Bard Supp Sound Shock or Harp of Rhythm?

Class Discussion Class Discussion
1

So i’m starting to have a problem with Sound Shock, it has around 4.5 sec so i’m spamming a lot along side the other skills, but i don’t have much time to walk around for counter or to shield my allies with Wind of Music because i’m constant using this skill. So i’m thinking in replacing with Harp of Rhythm to be able to walk more freely but it has a limited range and i stay around 3 sec without debuffs.

Currently Swiftness with pet: 1454

Sound Shock
CD: 6 Sec
CD GEM: Lv.3 gem 6% CD
Tripod: not relevant, maintained explosion gives 2 sec of extra hits plus the extra ones from Rapid Fire
Currently CD: around 4.5 sec
Time without debuff: 0.5 to 1 sec max.

Sound Shock
Sound Shock403×539 269 KB

Harp of Rhythm
CD: 24 Sec
CD GEM: Lv.5 gem 10% CD
Tripod: Lv.2 +2.6 sec duration (0.6 sec per level max 4.5 extra duration with lvl.5 tripod)
Currently CD: around 15 sec
Time without debuff: around 3+ seconds.
Video showing the skill: Harp of Rhythm - YouTube

Harp of Rhythm
Harp of Rhythm408×554 273 KB

So should i already replace or wait to get a higher gem and higher tripod? or don’t change at all? if it is better not to change i just won’t use my counter skill because i won’t have time to walk much. This is why pally are “easier” they have much free time to walk because they don’t need to stay too close to the allies.

2

I prefer soundshock. CD is low enough where debuff has practically 100% uptime. It also just feels like a more active playstyle.

Also high mobility enemies can avoid Harp very easily and if that happens, well you’re out of the debuff until CD resets.

3

normally i use bleed rune on sound shock and harp for serenade charge.

4

I personally would keep soundshock as is more forgiving if you miss the attack instead of the 15s cooldown in harp of rhythm.
I also dont use this skill at all since I replaced it with the counter skill

5

You use soundshock and run it at lvl 7 for sacred shock, once you have full skillpoints and lvl 3 summoning will tripods you can then run Harp of Rythm.

Harp is only better later on when you have the extra skill points since bosses can jump out of Sound Shock, for the time being it just saves a more important skill such as Rhapsody of Light for hitting lvl 10.

You can also ignore Harp entirely and run conviction and judgement on your sound shock and sonic vibration once you get those runes, its much better for swiftness bard’s mana issues.