Balance Druid DPS Easy Mode

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 7.3 Changes
  • 3. Patch 7.2.5 Changes
  • 4. Patch 7.2 Changes
  • 5. Contents
  • 6. ChangeLog
• ×Easy Mode
  • 1. The Basics
  • 2. Talent Choice
  • 3. Stat Choice
  • 4. Basic Rotation
  • 5. Cooldowns
  • 6. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Main Resources
  • 3. Basic Abilities
  • 4. Cooldowns
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents
  • 9. ChangeLog
• +Artifact Traits and Relics
  • 1. Artifact Progression
  • 2. Relic Choice
    • 2.1. Single Target
    • 2.2. Multiple Target
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Netherlight Crucible Relic Paths
  • 1. General Optimization Advice
  • 2. Tier 2 Upgrade Priority
    • 2.1. Single Target
    • 2.2. Multiple Target
  • 3. Tier 3 Upgrade Priority
    • 3.1. Single Target
    • 3.2. Multiple Target
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single Target Rotation
    • 1.1. Opening Rotation
  • 2. Multiple Target Rotation
  • 3. Cooldown Usage
  • 4. Optional Read: Mastering Your Balance Druid
    • 4.1. Mastery: Starlight
    • 4.2. Artifact Ability
    • 4.3. Lunar, Solar, and Stellar Empowerments
    • 4.4. Mitigating Movement DPS
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. Basics
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding
    • 2.1. Statistics Priority
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Gems
  • 2. Enchants
  • 3. Consumables
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Macros and Addons
  • 1. Macros
    • 1.1. Generic Macros for Druids
      • 1.1.1. Rebirth
      • 1.1.2. Remove Corruption
    • 1.2. Specific Macros for Balance Druids
      • 1.2.1. Starfall Cursor Macro
  • 2. Addons
    • 2.1. Generic Addons for Druids
      • 2.1.1. ElvUI
      • 2.1.2. Boss Mods: Deadly Boss Mods or Bigwigs
      • 2.1.3. GTFO
      • 2.1.4. Omen Threat Meter
      • 2.1.5. Parrot or Mik's Scrolling Battle Text
      • 2.1.6. Weak Auras
      • 2.1.7. Recount / Skada / Details!
      • 2.1.8. Grid and GridClickSets (Optional)
      • 2.1.9. TellMeWhen
    • 2.2. Specific Addons for Balance Druids
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gear, Legendaries, and Best in Slot
  • 1. Best in Slot List
  • 2. Tier 20 Set Bonuses
  • 3. Legendary Items
  • 4. Loot Competition
  • 5. ChangeLog

This page is intended for players who are new to the game or class, have no intentions of raiding Mythic difficulty, or simply want a more straightforward way to play their specialisation without being overwhelmed by the numerous subtleties and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

1. The Basics

Balance Druids are a caster specialisation that deals good single and AoE DPS, but which has a slightly difficult/demanding rotation.

Your main goal throughout fights will be to manage your Lunar Empowerment and Solar Empowerment buffs so that you do not waste any, all while ensuring you do not waste Astral Power.

2. Talent Choice

The following talent choices are effectively best in all situations.

• Level 15: Starlord
• Level 30: Wild Charge (high movement) or Displacer Beast (low movement)
• Level 45: Guardian Affinity
• Level 60: Typhoon
• Level 75: Incarnation: Chosen of Elune (single target) or Soul of the Forest (multiple targets)
• Level 90: Blessing of the Ancients (single target) or Shooting Stars (multiple targets)
• Level 100: Nature's Balance (single target) or Stellar Drift (multiple targets)

3. Stat Choice

Currently, you will want to prioritise stats as follows:

1. Mastery;
2. Haste;
3. Intellect;
4. Critical Strike;
5. Versatility.

4. Basic Rotation

The single target Balance Druid rotation is based on the following priority list.

1. Apply and maintain Moonfire, Sunfire on the target.
2. Cast Starsurge to consume Astral Power.
   • Keep in mind that using Starsurge grants you a charge of Lunar Empowerment and Solar Empowerment, which cap at 3 and are consumed by using Lunar Strike and Solar Wrath, respectively. Avoid generating Empowerment charges when you are at maximum capacity.
3. Cast New Moon (and its other versions) to generate Astral Power. Make sure its charges are always rolling.
4. Use Solar Wrath while you have Solar Empowerment up.
5. Cast Lunar Strike while you have Lunar Empowerment up.
6. Cast Solar Wrath without an empowerment, to generate Astral Power.

At all times, you should avoid generating Astral Power when you are at maximum capacity.

Against multiple targets, keep your DoTs up on all targets (if they live loner than 6 seconds). Against 3+ targets, use Starfall instead of Starsurge and Lunar Strike instead of Solar Wrath (if they are both empowered), while against 4+ targets always use Lunar Strike instead of Solar Wrath.

5. Cooldowns

Your only cooldown is Incarnation: Chosen of Elune, which you should aim to use as many times as possible throughout an encounter. Ideally, you should time it so that it is active when the boss takes increased damage.

About Our Reviewer

This guide has been reviewed and approved by Slippykins, long-time Balance Druid theorycrafter and moderator at MMO-Champion and the Druid discord. You can catch him in his theorycrafting thread, or on Discord.

6. ChangeLog

+ show all entries - show only 10 entries

• 13 Jul. 2017: Made an update to bring the rotation in line with updates made to the rotation page of the guide.
• 11 Jul. 2017: Updated the page to reflect changes to the rest of the guide (stats and talents).
• 12 Jun. 2017: Page reviewed and deemed updated for 7.2.5.
• 27 Mar. 2017: Updated stat priority slightly.
• 19 Jan. 2017: Added Stellar Drift as the tier 7 recommendation against multiple targets.
• 09 Jan. 2017: Matched the new 7.1.5 stat priority.
• 16 Dec. 2016: Added easy mode page.