*Disclaimer: The thumbnail you see looks like crap because I made it myself. This video does NOT use AI in any way.* 

**TL;DW - Bard Charm Solo is stupid fun and this video teaches you how to do it. You can start charm solo the very level that you get charm, which is at the time of this writing level 3. It requires no instruments (none used in the footage) and is incredibly fun and effective. Here's the major tips and tricks if you don't want to watch the video.** 

How To/Tips

* **Number1 tip -** ***Shout works great as a visual cooldown tracker for Charm's 18 second duration*****.** Charm one target, then use Shout on the kill target. This will create a visual timer (the cooldown on Shout) which will help you track that charm is breaking. Demonstrated in the video but here's the logic;
   * Charm lasts 18 seconds on the full duration
   * Shout has a 12 second cooldown.
   * Casting charm is a 3 second cast. Shout 12sec cooldown + 3 second cast on charm = 15sec, coz math. 
   * When shout cooldown ends, wait a second or two, and then start casting Charm on the Charm Target. You should recharm very close to the time that charm is expiring. this streamlines the mental overhead of when charm is breaking. Once you get good at this, you'll be recharming the charm target when charm is breaking taking little to no damage from the charm target. 
* **Key that you have an escape plan.** Know where the zoneline is. use AoE slow and be ready to Traveler's March if you need to. I've charm solo'd from 5-11 now and only had to bail 3 times. This is pretty dependable once you get the flow down. 
* **AoE Slow is the primary offensive song to twist when dealing damage.** You want AoE Slow up for 3 reasons
   * it'll slow down the kill target reducing damage you take and helping eliminate downtime
   * when your charm target breaks out of charm, you'll slow them on the next pulse of AoE slow to create more safety while you recharm
   * AoE slow also slows the enemies run speed. If you need to bail, or you need some space between you and the targets to recharm and regain control, they're already slowed. 
* **I recommend only using charm on dark blue con baddies.** Charm will break sometimes (not often) and when it does, you don't want to be overwhelmed and in a panic while you try to change targets while you're getting walloped by tough targets. Yes you *can* charm stuff above your level, but i found it was too much trouble and created downtime. But you do you if you're feeling spunky
* **Carry, and be ready to use, bandages. Keep them hot keyed!** Bandages in M&M are currently very effective for solo healing. They were damn near useless and very annoying in EQ, but this isn't EQ. Bandages are great. *Stuff is going to happen.* If you're fighting two, you can charm one, tell the pet to back off, mezz the kill target, and bandage yourself in combat. Also downtime isn't fun. bandages remove almost all the downtime i've had learning this skill. If you're low health after killing the kill target and you still have a charm target, wait, recharm, and bandage. Then kill the charm servant. 
* **Use a 2hander!** A suprising amount of bard players do not know they can use 2h greatswords and 2h spears! Likely because they can't use them in other games (EQ) but they can in M&M as of this writing. 2H works great with charm because you can easily track your big smashy hits while you're juggling charm/mezz cooldowns. Once you're comfy with refreshing charm, you'll be able to time those slow heavy smashes and land all the damage you can while juggling control
* **You can deal with a triple pull!** Open with charm, tell the now-pet to attack the kill target, and mezz the third target. Target the kill target, and shout them. Your shout cooldown is almost perfectly aligned with the 18 second charm duration. Before you recharm, you should remezz. Even if the mezz target is still under. stay in control. if all 3 are on you and you go into a panic while you're trying to charge targets and get back in control you're likely to be on a corpse run. 
* **Most bard songs don't cost mana. Crowd Control songs do!** Be aware that every time you charm you burn some mana. When you mezz, you burn mana. Don't go OOM and have to bail or die because you forgot you use mana when you're doing this. This is why i would recommend fighting 2 at a time when you can, and fight 3 when you have to. 
* **Charm spell casters when possible.** They still do great melee damage, and they come with a load of spells to use against the kill target. *While you cannot tell the pet to cast spells manually,* they will cast them in combat frequently. They will buff and heal you when they feel like it. No, charming a healer mob is NOT equivelant to having a pocket healer. They'll do spells when they feel like it but it's still very helpful. 
* **Avoid charming rogue baddies**. While they can land backstabs and do roguey stuff which is fun, they will go stealth while they're not in combat which can lead to some complications (you can't target them for a recharm). If you have see invis, this is a non issue but they're still not worth the touble IMO. Just be aware. However if the situation dictates that you have a rogue charm-pet, try to position the kill target so that the rogue pet is behind them and giggle while they stab. Giggling is required and will occur naturally.

Get out there and charm-solo your face off! **Be respectful of groups around you**. Don't be *that* bard. 

Tralala dat xp

Bard Charm-Solo is stupid fun! Let's talk about it! No kiting, all fighting! (zero AI used in this production)