Why is Bard being nerfed on PBE?

Moody P·Jul 4, 2019·59 votes·17,720 views

~~Magical Journey Movement speed bonus for allies changed from 10/20/30/40/50 to 20% at all ranks~~

~~Why? Are you pandering to the assholes who don't shut up about his healing when you shouldn't be playing Bard for his healing to begin with? Why is the quintessential roam support having his roaming nerfed? ~~

~~This is ridiculous. What a horrible change.~~

Scratch that. Apparently there's an undocumented change that puts base speed of E up 200 units higher and he has max speed at rank 1 of E now.

So now I guess I should be asking is why buff Bard? He's fine where he is.

42 Comments

DGAGAAsharpAGDJul 4, 201918 votes

Isn't it buff till lvl14? Who maxes E before Q/W?

Edit: MB, E max second is better according to bard mains

Moody PJul 4, 201916 votes

People who are actually good at Bard

Only casuals and new Bard players max W second

Trias000Jul 5, 20191 votes

[{quoted}](name=Moody P,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=HNa395MO,comment-id=00000000,timestamp=2019-07-04T11:14:04.541+0000)

People who are actually good at Bard

Only casuals and new Bard players max W second

Such as MikyX? Although you're right that most pros on probuilds max E second.

2Charmnot2CharmJul 4, 20198 votes

{quoted}

Isn't it buff till lvl14? Who maxes E before Q/W?

Everyone that actually mains bard.

I used to do it too when Bard was one of my supports to play.

Caretaker JackJul 5, 20191 votes

I main Bard. Things have changed since then. Sometimes u do max E second. Other-times, W and occasionally maxing W first!

ArtumisPrimeJul 5, 20191 votes

The accepted leveling priority is R>Q>E>W

Caretaker JackJul 5, 20191 votes

not necessarily. He buffs E second sometimes (true) Other times, no. Bard is flexible and some days he'll even max W.

letsfeedtogetherJul 4, 20199 votes

because he is not yasuo or riven so they can nerf him so why not [galio-happy]

Trist mid opopJul 4, 20191 votes

{quoted}

because he is not yasuo or riven so they can nerf him so why not [galio-happy]

U forgot vayne.

Total ViolationJul 4, 20196 votes

I can't wait to read the context on this.

"So we know you all want Tahm and Riven nerfed and the client fixed, so here are some Bard nerfs, because we all know how dominant, toxic, problematic and unfun he is in both solo queue and pro play. A-ha-haaaa, screw the unpopular champions, play what's OP or don't play at all!. We'll nerf his healing, damage and delete one of his skins in the next patch."

ChaosReynJul 4, 20193 votes

At least they are nerfing the Kench. It's weird they're giving him the ability to eat bigger camps, but the overall toxicity of his laning phase is at least being hit substantially.

Riven next, please!

SpecterVonBarenJul 4, 20191 votes

Without letting him eat big camp minions he'd have nowhere else to go.

VoldesnortJul 4, 20192 votes

Man...I think Bard should be buffed tbh he feels weak

Caretaker JackJul 5, 20191 votes

As a main, he's fine. Literally, most bard mains are strange in that we feel he is in "the sweet spot." We don't really want him to be popular. Ever.

Caretaker JackJul 5, 20191 votes

screaming

Bob the ToastrJul 4, 20195 votes

Wow. This just goes to show that Riot's magical graph of who is going to be nerfed is bs. Many champs who are too strong are not nerfed, but Bard with his 50.5% win rate and 2.2% play rate (champion.gg) is getting nerfed. Seems fair.

LacerationJul 4, 20194 votes

This is a buff LMAO this kinda shit is why nobody uses the boards anymore

Moody PJul 4, 20192 votes

yeah, after getting new info from a playtester and editing my post. thanks for pointing it out

The EcdysiastJul 5, 20191 votes

[{quoted}](name=Moody P,realm=NA,application-id=3ErqAdtq,discussion-id=HNa395MO,comment-id=000e0000,timestamp=2019-07-04T22:23:42.110+0000)

yeah, after getting new info from a playtester and editing my post. thanks for pointing it out

Delete the post and make a new one. Editing a post that's already been upvoted because of false information you didn't check on doesn't do anything for the discussion, especially when you can't change the title.

NyarlathοtepJul 5, 2019

{quoted}

This is a buff LMAO this kinda shit is why nobody uses the boards anymore

In which world? In which shitty world is 20% better than 50%? This change is a small buff to casual bard players. To the ones that main him and have mastered him is an overall nerf. https://lolalytics.com/grc/ranked/worldwide/platinum/plus/champion/Bard/ You can clearly see that q e w has a bit more winrate compared to q w e.

ADC YuumiJul 4, 20193 votes

TBH, if you left your shrine in good places instead of portaling your way out of danger every time, you'd probably wouldn't have gotten this nerf.

ChaosReynJul 4, 20196 votes

Downvoted for painful truth. xD

But in all seriousness, it's a bit ridiculous. Bard's not exactly a top tier pick, and I don't really think that portal was causing nearly enough problems to have gotten nerfed.

I understand their intent, but I don't really understand their motive.

Caretaker JackJul 5, 20191 votes

Listen. Do you even Bard?

JamsheerJul 4, 20193 votes

wth riot ? its too late for april fool joke come on

PxerkzaJul 4, 20193 votes

thats not his roaming nerfed thats his safety nerfed

you are still faster you will still stun them first but at least you won't make 3 flashes distance from a long portal that has very little counterplay

The EcdysiastJul 4, 20193 votes

Well it's not like he isn't overperforming. For a champion that's supposed to be tricky and who most players incorrectly focus his W second instead of E, he's doing awfully well.

boricCentaur1Jul 4, 20192 votes

They're trying to get you to max e last for some fucking reason idk why they don't buff the w.

So if you max e last this IS actually a buff a stupid fucking buff but a buff. They are not trying to nerf him.

J EevoJul 4, 20192 votes

It's actually still a nerf in that case because E max second wins more games tho, so you're forcing him to do the less wr max

Caretaker JackJul 5, 20191 votes

depends on the game, sometime u want W second. Some lanes are hopeless you max W.

Caretaker JackJul 5, 20191 votes

idk why you're thumbed down that's p much true... Hes buffed till lvl 14.

But, there are undocumented changes. See the OP for insight.

5kcheesesticksJul 4, 20192 votes

Thats all riot knows how to do, nerf nerf nerf.

ChaosReynJul 4, 20194 votes

Nah. They're really good at buffing Yasuo and Riven too.

5kcheesesticksJul 4, 20191 votes

xD true

Sodeb LacudomiteJul 4, 20192 votes

Is Bard even strong, in competitive, normal, ranked low elo, ranked high elo? tbh, I thought he was in a weak spot, or maybe "okay" everywhere. Unneeded nerf, when many champions actually deserve a nerf. Weird.

Caretaker JackJul 5, 20191 votes

Exactly.

R107 GamesJul 4, 20192 votes

It's a good nerf because late game Bard E provides too much safety to him and his teammates, because the enemy can't catch up. Bard's portal shouldn't be a get out of jail free card.

And Bard's E is rarely used to roam; it's mostly used to escape and catch people

Caretaker JackJul 5, 20191 votes

What are you smoking? Can I have some?

BârdJul 4, 20192 votes

Ah I guess a silver Blitz at Riot missed his hook on a journying Bard.

ChalzeJul 4, 20192 votes

I feel like a ton of new changes that don't address anything is just Riot tryna say "hey guys look we're still doing something"

Nea104Jul 4, 20191 votes

Look at Renekton. Look at Tahm for the past months. Look at the last 2 years. Look at the overall state of the game after S7.

Do you really think these people have any clue about what they're doing? :D

BeersteinJul 5, 20191 votes

I think this was riot attempt to buff him thinking players maxed it last. Basically, an out of touch with bard mains attempt at helping them while accidentally hurting them.

I suspect they were honestly trying to help and have 0 bard players at Riot.

Caretaker JackJul 5, 20191 votes

I felt the same, but the undocumented changes are actually buffs... They didn't' put it, but bards E is now receiving a scaling (possibly with AP) plus it starts at 20%. Depending on that scaling it might be a big buff.