Tank Bard Build

Tank Bard build with runes and items. Tank Bard guide offers in-depth how-to play, skill order and tips. Play Tank Bard build in League of Legends Patch 14.14!

Updated: 2024-05-16 ()
ARAM Build Guide for champion Bard and build Tank.
Tank Bard ARAM build with Heartsteel and Grasp of the Undying.
Bard ARAM modifiers
DMG done +15%
DMG taken -15%
Healing +20%

TLDR

Starting items
Giant's Belt should be final item in your build.
Ruby Crystal should be final item in your build.
Quick Skill Order
Bard ability Cosmic Binding should be leveled first.
Q
Bard ability Caretaker's Shrine should be leveled second.
W
Bard ability Magical Journey should be leveled third.
E
Final items
Mercury's Treads should be final item in your build.
Heartsteel should be final item in your build.
Kaenic Rookern should be final item in your build.
Titanic Hydra should be final item in your build.
Overlord's Bloodmail should be final item in your build.
Thornmail should be final item in your build.
Quick Runes
Major rune Grasp of the Undying from Resolve tree.
Minor rune Precision.
Summoner spells
Pick Ghost as your Summoner Spell.
Pick Flash as your Summoner Spell.

Tank Bard Runes

Resolve
Resolve major tree Grasp of the Undying rune.
Resolve major tree Aftershock rune.
Resolve major tree Guardian rune.
Resolve major tree Demolish rune.
Resolve major tree Font of Life rune.
Resolve major tree Shield Bash rune.
Resolve major tree Conditioning rune.
Resolve major tree Second Wind rune.
Resolve major tree Bone Plating rune.
Resolve major tree Overgrowth rune.
Resolve major tree Revitalize rune.
Resolve major tree Unflinching rune.
Precision
Precision minor tree Absorb Life rune.
Precision minor tree Triumph rune.
Precision minor tree Presence of Mind rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Alacrity rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Haste rune.
Precision minor tree Legend: Bloodline rune.
Precision minor tree Coup de Grace rune.
Precision minor tree Cut Down rune.
Precision minor tree Last Stand rune.
Passive
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Attack Speed rune (+10% Attack Speed).
Passive tree Ability Haste rune (+8 Ability Haste).
Passive tree Adaptive Force rune (+9 Adaptive Force).
Passive tree Move Speed rune (+2 Movement Speed).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).
Passive tree Health rune (+65 Health).
Passive tree Tenacity And Slow Resist rune (+10 Tenacity and Slow Resist).
Passive tree Health Scaling rune (+10-180 Health (based on level)).

How to play

  1. You rush Heartsteel.
  2. After Heartsteel, you can rush Titanic Hydra (more fun, damage and some survi) AND/OR Sundered Sky or just go full tank - depending on if you are behind and if your team needs more damage.
  3. Sundered Sky is very good damage item for this build. It scales off your HP (so Grasp, Heartsteel, Overgrowth). It gives damage and pretty good sustain in fights. Remember to switch targets to maximize the effect!
  4. This is auto attack oriented Bard build, so do it! Especially if running with Titanic Hydra and Sundered Sky as well.
  5. Guardian's Horn is a surprisingly good item for its price. You can keep it for a very long time (or even have it as 6th item).
  6. Triumph is better (heal + gold), but if you want to have easier time with your mana, go Presence of the Mind.
  7. You need to adapt your items to the game. Enemy team heavy on AP? Buy MR. They heavy on AD? Buy Armor. You need some damage? Well buy that.
  8. Remember to consume your Heartsteel procs!
  9. Remember to consume your Grasp of the Undying procs!

Tips and Tricks

General
  1. Collecting chimes is essential. It improves your damage and Passive effects, gives mana and movement speed. Do it!
  2. Low on mana? Collect some chimes.
  3. Use your W. Put it somewhere behind your team, so they can use it when needed and enemy can't destroy it. Let it charge for increased Healing.
  4. You can have 3 Ws at the same time. You can leave 2 Ws behind your team for healing.
  5. You have great engaging tool with your R. Play with your team and do not wait for 'special moment'. You can land great Rs, catching people off and making engagements possible.
  6. Identify the best targets for your Ultimate. Is there an enemy who lacks mobility? That's a good target. Sometimes you can use it for disrupting fights. Or for protecting your allies. Be mindful!
  7. E is an interesting tool that you can use in ARAM. You can aggressively E into an enemy team or play mind games with them.
Riot
  1. It's important to collect chimes to improve your meep's attacks, but don't neglect your lane partner! Try to make a big entrance by bringing an ally into the lane with you with Magical Journey.
  2. Let your Caretaker's Shrines charge up - they heal for a lot more when at full power.
  3. Don't forget that enemies can also use your Magical Journey doorways, and that your ultimate can also hit your allies!

Skill Order

  • Bard [object Object] ability.
    Q
    Cosmic Binding
  • Bard [object Object] ability.
    W
    Caretaker's Shrine
  • Bard [object Object] ability.
    E
    Magical Journey
  • Bard [object Object] ability.
    R
    Tempered Fate

Items

Starting items
Giant's Belt item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Starting items vs poke
Guardian's Horn item.
Ruby Crystal item.
Boots
Plated Steelcaps item.
Ionian Boots of Lucidity item.
Mercury's Treads item.
Rush this
Heartsteel item.
Dmg items
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Sundered Sky item.
Wit's End item.
Zhonya's Hourglass item.
Titanic Hydra item.
Overlord's Bloodmail item.
Good tank items
Jak'Sho, The Protean item.
Warmog's Armor item.
Good MR items
Kaenic Rookern item.
Force of Nature item.
Spirit Visage item.
Good Armor items
Frozen Heart item.
Randuin's Omen item.
Dead Man's Plate item.
Iceborn Gauntlet item.
Thornmail item.
Situational items
Zeke's Convergence item.
Knight's Vow item.
Trailblazer item.
For the last fight
Additional considerations for these items is advised!
Elixir of Iron item.
Elixir of Sorcery item.
Example final build
Mercury's Treads item.
Heartsteel item.
Kaenic Rookern item.
Titanic Hydra item.
Overlord's Bloodmail item.
Thornmail item.