MMOexp Dark and Darker: Heal or mitigate using Divine Protection

Best-in-slot for a utility Bard focused on uptime and tempo.

Tier perk setup to maximize this build:

1. Melodic Protection

Reduces damage taken after playing a song.

Stacks beautifully with Divine Protection to Dark And Darker Gold give insane survivability.

2. Symphony of Blades

Reduces weapon damage cool down after song use.

Lets you return to melee combat faster after buffing.

3. Rapidity

Increases weapon attack speed. When combined with Smite, your DPS spikes massively.

4. Nimble Hands

Faster interactions (open doors, loot chests), especially useful in solo PvE or dungeons.

Optional swaps:

Muse for party-based builds

Fortissimo if you rely heavily on song radius

Best Gear & Instruments

To get the most out of your Bard build, focus on the following:

Weapons

Rapier: Fast attack speed + Smite = DPS monster

Short Sword: Reliable backup weapon with low stamina drain

Instrument

Lute or Lyre with Casting Speed/Will bonuses: Prioritize casting speed to reduce channel time for Divine Protection and Smite.

Armor

Focus on movement speed, Will, and Magical Healing modifiers.

Use light to medium armor to maintain mobility and avoid slowing down your spell casting.

PvP Strategy

1v1 Fights

Open with Smite → buff yourself with Accelerando → dodge → weave → engage.

If you're losing, use Divine Protection → Peacemaking → disengage.

Group Fights

Cast Smite on your strongest ally (Barbarian or Fighter).

Drop Peacemaking in a choke point or front line.

Stay back, rotate Allegro to reposition.

Heal or mitigate using Divine Protection if someone gets focused.

Solo PvE Strategy

Rotate between Smite and Accelerando to burst down mobs.

Use Divine Protection if you're taking too much damage while fighting elite monsters or traps.

Buff before entering rooms and corridors—anticipate danger, don't react to it.

Best Use Cases for This Build

Trio Teams: You can Smite the melee DPS and Peacemaking the enemies, keeping everyone alive longer.

Solo Dungeons: Divine Protection gives a huge margin for error when soloing Red or High-Roller dungeons.

PvP Arenas: Smite turns your Bard into a shockingly powerful duelist if built around speed and timing.

Why Divine Protection + Smite?

Most Bard players stick to pure support builds with buffs like Peacemaking + Allegro or clarity stacking. While these are strong in teams, they lack kill pressure and defensive self-sustain.

Divine Protection + Smite addresses both issues:

1, Divine Protection saves you and allies when you're seconds from death.

2, Smite makes you or your ally a damage dealer on par with Dark And Darker Gold Coins Fighters or Clerics.

In short: It adds lethality and safety—a rare combo for support classes.

Final Tips

Always cast Smite ore-engagement to maximize duration. If you sense danger (ambush, trap, flank), pre-cast Divine Protection. Use Allegro for both escapes and chase-downs. Upgrade your gear using Dark And Darker Gold to increase your survivability and cool down reduction. Happy gaming!