PSA: Wait for Bard's health shrines to charge before taking them.

With the introduction of the amazing Snow Day Bard skin, we'll probably be seeing a lot more Bard within the next few days. As a result, we'll also probably seeing a lot more players complaining about how bad he is at healing. Now don't get me wrong- Bard's healing power is actually reasonably weak UNLESS you wait for his shrine to charge. The following is a guide on how long the shrine takes to charge, what the shrine looks like, and when it's good it take it pre-charge.

THE CARETAKER'S SHRINES: Bard's healing shrine is an ability that you don't directly cast on a player- instead, you drop it on the ground, akin to Teemo's mines. Theyconsistently cost 90 mana with a cooldown of 12 seconds. Bard can have 3 shrines on the map at once. When a shrine is placed, it takes 10 seconds to fully charge. The healing scales as so: UNCHARGED: 30/60/90/120/150 (+ 30% of your current AP in health) CHARGED: 70/110/150/190/230 (+60% of your current AP in health) As a bonus, all healing shrines (charged or uncharged) increase your movement speed by 50%.

SO, WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE? There is a visual difference from the shrines to help players tell them apart.

ORIGINAL BARD SKIN: (Uncharged): http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GeA2ZBEPm0c/VQGD0BuDgRI/AAAAAAAAl8M/li5xm1Q5hmY/s1600/bardwcharging.jpg (Charged): http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d_pLFU8LS-0/VRqv3ZmPPYI/AAAAAAAAnD8/Nri_OnAa7ms/s1600/barddd.jpg

ELDERWOOD BARD: (Uncharged): http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1pQj1A_C6qk/VO1RBhebPOI/AAAAAAAAkrI/hfUpXFiRZ2Q/s1600/sf1.jpg (Charged): http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_yrlj13v-6c/VO1RCEgZgAI/AAAAAAAAkrQ/T3NBf-I8Em8/s1600/skin2.jpg

SNOW DAY BARD: (Uncharged): http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsg8D4BsBXQ/VmeEYRZISZI/AAAAAAAAJdQ/b2pVimg0LV4/s640/bardw1.jpg (Charged): http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bBRGkIeGs2Q/VmeEYuTH8qI/AAAAAAAAJdY/Pa1dJXuIxF8/s640/bardw2.jpg

WHEN DO I TAKE IT? Normally, if you want health, you're going to want to wait for it to charge. however, there are a few instances in which you'd want it uncharged- say you're in the midst of a teamfight, and you're about to die. If your Bard plops down a healing shrine next to you, take it! The extra health might just help you go the extra mile. Chances are, if you wait out the full 10 seconds, you'll be dead by the time it's charged. Another instance you might want to take it uncharged would be if you needed that little extra movespeed. Chasing after an enemy at full health? Take it! The extra movespeed will certainly help. Trying to escape a 2v5? Take it! While the healing may be weak, the movespeed is life-saving.

So yeah, that's just a basic announcement to assist you throughout the Bard-times. Have fun!