Bard Support Build, Patch 26.20 — Runes, Ability Damage & ARAM Buffs/Nerfs

the Wandering Caretaker · AP damageSupportMageEnchanterSupport

Every number below is computed from Riot's official game data for patch 26.20 — the Worlds 2026 patch (Data Dragon, with Meraki Analytics ability values and Riot's published ARAM balance), not sampled from match histories. Open the interactive labs to test Bard against any opponent at any level.

Damage Lab Laning matchup Build Lab ARAM sheet

Bard build and runes (Support, patch 26.20)

Item order

Rabadon's Deathcap
Spellslinger's Shoes
Zhonya's Hourglass
Shadowflame
Dusk and Dawn
Riftmaker

Start: Doran's Ring, Health Potion
Situational: —

Rune page

Domination · keystone Electrocute

Cheap Shot, Sixth Sense, Treasure Hunter

Secondary: Axiom Arcanist, Transcendence

Summoners: Flash, Ignite · Skill order: Q > E > W

Bard is classified AP from its ability scalings; itemization computed from Rabadon's Deathcap + current-patch item stats. Win-rate shown is an estimate and does not drive the build.

Bard base stats by level

Level	Health	Attack damage	Armor	Magic resist	Attack speed
Level 1	630	52.0	32.0	30.0	0.658
Level 6	1,037	63.9	50.6	35.1	0.710
Level 11	1,534	78.3	73.2	41.4	0.773
Level 18	2,381	103.0	111.9	52.1	0.882

Growth follows Riot's per-level curve: value = base + growth × (n−1) × (0.7025 + 0.0175 × (n−1)).

Bard ability damage per rank

Q — Cosmic Binding magic

Rank	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5
Base damage	80	120	160	200	240
Cooldown (s)	11.0	10.0	9.0	8.0	7.0

Scaling: 80/80/80/80/80% AP.

Bard Q damage by champion level (own stats, no items)

Level	Rank	Raw damage	Cooldown
Level 1	rank 1	80.0	11.0s
Level 3	rank 2	120.0	10.0s
Level 6	rank 3	160.0	9.0s
Level 9	rank 5	240.0	7.0s
Level 11	rank 5	240.0	7.0s
Level 13	rank 5	240.0	7.0s
Level 16	rank 5	240.0	7.0s
Level 18	rank 5	240.0	7.0s

W — Caretaker's Shrine none

Rank	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5
Base damage	no direct damage
Cooldown (s)	—	—	—	—	—

Scaling: no scaling.

E — Magical Journey none

Rank	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5
Base damage	no direct damage
Cooldown (s)	22.0	20.5	19.0	17.5	16.0

Scaling: no scaling.

R — Tempered Fate none

Rank	R1	R2	R3
Base damage	no direct damage
Cooldown (s)	110.0	95.0	80.0

Scaling: no scaling.

Bard ARAM buffs & nerfs (Howling Abyss balance modifiers)

Bard deals +15% damage and takes -15% damage on the Howling Abyss.

ARAM modifier	Value
Damage dealt	+15%
Damage taken	-15%
Healing	+20%
Shielding	—
Attack speed	—
Ability haste	—
Tenacity	—
Energy regen	—

ARAM also starts champions at level 3 with 1,400 gold. The ARAM sheet applies these modifiers to every stat and ability side by side with Summoner's Rift.

Frequently asked

What is the best Bard build on patch 26.20?

RiftLab's stat-driven build for Bard Support is Rabadon's Deathcap, Spellslinger's Shoes, Zhonya's Hourglass, Shadowflame, Dusk and Dawn, Riftmaker, with Electrocute as the keystone. It is computed from the champion's damage profile and the opponent's resists, not from win-rate scraping.

Does Bard have ARAM modifiers?

Yes. On ARAM Bard deals +15% damage and takes -15% damage, with healing +20%.

How much damage does Bard's Cosmic Binding do?

Bard's Q (Cosmic Binding) has a base damage of 80/120/160/200/240 across its ranks and scales with 80/80/80/80/80% AP. Before the target's resistances; use the Damage Lab for the mitigated number against a specific opponent.

How much health does Bard have at level 18?

Bard has 2,381 base health, 111.9 armor and 52.1 magic resist at level 18 with no items, on patch 26.20.

Data: Riot Data Dragon 26.20, Meraki Analytics, LoL Wiki ARAM table. Builds are stat-driven recommendations from RiftLab's optimizer, not win-rate aggregates.