Last Updated: Thu Nov 23 2023 Reading Time: 7 min

Dark and Darker Bard Guide

Introduction

Welcome to our Dark and Darker Bard Guide. Bard is the next class coming to Dark and Darker. This guide covers everything we know so far about the Bard. We will keep this guide updated as new information is released.

Skills

Skills in Dark and Darker are the core abilities to each class has unique access to. Currently, you can select two of the following skills to complement the playstyle or build choice you prefer:

Dissonance
Encore
Song Memory and Song Memory 2

Dissonance

Creates an unpleasant noise to block hostile targets within a certain area from casting spells and silence them for 3 seconds

Encore

The next song is automatically played to the end without any input and is sure to succeed. This song is also played at maximum song playing speed.

Song Memory 1 & 2

Can store up to 4 sweet music as space permits per Song Memory slotted

Recommended Skills

At this time, we would recommend using Song Memory 1 and Song Memory 2. Songs are a vital part of the Bards kit and without them, the bard is just a really bad version of rogue. Dissonance can be powerful if used at the right time in PVP battles, used to silence classes with powerful spells such as Clerics and Wizard. However, with so many songs available – doubling up on Song Memory is perfect.

Perks

Perks in Dark and Darker serve as unique passive traits. Each class can slot up to 4 perks once they reach max level:

Charismatic Performance

Upgrades a ‘Good’ performance into a ‘perfect’ performance.

Dancing Feet

Increases your movement speed by 10 when holding an instrument.

Jolly Time

Drinking ale heals 5 HP and increases your movement speed by 10 when drunk.

Lore Mastery

A High level of understanding of objects increases all types of interaction speed by 25%

Melodic Protection

While Playing, the caster’s physical damage reduction bonus is increased by 15%

Rapier Mastery

When using a rapier, weapon damage increases by 3 and action speed increases by 5%

Reinforced Instruments

50% increased weapon damage bonus when attacking with a musical instrument.

Story Teller

Give all party members around a +3 Will and Knowledge buff.

Superior Dexterity

50% faster switching time when switching between weapons/utility items.

Wanderer’s Luck

Increases the chance of finding high-quality items when opening treasure chests. 50 Luck increase.

Warsong

If the performance is successful, increases nearby allies’ weapon attack power by 3 for 6 seconds.

Recommended Perks

At this time, we’d recommend using Lore Mastery, Charismatic Performance, Dancing Feet, and Melodic Protection. Lore Mastery, Dancing Feet and Melodic Protection provide fantastic offensive and defensive benefits. However, Charismatic Performance allows the Bard to intentionally “fail” the last note of the song, completing it faster and still achieving a perfect song! It should be noted that a Perfect performance is mentioned as a “Great” performance in-game!

Songs

Songs are musical spells that the bard can play to buff his allies or de-buff enemies.

How to play songs as Bard in Dark and Darker

Songs are played using magical instruments by using the default “right click” to start the song. The player will then complete a mini-game event to play notes using the same input button. Depending on how well the song is performed, the bard will grant a buff to allies.

Here are the Songs available to the Bard, sorted by Instrument required:

Drum

Accelerando

Gradually increase the movement speed of you and your nearby allies for 8 seconds based on your performance. This movement speed buff can Stack 3 times.

Poor Performance – 3 per second
Good – 5 per second
Perfect – 7 per second

Allegro

Gradually increases the action speed and spellcasting speed of you and nearby allies as a result of the play for 8 seconds. This buff can stack 3 times.

Poor Performance – 3 per second
Good – 4.5 per second
Perfect – 6 per second

Beats of Alacrity

Grants 5/7/9 movement speed for 30/60/120 seconds. This song does not stack on itself however.

Din of Darkness

Deal Dark Magic Damage to all enemies in an area around the performer. The amount of damage per beat is based on the quality of the played music. 3/4/5.

Rousing Rhythms

Increases all stats of nearby allies by 1/2/3 for 30 seconds.

Flute

Banshee’s Howl

Reduces all stats of nearby enemies by 1/2/3 for 20 seconds. Does not work on Boss or Sub-Boss monsters.

Piercing Shrill

Does 10/15/20 physical damage to a target and causes the echo sound effect on the affected target for 3 seconds if the target is a player.

Shriek of Weakness

Lowers Physical Power Bonus by 3/4/5 and Armor Rating by 10/25/30 for 18 seconds.

Unchained Harmony

Opens all nearby doors/containers, including locked containers. This song, however, does not work for doors that require a special key.

Lyre

Ballad of Courage

Grants 10 Physical Power Bonus for 30/60/120 seconds. This song does not stack with itself.

Chorale of Clarity

Restores the Spell Memory of all nearby allies who rest for 8/16/24 seconds, 2 per second.

Harmonic Shield

Grants a shield that lasts for 60/90/120 seconds that gives 15 armor rating and 15 magic resist to self and all nearby allies.

Song of Shadow

Turns self and all nearby invisible for 15/25/35 seconds. Invisibility break upon movement.

Tranquility

Gradually restores the Recoverable Health of yourself and nearby allies when resting based on your performance.

Poor Performance – 1 HP for 10 seconds
Good – 1 HP for 20 seconds
Perfect – 1 HP for 30 seconds

Lute

Aria of Alacrity

Grants 4/6/8% to action speed for 30/60/120 seconds. This song does not stack with itself.

Chaotic Discord

Excites nearby monsters to attack the nearest target except for the performer.

Lament of Languor

Reduces the movement speed of all enemy targets by 20 in an AoE for 6 seconds.

Peacemaking

All nearby players and monsters temporarily lose the will to fight when enchanted by the channelling section of the song.

Song of Silence

Intercepts all enemy spells and prevents the caster from casting magic for 1/1.5/2 seconds. Does not work on Boss or Sub-Boss monsters. AoE range 300/300/300.

Weapons

Musical Weapon

Musical Instruments will be similar to a spell book for a Wizard or a Cleric and allow Bards to play songs (cast spells). Players will need to play the songs to cast the spells. Depending on how the player performs is how effective the spell will be. Currently, the Bard can use the following instruments:

Lute
Harp
War Drums (that can be thrown!)
Flute

Rapiers

Bards are experts at using the rapier, one of the best melee weapons in Dark and Darker.

Stat Priority

Different stats in Dark and Darker have different properties, as a result we recommend prioritizing the following stats on gear:

+All Attributes
Will
Agility

+All Attributes is a no-brainer, allowing you additional stat points in every stat is a huge value. Will currently increases the buff duration from your songs. And Agility increases your movement and Attack speed with your Rapier.

How To Play Bard

When playing the Bard Class, you want to play in two major positions in a fight:

In your team’s backline, casting buffs through playing songs.
On your opponent’s flank, casting certain songs that affect your Opponent, such as Peacemaker or Shriek of Weakness.

Sitting in your backline allows you to play fairly safely while helping and supporting teammates, much like the Cleric class. However, you can also aggressively position to cast Peacemaker at an angle that doesn’t affect your teammates but hits your opponents. As a result, this allows your teammates to freely fight – especially if they’re ranged! The Bard class typically plays as a support, however, can play offensively with a melee weapon when cornered. When you enter a fight, make sure to pre-buff your teammates with Accelerando so you can aggressively catch your enemies off guard! If all else fails, you can at least throw your drums at the enemy!

New Bard Options

Combining some of the new songs the Bard has access to creates a very potent class setup. For example, Shriek of Weakness is an incredible new song that massively lowers the Armor Rating and Power of enemies. Using Shriek of Weakness combined with the new perk Dancing Feet, the Bard has the ability to up in battle and land these AoE songs for maximum output. The best way to play Bard currently is to use double Song Memory to make the most out of the 19 songs you now have access to! Making the most out of Drums, Lyre and Flute are your best options as the most powerful songs come from them. Start off with the combination below and switch songs as and when you require them!

A few situational alternatives include:

Using Piercing Shrill with enough Will to deal incredible damage. Importantly, Piercing Shrill does AoE damage – which is perfect for mob clearing or team fighting.
Chaotic Discord is a fantastic Solo alternative, potentially in the Goblin Cave. This song allows you to make multiple monsters fight themselves – keeping you safe!

Bard Rework September 2023

The Bard has been reworked slightly to slow down the snowball effect the class has. As a result, it is much more difficult to equip 10 songs from the get-go. Starting off as a Bard, take the Drums Songs Allegro, Rousing Rhythms and Beats of Alacrity. Pair those Drum Songs with the Lyre Songs Harmonic Shield and Tranquility.