Bard in Shadowbringers: What should I use in Materia?

[Meatball]

Hey!

I have been outside the loop for a long time in FFXIV and I was wondering about what materia stats I should aim for in Shadowbringers?

Additionally if there is any new soft caps to reach?

I am aiming to do EX trials mostly and doing Raids, so its not intended for Savage Runs as of now.

Feel free to include any rotation tips etc if you would like!

[Brandedblade]

From what I understand your stat priorities are essentially Crit -> DH -> Det. I don't know how bad skill speed is persay but from my understanding you don't really benefit from it as BRD.

Essentially my logic with BRD melds tends to be.

1. Does the gear need more crit on it? Meld Crit
2. Does the gear need more DH on it? Meld DH
3. Does the gear have enough Crit and DH on it? Meld Det.

However. I would personally check on the Balance discord before you take what I've said as Gospel truth.

[Marc-Vigar]

Crit>DH>Det is the standard for every single DPS except BLM which needs Spell Speed.

[Brandedblade]

Crit>DH>Det is the standard for every single DPS except BLM which needs Spell Speed.

from a min-max perspective you do need to hit a specific cap of skill speed with certain melee classes to fit in extra attacks in their burst windows. But it is an irrelevant point to bard.

[ArianeEwah]

The current BiS includes the augmented boots with Skill Speed and 2 SkS melds in your weapon (or 119 SkS stats in your relic), everything else is Crit > DH >= DET. Sum is 710/711 SkS.

Your GCD without any buffs is 2.46s, with Army's Paeon +4(-16%) 2.07s, and with Army's Ethos (-12%) 2.17s.
Army's Paeon screws your GCD rotation anyway, and this 'lil SkS apparently has higher gain than any left point invested in DH/DET.

For more information - as Brandedblade suggested - visit the Balance discord. I don't know the exact reason for that SkS tier, so don't wuote me on that :P

[Marc-Vigar]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as far as I know, Skill Speed is just a quality of life for high pings in order to fit abilities during cooldowns more comfortably, like using 5 Fell Cleaves on Warrior's Inner Release for example, which can be done with 0 SS.

Paladin had some weird SS interaction but I'm not sure if that's still a thing since I don't play that job.

Regardless, the DPS difference is negligible.