In this article, we explain what the best statistics are for Restoration Druids (WoW MoP 5.3), how the class benefits from each of them, and what your reforging strategy should be. We also detail what the various caps are and why they should be attained. The statistics priority is important as it influences reforging strategies as well as itemisation choices (gear, enchants, and gems).

Make sure to check our Gear Optimisation Guide, which serves as a support guide for this article.

The other articles of our Restoration Druid guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Celece, one of the best Restoration Druids in the world, who raids in Midwinter. You can watch her stream on Twitch.

1. Basics↑top

The stat priority for a Restoration Druid is:

1. Intellect;
2. Haste Rating (until your soft cap, see below);
3. Spirit (until you are comfortable with your mana regeneration);
4. Mastery Rating;
5. Critical Strike Rating;
6. Haste Rating.

These statistics have been obtained by combining common sense, in-game testing, and simulations using Simulation Craft.

If you are unsure what the optimal reforging strategy is for the above priority, you can Ask Mr. Robot for a personalised optimisation of your character's gear, by filling the form below.

2. Getting a Better Understanding↑top

2.1. Statistics Explanations

Intellect is your primary stat. You should look for this stat in all of your upgrades. It provides you with Spell Power, which increases the power of your heals, and increases your critical strike chance.

Haste Rating is important because it lowers the cast time of your heals and, more importantly, it increases the number of ticks from your various healing over time spells. It also lowers your global cooldown, bringing it closer to the desired 1 second global cooldown, which benefits all of your instant cast spells.

As we will see below, there are two haste values of interest, which we call soft haste caps. After each cap, the value of Haste Rating drops below that of all other secondary statistics and remains so until your gear enables you to reach the next cap. Therefore, you must avoid having your haste somewhere between two caps.

Spirit is the Cataclysm healer stat, and is an excellent source of mana regeneration. Unlike other healers, you do not value Spirit excessively and you should judge how much Spirit you need based on how you are able to manage your mana during raids.

Mastery Rating has two benefits, thanks to Mastery: Harmony. Firstly, it increases your direct healing (not healing over time). Secondly, each time you heal a player with a direct heal, you gain a self buff that increases your periodic healing for 20 seconds. It is a very valuable statistic.

Even though Critical Strike Rating does provide various benefits, it is not considered valuable for Restoration Druids, due to its unpredictability (and its overall lower throughput).

2.2. Soft Haste Caps

As a Restoration Druid, you have two important soft haste caps:

• at 12.5% haste, you get an additional tick of both Rejuvenation and Tranquility — in the process of reaching this cap, you also get an additional tick of Lifebloom (at 5% haste), of Wild Growth (at 7.1% haste);
• at 21.4% haste, you get a second additional tick of Wild Growth, a third additional tick of Lifebloom (at 16.62% haste) and an additional tick of Regrowth (at 16.7% haste).

In the following sections, you will find the Haste Rating values that you need to reach the various soft haste caps that we deemed of interest. Every time, we consider whether you benefit from the +5% spell haste raid buff.

2.2.1. 12.5% Soft Haste Cap

Below you will find the Haste Rating values you need to reach the 12.5% (12.518%, to be precise) soft haste cap.

2.2.2. 21.4% Soft Haste Cap

Below you will find the Haste Rating values you need to reach the 21.4% (21.433%, to be precise) soft haste cap.

3. Changelog↑top

• 20 May 2013: Patch 5.3 update: nothing to change.