Thresh vs Bard
Skill matchup
Build vs Bard
Build adapted to this matchup
Recommended items for Thresh: Locket of the Iron Solari, Knight's Vow, Zeke's Convergence, Boots of Swiftness, Solstice Sleigh, Celestial Opposition, Frozen Heart, Mikael's Blessing.
Starting items
Core build
Standard
Summoner spells
Anti CC
Other options
Power Spikes
Strength by game phase
Bard's abilities
Passive, spells and ultimate
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
| Level | Q | W | E | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 11s | 0s | 22s | – |
| 6 | 9s | 0s | 22s | 1m50 |
| 9 | 7s | 0s | 22s | 1m50 |
| 11 | 7s | 0s | 22s | 1m35 |
| 16 | 7s | 0s | 19s | 1m20 |
| 18 | 7s | 0s | 16s | 1m20 |
Playing as Thresh
Tips to maximize your impact
- Flay first, hook second
Open with Flay (E) before Death Sentence (Q): the slow makes the hook much easier to land.
- Land charged autos
In lane, space out your autos: Flay (E) charges them passively, and the longer you wait between two autos, the more damage they deal.
- Don't jump on every hook
Don't recast Death Sentence (Q) on reflex: the target is already being pulled toward you, and jumping on them often exposes you for nothing.
- Throw your lantern early
Throw Dark Passage (W) toward an ally in trouble before they need it: they can click it to come back to you, with a shield.
- Place your box after the hook
Place The Box (R) right after a successful hook: to escape, the target has to break a wall, and the first wall broken slows them and deals full damage.
Playing against Bard
How to counter and exploit weaknesses
- No wall or ally behind you
Facing him, don't stand with your back to a wall or lined up with an ally or minion: Cosmic Binding (Q) stuns you if it then hits a wall or a second enemy.
- Wait for the stasis to end
Don't waste your spells on a target frozen by Tempered Fate (R): wait for the stasis to end, then strike.
- Ward the walls when he disappears
Ward the walls near you when he disappears: Magical Journey (E) opens a one-way path for him through terrain.
- Play hard when he leaves
When he leaves lane to collect his Traveler's Call (passive) Chimes, play hard on the ally he left alone.
Other Thresh matchups
Patch 16.21.1