Balance Druid DPS Mythic+ Tips 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. Choosing Azerite Gear as a Balance Druid
  • 2. Choosing Azerite Traits as a Balance Druid
    • 2.1. Outer Ring
    • 2.2. Middle Ring
    • 2.3. Inner Ring
  • 3. DPS Azerite Trait Ranking for Balance Druid
    • 3.1. Single Target Outer Ring
    • 3.2. Three Target Outer Ring
  • 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. Balance Druid in Uldir
    • 1.1. Talent Cheatsheet
  • 2. Taloc
    • 2.1. Suggested Talents for Balance Druid on Taloc
    • 2.2. Mythic Mode
  • 3. M.O.T.H.E.R.
    • 3.1. Suggested Talents for Balance Druid on M.O.T.H.E.R.
    • 3.2. Mythic Mode
  • 4. Fetid Devourer
    • 4.1. Suggested Talents for Balance Druid on Fetid Devourer
    • 4.2. Mythic Mode
  • 5. Zek'voz, Herald of N'Zoth
    • 5.1. Suggested Talents for Balance Druid on Zek'voz, Herald of N'Zoth
    • 5.2. Mythic Mode
  • 6. Vectis
    • 6.1. Suggested Talents for Balance Druid on Vectis
    • 6.2. Mythic Mode
  • 7. Zul, Reborn
    • 7.1. Suggested Talents for Balance Druid on Zul, Reborn
    • 7.2. Mythic Mode
  • 8. Mythrax the Unraveler
    • 8.1. Suggested Talents for Balance Druid on Mythrax the Unraveler
    • 8.2. Mythic Mode
  • 9. G'huun
    • 9.1. Suggested Talents for Balance Druid on G'huun
    • 9.2. Mythic Mode
  • 10. 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. 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

General Information

On this page, you will various tips and pieces of advice for clearing high Mythic+ content with your Balance Druid.

The other pages of our Balance Druid guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

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. Balance Druid in Mythic+

Balance Druid is one of the top ranged DPS specializations for Mythic+ in Battle for Azeroth. It provides strong multi-target damage on higher level keys as well as a large amount of utility through talents and even the base kit.

1.1. Balance Druid Mythic+ Rotation

Both the single target and multi-target rotations do not change in Mythic+ content. For more information about the Balance Druid DPS rotation, refer back to the Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities page.

The only additional habit you should practice in Mythic+ is to pool your Astral Power towards the end of every trash pull to reduce the ramp-up time needed to reach your maximum output.

1.2. Balance Druid Utility

Balance Druid provides support for the party through damage, healing, and other additional effects such as dispels and mob management.

• Typhoon is an iconic Balance Druid spell. This will knock enemies in front of you away in the direction the cast was aimed. Use this to knock enemies away from the tank, yourself, or away from special mob specific mechanics such as Sanguine pools.
• Force of Nature acts as an artificial taunt that relieves the tank of all melee damage. This talent has become almost a staple for Mythic+ due to the threat generation nerf applied to tanks that came with Battle for Azeroth. This is also particularly useful during Necrotic and Skittish weeks.
• Soothe has been added back to our baseline kit and will dispel all enrage buffs applied to enemies. This talent is particularly useful during Raging weeks.
• Hibernate can be used to crowd-control Beast and Dragonkin type enemies. While Beast and Dragonkin type enemies are not particularly numerous throughout the ten dungeons, this is another form of hard crowd control that we can utilize when possible.
• Entangling Roots can be used to root patrols. If you root the primary target, the entire patrol will stop moving. Useful in tight quarters when you cannot handle additional mobs.
• Regrowth was buffed in Battle for Azeroth, and it provides much more healing than it did in Legion and can be useful to help off-heal in certain situations.
• Restoration Affinity has proven to be a strong self and off-healing option in BfA. Swiftmend is a strong single target instant heal which can help recover a quarter or even half of your Health pool. Use this if you do not need additional passive damage reduction.
• Innervate is best used on heavy group damage boss encounters. This will allow you to expand your healers Mana pool and allow them to extend the duration of the encounter if needed.

2. Mythic+ Talents for Balance Druids

Below are the suggested talents for Mythic+, these talents are recommended for all groups and keys at the current time.

Level	Choices
15	✘ Nature's Balance	? Warrior of Elune	✔ Force of Nature
30	✔ Tiger Dash	✘ Renewal	✔ Wild Charge
45	✘ Feral Affinity	✔ Guardian Affinity	✔ Restoration Affinity
60	? Mighty Bash	? Mass Entanglement	✔ Typhoon
75	? Soul of the Forest	? Starlord	✔ Incarnation: Chosen of Elune
90	✘ Stellar Drift	✔ Twin Moons	✘ Stellar Flare
100	? Shooting Stars	✔ Fury of Elune	✘ New Moon

3. Mythic+ Affixes

The way Mythic+ affixes are tiered in Battle for Azeroth has changed quite a bit since their launch in Legion.

There are now three weekly affixes and one seasonal affix. The first affix available instantly at level two and three, the second affix starts at level four, the third affix enabled at level seven, and finally the seasonal affix at level ten.

3.1. Tier One Affixes

• Fortified increases the Health pool of all non-boss enemies by 20% and damage dealt by 30%.
• Tyrannical increases the Health pool of boss enemies by 40% and their damage dealt by 15%.

Fortified and Tyrannical are the two affixes every player will see. These affixes shift the focus of dungeons from boss to trash depending on the week. Balance Druids will excel during Fortified weeks as our multi-target damage has a short ramp up time and then will sustain at very high numbers with or without the use of cooldowns. During Tyrannical weeks, players may want to take more single-target oriented trinkets, gear, or even talents but that will be both dungeon and key level dependent.

3.2. Tier Two Affixes

• Raging increases the damage dealt by enemies below 30% by 100% until they die. This buff is dispellable using Soothe. Not all enemies will need to be Soothed, but you should Soothe enemies that deal excessive group-wide damage.
• Teeming adds additional trash mobs to certain packs throughout each dungeon.
• Bolstering buffs remaining enemies Health pools and damage dealt by 20% when an enemy dies nearby. To counter this affix, DPS all mobs down evenly and focus your casts into high Health mobs if there are any.
• Sanguine places a pool of blood on the ground when a mob is slain. This pool will heal remaining enemies who stay inside the zone and also damage players. Balance Druids should take Typhoon to push enemies off of each Sanguine zone.
• Bursting forces enemy mobs to detonate when slain, afflicting the group with a stacking debuff that causes players to suffer 10% of their max Health in damage every four seconds. When handling the Bursting affix, ask how many stacks your healer can handle and try to not mindlessly DPS and exceed your healers stack limit.

3.3. Tier Three Affixes

• Volcanic spawns volcanic plumes underneath and around players when in combat with any enemy. When damaged by Volcanic, players suffer 50% of their maximum Health pool in damage. The more enemies you are in combat with, the more Volcanic that will spawn.
• Grievous afflicts players with a stacking DoT when they fall below 90%. Use Regrowth liberally during Grievous weeks and bring consumables to assist your healer when out of combat.
• Quaking will periodically attempt to interrupt casters by creating a damaging zone around each player. About 3 seconds after the zone forms, it will deal 20% maximum Health in damage to each player caught in the zone as well as interrupting any hard casts being finished during the shockwave.
• Explosive will occasionally spawn Explosive Orbs that need to be targeted and burned down within a short period of time or they will deal significant damage to the party. Explosive Orbs are not cleaveable and the amount of orbs that spawn scales with the amount of enemies pulled.
• Necrotic debuffs the target of enemy melee swings with stacking healing reduction and minor DoT. Balance Druids should utilize Typhoon and Force of Nature to assist tanks in kiting enemies before they become unhealable.
• Skittish reduces the amount of threat generated by tanks throughout the dungeon. Use Force of Nature as an artificial taunt on Skittish weeks.

3.4. Seasonal Affix

Infested is the seasonal affix for the launch of Battle for Azeroth. Enemies afflicted with the Infested debuff will be scattered throughout each dungeon once you reach key level ten. These mobs will heal enemies around them and when slain, will spawn two Spawn of G'huun that will attempt to infest remaining enemies.

There are several ways to handle Infested mobs depending on pack size, which mob is infested, and group composition. The first way to handle an Infested enemy is to burn down the infested target and the subsequently spawning Spawn of G'huun while either crowd controlling or ignoring the other mobs in the pack. The second way is to crowd control the Infested mob and burn down all the other enemies. After you kill and infested mob and the Spawns of G'huun spawn, Balance Druids can use Typhoon to knock them away or knock the remaining mobs away.

4. Mythic+ Azerite Traits

• Lunar Shrapnel is by far the strongest trait for mass multi-target (5+) DPS. You will prioritize getting out your Moonfires on all targetsand then placing a Starfall when you have the Astral Power.
• Power of the Moon increases the damage dealt by the application of Moonfire and Moonfire applications have a 5% chance to grant a charge of Lunar Empowerment. See the Azerite Trait page to see how to best use Power of the Moon in multi-target scenarios.
• Streaking Stars is a strong single target trait. Best used on high tyrannical keys if you are in dire need of the boss damage.
• The engineering traits Synaptic Spark Capacitor and Barrage Of Many Bombs are extremely powerful multi-target traits. They are good for that awkward 3-5 target area where Lunar Shrapnel is still trying to ramp up to overpowered status. This is probably the go-to for Mythic dungeons and eventually Mythic+ if you are an engineer as they can be useful on bosses as well.
• Lively Spirit will most likely be a staple for coordinated Mythic+ groups. Work alongside your healer to push stacks of the buff on dangerous packs or on bosses where the healer does not require the additional Mana.

5. Changelog

• 04 Sep. 2018: Updated talent choices.
• 29 Aug. 2018: Added Lively Spirit.
• 27 Aug. 2018: Updated recommendations.
• 20 Aug. 2018: Added Engineering traits to the suggested trait section.
• 13 Aug. 2018: Updated for Battle for Azeroth launch.
• 01 Aug. 2018: Added page.

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