For one of the easiest unlocks in Set 16, players struggled to figure out how to play him. In recent days, many high-level Teamfight Tactics players have shared their thoughts on Bard. Today, we are looking at what these players have had to say. The aim is to help you understand why he has risen to the top of the meta and what compositions he allows.
Bard’s Unlock
Set 16’s unlock mechanic has created variance in this set so far. Some unlocks you will see every game, while others, like Aurelion Sol and Zaahen, are rare. The frequency of players unlocking Bard has increased in the weeks after the set release. To unlock him, you must roll four times before the Stage 2 carousel. Doing so can prove costly, but he will make up for it later in the game.
Why Has He Risen?
Players have discovered that the rerolls granted by the Caretaker trait allow you to build up an economy. Essentially, every reroll granted saves two gold. When you roll for Bard between 2-1 and 2-3, you can lose anywhere between 10 and 14 gold because of interest, along with the rerolls and buying Bard. If you field him up until 3-7, while losing, he will have saved you gold. Winning combats means Bard grants you a random unit. It can result in a gold loss if he gives you a one-cost, especially on Stage 3. Therefore, it is significantly better to lose streak with Bard.
The Best Composition
At the start of the set, players ran Bard reroll with Bruisers. However, as time has progressed, that composition has fallen. Instead, players are using him for another strategy. Piltover and T-Hex have started to dominate the meta. Allowing a three-star Caitlyn to pilot T-Hex gives the 5-cost significantly better stats than any other unit. A two-star Caitlyn grants six mana per second, while a three-star doubles that amount. Players run him early to help find three-star Caitlyn and two-star the rest of the lowest-cost Piltover units. Having a three-star Caitlyn also means you can skip needing Seraphine and unlock T-Hex faster than before.
Piltover is the flavor of the month, but if that composition gets nerfed, the Bard strategy will remain. Players will need to find another composition to pair with him. At the very least, some part of the Piltover problem will get attention in the new year.
