Bard AAs

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'''''NOTE:''' See [[:Category:Bard AAs|the category page]] for the standard tree view of Bard AAs.''

== The Bard Tree begins with the required starter skill ==

*'''Bard's Luck''': ''Heroic Opportunity starting abilities have their reuse timers sped up by 100%.  Additional points in this ability increase the Bard's stamina and agility by 4 points per rank. ''

== The Bard Tree's 1st branch is for "Strength" ==

*'''[[Turnstrike]]''': (Originally required equipped sword in primary) ''A melee attack that briefly renders you immune to most AOE effects; Turnstrike has a melee attack element, with damage scaling for each rank''

*'''[[Bladeturn]]''': ''Group Bard songs that increase avoidance skills are more effective (scales each rank). Affects the Troubador's [[Graceful Avoidance]] series and the Dirge's [[Jael's Mysterious Mettle]] series.''

*'''[[Bladesing]]''': ''Group Bard songs that increase attributes are more effective (scales each rank). Affects the Troubador's [[Raxxyl's Rousing Tune]] series and the Dirge's [[Harl's Rousing Tune]] series.''
 
*'''[[Bladedance]]''': Grants the prefix title '''BLADESINGER'''; ''For a short duration, the Bladesinger's group is protected against area effect abilities that do not directly target them.''

*'''[[Improved Reflexes]]''': Reduces reuse time of [[Bladedance]].

== The Bard Tree's 2nd branch is for "Agility" ==

*'''[[Bump]]''': (Originally required equipped dagger in primary) ''Steals an item from a humanoid target with a % chance of success (scales each rank); Applies shroud on termination; Bump has a melee attack element, with damage scaling for each rank; Must be flanking or behind to Bump''

*'''[[Wayfarer's Watch]]''': ''Increase parry of caster (increases per rank); Grants a chance at avoiding non-direct area effect spells by 1% (spell level resistance scales each rank)''

*'''[[Poison Concoction]]''': ''On a successful attack this spell has a (scaling per rank) % chance to cast Poison on target;  Lasts 24.0 seconds; Inflicts one-time and 4-second tick poison damage on target (scales each rank)''

*'''[[Vanishing Act (AA)|Vanishing Act]]''': Grants the prefix title '''WAYFARER'''; Instantly places the Wayfarer's group into stealth for a short duration. The next non-combart art melee attack made against an ally will be avoided. Vanishing act can be used while in combat.''

*'''[[Stealthy Ambush]]''': Increases the base damage of [[Bump]] and reduces the recast. 

== The Bard Tree's 3rd branch is for "Stamina" == 

*'''[[Round Bash]]''': (Requires equipped round shield); ''Round Bash has a crushing damage attack element, with damage scaling for each rank; Applies Knockdown for a (scaling) amount of time if it hits.''

*'''[[Skald's Defense]]''': (Requires equipped round shield); ''Increases the Skald's blocking ability and Multi Attack chance (increases per rank).''

*'''[[Fortissimo]]''': ''Increases group members Multi Attack (increases per rank).''

*'''[[Lend Shielding]]''': Grants the prefix title '''SKALD'''; (Requires equipped round shield); ''Allows you to block the next attack that would strike you or an ally.''

*'''[[Song of Shielding]]''': Grants the bard a chance to avoid an attack for the target of the spell. This does not stack with similar spells granted through Alternate Achievements.

== The Bard Tree's 4th branch is for "Wisdom" ==

*'''[[Messenger's Letter]]''': (Requires equipped bow); ''Messenger's Letter has a ranged attack element, with damage scaling for each rank;  The attack also increases threat to the target of your target.''

*'''[[Harbinger's Sonnet]]''': ''Increases group movement speed; Increases in-combat group movement speed''

*'''[[Allegro]]''': ''Increases Casting Speed of group members.''

*'''[[Don't Kill the Messenger]]''': Grants the prefix title '''HARBINGER'''; ''Increases critical chance of group members by 7.5%''

*'''[[Swift Voices]]''': Allegro will also grant recovery time to the group.


== The Bard Tree's 5th branch is for "Intelligence" ==

*'''[[Rhythm Blade]]''': (Originally required equipped rapier in primary) ''Increases Focus, Disruption, Ministration, Ordination, Subjugation, Slashing, Piercing, and Crushing of caster (scales each rank); Rhythm's Blade has a melee damage attack element, scaling for each rank''

*'''[[Minstrel's Aria]]''': ''Bard group songs that affect combat skills or casting techniques are more effective. Affects the Troubador's [[Song of Magic]] series and the Dirge's [[Songster's Luck]] series.''

*'''[[Minstrel's Melody]]''': ''Bard group songs augmenting attack speed or damage per second have an increased effect. Affects the Troubador's [[Allegretto]] series and the Dirge's [[Riana's Relentless Tune]] series.''

*'''[[Heroic Storytelling]]''': Grants the prefix title '''MINSTREL'''; ''Increases the effectiveness of all heroic opportunities by 50% (permanent group buff, no concentration required)''

*'''[[Precise Blades]]''': Rhythm Blade gains an additional component which increases the bard's accuracy and reduces the chance a spell can be resisted.

== The Final Ability ==

*'''[[Rhythmic Overture]]''': Rhythmic Overture monitors the bard's damage on the target over a short duration. Once the overture has been completed, the bard may cast Victorious Concerto which adds a portion of that damage as an additional effect to the group. Additional ranks improve the damage amount. This Alternate Advancement grants two abilities.