Bard vs Senna
Skill matchup
Build vs Senna
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Bard: Dead Man's Plate, Locket of the Iron Solari, Bandlepipes, Boots of Swiftness, Bloodsong, Solstice Sleigh, Liandry's Torment, Celestial Opposition.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Senna's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
When units die near Senna, their souls are periodically trapped by the Black Mist. Senna can attack these souls to free them, absorbing the Mist that held them in death. Mist fuels her Relic Cannon's power with increased Attack Damage, Attack Range, and Critical Strike Chance. Attacks from Senna's Relic Cannon take longer to fire, deal bonus damage, and briefly grant her a portion of her target's Move Speed.
Cooldowns
Cooldowns by spell rank
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 15s | 11s | 26s | – |
| 6 | 15s | 11s | 26s | 2m20 |
| 9 | 15s | 11s | 26s | 2m20 |
| 11 | 15s | 11s | 26s | 2m |
| 16 | 15s | 11s | 23s | 1m40 |
| 18 | 15s | 11s | 20s | 1m40 |
Playing as Bard
Tips to maximize your impact
- Aim for a wall behind your target
Line up Cosmic Binding (Q) with a wall or a second enemy behind your target: the missile then stuns every enemy hit.
- Freeze the fight with your R
Cast Tempered Fate (R) to freeze a teamfight, or a tower during a dive: everything hit, allies included, goes into stasis.
- Roam through your portals
Open Magical Journey (E) to roam or to get your team out: the portal crosses nearby terrain, but enemies can use it too.
- Collect your Chimes
Collect the Traveler's Call (passive) Chimes whenever your lane allows: they give XP and mana, and enough Chimes add area damage and a slow to your Meeps.
Playing against Senna
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- Punish her when she goes for a soul
Take a trade when she steps up for a soul: each bit of Mist she absorbs with Absolution (passive) gives her AD, attack range and crit.
- Spread out if her embrace hits you
If Last Embrace (W) hits you, move away from your allies: after a short delay, you and nearby allies are rooted.
- Target her when she steps up
If you can engage, target her when she steps up for Piercing Darkness (Q): she has no dash to get away.
- Beware the wraiths
Back off when her team disappears into Curse of the Black Mist (E): her allies are camouflaged there, then fast and unselectable.
Patch 16.21.1