Bard nerf is good

[Myrha_Lhlalheva]

Okay, since you're a Diamond peak/hard stuck Plat, let me give you some answers. I've been Crystal every season, and placed Top 30 in S4 as a BRD main. Sub jobs are DNC/PLD, former SGE main S1-2.

First, winrate balancing. It's an ignorant methodology that doesn't acknowledge survivorship bias as a skewing factor. Put simply, unpopular jobs get flagged for high win%, since its few players are experts and excel among their peers. On the other hand, the players who just keysmash on powerful, popular jobs lower its win%, giving the illusion of balance.

Wanna know what BRD is like in high tier? In S3-S5, there were 1-2 BRD mains in Primal's Top 30. It simply isn't worth the struggle to play such a weak job in a field dominated by people abusing strong jobs to the fullest. For role comparison, ~15 of the T30 spots were melee DPS mains. ~5 were tanks, ~5 were healers/casters, and <5 were phys ranged.

The bulk of BRD's meaningful contribution hinging on Nocturne isn't evidence that it's an overloaded ability. If anything, it shows that the rest of BRD's kit is numerically weak and needs to be glued together by a single high-utility button. Let's do some number crunching (in 6.3 numbers). BRD's fully optimized combo:

6k (Apex) > n/a (Paean) > 8.4k (Blast) > 13230 (Empyrealx3) > 2205 (Repelling) > 8820 (PP) > 2205 (Nocturne) > 8820 (PP) == 49680

Looking at this raw, you only have enough to kill the two squishiest jobs, assuming neither has shielded themselves (BLM/SGE @ 48k). Compare DRG, which can also do most of its optimal burst from 15y range:
4k (Geirs) > 20k (Wyrmwind) > 6250 (Jump) > 12.5k (Heavens') > 2.5k (Roar) > 10k (Chaotic Spring) > 10k (Nastrond) == 63250

All else being equal, that's more than enough to kill the tankiest job (WAR @ 63k).

Say you physically CAN'T get into range for Nocturne now. Realistically, we'd also save Repelling for safety. Where does that leave our burst? In 6.4 numbers:

8k > n/a > 8.4k > 13230 > 8820 == 38450.

Compare WHM with LB--we assume this bc WHM LB is still the fastest charging in the game for some reason.
18k (Purgation) > 12320 (Misery) > 8.8k (Seraph) == 39120 over 2 GCD's.

WHM is now outbursting BRD, with better AoE, while having better utility and godly healing. The kicker? Purgation also provides a 10% damage buff for nearby teammates, plus regen and 10% heal buff, while being on literally half the CD of BRD LB.

BRD had a very narrow toolkit that had to be applied perfectly in order to impact games, and now it's borderline impossible because a salty melee main dev never recognized how difficult it was to be actually be a good BRD. If this depth makes you go "haha too many numbers, tldr"--that's why you'll never rank high. This is what it takes to climb high--especially on a weaker job.

You're probably trolling, but I figured this would a be good time to put out actual good information. Come back with real arguments and experiences when you're back out of plat LOL.

[Valence]

Okay, since you're a Diamond peak/hard stuck Plat, let me give you some answers. I've been Crystal every season, and placed Top 30 in S4 as a BRD main. Sub jobs are DNC/PLD, former SGE main S1-2.

First, winrate balancing. It's an ignorant methodology that doesn't acknowledge survivorship bias as a skewing factor. Put simply, unpopular jobs get flagged for high win%, since its few players are experts and excel among their peers. On the other hand, the players who just keysmash on powerful, popular jobs lower its win%, giving the illusion of balance.

Wanna know what BRD is like in high tier? In S3-S5, there were 1-2 BRD mains in Primal's Top 30. It simply isn't worth the struggle to play such a weak job in a field dominated by people abusing strong jobs to the fullest. For role comparison, ~15 of the T30 spots were melee DPS mains. ~5 were tanks, ~5 were healers/casters, and <5 were phys ranged.

The bulk of BRD's meaningful contribution hinging on Nocturne isn't evidence that it's an overloaded ability. If anything, it shows that the rest of BRD's kit is numerically weak and needs to be glued together by a single high-utility button. Let's do some number crunching (in 6.3 numbers). BRD's fully optimized combo:

6k (Apex) > n/a (Paean) > 8.4k (Blast) > 13230 (Empyrealx3) > 2205 (Repelling) > 8820 (PP) > 2205 (Nocturne) > 8820 (PP) == 49680

Looking at this raw, you only have enough to kill the two squishiest jobs, assuming neither has shielded themselves (BLM/SGE @ 48k). Compare DRG, which can also do most of its optimal burst from 15y range:
4k (Geirs) > 20k (Wyrmwind) > 6250 (Jump) > 12.5k (Heavens') > 2.5k (Roar) > 10k (Chaotic Spring) > 10k (Nastrond) == 63250

All else being equal, that's more than enough to kill the tankiest job (WAR @ 63k).

Say you physically CAN'T get into range for Nocturne now. Realistically, we'd also save Repelling for safety. Where does that leave our burst? In 6.4 numbers:

8k > n/a > 8.4k > 13230 > 8820 == 38450.

Compare WHM with LB--we assume this bc WHM LB is still the fastest charging in the game for some reason.
18k (Purgation) > 12320 (Misery) > 8.8k (Seraph) == 39120 over 2 GCD's.

WHM is now outbursting BRD, with better AoE, while having better utility and godly healing. The kicker? Purgation also provides a 10% damage buff for nearby teammates, plus regen and 10% heal buff, while being on literally half the CD of BRD LB.

BRD had a very narrow toolkit that had to be applied perfectly in order to impact games, and now it's borderline impossible because a salty melee main dev never recognized how difficult it was to be actually be a good BRD. If this depth makes you go "haha too many numbers, tldr"--that's why you'll never rank high. This is what it takes to climb high--especially on a weaker job.

Crystal player here also giving my thumbsup for that post.

There is also a reason certain jobs dominate at top 30/50, namely melee DPS and healers.