buffed stun gun and bte (180+ 150), all skills being ogcd

I see no problem with either

[Renault]

To clarify, a guaranteed ~6500 damage in PVP from a single attack is absolutely ridiculous.

"Barrage" has no pre-requisites and will flat out TRIPLE the potency of Empyreal Arrow (220). This leads to 660 potency from a single attack, the most powerful in the game if I'm not mistaken.

In comparison, Machinist's PVP ability "Between the Eyes" (which was just nerfed from 180 > 150 potency) requires CC for the maximum possible 450 potency. If you're able to pull that off it's still significantly less than the hassle-free and guaranteed 660 potency of Barrage + Empyreal Arrow.

But don't forget that MCH has SEVERAL other abilities to pair with BTE to increase their 1-GCD burst. MCH burst is far higher, instantly cast, and is more reliable.

[Chilla]

Technically speaking, you could achieve a similar effect with a Gauss Round and Single target Ricochet (220+300), the major difference being you have the potential to crict all 3 shots unlike barrage (which will never crict), follow up with a buffed stun gun and bte (180+ 150), all skills being ogcd

I see no problem with either

You will very rarely pull off a single target Ricochet in Feast. There is almost always another enemy player that the damage will spread to.

But don't forget that MCH has SEVERAL other abilities to pair with BTE to increase their 1-GCD burst. MCH burst is far higher, instantly cast, and is more reliable.

For Bard, simply weave that guaranteed 660 potency Empyreal Arrow with an instant off-GCD 350 potency Sidewinder and 240 potency Far Shot (recently buffed) and they'll be dead in 2 seconds.

[xTysonx]

You will very rarely pull off a single target Ricochet in Feast. There is almost always another enemy player that the damage will spread to.

The dmg fallout for muti-target is not too bad, but the fact remains all 3 shots (and any nearby enemies) have the potential to crict in comparison to a flat 660. Assuming any good mch/brd starts with straight/hot shot respectively, the mch has a guaranteed 5% dmg increase and a pet that does 80pot shots on the target that was hot shotted (in this case the bard) so that is significant head start, not to mention you can pull off 4 ogcds (gauss round, rico, bind/stun gun and bte respectively) faster than 2 gcds (dots) and 2 ogcds (one that cant crict and another requires both dots to be on for 250pot)

I'm not saying there cant be hard hitting bards, I'm just saying on paper a mch is like Renault said, faster more devastating burst

[DxWings]

To clarify, a guaranteed ~6500 damage in PVP from a single attack is absolutely ridiculous.

"Barrage" has no pre-requisites and will flat out TRIPLE the potency of Empyreal Arrow (220). This leads to 660 potency from a single attack, the most powerful in the game if I'm not mistaken.

Actually Barrage+Empyreal Arrow does have a pre-req: Wanderer's Minuet. At the start of a match, you should be having your purify ready for anything; that includes BRD's Sidewinder which is 1/4 of their total burst, meaning they can't kill you if they can't apply Sidewinder. Yes, a Barraged Empyreal Arrow does a lot of dmg. But after that, all a BRD gets to do is tickle you. So if you've negated Sidewinder's dmg, Recuperated (Physical Tank/DPS class) Empyreal Arrow's dmg, you're golden. Dealing with a BRD's is the same as dealing with a SMN's burst but so much easier to counter because it takes time to set up.

[nickx]

"Barrage" has no pre-requisites

1. Wanderers Minuet to utilize Empyreal Arrow
2. Cast time with Empyreal Arrow
3. 10 second time limit to pull it off

It can be seen coming, where as Between the Eyes is more unpredictable and almost instantaneous to use with Foot Graze.

[Chilla]

1. Wanderers Minuet to utilize Empyreal Arrow
2. Cast time with Empyreal Arrow
3. 10 second time limit to pull it off

It can be seen coming, where as Between the Eyes is more unpredictable and almost instantaneous to use with Foot Graze.

How at all can Empyreal Arrow be seen coming?

With Between the Eyes you know it's coming if you get CC'd by the Machinist. I've been against players like Straigus Reyist that are able to completely shut down my Between the Eyes.

In regards to "no pre-requisites" I meant that the target doesn't have to be afflicted by a certain action in order for you to use it. Wanderers Minuet should be up anyway just like Gauss Barrel.

My intention was not to turn this discussion into "Bard vs. Machinist" but rather to point out that 6500 damage from a single attack is insane and I know many fellow PVPers who agree with this.