WotLK Classic Feral Druid DPS Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities

Last updated on Apr 04, 2023 at 14:00 by Seksixeny 3 comments

On this page, you will learn how to optimize the rotation of your Feral Druid DPS in both single-target and multiple-target PvE situations in WotLK Classic. We also have advanced sections about cooldowns, procs, etc. in order to minmax your DPS.

1.

Foreword

If you have not already, please read the Spell Summary page. Knowing how each spell and ability works in detail will make it much easier to understand the topics discussed on this page.

2.

Feral DPS Druid Rotation in Wrath Classic

We will be presenting the skill rotation of a Feral DPS Druid as a priority list, which means you should try to use the one at the top of the list first for maximum DPS.

As one of the most complex specializations to perform an ideal rotation with in Wrath, there are two critical concepts to understand before getting into the ability priority list.

Energy Pooling is the act of not using your abilities as soon as you have enough Energy to do so, but instead use them when they will give you most benefit, while always avoiding capping Energy to prevent loss of potential regen. Examples of this are pooling around 90 Energy for Berserk IconBerserk in order to be able to use as many 50% reduced cost Cat Form IconCat Form abilities as possible within its 15-second duration and pooling to ensure you always have enough Energy to instantly reapply damage-over-time effects as soon as they expire.

Damage-over-time management is about keeping as much uptime on your damage-over-time effects, Rip IconRip and Rake IconRake (as well as the Mangle (Cat) IconMangle (Cat) debuff if there is no alternative source) as possible, but also never refreshing them when they are active as that will make you lose the last tick and its damage.

2.1.

Single-Target Rotation for Feral DPS Druid

  1. Use Tiger's Fury IconTiger's Fury when available while you are under 40 Energy;
  2. If Berserk IconBerserk is available and 15 or more seconds remain on Tiger's Fury IconTiger's Fury's cooldown, auto-attack until ~90 Energy and use Berserk;
  3. Use and refresh (after it expires) Savage Roar IconSavage Roar;
  4. Use Faerie Fire (Feral) IconFaerie Fire (Feral) to proc Omen of Clarity IconOmen of Clarity unless you are already under its effect;
  5. Use any Omen of Clarity IconOmen of Clarity procs on Shred IconShred;
  6. Use and refresh (after it expires) Rip IconRip at 5 Combo Points;
  7. Use and refresh (after it expires) Rake IconRake;
  8. Keep Mangle (Cat) IconMangle (Cat)'s debuff on your target unless you have another Feral DPS Druid or an Arms Warrior with Trauma IconTrauma in the raid;
  9. Use Shred IconShred to build Combo Points if doing so will not prevent you in the near future from having enough Energy to instantly refresh your damage-over-time effects or Mangle (Cat) IconMangle (Cat)'s debuff.

You should also use Ferocious Bite IconFerocious Bite to spend Combo Points instead of Rip IconRip if the target will be dying shortly, as Rip needs time to deal its damage.

2.2.

Multi-Target Rotation for Feral DPS Druid

  1. Use Tiger's Fury IconTiger's Fury when available while you are under 40 Energy;
  2. If Berserk IconBerserk is available and 15 or more seconds remain on Tiger's Fury IconTiger's Fury's cooldown, auto-attack until ~90 Energy and use Berserk;
  3. Use and refresh (after it expires) Savage Roar IconSavage Roar, using Rake IconRake to build a combo point for it if needed;
  4. Use Faerie Fire (Feral) IconFaerie Fire (Feral) to proc Omen of Clarity IconOmen of Clarity unless you are already under its effect;
  5. Use Swipe (Cat) IconSwipe (Cat).
3.

Feral DPS Druid Bearweaving

Bearweaving was an advanced Cat DPS technique where you went into Dire Bear Form IconDire Bear Form during low Energy periods in order to use Bear abilities for extra damage while your Energy regenerated in the background.

With April 4th 2023 hotfixes, Omen of Clarity IconOmen of Clarity now procs whenever you use Faerie Fire (Feral) IconFaerie Fire (Feral), thus allowing you to have much more reliable energy regeneration and reducing / eliminating the usefulness of Bearweaving.

4.

Changelog

  • 04 Apr. 2023: Added Faerie Fire to the rotation after recent hotfix made it proc Omen of Clarity.
  • 18 Jan. 2023: Reviewed for Phase 2 release ahead of Ulduar raid release.
  • 20 Sep. 2022: Page added.
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