FFXIV Bard Macros

FFXIV Macros can help simplify the complexity of many actions, making it easier to continually use skills. Bard macros can help boost DPS for casual players by weaving in Off Global Cooldown (oGCD) skills and seldom used abilities that may get missed.

This guide is based on the balance changes as of patch 6.1.

Why Play a Bard?

My main class leveling up to 90 was Warrior. I spent the bulk of my time using Warrior for the MSQ and in dungeons, trials, and raids. Then I discovered the Bard class; mostly by accident. I wanted to play Archer to level 30, so I could unlock the musical instruments with Bard. Instead of just unlocking the instruments, I found a new play style that gave me significantly more freedom.

Most classes in FFXIV have rigid roles and positions as you play. Tanks need to be up-front and right in the face of the bosses. Melee DPS classes often need to move around to the flank or rear to do the most damage. Spell casters, DPS and healers, all have cast times that will be interrupted if you start moving for a game mechanic. The Bard is free to stand where they want and move about freely which appeals to a specific side of my play style. The side that enjoys freedom.

Bard Priorities

From my experience, the Bard in FFXIV is a special case. Unlike most classes that have specific combos, rotations, or situational/positional abilities, the Bard’s skills are priority-focused. Meaning, you use the abilities in priority order if they are available. With that in mind, let’s look at the Bard’s toolkit.

There are many sites and Youtube channels that go over the Bard’s skills. Here are a few that helped me understand how the Bard plays. Unfortunately, most are either outdated by patches or simply give you a high level glimpse of the Bard abilities.

Bard Macros

Now that that is out of the way, let’s dig into the Bard macros. When building macros for a class, make sure GCD skill are above the wait command. Placing them below will ensure they are never triggered.

Arrow: This is your primary attack macro which includes dismounting if needed. It will cast Straight Shot if it is available or Heavy Shot as a backup for your GCD skill. Then it will try to cast another skill immediately following, with a third if you haven’t started something else before it kicks in.

/micon "Heavy Shot"
/mount
/ac "Straight Shot"
/ac "Heavy Shot" <wait.1>
/ac "Raging Strikes"
/ac Sidewinder
/ac "Empyreal Arrow"
/ac Bloodletter
/ac "Radiant Finale"
/ac "Battle Voice"
/ac Barrage
/ac Troubadour <wait.1>
/ac Sidewinder
/ac "Empyreal Arrow"
/ac Bloodletter

Arrow AOE: This is your AOE attack macro. It will cast Shadowbite, Rain of Death, or Quick Nock depending on which is available. Then it will try to cast another skill with a third triggered if you haven’t initiated another ability.

/micon "Quick Nock"
/mount
/ac Shadowbite
/ac "Rain of Death"
/ac "Quick Nock" <wait.1>
/ac "Raging Strikes"
/ac Sidewinder
/ac "Empyreal Arrow"
/ac "Radiant Finale"
/ac "Battle Voice"
/ac Barrage
/ac Troubadour <wait.1>
/ac Sidewinder
/ac "Empyreal Arrow"

Sing: This will start the next available song in priority order for single targets. Patch 6.1 changes The Wanderer’s Minuet into Pitch Perfect while the song is playing. This should work with the current macro as the icon will also update to Pitch Perfect and you can hit it each time you need to execute the ability.

/micon "The Wanderer's Minuet"
/ac "The Wanderer's Minuet"
/ac "Mage's Ballad"
/ac "Army's Paeon"
/merror off

Sing AOE: This will start the next available AOE song. Unlike the previous macro, you will not want to use this macro to execute Pitch Perfect while The Wanderer’s Minuet is playing. The controller crossbar setup in the next section will address this.

/micon "Mage's Ballad"
/ac "Mage's Ballad"
/ac "Army's Paeon"
/ac "The Wanderer's Minuet"
/merror off

Heal Me: This macro will call Nature’s Minne and Second Wind to boost your self healing. At level 90, I typically get at least an extra 1,000 health when my life drops rapidly and I don’t want to burden the healer.

/micon "Second Wind"
/ac "Nature's Minne" <wait.1>
/ac "Second Wind"
/merror off

Controller Crossbar Setup

There are many ways to setup controllers in FFXIV. I found that using the toggle option was best for me. By using toggle, I can highlight either the left or right crossbar and only focus on pressing the button that is assigned to the ability or macro I wish to use. It also lets me focus primarily on either single target or multi-target attacks.

Note: All buttons are show as Xbox/PlayStation buttons.

Left Crossbar

A / : Arrow macro
X / : Stormbite DoT
B / : Caustic Bite DoT
Y / : Sing macro
Up Button: Heal Me macro
Left Button: Apex Arrow
Right Button: The Warden’s Paean
Down Button: Iron Jaws

Right Crossbar

A / : Arrow AOE macro
X / : Stormbite DoT
B / : Caustic Bite DoT
Y / : Sing AOE macro
Up Button: Arm’s Length
Left Button: Apex Arrow
Right Button: The Wanderer’s Minuet / Pitch Perfect
Down Button: Head Graze

Notice that the face buttons and left buttons (in bold) use equivalent skills which makes fighting single targets and groups easier to transition.

Bard Macro Rotation

Here is the opener and general priorities when I face single or multiple targets.

Opener

X / DoT: Get the first DoT going
Y / Song Macro: Start the first song
B / DoT: Add the second DoT (optional for groups)
A / Arrow Macro: Start dealing direct damage

Target Priorities

Y / Song macro: Keep a song up or trigger Pitch Perfect when you have 3 stacks
Down Iron Jaws: Refresh the DoTs
Left Apex Arrow: Fire the Apex Arrow if the Soul Voice gauge is at least 80-100% full
A / Arrow Macro: Continue dealing damage

Hopefully that helps you start trying out the Bard. Let me know what you think.

More details on macro commands referenced on this page can be found here.