Bard is the seventh base class in An Average Campaign (AAC), a Charisma (CHA) support that buffs the party with ballads and weakens enemies with insults and charms. You don't unlock it separately: you pick it at the Magic Mirror in the lobby, and it starts with a Simple Lute. It has two subclasses, Bard of Valor (Forest) and Bard of Whispers (Dungeon). For An Average Campaign Bard boons, our editorial picks are Selfless Heart and Inconspicuous for support, and Hunter Eyes plus Mental Deterioration for Whispers.
This page is based on the official Trello board (last edited April 2026), the Roblox game page and player-documented v0.5.1 notes, all checked on October 20, 2026. AAC is in Alpha and Bard values change often, so treat numbers as a snapshot. Where Trello and newer notes disagree, we use the newer value.
01
How to get the Bard class
Bard wasn't in the game at public launch. Community notes record it as added on February 20, 2026, during the v0.4 update cycle. We found no unlock requirement. The official Trello card for the Magic Mirror describes it as the place to customize your character and class, and community equipment lists give the Simple Lute (3 CHA) as Bard's starting weapon.
Don't confuse the class with A Travelling Bard. That Forest encounter is the Bard of Valor trainer, and it only teaches you if you're already a Bard. Each class levels its own Prestige, and every level gives 3 skill points for that class's tree. Compare Bard with the rest on the classes page.
02
Bard abilities and how ballads work
| Level | Ability | Energy / cooldown | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ballad of Revelry | 1 / 4 | For 4 turns, the party heals 2 + 0.015 per CHA each turn and gets 20% + 0.1% per CHA more incoming healing |
| 1 | Ballad of Heroism | 1 / 4 | For 4 turns, the party deals 15% + 0.075% per CHA more ability damage |
| 1 | Bardic Inspiration | 1 / 3 | Heals an ally for 4 HP, grants 1 extra energy next turn and 1.1x ability damage for 2 turns |
| 3 | Vicious Mockery | 1 / 2 | 6 Psychic damage that can't be dodged or blocked, plus Vulnerable and Demoralized |
| 5 | Serenade | 2 / 4 | 10 Force damage plus 4 turns of Charmed (the enemy deals 0.9x damage) |
When two Bards play the same ballad, the second copy doesn't double it. Instead it "empowers" the song by 30% (35% with the skill tree), and the Bard with the highest stat decides the scaling. Deafened units ignore Bard songs, and some enemies, Yordini included, can deafen your party.
03
Bard skill tree
Community notes list seven nodes. You need rank 3 of 5 in a node before the nodes next to it open.
- Master of Melodies: songs last 1 extra turn, and empowerment rises to 35%.
- HP and Stat Points: 2 Max HP or 1 starting stat point per point.
- Pleasantries: enemies you charmed deal 3% less damage per point.
- Manipulator: 3% more damage per point against charmed enemies.
- Building Temp: 3% more outgoing shielding per point, for Valor.
- Devil's Tongue: 2% more Psychic damage per point, for Whispers.
Editorial, as of Alpha v0.5.1 (October 2026): Master of Melodies is the core node. Ballads last 4 turns on a 4-turn cooldown, so the extra turn lets you keep songs running back to back.
04
Bard subclasses: Bard of Valor and Bard of Whispers
| Subclass | How to unlock | Playstyle | Key abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bard of Valor | Forest encounter A Travelling Bard: Approach the group, then Become a Bard of Valor (trainer Yordini) | Party buffer and shielder, CHA with CON | Bardic Inspiration - Valor, Ballad of Vivacity, Song of Shielding, Shatter, Power Chord |
| Bard of Whispers | Dungeon encounter An Ominous Cliff: Approach the man, then Become a Bard of Whispers (trainer Altrix) | Debuffer and sub-DPS, CHA with INT | Bardic Inspiration - Whisper, Ballad of Dread, Dissonant Whispers, Screeching Chord, Words of Terror |
The official Subclasses info card says you can pick only one subclass. Valor comes first, in the Forest, so skip it if you want Whispers. Community encounter tables show that having a Bard in the party makes both trainer encounters more likely.
Bard of Valor. Its Inspiration heals 4 HP plus 3.5% of max HP and grants Bravery: 1.15x damage, 0.9x damage taken and no Fear penalties. Song of Shielding gives a shield of 12 + 4% of the caster's max HP. Ballad of Vivacity adds crit chance and energy gain. Shatter applies Vulnerable and Deafened to every enemy, and Power Chord (4 energy) stuns and applies Fractured. If you decline the trainer and stay to listen, you restore 40% Max HP.
Bard of Whispers. The official An Ominous Cliff card confirms this route. Declining gives 1.5% Dodge Chance, and attacking starts a fight with Altrix and two Strange Phantoms. Whisper Inspiration repeats 25% of the ally's next ability damage as Psychic. Ballad of Dread lowers enemy damage (listed cap 20%) and raises ally Psychic and Void damage by 1.15x. Words of Terror (4 energy, 18 Psychic) applies Fear and Shaken.
Is there a third Bard subclass? No. As of v0.5.1, Bard and Ranger are the only base classes with two subclasses. Artificer is a Mage subclass from the Mines.
05
Bard instruments
| Instrument | Stats | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Lute | 3 CHA | Starting weapon |
| Traveller's Guitar | 7 CHA, 4 CON | Craft: 2 Log, 2 Leather Scrap |
| Mystic Lute | 8 CHA, 5 INT, 3% Energy Gain | Craft: Enchanted Log, Spider Silk, Cloth |
| Heartpride Lute | 14 CHA, 6 CON | Mechanical Soul (Mines boss) |
| Whispering Lute | 14 INT, 8 CHA | Searching Soul (Altrix) |
| Toxic Lute | 16 CHA, 10 CON, Ballad of the Ratkin | Decaying Soul (Sewer final boss) |
| Nevan | 20 CHA | Defiant Soul (Devilman) |
Ballad of the Ratkin cleanses DoTs each turn and boosts ally Poison and Acid damage by 1.25x. Per Trello, Altrix's Searching Soul can be melded into the Whispering Lute, the Torn Purple Ear (14 CHA) or the Pocket Guide to the Void, so you choose one.
About the Enchanted Lute: v0.4.4 patch notes buffed an "Enchanted Lute" to 10 CHA and 6 INT, and one community material page still lists Cloth as its ingredient. Current lists show the crafted Mystic Lute, with lower stats, instead. It looks like a rename, but we couldn't confirm it. More gear is on the weapons page.
06
Best Bard boons (editorial)
You buy Boons from the Tavern Master with Cealts after unlocking them, and you have 5 slots in total. These picks are editorial, as of Alpha v0.5.1 (October 2026). See the boons page for the full list.
| Boon | Slots | Why it fits Bard | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selfless Heart | 2 | 1.2x outgoing healing for Revelry and Inspiration. In exchange, you get 0.8x incoming healing and 0.9x damage (Trello listed 10% for both) | A party member passes the Altar FTH check |
| Inconspicuous | 1 | 25% less aggro on a fragile support | A party member passes any DEX check |
| Hunter Eyes | 1 | 10% more crit chance against Charmed, Feared, Vulnerable or Fractured targets, each applied by some Bard kit. You deal 0.9x damage to anything else | A party member passes any CHA check |
| Mental Deterioration | 1 | 1.1x damage against Feared or Charmed enemies, but you take 1.1x while feared or charmed | Become Bard of Whispers |
| Resonant Soul | 1 | Positive songs are 1.15x stronger on you | Become Bard of Valor |
| Energy Conserver | 2 | 15% chance of an extra energy, which helps with 4-energy finishers | Become Elementalist |
Valor support: Selfless Heart, Inconspicuous, Resonant Soul and Force of Will (1 slot, survive one fatal hit per encounter). Whispers: Hunter Eyes, Mental Deterioration, Energy Conserver and Inconspicuous.
07
Bard build, gear and party role
Stack CHA first. Each point lowers aggro by 0.15% and adds 0.15% energy gain and 0.3% outgoing healing. Valor's second stat is CON, since its shields use your max HP. Whispers' second stat is INT, which all of its attacks scale with. Community testing says LCK does little for Bard. Useful CHA gear includes the Gemstone Tuning Fork (8 CHA, 4 CON, 5% Outgoing Healing), Spare Guitar Strings (10 CHA, from Yordini) and the Cultist Hood (13 INT, 13 CHA). Find more on the items page.
Community-recorded v0.4.0.1 notes say Revelry was tuned for team sustain without replacing the Priest, so pair the two. Give Inspiration to whoever has the most energy-hungry attack, and start Heroism before your damage dealers' burst turns.
08
FAQ
How do you unlock Bard in An Average Campaign?
We found no separate unlock. Choose Bard at the Magic Mirror in the lobby. It has been a base class since February 2026.
How do you become a Bard of Valor?
As a Bard, pick A Travelling Bard in the Forest, choose Approach the group, then Become a Bard of Valor.
How do you get Bard of Whispers?
As a Bard, pick An Ominous Cliff in the Dungeon, approach the man and accept. You can't have taken Bard of Valor earlier in the run.
What are the best boons for Bard?
Editorially, as of Alpha v0.5.1, Selfless Heart and Inconspicuous suit support Bards, while Hunter Eyes and Mental Deterioration suit Whispers.
Is Artificer a Bard subclass?
No. Artificer is a Mage subclass. Bard's only subclasses are Bard of Valor and Bard of Whispers.