Cross Class Skills for BardFollow

There's not many that will be very useful to you. And you can only have 5 anyhow.

Personally, and it can change from person to person, i stick to.

1. Second Wind (because why not, helps)
2. Internal Release (because 10% crit)
3. Blood for Blood (because nomnom damage)
4. Invigorate (Because Bards run out of TP in long fights, or good after raises so you're not useless with 0 TP)

Those are the ones everyone (should) have, and then there's slot number 5.

5. Featherfoot (mostly because it sucked the least of the other abilities i could choose from, but anything works)

Why not Feint? Bad potency/damage and the effect does very little in short battles anyhow.
Why not Keen flurry? Because even if you were getting hit, parrying on a bard? rather avoid completely!
Why not Haymaker? Way too situational, and only usable once if you dodge an attack.
Why not Mantra? Well, why not. You just dont really stand close enough to the tank most of the time.

There's not much actual "choice" as far as bard skills go.

Edited, Feb 18th 2014 3:59pm by KojiroSoma

There are four skills you really want. The fifth is kind of a situational thing.

From Pugilist: Second Wind (HP Recovery) and Internal Release (Crit Hit Buff) - it's been a while, but I think you should already have these unlocked from having PGL at 15 for the Bard quest.

From Lancer: Invigorate - lvl 22 (TP Recovery) and Blood for Blood - lvl 34 (Damage Buff). These can be kind of a hassle to get, especially if you don't like playing lancer. At minimum get Invigorate, but Blood for Blood is really good.

For the fifth spot pick what you like. I like Mantra, but you have to have Monk at 42 for that. Definitely don't go out of your way to get it.

Nah. The only "nerf" to Bard was actually a nerf to anyone that cross-classes Blood for Blood or Internal Release, going from 20% increases to 10% increases to damage and critical hit rate, respectively.

That was probably Thunder equipped on a DoM since it is no longer a cross-class ability as of 2.1.

Hm if you are serious about raiding, I would go and get mantra. A pain in the butt, yes, but it shows you are a dedicated.

Other than that, just use what the others have said: invigorate, blood for blood, internal release, second wind, and a 5th one of your choice.

But who knows: maybe upon leveling MNK, you will find it enjoyable enough to use as an alt. I know I sure did!

Seconding what kojiro said. Second wind for more personal survivability. Mantra for more group. It's very useful to provide extra back line healing or a boost after a big aoe, like Titans jump, when everyone is grouped and the Monk has used their Mantra already. Or if you don't have a monk.

Double >.<

Edited, Feb 20th 2014 2:10am by Quor

Thanks for the clarification Quor.

I almost never use Mantra even on my MNK. I only use it on myself, with Second Wind, or after a big unavoidable AoE. If Mantra stacks and everyone who could sub it, uses it, then that would help a lot.

It doesn't stack. If you try to Mantra after it has been applied then you'll get a "Mantra has no effect." message. Not sure if a stronger Mantra from MNK can overwrite a weaker, cross-classed Mantra. My guess is: most likely.