Feral Druid DPS Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible Raid Guide — Season 4

This build provides the highest single-target potential when considering the Season 4 set bonus paired with Ashes of the Embersoul. It makes sure to pick up Convoke the Spirits to amplify its cooldown potential, alongside taking advantage of damage amp windows on some encounters.

• Kazzara
• The Amalgamation Chamber
• The Forgotten Experiments*
• Rashok
• Zskarn
• Magmorax
• Echo of Neltharion*
• Scalecommander Sarkareth*

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Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!

Certain encounters have add waves that need to be dealt with, or potential to gain some funnel with the use of Primal Wrath. This build swaps out a single point to have access to this, but it does have some flex points as well for additional AoE. This is more granular compared to the full AoE build.

• The Forgotten Experiments*
• Echo of Neltharion*
• Scalecommander Sarkareth*

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Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!

To gain the full potential from Feral's AoE toolkit, it takes a very high point investment with a number of them being very encounter-specific. A full AoE build is rarely required in Aberrus, but some groups may require more of it to help with certain compositions. Any of the encounters with this recommended will have a brief explanation on the high-value points to mix into a single-target build if necessary.

• Assault of the Zaqali

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Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the build directly into your game!

Kazzara is an entirely single-target encounter without any burn windows, so a standard single-target build is recommended.

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• Do not use any movement tools to get out with Dread Rifts; your passive speed should be enough. Also, wait for the pool to drop before using Wild Charge so you do not drop it under the raid.
• Use Dash to kite the Rays of Anguish beam if you are targeted into an appropriate rift. You can also use Stampeding Roar to help slow allies.
  • Tiger Dash is also a consideration here especially in Mythic to allow you to quickly get Rays of Anguish out of the group without crossing over any existing pools.
• Have either Barkskin or Survival Instincts active for the Hellsteel Carnage casts.

For more information, please refer to our Kazzara guide.

While there are two bosses in the Amalgamation Chamber encounter, they are kept so far apart that there is no opportunity to multi-DoT. As such, a single-target build is recommended here.

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• Depending on which side you are assigned to, there are different considerations:
  • If on the Fire side: use Barkskin / Survival Instincts on the Fiery Meteor or Molten Eruption soaks, and use Dash and Stampeding Roar to run out and soak them.
  • If on the Shadow side: use Tiger Dash to run out quickly to drop off Umbral Detonation pools, and use Barkskin alongside Stampeding Roar during Coalescing Void to get to a safe distance.
• In Phase 2, cycle Barkskin and Survival Instincts for the Gloom Conflagration soaks.
• Similarly, use Stampeding Roar after the initial soak for the raid to get out, then Wild Charge back in after the dropoff damage completes.
• Aim to use Nature's Vigil (ideally with cooldowns) when stacks of Shadowflame Contamination get high in Phase 2.

For more information, please refer to our Amalgamation Chamber guide.

In Normal and Heroic difficulties, these bosses will spawn one by one, so, while there are some small adds that need to be dealt with, it is mostly a single-target encounter. In Mythic, there is a consideration to switch to a more cleave heavy build to be able to deal with the two bosses active at once alongside the Erratic Remnant spawns.

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• You can use strong defensives such as Survival Instincts to stay in during Bellowing Roar for more uptime. The safe option however is to Dash out and Wild Charge back in.
• Use Barkskin if you get multiple stacks of Rending Charge. Also, use Renewal here if the healers are struggling to keep you stable.
• In Phase 2 and onward, Erratic Remnants will spawn whenever players are dispelled. If playing for cleave, use Primal Wrath to assist in killing them; otherwise, make sure you have Bleeds applied for Predator resets when they get burned down.
  • In Mythic difficulty these will often be spawned in waves with group dispels, so try to have Combo Points ready to cast Primal Wrath ASAP.
• In Phase 2, use Barkskin if you have to hold Unstable Essence to high stacks before getting dispelled. This is especially important in Mythic where dispels will be held for longer, so use Renewal if you are looking unstable.
• In Phase 3 use Stampeding Roar during Deep Breath to help the raid get out of the beam. Take Improved Stampeding Roar to be able to cover multiple casts.
• In Mythic difficulty, when Temporal Anomaly are active in Phase 3: be very careful bouncing them if you do not have Barkskin ready. It is very easy to accidentally take multiple hits, and also hard to aim it in the correct direction during Deep Breath.

For more information, please refer to our Forgotten Experiments guide.

Throughout this encounter adds spawn at a staggered rate, with an incentive to be able to both AoE and deal priority burst at the same time when possible. Due to that, Feral can either play for full AoE or Cleave depending on how you want to play the encounter out.

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• Regardless of build, Feral always plays Primal Wrath here. Aim to have it applied to all adds whenever possible, making use of Feral's increased range. Funnel Apex Predator's Craving procs into either the boss or Magma Mystics.
  • If you intend to play full AoE, take Tear Open Wounds and aggressively AoE any spawns that arrive on your platform, but still make use of our funnel when possible.
  • If you want to burst the boss more effectively and funnel, make sure to burn cooldowns on the pull when isolated to take full advantage of Convoke the Spirits.
• Make sure to keep Bleeds active on as many targets as possible to leverage Predator resets.
• Be ready to interrupt the Magma Mystic Lava Bolt cast with Skull Bash as soon as the shield is removed.
• In Phase 2, cycle Barkskin and Survival Instincts for assigned Catastrophic Slam soaks. Also, use Stampeding Roar to help your group get to and from the soak.
• Use Dash / Tiger Dash to run to your platform after the boss leaves at the beginning. Similarly, use it to move to the middle as he is landing.

For more information, please refer to our Assault of the Zaqali guide.

Rashok is an entirely single-target encounter without any burn windows, so a standard single-target build is recommended.

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• Have Barkskin up for the Charged Smash soaks. Survival Instincts can also be overlapped if the raid is unstable. This is especially important on Mythic to soften the impact of the follow up Overcharged DoT.
• Save Tiger Dash in case you are targeted by Searing Slam so you can get to the edge of the room quickly.
• Make use of the additional range from Astral Influence during Elder's Conduit to stay active on the boss while being safe from Shadowflame Fissures.
• Also use Stampeding Roar during this to assist the raid in navigating the area.
• Use Nature's Vigil (ideally with cooldowns) during the intermission when the raid is under the most consistent pressure.

For more information, please refer to our Rashok the Elder guide.

While Zskarn does have important add spawns, the spread they can spawn with makes it hard to really make use of Feral's AoE tools efficiently. As such, while you can take some of the cleave options, we recommend going pure single-target and just target swapping if necessary.

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• Whenever the boss spawns Golems, try to get some Bleeds applied to any that are nearby. Watch for their health and try to get a Thrash application in just before they die to get a Predator reset.
• You can use both Wild Charge and Skull Bash's charge effect to counter the Blast Wave knockback.
• Use Stampeding Roar for each Tactical Destruction cast to help the raid beat the waves. Due to this, Improved Stampeding Roar is recommended.
• Save Barkskin for when you are targeted by Unstable Embers.
  • On Mythic difficulty make sure to do this as often as possible, and overlap it with Survival Instincts if you are worried about triggering Elimination Protocol.
• Barkskin is best used if you accidentally get hit by any traps or during Blast Waves that hit the raid when unstable.
• While the Golems do need interrupting during Activate Dragonfire Trap, Skull Bash having a charge makes it pretty dangerous to use so be careful where you are going.

For more information, please refer to our Zskarn guide.

Magmorax is an entirely single-target encounter without any burn windows, so a standard single-target build is recommended.

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• You can use both Wild Charge and Skull Bash's charge effect to stick to the boss after Overpowering Stomp.
• Use Barkskin if you are ever targeted by Molten Spittle. You should also watch your health here as the raid becomes very unstable, and use Predatory Swiftness if necessary.
  • On Mythic difficulty, instead make sure to save both this and Survival Instincts when targeted by Explosive Magma. this deals a huge amount of damage even when split, so watch your health and shift into Bear Form just before it hits.
• Save Survival Instincts for situations where this overlaps with other dangerous AoE such as Igniting Roar and the raid is unstable.
• Try to line up your Nature's Vigil casts with cooldowns and an Igniting Roar cast to assist the healers.

For more information, please refer to our Magmorax guide.

While the most important part of the encounter is boss damage and priority add focus with a single-target, the final phase also has a requirement to do high AoE DPS to add waves that spawn. Both are listed here, but currently, we recommend a Hybrid approach for Phase 2 and 3 purposes.

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• Feral can play one of two builds here depending on your focus:
  • It can take a full single-target build, focusing entirely on dealing with the boss and ignoring adds. While there are some important ones to deal with, Feral is not terribly efficient at it, so it may be best to leave it to others.
  • Alternatively, a light cleave build picking up Primal Wrath to get some additional funnel can be useful to help funnel when Voice From Beyond are active and especially in Phase 3 with Twisted Aberration.
• Be careful when using Wild Charge here so you do not accidentally path through ground effects such as Collapsed Earth.
• Save Dash so you can get to your assigned spot when affected by Volcanic Heart to avoid blowing up the raid. Consider Tiger Dash here to make it more comfortable.
• Aim to have cooldowns or some resources ready for the Voice from Beyond spawns in Phase 2. Feral Frenzy should be ready for each of these and can help burst them down quickly.
  • You can also (if you can get permission) apply Rip via Primal Wrath to gain some extra funnel during Corruption, but do not do this too liberally as you are applying extra DoTs to your fellow players!
• Use Barkskin liberally for each Umbral Annihilation cast here as well.
  • In Mythic difficulty, make sure that you have it for the third Umbral Annihilation cast in Phase 2. Bear Form is also a good idea as the raid will often be unstable.
• In Phase 3, aim to use it and Survival Instincts when standing in the Sundered Reality pool during Ebon Destruction, as the pool itself still deals heavy damage.
• Use Stampeding Roar while the boss winds up the Ebon Destruction cast to give players time to get to their assigned pool before it goes off.
• You should be flooded with Energy in the final phase thanks to Predator resets due to the constant spawning and killing of Twisted Aberration adds. Make sure to keep Primal Wrath active on all of them and funnel your Apex Predator's Craving procs into the boss.

For more information, please refer to our Neltharion guide.

While the majority of Sarkareth is focused on boss damage, there are extremely important Null Glimmer add waves, meaning that Feral needs to spend some points picking up Primal Wrath to help deal with them. In Normal and Heroic difficulties, this is rarely necessary, and you can play single-target, but in Mythic it is recommended to bring some AoE.

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Phase 1:

• You can use Skull Bash or Wild Charge to counter-act the knockback from Oppressing Howl.
• Use Barkskin aggressively when clearing your Oppressing Howl effect in the Searing Breath cast.
• Use Survival Instincts as the phase ends (roughly 1m40s into the fight) during the Glittering Surge cast.
• Stampeding Roar should be used when the group reaches 9 stacks of Oblivion just before they are sent downstairs.

Phase 2:

• Throughout this and the final phase, Null Glimmer waves will spawn. These need to be burst down, so try to have some Combo Points saved up during the Abyssal Breath casts (which are roughly 40 seconds apart) to immediately Primal Wrath.
  • In Mythic difficulty these are much more important and come with a larger Empty Recollection add. Aim to use Feral Frenzy on each of these waves (holding slightly if necessary) and cast Primal Wrath to apply Rip to the adds, while funneling Apex Predator's Craving into the primary target.
• Both Skull Bash and Wild Charge can be used to counteract the knockback from Infinite Duress and stay on the platform.
• Typhoon can be considered to knock the Null Glimmers into the Desolate Blossom to prevent them from healing, and Ursol's Vortex can be placed to immediately pull them back out.
  • In Mythic difficulty this is much more important as efficient clearing of their healing debuff is crucial. Make sure to take this and plan with your raid so they are kept under control.
• Incapacitating Roar is useful here to make sure that Null Glimmers do not get any casts off.

Phase 3:

• Be very careful of positioning here as the the boss frontal is extremely dangerous.
• Stampeding Roar can be used when the group is getting out of Cosmic Ascension, and when hiding from Scouring Eternity.
• Null Glimmer spawns are more spread out here, with the first two coming a minute apart and then another 1m40s until the third. Plan your cooldowns and resources around these.

For more information, please refer to our Scalecommander Sarkareth guide.