Bard - When should i use songs?

[Sindri_Myr]

Hey you guys!
I'm in my early 40s now, as i get closer and closer to the cap, im trying to figure out how to properly sing my songs.

The other day i went to a dungeon with a friend and two pugs, i played Mage's Ballad the whole time. I suppose this is wrong ?

I just want to someone make it clear for me, when exactly i should start playing my songs and when should i stop?

Also, the damage nerf while playing songs - it applys on me once i beging to play them, correct?

Sorry for the noob questions, i just want to understand how it works so i wont fuckup on my end-game.

Thank you.

[PsyKTribe]

you have a song for regen TP, a song for regen PM but cost 20% dps less.... you should use your song when it's the most important moment... when a mage are out of pm or just you if you have not enought TP for attack... there's many time you should use your song just be attentive to the situation

[LunarEmerald]

Periodically check your healer's MP. If you see it below 30% then sing Mage's Ballad until their MP is close to full. Do not play Ballad the entire time. Bard is a dps. Your primarily job is to deal damage. If you're singing when it's unnecessary and weakening the group dps then you're hurting the group more than helping.

During burn phases, it's a good idea to play Foe's Requiem if you have a Black Mage in the party. You can also open with it, to give your MP time to recover in case you need Ballad later.

Keep an eye of the chat log in case someone asks for Paeon. We have no way to check someone's TP. It's best not to lower your dps unless you need to. So I don't recommend playing it when no one asks for it. If everybody has Invigorate then TP is rarely an issue.

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

I would say, avoid singing when you have Raging Strikes, Barrage, Hawk's Eye, or Blood for Blood up.

If your healer falls below that 30% MP threshold OR a party member dies and you see them get Raised, throw the Mage's Ballad up for a while. As you start to run with a white mage, you may get a feel for how he/she manages MP vs. the content. And you may not need to Mage's Ballad them.

Ideally, try to get your Windbite and Venomous Sting up before you sing the song so the DoT does not get hit with the 20% damage debuff.

Use TP song on a tank that may have accidentally used Sprint during combat.

[Kevee]

When to sing(from a Summoner's perspective):
Ballad-
-Between pulls.
-Healer is below 25% mana
-Summoner is below ~15% mana.
-Before bosses
-After a SMN or WHM/SCH is rezzed, and ESPECIALLY battle rezzed.

Paeon-
-Between pulls if you're AoEing
-After someone is battle rezzed
-When they ask for it

Requiem-
-If you don't need to sing, and nobody is asking for it, use this. It doesn't drop your own damage, and besides PLD/WAR/MNK everyone uses some kind of elemental damage.

[Sindri_Myr]

Very helpful stuff, thank you

[Tua]

Foe Requiem seems to give you enmity if you run into mob range with it, so precasting it before the tank pulls might cause chained mobs to beeline to you instead of the tank. Just something I found out the hard way with DF tanks :'D

[panzerGS]

It would be easier if we could see tank's TP to know when they were low, but I tend to pop a song when a boss is about 60% and drop any song before 20% boss health. foe's requiem to end fights and before the LB

[NRhodes]

When to sing(from a Summoner's perspective):
Ballad-
-Between pulls.
-Healer is below 25% mana
-Summoner is below ~15% mana.
-Before bosses
-After a SMN or WHM/SCH is rezzed, and ESPECIALLY battle rezzed.

My only beef with this post is this:

1. Why would you run around playing your Mage Ballad between pulls? Regen out of combat is active....so useless.
2. Same applies before a boss fight.

Also, once you get your damage increase by 20% or whatever from traits, you can play your ballad all you want and not lose DPS. You really ought to read some of the things you get D:. Why do you think end game, your top raid groups are normally running 3 Bards, 1 Monk? 3 Bards to play all three songs continuously, or well until he/she runs out of MP.

[Kevee]

My only beef with this post is this:

1. Why would you run around playing your Mage Ballad between pulls? Regen out of combat is active....so useless.
2. Same applies before a boss fight.

Also, once you get your damage increase by 20% or whatever from traits, you can play your ballad all you want and not lose DPS. You really ought to read some of the things you get D:. Why do you think end game, your top raid groups are normally running 3 Bards, 1 Monk? 3 Bards to play all three songs continuously, or well until he/she runs out of MP.

Because I, as a SMN, use a lot of MP if I want to maximize my DPS on trash. After the 3 DoTs and shadow flare, it's more DPS to use thunder on each individual target and that's a lot of MP.