8 Best Champions To Counter Bard In League of Legends

Bard is a highly versatile support known for his strong roaming potential, healing, crowd control, and game-changing ultimate, Tempered Fate (R). He excels at setting up plays, enabling his team with magical journeys, and providing sustain in lane. However, Bard struggles against champions who can punish his roams, engage on him early, or out-trade him in lane.

To effectively counter Bard, you need champions who can apply pressure, deny his roaming potential, or punish him when he overextends. Whether you’re playing support, ADC, or jungle, picking the right champion can limit Bard’s impact and make him less effective in fights.

In this article, we’ll go over the 8 best champions to counter Bard, explaining their strengths against him and how to take advantage of his weaknesses to dominate the bot lane.

#8: Leona

Leona is a strong counter to Bard because her high engage potential, crowd control, and tankiness make it difficult for Bard to roam or play safely in lane. Bard relies on mobility and poking with his Meeps, but Leona’s Zenith Blade (E) allows her to close the gap instantly, locking him down before he can escape.

Additionally, Leona’s Shield of Daybreak (Q) provides a quick stun, preventing Bard from disengaging or healing his ADC. If Bard tries to counter-engage with Tempered Fate (R), Leona’s Solar Flare (R) can turn the fight in her favor by stunning Bard or his ADC. Since Bard is squishy early on, Leona can force fights and apply kill pressure from level 2, making it hard for Bard to play passively and roam effectively.

The key to beating Bard as Leona is to play aggressively in the early game, force all-ins whenever Bard mispositions, and capitalize on his lack of sustain and mobility in extended fights. Building Locket of the Iron Solari for team defense or Evenshroud for extra damage amplification makes Leona even stronger. With powerful crowd control, early-game dominance, and strong engage potential, Leona is one of the best champions to counter Bard in the bot lane.

#7: Thresh

Thresh is a strong counter to Bard because his ability to hook, flay, and disrupt Bard’s roaming potential makes it difficult for Bard to play his usual style. Bard thrives on roaming and poking, but Thresh’s Death Sentence (Q) can catch him mid-roam, forcing him into bad trades or even early deaths.

Additionally, Flay (E) prevents Bard from escaping with his Magical Journey (E), making it harder for him to disengage or set up plays. If Bard mispositions or overextends, Thresh can pull him back with Q and set up kills for his ADC. Since Bard is squishy early on, Thresh can force early fights and apply pressure with well-timed engages.

The key to beating Bard as Thresh is to zone him with Q, punish him when he tries to roam, and use E to prevent him from safely escaping fights. Building Evenshroud for extra engage damage or Locket of the Iron Solari for added team durability makes Thresh even more effective. With strong crowd control, great playmaking, and the ability to shut down Bard’s mobility, Thresh is one of the best champions to counter Bard in the bot lane.

#6: Blitzcrank

Blitzcrank is a strong counter to Bard because his long-range engage, strong early-game presence, and ability to punish squishy supports make it difficult for Bard to roam or play safely. Bard thrives on mobility and roaming, but Blitzcrank’s Rocket Grab (Q) can catch him mid-walk or even pull him out of his Magical Journey (E), leaving him vulnerable to an all-in.

Additionally, Blitzcrank’s Power Fist (E) provides a knock-up, ensuring Bard gets locked down long enough for his ADC to follow up with damage. If Bard tries to disengage or use Tempered Fate (R) to stall a fight, Blitzcrank can use Static Field (R) to silence and burst him down before he escapes.

The key to beating Bard as Blitzcrank is to position aggressively, look for hooks when Bard mispositions, and capitalize on his lack of sustain early. Building Evenshroud for extra damage on hooks or Shurelya’s Battlesong for quick engages makes Blitzcrank even more effective. With high crowd control, early kill pressure, and the ability to pull Bard out of position, Blitzcrank is one of the best champions to counter Bard in the bot lane.

#5: Sona

Sona is a strong counter to Bard because her constant healing, poke damage, and scaling utility make it difficult for Bard to gain an advantage in lane. Bard relies on chipping away at opponents with his Meeps and controlling fights with stuns, but Sona’s Aria of Perseverance (W) allows her to heal through his poke, nullifying his early-game harass.

Additionally, Sona’s Hymn of Valor (Q) provides strong poke damage, allowing her to out-trade Bard when he steps up to harass. Since Bard lacks reliable sustain for himself and his ADC, Sona can slowly win lane by constantly healing and poking him down. If Bard tries to engage with Magical Journey (E) or Tempered Fate (R), Sona can counter with Crescendo (R), stunning Bard and turning the fight in her team’s favor.

The key to beating Bard as Sona is to play safely in the early game, sustain through his poke, and use your Q and R to poke and punish him whenever he mispositions. Building Moonstone Renewer for sustained healing or Shurelya’s Battlesong for mobility makes Sona even stronger. With superior sustain, poke, and late-game scaling, Sona is one of the best champions to counter Bard in the bot lane.

#4: Maokai

Maokai is a strong counter to Bard because his crowd control, durability, and ability to punish roams make it difficult for Bard to safely play his roaming playstyle. Bard thrives on moving around the map and poking enemies in lane, but Maokai’s Twisted Advance (W) allows him to lock Bard down instantly, making it easy for his ADC to follow up.

Additionally, Sapling Toss (E) gives Maokai excellent vision control, making it hard for Bard to roam without getting caught. Since Bard is squishy and lacks strong defensive tools, Maokai can punish him whenever he mispositions with Nature’s Grasp (R), setting up team fights and catches. If Bard tries to disengage with Magical Journey (E), Maokai’s root and knockback can stop him mid-travel, forcing him into a fight he doesn’t want.

The key to beating Bard as Maokai is to use E to track his movements, W to lock him down, and R to force fights on your terms. Building Evenshroud for extra damage or Locket of the Iron Solari for added durability makes Maokai even more effective. With great crowd control, strong sustain, and excellent roaming denial, Maokai is one of the best champions to counter Bard in the bot lane.

#3: Poppy

Poppy is a strong counter to Bard because her ability to shut down dashes, tank damage, and control fights makes it difficult for Bard to roam or escape fights. Bard relies on his mobility and Magical Journey (E) to set up plays, but Poppy’s Steadfast Presence (W) completely blocks him from dashing through walls, making it much harder for him to move around the map.

Additionally, Poppy’s Heroic Charge (E) allows her to stun Bard when he tries to escape, punishing him for mispositioning. If Bard or his ADC try to engage, Keeper’s Verdict (R) can knock them away, turning fights in Poppy’s favor. Since Bard is squishy and relies on kiting, Poppy can stick to him with her tankiness and force him into bad trades.

The key to beating Bard as Poppy is to use W whenever he tries to use E, punish his roams by denying his escapes, and use E to force him into a wall when he overextends. Building Evenshroud for bonus damage on CC or Locket of the Iron Solari for added team durability makes Poppy even stronger. With anti-mobility tools, strong durability, and the ability to shut down Bard’s roaming, Poppy is one of the best champions to counter Bard in the bot lane.

#2: Elise

Elise is a strong counter to Bard because her high early-game pressure, burst damage, and ability to punish roams make it difficult for Bard to safely move around the map. Bard thrives on roaming to impact other lanes, but Elise’s Cocoon (E) allows her to catch and stun Bard mid-roam, setting up easy kills.

Additionally, Elise’s Spider Form (R) gives her high mobility, allowing her to chase Bard down when he tries to escape with Magical Journey (E). Since Bard is squishy and lacks mobility outside of his portal, Elise can invade his side of the map, track his movements, and punish his overextensions. Her strong early-game presence means she can easily gank bot lane and shut Bard down before he becomes useful.

The key to beating Bard as Elise is to track his roams, look for ambushes in the jungle, and capitalize on his squishy nature with quick burst combos. Building Hextech Rocketbelt for extra engage or Night Harvester for high burst damage makes Elise even more effective. With early-game aggression, strong crowd control, and the ability to punish Bard’s roaming, Elise is one of the best champions to counter Bard in League of Legends.

#1: Shaco

Shaco is the best counter to Bard because his stealth, deceptive playstyle, and ability to set traps make it incredibly difficult for Bard to roam or safely engage. Bard relies on roaming to impact the map, but Shaco’s Jack in the Box (W) allows him to set up ambushes in the jungle, making Bard’s roams extremely risky.

Additionally, Shaco’s Deceive (Q) gives him the ability to sneak up on Bard and assassinate him before he can react. If Bard tries to escape with Magical Journey (E), Shaco can follow him through the portal unseen or place a trap on the other side to punish him immediately. Since Bard is squishy and lacks strong defensive tools, Shaco can consistently invade, pressure him, and shut down his impact on the game.

The key to beating Bard as Shaco is to set up traps in the jungle, ambush him during roams, and use your stealth to catch him out of position. Building Duskblade of Draktharr for invisibility resets or Prowler’s Claw for extra burst damage makes Shaco even deadlier. With high mobility, strong map control, and the ability to punish Bard’s biggest strength—his roaming, Shaco is the best champion to counter Bard in League of Legends.

Conclusion

Bard is a unique roaming support who excels at creating plays across the map, poking enemies in lane, and setting up game-changing ultimates. However, he struggles against champions who can punish his roaming, lock him down in fights, or out-sustain his poke. Shaco and Elise are great counters because they punish Bard’s roams with ambushes and high early-game pressure. Poppy and Maokai shut him down by denying his mobility and making his Magical Journey (E) useless. Meanwhile, Blitzcrank, Thresh, and Leona can lock Bard down with hard crowd control, forcing him into unfavorable fights. Lastly, Sona out-sustains Bard in lane, making his poke and pressure far less effective.

The key to shutting down Bard is to track his movements, punish his roams, and take advantage of his squishy nature. By choosing one of these eight counter champions, you can limit Bard’s impact, control the bot lane, and prevent him from taking over the map in League of Legends.