Overview

Minstrels are the primary healers out on the battlefield, and are extremely capable in their roll. They have some excellent defences which makes killing them harder over that of other Freeps. On the flip side, minstrels in Warspeech can output a rather large amount of damage, however their healing capabilities are cut by either 50% or 75% depending on which build of minstrel they choose to take.  There are three primary builds a minstrel can take, ofcourse many will choose a hybrid of these three thus that it matches their playing style. In its simpliest form, minstrels can have straight trait lines of buffing, healing or DPS.

Tactics

• If you see a Minstrel in Warspeech, don't worry about it healing others.  Their healing is cut by 50% or 75% depending on which build they have chosen for their minstrel.  Do not forget that Warspeech is a toggle skill, that can be turned off at any given point in time.
• Warspeeching minstrels can stun a reasonable amount of time.  Use Cry resistance to prevent this.
• The Minstrel's larger heals have a large induction time. Interrupt these when you see a glowing green circle at their feet.
• Banners of Terror work great in reducing Minstrel effectiveness as it negates much of their in combat power regeneration.  No power = no healing.
• Minstrels defensive skills are several
  • A blue bubble which redirects all damage to their power.  A stun will immediatly break this shield. Further a similar shield can be put on others, and works under the same proviso.
  • A feign death skill which prevents them from taking any damage.  This can last up to 30 seconds.  Switch targets immediately and have someone watch the minstrel for when it gets back up.  Hobbit minstrels have another feign.
  • Minstrel fear which breaks on damage.
• Minstrels have one combat rez if the legendary trait is slotted and otherwise have a nearly no cooldown out of combat rez.  Try to keep them in combat to prevent them from rezzing dead freeps.