Can a Bard do okay in 1v1 melee combat?

[Loadsamoney]

Originally Posted by brecon [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

They don't have the mitigation nor the outright dps to take down mobs solo in later levels. I'm going to focus on forms of soloing that a bard does with weapons, though in practice, I'm wielding a drum or a lute when I solo.

Bards remain very effective soloers against most mob types. Of course there is aoe kiting. For solo mobs, there are a number of variations on fear, charm and chant kiting. The only one in which you will be swinging swords will be fear kiting. When you fear kite, you can either self haste and dot, or double dot with a drum....i find the latter to do more damage at later levels, but I don't have an epic yet.

To be the most effective fear kiter, make sure to get a journeymans walking stick or, better, an orb of tishan. Just twist snare and fear on mobs with high MR until it procs tash, then you should be safe to twist four or five songs (so snare, fear, 2x dots, and then either another dot or regen song).

There are a number of variations, including fear kiting with a charmed pet, but thats the gist of it.

So even if the Bard has decent weapons and uses the right combination of songs, he simply cannot stand toe to toe with something past a certain level?