Best solo melee class?

[Snaggles]

Almost everything in EQ needs three disclaimers next to it.

A bard can do damage with spells (if they land) or melee (on anything). It’s not high-level of DPS but technically they can. They can also sustain this almost forever. Even burning mana on charming you have far more than 1hr of constant charms (on the higher ranked one) before you will go OOM.

They are a flexible support class. However, for solo work between all the tricks they are by far the most capable “hybrid melee” archetype unless you can’t snare, slow, or fear and the mob summons. If that’s the case, it becomes a dangerous game of charm and regen/click’quest.

If you do the math on a toe-to-toe fight, a melee bard is not matching a monk, warrior, or even a normal hybrid. Considering they can self-haste for a duration with a Howler Lute click, sing a 1min duration slow, and then weave other spells like regen, dots, or damage shields the overall package works pretty well for taking damage and dishing it out.

The main opponent of this approach is the fact that same bard could just swarm or charm kill at multiple times the speed. Or pick up a melee and reverse kite stuff with less drama and while keeping its drum equipped for better dots and run speed.

I have a poorly geared who is frequently use for tasks my other classes can’t do. An enchanter is more powerful in almost every way. In most situations a necro is as well. A geared and well played bard especially outdoors likely will rival both in most situations. Any class that can pick up a bronze medal among those fellow competitors is worth trying out. Especially if the cost of entry is some bronze armor and a Mistmoore drum…