The best replacement for bard is black mage.

The best alternatives to bard are rated as following:
★★★★★  black mage
★★★★★  dragoon
★★★  dragoon ffxiv
★★★  vassar
★★★  minstrel
★★★  skidmore
★★★  monk ffxiv
★★  summoner
★★  reed
★★  oberlin
★★  wesleyan
★★  gore
★★  blm
★  summoner ff14
★  duelist
★  archer
★  black mage ffxiv
★  cleric
★  sarah lawrence
★  skald
★  summoner ffxiv
★  dragoon ffxiv arr
★  sorcerer aura kingdom
★  hampshire
★  brooklyn tech
★  archer ffxiv
★  sorcerer
★  wl gore
★  bard
  scop
  monk everquest
  kenyon
  stuy
  not the bard
  mic key
  cisson
  james lange
  poet
  gunner aion
  w.l. gore

Your alternative for bard is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about bard, one probably shouldn't forget about bardic music.

Other search terms related to bard and their ratings are:
★★★★★ bardic music
You have in mind a companion for bard and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

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bard
black mage
dragoon