Summary of this Thread. (People might or might not read this, hope this helps some new Bard Fellowship)
Bard
Unlock NPC - South Shroud, Sitting at West Area outside of Quarymill
Unlock Condition - must be Archer 30, Pugilist 15 (Although you can sub Dragoon's Skills)
Primary Stat
Dexterity (your main base dmg)
Base on Valk's calc (by far the test done)
1 DEX = 6 Determination = 6 Critical Hits
Secondary Stat (There are much of discussion about this)
Critical Hits (there were discussion about 500+ Crits is the capped of your % for Bard at around 20%, I'll try to look for the link)
Link that someone did some test Crits test
Determination (above explained)
Vitality (while this helps on giving you more HP to survive)
Accuracy (This becomes important when you participate current End Game Instance - Bahamut Coil, required 472+, to clarify that on magical acc capped required 432+, different from physical)
Piety (This I personally do not think that it is important, at level 50 Lalafel has 1997 MP, where the song can last long enough of your Battle Voice duration)
Skill Speed (every 100 on top of your base reducing 0.10 sec, approx., if you are playing your skill manually without macro, this might be worth it... Otherwise, it will be a completely waste of time to stack this up)
Job Ability/ Weapon Skill
Global Cool Down Type:
Single Target
Heavy Shot
Straight Shot
Venomous Bite
Wind Bite
AoE
Wide Volley
Rain of Death
Quick Knot
Non-Global Cool Down Type:
Single Target
Misery's End
Bloodletter
Blunt Arrow
Repelling Arrow
AoE
Flame Arrow
Weapon
Post 2.1 Pack
Elfin Bow
Better than Relic+1
Because of the CRITs , well mainly
But losing tons of ACC, you will need to adjust your own BiS to suit the lost of ACC, if you are intending to go BC T5, which accuracy is critical issue for DPS.
Artemis +1
Highest Damage, Shiny Bow. Has good chunk of ACC, which can offset your acc gears to compensate more Critical Hit Rate and/or Determination.
If you can hold you heart in getting this, spend your Myth on Artifact V2, before making your bow shiny, it's overall helping your Journey in games.
Allagan Bow (Best DMG Bow in game, ilvl95 - post 2.1 Pack 17th Dec 2013)
dropped from Turn 5, which is not many people beating this yet.
And hence I placed this at 3rd, but highest dmg bow tho!
If you can get it, gratz!
Titan Bow (post 2.1 pack)
Looks better than NQ relic....
If you don't plan on relic+1, don't do relic quest?!
Use this until you can obtain one Elfin Bow.
Artemis
If you are in a FC, it's much easier for you to get this done. (Pre-2.1 Pack)
Nowadays, DF Ifrit /Garuda HM are possible one shot, Titan HM however might take a few, and yet still able to cleared with DF groups.
Quest only available upon you have finished the current game story line quest.
Garuda Bow
If you lucky enough to get one, on the way making your Relic - Artemis.
Sarga (Crafted iLevel 70)
This has not been mentioned much, but if you meld with correct Materials, it is possible outdone Garuda Bow
And actually, this bow look awesome and nicer than Artemis, if you asked me! (The style)
Serpent Bow (Grand Company lvl 55 Bow, Gridania)
This is being recommended, if you are joining a Grand Company for your Jobs' Weapon.
Ifrit Bow
Ifrit Bow is quite handy to have, if you refused to get the Bow from Grand Company. You can use it for beating Titan, however, if you met some Elitist in Duty Finder, they might criticize your Ifrit Bow, during Titan Hardmode.
Grand Company ilvl50 Bow
These standing the position somewhere around here before Darklight and Ifrit Bow.
Darklight Bow (Wonderer Palace)
This is not really being mentioned, and by looking at the stat, I am leaving this as last Dungeon/ Instance bow that you can use, until you can get any above mentioned. (Not recommended though)
Gears
Artifact Version 2 (Myth Stones Exchanged)
These considered one of the best set in game for Bard, which is possible some debate between Allagan set.
Allagan (Bahamut Coil)
same level with V2, i.e. ilvl90 gears. They are basically having slightly different Secondary Stat. Have yourself play with these and Mytho gears, to balance your stat.
Spreadsheet showing which Turn dropping your wanted gears. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...XSlVDYmc#gid=0
Dark Light (Phil Stones Exchanged)
These are typically standard set for most people in mind. Without these gears, you hardly get into any local Server shouting group for Titan Hardmode or Bahamut Coil. (gear scanned)
(In many people mind that BLUE BOX > anything, except the Artifact Version 1 case.)
Notes: Save yourself on Philo, don't use DL Hands and Pants. They are worst than Dungeon ilvl55 gears for Bard.
Crafted iLevel70
Many people choose these, when they have the DoH classes leveled, or enough gils to buy. As you can custom make them into STAT that you needed, i.e. melding materials. Also not to mention, you can dye them into colors that you like.
Toxede
These are something to replace both below mentioned, while you are working to get your gears better.
Mercenary
These are something to replace Artifact Version 1, while you are working to get your gears better.
Artifact Version 1
Level 45 to 50, these are only for the look, not for Garuda Hardmode and further.
However, these are handy to have, for you to beat the storyline quests. Specially, at Garuda normal fight, they help so much.
Macro
(This is just some idea for you, feel free to ignore them, if they aren't any good to you )
Heavy Shot (Spam this button/ macro, until Straight Shot effect is about to wear off)
/ac "Mysery's End"
/ac "Bloodletter"
/ac "Heavy Shot"
Straight Shot (This is usually allow you to Straight Shot at start)
/ac "Mysery's End"
/ac "Straight Shot"
Buff (Buff button - either spam this button until all used or spam this button between GCD)
/ac "Blood for Blood"
/ac "Raging Strike"
/ac "Hawkeye"
/ac "Barrage"
/ac "Internal Release"
/ac "Quelling Strike"
DoT (Pressing twice of this button, if you see Internal Release is being used.)
/ac "Internal Release"
/ac "Wind Bite"
/wait 1
/ac "Bloodletter"
/ac "Repelling Shot" (take care of using this, while inside AK fighting Demon Wall.)
/ac "Flame Arrow" (2sec, for you to place Flame Arrow on the ground, if time is too short, adjust below wait time)
/wait 2
/ac "Venomous Bite"
Blunt Arrow (Macro used in Bahamut Coil)
/ac "Blunt Arrow"
/p Silence Just use it ! > get ready for next !
Target of Target
/assist (use only 1 number from 2 to 8, where your Tank is lining up in your party list.)
p.s. For all Macros, I'm basically typing base on memory without referring those Job Ability/ Weapon Skill names are correct or not. If it doesn't work, please check their naming.
p.s. For people, who are addicted with gears setting, making their BRD look awesome - I find this link very nice to check - http://www.ariyala.com/ffxiv/gear.html
Example :
One of the BiS in this Thread
Another BiS Post
Credit - all contributors in this thread!