Bard’s Tome is the monthly battle pass in Duet Night Abyss. It runs to 50 levels, refreshes on a roughly four‑week cadence alongside new character releases, and splits rewards across a free track and two paid upgrades (Hardcover and Collector’s).
Unlock Bard’s Tome and where to find it
The battle pass unlocks as you push through the opening story beats: finish the prologue, reach Icelake, meet Henrik, and enter the Sanctuary with Psyche. Once that happens, Bard’s Tome appears in the UI (on PC you can open it with F2, or tap its icon in the top‑right).
How Bard’s Tome leveling works
- The pass caps at level 50.
- You earn Stanza (battle pass EXP) from Daily, Weekly, and Seasonal “Bardic Inspirations.” Dailies reset daily, Weeklies reset weekly; Seasonal tasks last the whole pass.
- Collector’s Edition adds 10 levels instantly (5,000 Stanza) in addition to unlocking the premium track.
Play regularly and you’ll naturally clear most dailies and weeklies; it’s worth checking the Bardic Inspiration page before the day/week ends to avoid leaving EXP on the table.
Pricing and editions
| Edition | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 50 levels of free rewards |
| Hardcover Edition | $9.99 | Unlocks premium rewards across all 50 levels |
| Collector’s Edition | $19.99 | Everything in Hardcover plus 10 levels granted immediately and a featured skin selector for one character |
Free vs. paid rewards (Starlit Hymn I)
The first Bard’s Tome (“Starlit Hymn I”) leans into build materials, late‑game upgrade items, and a few premium currencies. Highlights include:
| Track | Key upgrade items | Premium currencies | Special items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free |
• 25 Combat Melody III • 23 Weapon Manual III • 21 Combat Melody II, 21 Weapon Manual II • 10 Commission Manual Vol. II • 2 Twilight Thread • 2 Track‑Shift Modules (incl. Weapon) |
• 195,000 Coins | • 5 Pristine Hourglass |
| Paid (Hardcover/Collector’s) |
• 17 Combat Melody IV, 22 Weapon Manual IV • 55 Combat Melody III, 47 Weapon Manual III • 12 Commission Manual Vol. III • 2 Twilight Thread • 5 Track‑Shift Modules (incl. Weapon) |
• 5,600 Carmine Globule • 880 Phoxene • 537,500 Coins |
• 3 Prismatic Hourglass, 2 Pristine Hourglass • Badge of Compilation (pick 1 of 6 Geniemon) |
By level 30 on the premium track you receive the Badge of Compilation to claim a limited Geniemon. The pass also mixes in banner items during the run—expect standard and limited pulls alongside the core mats—and ramps rewards toward the back half.
Level 30 Geniemon: what each one does and who benefits
The level‑30 choice is the biggest single decision in the pass. You pick one Geniemon out of six; each has a one‑tap support effect on a short cooldown and passive stat bonuses tied to its element. Here’s what they do and the clearest fits based on current kits:
| Geniemon (element) | Support effect | Best fits |
|---|---|---|
| Electro | Restore 15 Sanity to self and allies, +10% Skill Damage for 12s | Strong universal pick; pairs cleanly with sanity‑hungry lineups and skill‑centric characters |
| Pyro | Deal Pyro damage, +10.5% Multi‑shot for 12s | Lynn‑focused builds (multi‑shot directly translates to more damage instances) |
| Hydro | For each summon, +4% Damage Dealt to team for 12s (up to +16%) | Rebecca and TBTH summon comps, especially in harder PvE where drops aren’t the priority |
| Umbro | Deal Umbro damage, +6% Morale for 12s | Fantasio, Berenica DPS setups |
| Anemo | +6% Resolve to team; if main HP falls below 25%, instantly heal 10% Max HP | Psyche (synergizes with her HP‑drain/resolve loop) |
| Lumino | Deal Lumino damage, +3.1% Lumino bonus damage to team | Lady Nef, Lisbel Lumino builds |
If you rotate many characters and want a safe baseline, the Electro Geniemon’s Sanity restore plus Skill Damage buff tends to slot into almost any team. If you main a specific character, the element‑matched options above usually outperform the generalist in their intended lanes.
Late‑game upgrade bottlenecks the pass helps with
- Twilight Thread: required to push skills from 8→9→10; drops are scarce, so pass copies save time.
- Track‑Shift Modules: used to tune gear tolerance; both weapon‑specific and general modules appear across tracks.
- Commission/Manuals and Hourglasses: speed up routine farming and build progression.
How the monthly pass and currencies fit in
The separate monthly pass delivers Phoxene daily (90 per day reported). Phoxene is currently most useful for cosmetic systems: dyes for skins and weapons, and select shop items like monthly Track‑Shift Modules. Note that dyes are consumable—applying a new color or resetting to default consumes the original and the color isn’t permanently unlocked. Some high‑demand colors also route through cashback shops with monthly limits for most players.
Player sentiment trends right now:
- Monthly pass value is debated because it doesn’t grant limited pull currency; it’s primarily a dye/utility stockpile.
- Battle pass value hinges on your goals: collectors like the exclusive Geniemon and skin selector (Collector’s), while progression‑minded players value Threads, Track‑Shift Modules, and higher‑tier manuals.
- Outfit availability is still thin in the launch window; expect dye demand to rise as more skins arrive.
Practical leveling and timing notes
- The pass cadence is short (about four weeks), so weekly tasks matter; don’t miss resets.
- Free progression can land close to level 30 early on, but the Geniemon pick requires a paid tier.
- Collector’s is the quickest route if you’re starting late in the cycle thanks to the instant 10 levels.
If you plan to play through the month, the Hardcover Edition is the simplest value unlock: it converts routine play into a steady drip of late‑game mats and secures the level‑30 Geniemon. If cosmetics are your priority, the Collector’s Edition adds a featured skin selection on top of the same premium rewards and accelerates your climb with 10 free levels.
