Balance Druid DPS Guide — Dragonflight 10.2
Welcome to our Balance Druid guide for World of Warcraft — Dragonflight 10.2. Here, you will learn how to play as a Balance Druid in both raids and Mythic+ dungeons: from the very beginning to maximizing your DPS.
If you were looking for WotLK Classic content, please refer to our WotLK Classic Balance Druid guide.
Balance Druid Overview
The Balance specialization provides an entertaining and challenging rotation, and it performs well on multiple target encounters and alright on single target fights.
Balance Druids shine on multiple target fights due to their ability to multi-DoT and hit every target. However, while Balance Druid multi-target is strong, it still requires some set-up/ramp-up time and is not considered burst damage. This can lead to Balance Druids being less optimal when your group needs to burst many targets.
For single-target, Balance Druids do okay. The rotation for single-target is more linear than that of multi-target, requiring less prep time and less knowledge of the fight. You cast generator abilities to gain Astral Power and then spend your resources on spells depending on the type of encounter you are in.
The other main goal of the rotation is to cycle through Eclipse, your main buff. There are several talents influenced by entering or leaving Eclipse , which incentivizes you to always be in an Eclipse state.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Excels on hybrid and multi-target encounters without sacrificing priority damage
Easy to play, hard to master
Great utility using Heals and numerous single and multi-target crowd control
Great spread damage
Some ramp time on multiple target encounters
Can struggle to do damage on the move
Can be difficult to play some encounter types for newer players
Lower single target damage
Guide Updates for Patch 10.2.0
Balance Druid have quite a few adjustments coming in Patch 10.2.0, which are reflected in the guide updates.
Balance received a small flat buff to all spells but additional buffs to
Shooting Stars,
Starsurge, and
Power of Goldrinn. We
also see a small nerf to
Nature's Grace. Several talent spots were
swapped around, leading to new talent builds for specific content, mainly affecting
the pathing between multi-target and single-target.
The biggest change by far was the adjustment to how Balance Druid Mastery functioned. Previously, you received no benefit from Mastery unless a single DoT was on the target, but preferably both. This caused some complications when it came to DoT application rules and, when it was worth to DoT and when it was not.
Mastery in 10.2 is now always active in some capacity. You receive 66% of the bonus from Mastery at all times and an additional 33% when the target is afflicted with our DoTs. This helps reduce the downsides of target swapping and having unequal packs of monsters, reducing our overall output through over-DoTing.
For a full list of changes, check out the links below.
Is Balance Druid Viable in Dragonflight?
In raid encounters, Balance Druids excel at dealing sustained damage to
a single target and have strong AoE damage as well. They bring utility to the raid
group through their crowd control abilities like Typhoon,
Solar Beam, as well as their Innervate ability that can restore mana to
healers. Do not forget they also carry a crucial raid buff in
Mark of the Wild.
Overall, Balance Druids are a versatile class that can adapt to a variety of situations and playstyles. They require a moderate level of skill to play effectively but can be very rewarding in the right hands.
Leveling a Balance Druid
Leveling a Balance Druid in Dragonflight is a good choice for players who enjoy a mix of ranged damage dealing and utility. Balance Druid's spells allow them to deal consistent damage from a safe distance while also being able to provide crowd control and healing to themselves and their allies.
If you want to play a Balance Druid but currently do not have one at max level, you can check out our leveling guide for tips on your journey.
At max level, you can start to focus on sharpening your skills, and one good way to do that is by using the right tools. Our add-ons and macro page goes over several useful macros to enhance your gameplay as well as suggestions on how to search for the right Balance Bar.
The Basics of Balance Druid
Balance Druid has a single target and multi-target rotation, which both require good DoT uptime and proper building and spending of Astral Power. Cooldowns should be used as they come up unless they can be used at a better opportunity without losing a use over the period.
Balance Druid has an Eclipse cycle-based gameplay loop. Your main Eclipse
will depend on how many targets you can hit. Enter Solar Eclipse on 1 and 2
targets and Lunar Eclipse on the rest. Wrath is cast in Solar Eclipse
, and
Starfire in Lunar Eclipse. During
Celestial Alignment, you
will be affected by both Solar and Lunar Eclipse, and you will cast
Wrath. On more than 3 targets, you will cast
Starfire.
On a single target, you will use your cooldowns as they come up or when you
can
stack multiple cooldowns together. You will use Starsurge as your
way to spend Astral Power. On multiple targets, you will instead cast
Starfall as your main way to spend Astral Power.
If you are a beginner, you should head over to the Easy Mode page as well as the Spell Summary page to brush up on the basics. There, you will learn what each spell does and how you can start learning your rotation.
If you are pretty familiar with the basics and want to learn to min-max more with your talent selection and rotation, head over to the appropriate pages at the link below.
How to Gear up as a Balance Druid
As you gear up, be sure to prioritize items with higher item levels from Dungeons, Raids, World Quests, Professions, and even PvP. Gear of higher item levels is generally better than gear of lower item levels.
Use Raidbots to sim your character and find what gear is best out of all the viable options. Using our knowledge of the class, we should be able to rule out downgrades quickly. Lower item level pieces, socketed vs. non-socketed, does it have our premium stat? These are all questions to consider when sifting through our gear. Learn more about simming on our simulations page.
Once you are brushed up on the basics and gearing up well, you want to further boost your numbers. Using the proper foods, enchants, and gems will beget a sizeable damage boost.
End-Game as a Balance Druid
Balance Druid does take a fair amount of skill and prep work to excel in raids and Mythic+. Planning out long cooldowns as well as movement in relation to boss mechanics and dungeon routes takes both practice and information. The raid, mythic+, and pvp guides will go over those nuances and more.
Improving as a Balance Druid
If you are struggling to pull the numbers you want or dealing with mechanics, you can check out some of our resources on how to improve, as well as other frequently asked questions that can come even after reading the guide.
Changelog
- 12 Nov. 2023 (Amirdrassil page): Page added.
- 07 Nov. 2023 (gear page): Updated with recent Sporecloak nerfs.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (addons page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (enchants page): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (stats page): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (mythic+ page): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (rotation page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2
- 06 Nov. 2023 (talents page): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (spells page): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (easy mode page): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.0.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (addons page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7
- 04 Sep. 2023 (enchants page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (stats page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (mythic+ page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (rotation page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (talents page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7
- 04 Sep. 2023 (spells page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (easy mode page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (how to improve page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (addons page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (enchants page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (stats page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (mythic+ page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (talents page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (spells page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (easy mode page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
- 01 Jun. 2023 (Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible page): Added full raid tips. Added 8 of 9 Mythic Boss tips.
- 09 May 2023 (Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible page): Page added.
- 08 May 2023 (gear page): Updated for May 9th Patch Changes.
- 08 May 2023 (mythic+ page): New Mythic Plus Season launch.
- 08 May 2023 (rotation page): Updated with May 9th Hotfixes.
- 08 May 2023 (easy mode page): Updated for May 9th Hotfixes.
- 08 May 2023 (this page): Balance Druid Changes on May 9th.
- 01 May 2023 (FAQ page): Updated for Patch 10.1.0.
- 01 May 2023 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 01 May 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 01 May 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 10.1.0.
- 01 May 2023 (enchants page): Moved Primordial Stone recommendations to bottom of the page.
- 01 May 2023 (stats page): No changes required for Patch 10.1.0.
- 01 May 2023 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 01 May 2023 (mythic+ page): Updated for new talents in Patch 10.1.0.
- 01 May 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 10.1.0.
- 01 May 2023 (talents page): Updated for Patch 10.1.0.
- 01 May 2023 (spells page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 01 May 2023 (easy mode page): Updated for Patch 10.1.0.
- 01 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.0.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (Legendaries): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (gear page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7. .
- 20 Mar. 2023 (addons page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (enchants page): Updated Phial recommendations and Primordial Stones.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (stats page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Final adjustments to recommended talents.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (mythic+ page): Updated some builds and clarified Starweaver and Rattle the Stars viability.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (rotation page): Updated some sections to maintain consistency. Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (talents page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (spells page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (easy mode page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 20 Mar. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 27 Jan. 2023 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Swapped back to Wild Mushroom build for Raszageth and Dathea.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (FAQ page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (simulations page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (gear page): Reviewed and updated for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (addons page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (enchants page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (stats page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (Vault of the Incarnates page): Updated for patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (mythic+ page): Reviewed and updated for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (rotation page): Reviewed and updated for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (talents page): Reviewed and updated for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (spells page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (easy mode page): Reviewed and updated for Patch 10.0.5.
- 24 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed and updated for Patch 10.0.5.
- 21 Dec. 2022 (gear page): Updated embellishments and expanded trinket recommendations.
- 21 Dec. 2022 (enchants page): Added notes for Neck consumable.
- 21 Dec. 2022 (mythic+ page): Added some notes on Orbital Strike and Pulsar.
- 21 Dec. 2022 (talents page): Updated Starweaver versus Rattle the Stars.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (FAQ page): Added a footnote to the the first question.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (how to improve page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (simulations page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Vault of the Incarnates and Season 1 Mythic +.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (addons page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (enchants page): Updated personal food choice.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (enchants page): Updated for Vault of the Incarnates and Season 1 Mythic +.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (stats page): Added jewelry and item level notes.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (mythic+ page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for T29 Tier Set.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (talents page): Updated broken talent links.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (spells page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (easy mode page): Updated talent choices and some basic info.
- 11 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (FAQ page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (how to improve page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (simulations page): Reviewed for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (addons page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (enchants page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (stats page): Reviewed for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (mythic+ page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (talents page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (spells page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (easy mode page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 28 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight launch.
- 15 Nov. 2022 (mythic+ page): Updated talent recommendations.
- 15 Nov. 2022 (rotation page): Updated talent recommendations.
- 15 Nov. 2022 (talents page): Updated talent recommendations.
- 15 Nov. 2022 (easy mode page): Updated talent recommendations.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Legendaries): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Torghast): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Covenants and Soulbinds): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (FAQ page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (how to improve page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (simulations page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (addons page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (enchants page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (stats page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Castle Nathria page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Sanctum of Domination page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (Sepulcher of the First Ones page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (mythic+ page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (talents page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (spells page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (easy mode page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 25 Oct. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 30 Jul. 2022 (Patch 9.2 Analysis): Updated to reflect Patch 9.2.5 buff.
- 21 Feb. 2022 (Patch 9.2 Analysis): Page reviewed and approved for Patch 9.2.
- 15 Jan. 2022 (Patch 9.2 Analysis): Page added with initial thoughts and information.
- 01 Nov. 2021 (Patch 9.1 Analysis): Updated for Patch 9.1.5.
- 17 May 2021 (Patch 9.1 Analysis): Page created.
- 17 Oct. 2020 (Ny'alotha page): Updated Essence recomendations. .
- 12 Oct. 2020 (Ny'alotha page): Page updated for the Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 06 Nov. 2019 (The Eternal Palace page): Updated some sections & added a section on Major Essence choice.
- 26 Aug. 2019 (The Eternal Palace page): Added Mythic Zaqul and Queen Azshara.
- 29 Jul. 2019 (The Eternal Palace page): Added Mythic mode notes for the first six bosses.
- 16 Jul. 2019 (The Eternal Palace page): Added tips for Queen Azshara.
- 16 Jul. 2019 (The Eternal Palace page): Changed some Essence recommendations.
- 10 Jul. 2019 (The Eternal Palace page): Added tips for the first 7 bosses.
- 07 Jul. 2019 (The Eternal Palace page): Page Added.
- 24 Jun. 2019 (Uldir page): This page has been reviewed for the release of Patch 8.2 and no changes are necessary.
- 24 Jun. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): This page has been reviewed for the release of Patch 8.2 and no changes are necessary.
- 24 Jun. 2019 (Crucible of Storms page): Added Mythic Mode.
- 23 Jun. 2019 (Uldir page): This page has been reviewed and no changes are necessary for the release of Patch 8.2.
- 23 Jun. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): This page has been reviewed and no changes are necessary for the release of Patch 8.2.
- 12 May 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Changed some talent recommendations.
- 25 Apr. 2019 (Crucible of Storms page): Added tips for Heroic mode and below.
- 16 Apr. 2019 (Uldir page): This page has been reviewed and no changes are necessary for the release of the Crucible of Storms raid.
- 16 Apr. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): This page has been reviewed and no changes are necessary for the release of the Crucible of Storms raid.
- 16 Apr. 2019 (Crucible of Storms page): Page added.
- 26 Mar. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Updated Mythic Mekkatorque.
- 13 Mar. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Finished the Mythic Mode sections.
- 07 Feb. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Fixed some errors and added some Mythic Mode entries.
- 21 Jan. 2019 (Battle of Dazar'alor page): Page Added.
- 13 Jan. 2019 (Uldir page): Updated some talent recommendations.
- 10 Dec. 2018 (Uldir page): Updated for Patch 8.1.
- 12 Oct. 2018 (Uldir page): Added Mythic Mode sections.
- 04 Oct. 2018 (Uldir page): Updated talent recommendations.
- 03 Sep. 2018 (Uldir page): Added talents.
- 13 Aug. 2018 (Uldir page): Added page.
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This was written by Borabank, a Balance Druid theorycrafter and raider in Muscle Memory. You can watch him on his Twitch channel or in the Dreamgrove Discord server.
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