Balance Druid DPS Easy Mode in Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.0.1

Table of Contents

• +Introduction
  • 1. Class Overview
  • 2. Patch 8.0.1 Changes for Balance Druids
  • 3. Balance Druid Strengths
  • 4. Balance Druid Weaknesses
  • 5. Contents
  • 6. ChangeLog
• ×Easy Mode
  • 1. Foreword
  • 2. The Basics of Balance Druids
  • 3. Talent Choice for Balance Druids
  • 4. Stat Choice for Balance Druids
  • 5. Basic Rotation for Balance Druids
  • 6. Cooldowns for Balance Druids
  • 7. ChangeLog
• +Spell Summary
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Main Resources for Balance Druids
  • 3. Basic Abilities for Balance Druids
  • 4. Cooldowns for Balance Druids
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Builds and Talents
  • 1. Talent Choices for Balance Druid
  • 2. Tier 1 (Level 15) Talents for Balance Druids
  • 3. Tier 2 (Level 30) Talents for Balance Druids
  • 4. Tier 3 (Level 45) Talents for Balance Druids
  • 5. Tier 4 (Level 60) Talents for Balance Druids
  • 6. Tier 5 (Level 75) Talents for Balance Druids
  • 7. Tier 6 (Level 90) Talents for Balance Druids
  • 8. Tier 7 (Level 100) Talents for Balance Druids
  • 9. PvP Talents (War Mode)
    • 9.1. Balance Druid War Mode Talents
  • 10. ChangeLog
• +Azerite Traits and Armor
  • 1. Disclaimer
  • 2. Azerite Trait Introduction
  • 3. Relative Strength of Azerite Traits for Balance Druid
    • 3.1. Single Target Primary Traits
      • 3.1.1. Dagger in the Back
    • 3.2. Cleave and Multi-target Primary Traits
    • 3.3. Notable Secondary Traits
  • 4. Azerite Traits Details and Rotation Changes for Balance Druid
  • 5. Stacking Traits
  • 6. Azerite Traits for Balance Druid
  • 7. Find Azerite Armor By Trait/Power
  • 8. ChangeLog
• +Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities
  • 1. Single Target Rotation for Balance Druids
    • 1.1. Opening Rotation for Balance Druids
  • 2. Multiple Target Rotation for Balance Druids
  • 3. Cooldown Usage for Balance Druids
  • 4. Optional Read: Mastering Your Balance Druid
    • 4.1. Mastery: Starlight
    • 4.2. Lunar and Solar Empowerments and the Eclipse Passive
    • 4.3. Mitigating Movement DPS
    • 4.4. Starlord Optimization
    • 4.5. Using Your Defensives
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Mythic+ Tips
  • 1. Balance Druid in Mythic+
    • 1.1. Balance Druid Mythic+ Rotation
    • 1.2. Balance Druid Utility
  • 2. Mythic+ Talents for Balance Druids
  • 3. Mythic+ Affixes
    • 3.1. Tier One Affixes
    • 3.2. Tier Two Affixes
    • 3.3. Tier Three Affixes
    • 3.4. Seasonal Affix
  • 4. Mythic+ Azerite Traits
  • 5. ChangeLog
• +Common and Worst Mistakes
  • 1. Capping Your Resources
  • 2. Have the Right Multi-Target Cast Sequence
  • 3. Starfall on 3 Targets, Not 2
  • 4. ChangeLog
• +Boss by Boss Strategies
  • 1. Disclaimer
  • 2. Balance Druid in Uldir
  • 3. Taloc
  • 4. M.O.T.H.E.R.
  • 5. Fetid Devourer
  • 6. Zek'voz, Herald of N'Zoth
  • 7. Vectis
  • 8. Zul, Reborn
  • 9. Mythrax the Unraveler
  • 10. G'huun
  • 11. ChangeLog
• +Stat Priority
  • 1. The Basics of Stats for Balance Druid
  • 2. Getting a Better Understanding of Balance Druid Stats
    • 2.1. Statistics Priority
  • 3. ChangeLog
• +Gems, Enchants, and Consumables
  • 1. Secondary Stat Choice for Balance Druids
  • 2. Gems for Balance Druids
  • 3. Enchants for Balance Druids
  • 4. Consumables for Balance Druids
  • 5. 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
      • 1.2.2. Talent Swap 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 and Best in Slot
  • 1. Gearing in Battle for Azeroth
    • 1.1. How to Gear
    • 1.2. Notable Trinkets and Weapons
      • 1.2.1. Weapons
      • 1.2.2. Trinkets
  • 2. ChangeLog
• +Simulations
  • 1. Disclaimer Page
  • 2. Balance Druid Racial Bonus Simulation
  • 3. ChangeLog

About Our Author

This was written by Borabank, a Balance Druid theorycrafter and raider in Encore. You can watch him on his Twitch channel or in the Dreamgrove Discord server.

1. Foreword

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 specialization without being overwhelmed by the numerous subtleties and active abilities that need to be taken into consideration for optimal play.

2. The Basics of Balance Druids

Balance Druid is a caster specialization that deals good single and multi-target DPS, but has a slightly difficult/demanding rotation which when optimized requires both reactive gameplay and pre-planning to master.

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.

3. Talent Choice for Balance Druids

The following talent choices are effectively best in all situations.

• Level 15: Warrior of Elune
• Level 30: Wild Charge (high movement/short-distance travel) or Tiger Dash (long-distance travel)
• Level 45: Guardian Affinity
• Level 60: Typhoon
• Level 75: Soul of the Forest (multiple targets) or Starlord (single target)
• Level 90: Twin Moons
• Level 100: Shooting Stars

4. Stat Choice for Balance Druids

Currently, you will want to prioritize stats as follows:

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

5. Basic Rotation for Balance Druids

The single target and two 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 Lunar Strike while you have Lunar Empowerment up.
4. Use Solar Wrath while you have Solar Empowerment up.
5. Cast Solar Wrath without an empowerment, to generate Astral Power. If you can cleave onto a second target, cast Lunar Strike.

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

Against multiple targets, the rotation is the following, assuming you are fighting 3+ enemies (if fighting 2 enemies, use your single target rotation against one of them).

1. Cast Starfall to consume Astral Power.
2. Apply and maintain Moonfire, Sunfire on all targets, if they will live longer than 6 seconds.
3. Cast Solar Wrath when you have a Solar Empowerment and Lunar Strike if you receive a Lunar Empowerment through the Eclipse passive.
4. Cast Solar Wrath to generate Astral Power, but if you can hit one additional target with Lunar Strike, use that instead.

6. Cooldowns for Balance Druids

Your only cooldown is Celestial Alignment (or Incarnation: Chosen of Elune if you talent it). You should aim to use these cooldowns as many times as possible throughout an encounter. Ideally, you can also time it so that it is active if a boss takes increased damage.

7. ChangeLog

• 20 Jul. 2018: Updated level 75 talent recommendation.

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