Balance Druid DPS Spell Summary — Battle for Azeroth (BfA) 8.1

1. Introduction

If you are new to Balance, this is a great place to start to get an understanding of how the spec works. On this page we will discuss what abilities you have, what they are used for within the specialisation, how they interact with each other and also with important cooldowns. If you already have experience with Balance and are comfortable with it in Legion, it is recommended you skip this section and move on to the rest of the guide.

2. Main Resources for Balance Druids

Aside from using Mana, Balance Druids rely on generating Astral Power and then spending it on an important spell ( Starsurge). Maximizing Astral Power and using it efficiently is very important.

3. Basic Abilities for Balance Druids

These are your core skills that are available regardless of talents, and form the core gameplay of the specialization.

Moonfire is an Arcane damage DoT that should essentially be always active on the target.

Sunfire is a Nature damage DoT that should also always be active on the target. When applied, the DoT is placed on the primary target as well as any other targets within 8 yards.

Solar Wrath deals Nature damage to the target, and generates Astral Power. This is your primary filler ability. This should be cast when there is nothing else to cast.

Lunar Strike deals Arcane damage to the target and any other enemies within 8 yards, and it also generates Astral Power.

Starsurge costs Astral Power to cast and deals damage to the target. Casting Starsurge also grants you 1 stack of Solar Empowerment and Lunar Empowerment (explained below).

Starfall costs Astral Power to cast and creates a damaging zone that lasts for 8 seconds.

Celestial Alignment is the only cooldown Balance Druids have by default. It has a 3-minute cooldown and for 20 seconds, you deal 15% increased damage and gain 15% increased Haste.

3.1. Important Passive Effects for Balance Druids

Empowerments stack up to 3-charges and are gained via casting Starsurge or gaining one from the Eclipse passive. Empowered abilities do additional damage and empowered Solar Wrath also deals additional damage to all targets within 8-yards as well.

Eclipse gives your Solar Wrath and Lunar Strike a 20% chance to grant an Empowerment charge of the opposite ability.

3.2. Basic Utility Abilities for Balance Druids

Innervate is a buff you can place on an allied healer, which allows them to cast spells free of Mana cost for 12 seconds.

Barkskin is the main defensive cooldown for Balance Druids. It provides us with a 20% damage reduction for 12 seconds on a 1-minute cooldown.

Dash activates Cat Form and increases your movement speed by 60% for 10-seconds. It has a 3-minute cooldown and is particularly useful for crossing large distances quickly.

Soothe removes one enrage effect off your target. Druids are one of two classes with this ability.

Solar Beam is the silencing ability for Balance Druids. It creates a zone of light around your target which will silence all enemies inside for up to 8 seconds.

4. Changelog