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the Wandering Caretaker

Bard Support build & stats

SupportMage B 6,847 games · patch 16.17
Win rate
49.0%
Pick rate
5.6%
Ban rate
4.1%
Division
Master
Build, runes, spells and skill order are from Master games only.

Recommended build

Chosen by win rate among builds with enough games, from ranked matches of high-elo players on patch 16.17

Solid sample

Start with

Health Potion
Health Potion
50 gold
Health Potion
Health Potion
50 gold
50.5% 283 games

Build in this order

Locket of the Iron Solari 1
Locket of the Iron Solari
2,200 gold
Mikael's Blessing 2
Mikael's Blessing
2,300 gold
Bandlepipes 3
Bandlepipes
2,300 gold
6,800 gold
70.1% WR 67 games

Boots

Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads
1,250 gold
52.3% 281 games

Runes

Domination Domination + Inspiration Inspiration
52.5% WR
259 games · 4% pick
Electrocute
Electrocute

Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.

Domination Domination
Electrocute Dark Harvest Hail of Blades
Cheap Shot Taste of Blood Sudden Impact
Sixth Sense Grisly Mementos Deep Ward
Relentless Hunter Ultimate Hunter Treasure Hunter
Inspiration Inspiration
Magical Footwear Hextech Flashtraption Cash Back
Triple Tonic Biscuit Delivery Time Warp Tonic
Jack Of All Trades Cosmic Insight Approach Velocity
Shards
Adaptive Force Attack Speed Ability Haste
Adaptive Force Move Speed Health Scaling
Health Tenacity and Slow Resist Health Scaling

Summoner spells

Flash Heal
49.5% 883 games

Max order

Cosmic Binding Q Caretaker's Shrine W Magical Journey E
61.0% 136 games

Each line is the variant with the best win rate among those played enough times, not simply the most popular one. Win rates are smoothed so a lucky three-game build can't top the list. Sample sizes are shown next to every choice.

Tips for Bard

Generated from this patch's numbers

  • Bard wins 49.0% of games as Support on patch 16.17 (6,847 games).
  • Most common core: Dead Man's Plate → Locket of the Iron Solari → Imperial Mandate — 38% win rate over 13 games.
  • Take Electrocute as keystone: picked in 64% of games with a 49% win rate.
  • Best matchup: Twisted Fate (75% over 8 games). Hardest: Shaco (33% over 12 games) — consider a ban or a different pick when you see it.

Items

Core build in purchase order (from match timelines)

Core build

Dead Man's Plate 1
Dead Man's Plate
Locket of the Iron Solari 2
Locket of the Iron Solari
Imperial Mandate 3
Imperial Mandate
33.3% WR
6 games · 0% pick
Mikael's Blessing 1
Mikael's Blessing
Locket of the Iron Solari 2
Locket of the Iron Solari
Bandlepipes 3
Bandlepipes
66.7% WR
3 games · 0% pick
Dead Man's Plate 1
Dead Man's Plate
Locket of the Iron Solari 2
Locket of the Iron Solari
Mikael's Blessing 3
Mikael's Blessing
33.3% WR
3 games · 0% pick

Starting items

Health Potion
Health Potion
Health Potion
Health Potion
50.5% WR
283 games · 4% pick
Ruby Crystal
Ruby Crystal
Health Potion
Health Potion
Health Potion
Health Potion
33.3% WR
3 games · 0% pick
Health Potion
Health Potion
100.0% WR
2 games · 0% pick

Boots

Boots of Swiftness
Boots of Swiftness
49.5% WR
1,586 games · 23% pick
Mercury's Treads
Mercury's Treads
52.3% WR
281 games · 4% pick
Plated Steelcaps
Plated Steelcaps
49.1% WR
232 games · 3% pick

Legendary items by win rate

ItemWin ratePick
56.2% 1% (73)
54.7% 2% (148)
54.5% 8% (567)
53.8% 8% (517)
52.7% 2% (110)
51.3% 24% (1,636)
50.9% 2% (171)
50.8% 1% (59)
49.2% 1% (63)
49.2% 16% (1,067)
48.1% 2% (154)
46.3% 1% (54)

Runes

Most played full pages and keystone win rates

Domination Domination + Inspiration Inspiration
52.5% WR
259 games · 4% pick
Electrocute
Electrocute

Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage.

Domination Domination
Electrocute Dark Harvest Hail of Blades
Cheap Shot Taste of Blood Sudden Impact
Sixth Sense Grisly Mementos Deep Ward
Relentless Hunter Ultimate Hunter Treasure Hunter
Inspiration Inspiration
Magical Footwear Hextech Flashtraption Cash Back
Triple Tonic Biscuit Delivery Time Warp Tonic
Jack Of All Trades Cosmic Insight Approach Velocity
Shards
Adaptive Force Attack Speed Ability Haste
Adaptive Force Move Speed Health Scaling
Health Tenacity and Slow Resist Health Scaling
Domination Domination + Sorcery Sorcery
45.9% WR
183 games · 3% pick
Electrocute Cheap Shot Deep Ward Relentless Hunter Celerity Scorch
Domination Domination + Inspiration Inspiration
49.4% WR
168 games · 2% pick
Electrocute Cheap Shot Deep Ward Treasure Hunter Jack Of All Trades Magical Footwear

Keystones

  • Electrocute Electrocute Hitting a champion with 3 separate attacks or abilities in 3s deals bonus adaptive damage. 48.7%26% pick
  • Guardian Guardian Guard allies you cast spells on and those that are very nearby. If you or a guarded ally would take damage based on level, you're both granted a shield. 51.5%0% pick
  • Unsealed Spellbook Unsealed Spellbook Swap Summoner Spells while out of combat. Swapping to unique Summoner Spells will increase the rate at which you can make future swaps. 48.0%0% pick
  • Deathfire Touch Deathfire Touch Damaging a champion with an ability burns them over time. 41.2%0% pick

Summoner spells

  • Flash Heal Flash + Heal 49.5%13% pick
  • Flash Ignite Flash + Ignite 47.7%11% pick
  • Exhaust Flash Exhaust + Flash 43.7%2% pick

Abilities & skill order

Which ability to max first, from match timelines

Cosmic Binding Q Caretaker's Shrine W Magical Journey E 61.0%136 games
Cosmic Binding Q Magical Journey E Caretaker's Shrine W 66.7%6 games

Most common first three levels: Q → W → E (50%), Q → E → W (58%), Q → W → Q (58%).

  • PTraveler's Call

    Meeps: Bard attracts lesser spirits that assist with his basic attacks to deal extra magic damage. When Bard has collected enough Chimes, his meeps will also deal damage in an area and slow enemies hit.Chimes: Ancient c...

  • QCosmic Binding

    Bard fires a missile which will slow the first enemy struck, and continue onward. If it strikes a wall, it will stun the initial target; if it strikes another enemy, it will stun them both.

  • WCaretaker's Shrine

    Reveals a Health shrine which powers up over a short time, disappearing after healing and speeding up the first ally that touches it.

  • EMagical Journey

    Bard opens a portal in nearby terrain. Allies and enemies alike can take a one-way trip through that terrain by moving into the portal.

  • RTempered Fate

    Bard sends spirit energy arcing to a location, putting all champions, minions, monsters, and turrets hit into stasis for a brief time.