Matchup

Heavy CCStrong engage

You are stronger late game — farm safe and avoid early trades.

Build vs Bard

Build adapted to this matchup

Starting items

Doran's Shield
Health Potion

Core build

Warmog's Armor
1Survival
Heartsteel
2Survival
Spirit Visage
3vs AP

Standard

Boots of Swiftness
4vs Slow
Overlord's Bloodmail
5HP

Summoner spells

41250%
61250%

Anti AD

Plated Steelcaps
4vs AD
Thornmail
5vs Hybride
Dead Man's Plate
vs AD
Randuin's Omen
vs AD

Anti CC

Mercury's Treads
4vs CC

DPS

Titanic Hydra
Bruiser

Other options

Overlord's Bloodmail
HP
100.0% WR1 games
ResolveResolve
Grasp of the UndyingGrasp of the Undying
DemolishDemolish
Second WindSecond Wind
OvergrowthOvergrowth
InspirationInspiration
Magical FootwearMagical Footwear
Approach VelocityApproach Velocity
Attack SpeedHealth ScalingHealth Scaling

Power Spikes

Strength by game phase

Early (0-15)
Mid (15-30)
Late (30+)
DrMundoDr. Mundo
BardBard
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral

Bard's abilities

Passive, spells and ultimate

Traveler's Call (P)

Meeps: Bard attracts lesser spirits that assist with his basic attacks to deal extra magic damage. When Bard has collected enough Chimes, his meeps will also deal damage in an area and slow enemies hit.Chimes: Ancient chimes randomly appear for Bard to collect. These grant experience, restore mana, and provide out of combat Move Speed.

Cooldowns

Cooldowns by spell rank

LevelQWER
311s0s22s
69s0s22s1m50
97s0s22s1m50
117s0s22s1m35
167s0s19s1m20
187s0s16s1m20

Playing against Bard

How to counter and exploit weaknesses

1

Avoid positioning against walls: Bard's Q stuns if it knocks you into a wall or another target.

2

Watch out for his tunnels: he can engage by surprise through walls. Ward possible entry points.

3

His R can save OR trap his own allies — a bad Bard ult can be exploited by waiting out the stasis.

4

Punish him when he leaves to collect chimes: he leaves his ADC alone and vulnerable.

Source: op.gg + LTL Engine · Patch 16.9.1 · May 9, 2026