Summary
Serving as a direct upgrade from the Archer Class, theBardenhances the long-ranged specialization of Archers with their musical prowess. Unlike their humorously seductive counterparts inDungeons & Dragons, the Bards ofFinal Fantasy 14are known for rushing into battle and singing songs that help reinvigorate their allies. In turn, Bards are one of the most important physical ranged DPS Jobs in a party, especially for teams who need a DPS/support hybrid.
When Bards reach the mid-point of the game at around Level 50, they can start unlocking Relic Weapons, possibly some of the most powerful armaments they can obtain for their Jobs. Following the trend of combining their bow with musical instruments, some of the best Relic Weapons for Bards inFinal Fantasy 14are scattered across different tiers, each boasting different bonuses and aesthetic changes.
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Named after the recurring weapon that is usuallyaFinal Fantasygame’s most powerful bow, theYoichi Bow Zetais also the most powerful Relic Weapon for Bards in the Zodiac line. While its status as a Level 50 Bow leaves much to be desired in the endgame, its regal base appearance makes it worth the collection for weapons enthusiasts.
Unlike other Bard weapons, Yoichi Bow Zeta looks more like a bow than an instrument weapon. Compared to its predecessor, the Artemis Bow line, which has a harp placed perpendicular to the bow proper, the Yoichi Bow Zeta boasts a more slender appearance. Its main body is comprised of red wood with a black base and hilt, with gold details for the brace, edges, and string.
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TheBow of the Autarchis a stark departure from the trend of Bards inFinal Fantasy 14gameplay having an instrument-inspired weapon. At its core, the Bow of the Autarch has decent VIT and DEX stats, alongside customizable substats to help Bards become more flexible in their combat duties. However, where the Bow of the Autarch shines as a Relic Weapon is its appearance, which makes it seembuilt for a combat Job.
When equipped, the Bow of the Autarch is comprised of white metal with both bodies ending in pointed edges and artistic twirls. A key component of the bow is its large frontal portion, extending into a diamond-shaped shield stylized to protect its user from the front.
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In a stark departure from theBard’s traditional instrument-inspired bows, theTerpander Luxof the Anima Relic Weapons line has a sci-fi aesthetic befitting more sophisticated appearances. Thanks to its customizable substats, the Bard can use the Terpander Lux for more versatile builds. However, its design is the Relic Weapon’s main appeal inFinal Fantasy 14gameplay.
Contrary to the varying harp bow appearances of its earlier models, the Terpander Lux boasts thick and angular pieces of metal that converge to form many protrusions. Much of its closed sections are in the shape of conical plates, whereas its open segments are flat and inlaid with glowing metal plates. The brace of the bow is made out of golden energy that forms a circle at the center, wings at the back, and converging lines towards the front.
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Direct Hit Rate
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Unlike otherBard weapons in theFinal Fantasygamethat resemble musical instruments, theFailnaught Pagos +1combines the traditional archer’s bow with elements of musicality, but never leaning toward a primary instrument as inspiration. The addition of extra Direct Hit Rate as part of its stat boosts adds much-needed combat efficiency for the Bard, while the rest of the weapon’s appearance allows it to stand out.
At its core, the Failnaught Pagos +1 boasts a wooden body with metal plates and details scattered across the main bow. Its grip is a piece of metal protruding from the upper limb of the bow, which in itself is comprised of complicated gears and tubes that imply some usage towards musical tuning. The bow itself has two pairs of strings.
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While many of the weapons accessed by Bards intheirFinal Fantasygameplayare stylized after other string instruments, the harp bow inspiration of theHydatos Harp Bowis rather unique compared to its other counterparts. Stats-wise, the Hydatos Harp Bow makes for a decent bow of its caliber with its DEX and VIT base boosts, with customizable substats giving Bards more combat versatility.
Appearance-wise, the Hydatos Harp Bow has a primary metallic body to house the bow core, with bracers thick enough to provide additional protection. The bracer has outward tube protrusions connected to the top of the bow, making the upper half possess a spine-like appearance. The harp itself is inside out, this time facing away from the player instead of towards them like in usual harp bows.
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Substats
(Customizable)
Unlike other powerful weapons for the Bard, theCircinae PhyseosRelic Weapon for theFinal FantasyJobis more of a stylized bow than based on an instrument. Technicalities-wise, this change may represent an inclination to Elemental Bonuses instead of hard-set DEX and VIT bonuses, which is undoubtedly lackluster compared to the more powerful Blade series.
Moreover, while the Antiquated and Elemental iterations of the weapon are still leaning towards harp bows, the late-stage Circinae Physeos crosses over to the near-uncanny valley. This time, the weapon is heavily comprised of twisting spiked metal in the shape of a bow with gold, black, and red highlights. The Relic Weapon declares its elemental nature with a glowing shard on its upper half, as though the source of its power.
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Bards who want a more traditional take on their weapons intheirFinal Fantasy 14gameplay to help tanks and DPS teammatescan rely on theAugmented Law’s Order Composite Bowfor a straightforward yet elegant take on the bow. Its customizable substats allow the Bard to become more flexible combatants in both solo and party setups, while its decent Physical Damage and Auto-Attack allow them to hold their own in both support and damage situations.
Appearance-wise, the Augmented Law’s Order Composite Bow is heavily wooden. It boasts an ornately-decorated brace that acts as an arm shield, while both halves of the bow spring out from its sides. When sheathed and folded, the Augmented Law’s Order Crescent Bow has an appearance close to that of a harp, albeit lacking strings.
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Among the Bard’s selection of Relic Weaponsin theirFinal Fantasy 14gameplay,Blade’s Museis easily one of its more iconic armaments. While the weapon has a more simplified appearance than its more ornate previous upgrades, attaining the Blade’s Muse can give Bards an air of sophistication that fits any design motif. Stats-wise, Blade’s Muse’s customizable substats allow Bards to focus on other combat roles, while its decent DEX and VIT base stat bonuses provide them with a dependable Relic Bow.
However, Blade’s Muse stands out among other Bard Bows due to its overall appearance. Its base motif as a violin bow is retained with two primary wooden bases and a main string with tuning blades on the side. However, its main body has a set of central strings, mimicking a harp bow. The dual-instrument nature of Blade’s Muse doesn’t hurt the weapon’s industrial aesthetic, making it fit both fantastical and more sleek Bard designs.
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Determination
Accompanying the gameplay ofBards as aFinal Fantasy 14Jobwould be their associated instrument aesthetic, especially with theAmazing Manderville Harp Bowthat adds a layer of minimalist elegance to the concept. Boasting rather strong Critical Hit and Determination bonuses, the Amazing Manderville ranged weapon fits the long-ranged specialization of the Bard Job. However, players who want to add more flair to their Bard’s appearance should collect the Amazing Manderville Harp Bow for its appealing appearance.
Similar to other harp bows, the Amazing Manderville Harp Bow takes the appearance of a standard large harp with a division at the middle to accommodate a brace and what appears to be a small horn. On both tops of each of the bow’s halves are doves with wings outstretched, with golden details lining the white wood of the weapon. Close to the bowstring are a pair of plumes that sway whenever the Bard moves.
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Befitting the role of the pinnacle oftheFinal Fantasy 14Bard’s signature Harp Bowwould be theMajestic Manderville Harp Bow, the highest upgrade tier of the Manderville Harp Bow series. Boasting some of the highest DEX and VIT base stats among Relic Bows, the Majestic Manderville Harp Bow’s glowing green aura fits the supportive tendencies of Bard builds.
However, perhaps where it makes the biggest changes in its series would be its overall appearance. While the ornamental Amazing Manderville Harp Bow has a familiar triangular harp shape, the Majestic Manderville has an entirely different appearance. Now majorly comprised of wood, the Majestic Manderville Harp Bow has a central jade lyre within its main bow, boasting a more symmetrical appearance compared to its previous upgrades.
