Bard talent trees
You earn a point every level from 2 and one for the first kill of each act boss: 24 by level 20. Spend them on the class tree and, from level 3, on your subclass's tree. How talents work.
Bard class tree
21 talents (15 regular, 4 keystones, 2 capstones) · leans healer and damage
Every Bard shares this tree, whatever the subclass. Its first row is open from the start.
Row 1 · Talents · open from the start
Contagious Mockery
When a Weakened foe dies, its Weakness passes to every foe within 3 tiles.
Rallying Jeer
Bardic Inspiration ends in a free Vicious Mockery at up to 3 foes.
Needs Bardic Inspiration (learned at level 2)
Applause
Kills refund 30% of your last skill's cost in Inspiration.
Row 2 · Talents · opens after 1 point spent in this tree
Undertow Chord
Thunderwave drags foes in instead of flinging them away.
Needs Thunderwave (learned at level 5)
Parting Shot
Damage
Vicious Mockery's insult echoes 0.3 s later at 50%.
Needs Vicious Mockery at mastery rank 3
Inspired Strikes
While Bardic Inspiration holds: +8% crit chance and +15% crit damage.
Needs Bardic Inspiration (learned at level 2)
Exploit Weakness
Damage
+12% damage against Weakened foes.
Row 3 · Keystones: choose 1 · opens after 3 points spent in this tree
Anthem of Heroes Keystone
Damage
Your song lifts the party: you and allies near you deal 10% more damage. Bardic Inspiration also hastens allies (+15% move speed for 6 s).
Needs Bardic Inspiration (learned at level 2)
Resonance Keystone
Damage
Every third skill you cast releases a thunderous chord (75%).
Jack of All Trades Keystone
Healer
Every heal you cast gives allies within 6 tiles +5% damage for 5 s. +20% healing done.
Medley Keystone
Damage
You can play two songs at once: a second Aura slot. Each song holds back its share of your Inspiration, and their Choruses take turns.
Row 4 · Talents · opens after 5 points spent in this tree
Soothing Refrain
Healer
Song of Rest also shields its most wounded ally for 10% of their health (6 s).
Needs Song of Rest (learned at level 7)
Cacophony
Damage
Every foe Discordant Whispers strikes is mocked by a free Vicious Mockery (40%).
Needs Discordant Whispers (learned at level 9)
Spiral Pattern
Hypnotic Pattern draws foes to its centre.
Needs Hypnotic Pattern at mastery rank 3
Thunderous Chorus
Song of Rest ends in a free Thunderwave (50%).
Needs Song of Rest (learned at level 7)
Row 5 · Talents · opens after 8 points spent in this tree
Swelling Score
Every 20th skill you cast is followed by a free Crescendo (35%).
Needs Crescendo (learned at level 17)
Gathering Crescendo
Crescendo drags foes in before it peaks.
Needs Crescendo (learned at level 17)
Song of Defiance
Healer
When an ally within 8 tiles falls to low health, your song shields them for 15% of their health (20 s cooldown).
Withering Wit
Vicious Mockery Weakens every foe within 2 tiles of its target (2 s cooldown).
Needs Vicious Mockery at mastery rank 6
Row 6 · Capstones: choose 1 · opens after 11 points spent in this tree
Encore Capstone
Damage
Your skills have a 15% chance to play twice.
Ballad of Heroes Capstone
Healer
Every 15 s in battle a free Bardic Inspiration rings out, and you and allies within 8 tiles take 6% less damage.
College of Lore tree
15 talents (10 regular, 3 keystones, 2 capstones) · leans healer and damage
Bards who collect secrets like coins — and spend them to cut an enemy's confidence to ribbons.
Row 1 · Talents · open from the start
Silencing Words
Damage
Cutting Words interrupts a foe's cast and makes its targets Vulnerable instead of Marked.
Needs Cutting Words (learned at level 3)
Countercharm
Healer
Allies within 4 tiles shrug off control: +50% control resistance.
Shielding Verse
Healer
Cutting Words also shields allies within 6 tiles for 8% of their health (6 s).
Needs Cutting Words (learned at level 3)
Row 2 · Talents · opens after 2 points spent in this tree
Arcane Lore
Your spells cycle fire, cold and lightning, apply that element's ailment and deal +8%.
Words of Doubt
+10% damage against Vulnerable foes.
Needs Cutting Words (learned at level 3)
Magical Secrets
Every 4th skill you cast also casts a free Vicious Mockery at 2 foes.
Restful Song
Healer
Song of Rest leaves a lingering melody on everyone it heals: 8% of their health over 6 s.
Needs Song of Rest (learned at level 7)
Row 3 · Keystones: choose 1 · opens after 4 points spent in this tree
Unsettling Lore Keystone
Healer
Foes within 5 tiles of you are Weakened every 3 s.
Song of Renewal Keystone
Healer
Song of Rest comes back 30% faster. +10% healing done.
Needs Song of Rest (learned at level 7)
Barbed Wit Keystone
Damage
Vicious Mockery pierces through every foe in its path and hits 25% harder.
Row 4 · Talents · opens after 6 points spent in this tree
Mesmerising Words
Cutting Words ends in a free Hypnotic Pattern (60%).
Needs Cutting Words at mastery rank 4
Inspired Lesson
Damage
Bardic Inspiration also sharpens allies: +6% crit chance for 10 s.
Needs Bardic Inspiration (learned at level 2)
Restoring Verse
Healer
Bardic Inspiration also heals every ally it reaches: 6% of their health over 6 s.
Needs Bardic Inspiration (learned at level 2)
Row 5 · Capstones: choose 1 · opens after 9 points spent in this tree
Magnum Opus Capstone
Damage
Every 30th skill you cast performs a free Bardic Inspiration and a free Hypnotic Pattern (80%).
Lifesong Capstone
Healer
Allies within 6 tiles heal 1.5% of their health every second, and a heal that saves an ally under 25% shields them for 20%.
College of the Warhorn tree
15 talents (10 regular, 3 keystones, 2 capstones) · leans damage
Battle-skalds who fight in the front rank, blade in one hand and horn in the other.
Row 1 · Talents · open from the start
Drumbeat
Damage
Dancing Steel's hits lengthen Bardic Inspiration on your allies by 0.5 s (up to +6 s).
Needs Dancing Steel (learned at level 3)
War Drums
Damage
Every skill you cast beats a war drum: allies within 5 tiles attack 6% faster for 4 s.
Needs Dancing Steel (learned at level 3)
Blade Flourish
Damage
Dancing Steel strikes twice (the second flourish lands 0.25 s later at 50%), and the dance sheds a third of your threat.
Needs Dancing Steel (learned at level 3)
Row 2 · Talents · opens after 2 points spent in this tree
Heroism
Healer
Bardic Inspiration also shields your most wounded ally for 15% of their health (8 s).
Needs Bardic Inspiration (learned at level 2)
Marching Song
Damage
Each Dancing Steel hit gives +4% move speed and +3% damage for 4 s, stacking 4 times.
Needs Dancing Steel (learned at level 3)
Brazen Horn
Thunderwave leaves foes Vulnerable (50%).
Needs Thunderwave (learned at level 5)
Steel and Song
Damage
Every 4th basic hit is followed by a free Dancing Steel (60%).
Row 3 · Keystones: choose 1 · opens after 4 points spent in this tree
War Band Keystone
Damage
You and allies within 6 tiles deal +8% damage and attack 6% faster.
Battle Skald Keystone
Damage
Dancing Steel's cooldown resets when it kills, and each kill gives +8% damage for 5 s (3 stacks).
Needs Dancing Steel (learned at level 3)
Shieldsong Keystone
Healer
Allies within 5 tiles take 8% less damage. When an ally drops below 35% health your horn wraps them in a shield of 15% of their health (6 s, 15 s cooldown).
Row 4 · Talents · opens after 6 points spent in this tree
Whirling Steel
Damage
Dancing Steel ends in a free Thunderwave (50%).
Needs Dancing Steel at mastery rank 4
Battle Hymn
Damage
Song of Rest also stirs the allies it heals: +10% damage for 6 s.
Needs Song of Rest (learned at level 7)
Final Bow
Damage
Crescendo is followed by a free Dancing Steel.
Needs Crescendo (learned at level 17)
Row 5 · Capstones: choose 1 · opens after 9 points spent in this tree
Horn of the Warhost Capstone
Damage
Once every 12 s your next skill sounds the warhorn: allies within 8 tiles gain +12% damage and +10% move speed for 6 s.
Bladesong Capstone
Damage
Skill hits add a dancing blade around you (max 8; each gives +2% attack speed while it circles). At 8 they launch at foes (70% each).
