Two halves of one class
An Archer can become a Bard or a Dancer, but the player does not choose between them: it depends on the gender picked when the character was created. Bards focus on support and are central to defensive plans in the War of Emperium and in parties against strong monsters. Dancers lean towards disruption and are just as valuable in the same places.
- Their music buffs are mostly percentages, unlike the fixed values of Priest buffs, so placement and planning matter.
- Both have a very large SP pool, so they can keep using attack skills instead of plain attacks.
- Job bonuses at job level 50 - Bard: STR +2, AGI +7, VIT +3, INT +5, DEX +9, LUK +4. Dancer: STR +2, AGI +7, VIT +3, INT +5, DEX +5, LUK +8.
Job change in Comodo
| Class | Tasks | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Bard | Find the Roaming Bard in Comodo; bring a flower-related item, make friends with Mr. Snowman in Lutie and pass a singing test. | A weapon if you brought certain trunk-related items (one choice also depends on job level 50). |
| Dancer | An item collection, a written test and a dance test, then return to Bijou. | Line [3] at job level 50, otherwise Rope [3]. |
Songs, dances and ensembles
Support skills come in two kinds: solo performances, which need no partner, and ensembles, which need a Bard and a Dancer in the same party standing next to each other. In an ensemble the lower of the two skill levels is used. A song's effect stays on players for about 20 seconds after they leave its area.
| Who | Key skills |
|---|---|
| Bard (solo) | Impressive Riff (attack speed), Magic Strings (shorter cast time and delay), Perfect Tablature (dodge), Song of Lutie (max HP and healing received), Melody Strike (instrument attack), Unbarring Octave (chance to freeze nearby targets). |
| Dancer (solo) | Gypsy's Kiss (more max SP and cheaper skills), Focus Ballet (accuracy), Lady Luck (critical rate and damage), Slinging Arrow (whip attack), Dazzler (chance to stun nearby targets). |
| Both (solo) | Amp (performances cost 20% less SP for 3 minutes) and Encore (repeat the last performance at half the SP). |
| Ensembles | Mental Sensing (up to +60% monster EXP), Battle Theme (ATK and DEF), Acoustic Rhythm (resist some elements and status effects), Lullaby (Sleep in 9x9), Power Cord (most skills use no items), Harmonic Lick (random buff). |
Weapons and builds
- Bards use Instruments, Daggers and Bows; Dancers use Whips, Daggers and Bows. An Instrument or Whip is needed to perform.
- With an Instrument or Whip, bow skills cannot be used and normal attacks only reach melee range, but their damage is based on DEX like a bow's.
- Switching to a Dagger stops a song at once and keeps the shield on; players call this "amping".
- Suggested leveling builds at base level 99: Arrow Shower (VIT 90, INT 50, DEX 90) or a single-target skill build (VIT 50, INT 90, DEX 90) with Melody Strike or Slinging Arrow.
Later classes
After rebirth the Bard becomes a Minstrel (called Clown in other versions) and the Dancer becomes a Gypsy. The Minstrel gains new songs and the strong Arrow Vulcan attack.
Their third classes are the Maestro (male) and the Wanderer (female). The Wanderer is mainly a support and disabling class, used a lot in the War of Emperium, with the area attack Severe Rainstorm. The fourth classes are the Troubadour and the Trouvere; one of their skills lets Mental Sensing be used without a partner.
Sources
Game pictures: © Gravity Co., Ltd. · playragnarok.com
