If it isn't ranked, how about you shut your mouth and just play? To be good with a champion, you need practice, and normal is the practice grounds for ranked. Don't even mention bots because those end up finishing in 12 minutes with your top laner being 30/0, you won't be practicing crap except how good you are at right clicking around to collect chimes...
OhOkYea1 votesCustom and bot games are actually fine before going into normals for a champ like Bard. Simply because you need to practice timing and placement of the Ult and tunnels. Custom and bot games are a slow paced environment for you to do this. Literally just one custom or bot game. That's all.
Do this, and you save wasting the time of 4 other people because you keep under estimating the timing or range of an ability you have no practice with.
FLY Ry1 votesIndeed we bard players should practice in bot games and normal but as I have played him I have found one simple trick take the role of jungle, I however don't bring smite instead I bounce to different lanes healing and stunning bard is far from useless if used right have another support champ aiding ADC along with your normal meta with 1 top and mid, this new champ has broke meta was th an actual roaming type which is nice also be kind to those who are new
Sarutobi1 votesi would only consider going into bots game if you know absolutely nothing about the champs, or want to see how a certain item goes well with said champion. if you know how the champion plays and are safe to assume the items as well then take it to Normals and practice!