Feral Druid DPS Spec, Builds, and Talents — The War Within Pre-Patch

Due to some of the gearing options in Season 4 alongside the condensed burst window provided by the Season 4 set bonus, a build that invests into Convoke the Spirits for single-target is currently recommended.

Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the best build directly into your game!

For all Feral single-target builds, you often give up a great deal of AoE and cleave potential, but in exchange, you round out your resource generation and focus further into your single-target potential. Due to the Season 4 set, you are required to take Feral Frenzy to activate it and gain access to a strong 30-second burst damage cooldown to pair with each Tiger's Fury. This is elevated even further with Convoke the Spirits, granting an extremely potent 4-second window of burst.

Key talents along with potential swaps are as follows:

• Bloodtalons - the stronger of the two finisher amplifiers, but requires additional gameplay to make full use of. Made a lot easier to cycle with either Brutal Slash or Lunar Inspiration to inject another activator into the rotation. If you find this too much to manage, Lion's Strength is not far behind.
• Coiled to Spring - if you are struggling with Combo Point management and want a safeguard against overcapping, this is an option over Merciless Claws.
• Saber Jaws - this significantly increases the bonus damage from consuming excess Energy with Ferocious Bite. This provides a very high amount of damage, and as such is strongly recommended but if you are struggling to manage Energy around this, you can opt into Circle of Life and Death instead. Note that it does not interact with Apex Predator's Craving procs.
• Apex Predator's Craving - the proc rate dynamically changes with the number of active Rip effects you have present, making it a good pick regardless of target count.
• Sudden Ambush - provides us with a way to get the Pouncing Strikes bonus for Rake much more consistently throughout an encounter.
• Adaptive Swarm - amplifies the other DoT effects and aligns well with each Feral Frenzy to push its damage further.
• Ashamane's Guidance - this can reduce the cooldown of Convoke the Spirits down to 1-minute, at the cost of some extra casts during the channel. This is a much more niche pick due to the high-value point it costs, but can find good value in specific encounters.

A more hybridized approach can sometimes be necessary on some encounters, and due to Feral having some quite costly packages specialized packages a more versatile build can sometimes be ideal. This build provides the strongest options to improve your damage per point in multi-target situations, without sacrificing the strong core of single-target needed for bosses.

Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the best build directly into your game!

In order to deal AoE sacrificing some points to pick up Primal Wrath and Rampant Ferocity is necessary. Main points given up to achieve this are Merciless Claws and Adaptive Swarm. There are also two options that can be changed as well depending on the encounter:

• Double-Clawed Rake is slightly more niche, but it is an option to maintain multiple Rakes amplified by Sudden Ambush, and you can swap out a point from Tireless Energy for this depending on the fight archetype.
• If a fight only needs the bare minimum amount of cleave that can be covered by Primal Wrath, you can drop Rampant Ferocity for Adaptive Swarm.

There are a number of AoE options on the tree, but the recommended build here aims to pick up as much of the high-value options as possible while trying to maintain a solid core for single-target. Some things are unavoidable, however, so this is very much tailored toward maximizing output at large target counts.

Be sure to make use of the 'Copy Export String' button to import the best build directly into your game!

Due to some of Feral's most valuable AoE tools coming exclusively from the talent tree, this is where you build most of your damage for multi-target situations. These picks range from versatile cleave options to exclusively AoE picks that have a granular impact on how far you want to invest into it. Some of these are preference, while others are simply too valuable to ever drop, even if they only fixate on one damage profile. Bear in mind that in The War Within, Energy is less plentiful in AoE, so maintaining some solid generation is necessary.

• Feral Frenzy - while mostly single-target on its own, this is required to activate the Season 4 set bonus, so cannot be dropped.
• Primal Wrath - this is our primary way of applying Rip in AoE, required to activate a number of other effects.
• Rampant Ferocity - while exclusively AoE, it has excellent value due to keeping Ferocious Bite relevant at higher target counts. This is costly to pick up, but whenever extra targets are present it is just too strong to ever ignore.
• Apex Predator's Craving - gives a way to leverage both your active Rips, and the AoE component of Ferocious Bite from the above to keep both finishers relevant. It can also lead to additional funnel damage.
• Double-Clawed Rake - very high-value talent for AoE to make multi-target application of Rake much smoother. It has no single-target impact, however, but most of the value is improving the other Rake-related talents.
• Infected Wounds - similar to above, these are usually paired together in AoE. This is important pathing to reach Taste for Blood too, so is hard to justify dropping.
• Sudden Ambush - this is also related to the above two talents, as these allow you to double up on the value of each proc to empower Rake casts. This also provides strong single-target and low-target cleave options, rounding out the Rake talents.
• Convoke the Spirits vs. Incarnation: Avatar of Ashamane - both of these are worthwhile options, and it mostly comes down to what other talents you selected and the type of burst you want. Especially with the Season 4 set, the value of Convoke is higher and also opens up the opportunity to grab Ashamane's Guidance for 1-minute burst cycles.
• Tireless Energy - having at least one point in this is good for comfort due to some issues with Energy starvation. A second point is often overkill, but if you are struggling to keep things rolling then it is a worthy, but costly pickup.

Ability	Explanation
Omen of Clarity	Causes your auto-attacks to have a chance to make your next Shred, Swipe or Thrash cost no Energy. This generates a significant amount of Energy and is required to sustain the rotation in most cases, so is always taken.
Coiled to Spring	This grants a buff whenever you generate a Combo Point over your current cap, increasing the direct damage of your next finisher by 10%. With perfect play, this has fairly limited value, but if you are struggling to manage your Combo Points comfortably and often find yourself wasting some, this can make things a little easier.
Primal Wrath	An active finisher that deals direct damage and applies Rip to all targets hit. This is our AoE Bleed application and is taken in any situation where multiple targets are present.
Merciless Claws	Increases Shred damage by 20% and Swipe / Brutal Slash damage by 15% against Bleeding targets. This is effectively a passive boost due to our Bleeds and is a solid increase in single-target, but weaker in AoE.
Thrashing Claws	This is moreso an ease-of-use option, causing Shred and Swipe to apply the Thrash effect. This removes Thrash entirely from your rotation, making it easier to maintain the Bleed, but at a performance loss.
Predator	Provides a flat bonus to Tiger's Fury duration and increases the direct damage of Combo Point generating abilities by 40% of your Haste. This provides extra uptime on Tiger's Fury most importantly, but also gives some extra scaling from Haste, which is welcome.
Double-Clawed Rake	Causes Rake casts to apply to a second target. Makes multi-DoT maintenance easier and is taken in multi-target situations.
Sabertooth	Increases Ferocious Bite damage and causes each Combo Point spent by it to increase your DoT damage dealt to your primary target by up to 15% for 4 seconds. This is required pathing so is always taken, but is mostly for priority target damage.
Tireless Energy	Increases base Energy regeneration by 8/15% and max Energy by 20/40. It gives more room for pooling and is a solid choice in most situations, and due to the reduced availability of Energy in both single-target and AoE situations at least one point is always taken.
Pouncing Strikes	Grants a 60% damage bonus to Shred and Rake from stealth, gives Shreds buffed this way double the Critical Strike chance and Rake a stun effect. On its own, it is not very important, but with supporting talents such as Sudden Ambush, this can provide some extra damage. Regardless, though, this is mandatory for pathing deeper into the tree.

The first block of talents are mostly universal increases to the core rotation, dictating your access to Energy-related effects to build the primary cycle. The only big decision here is whether you take Primal Wrath and Double-Clawed Rake, but you will always path through Sabertooth and Pouncing Strikes to unlock the second tier of talents. Ideally, you will spend the minimum possible points here to gain access to later options.

Ability	Explanation
Survival Instincts	Powerful, but long cooldown defensive option. While this is not throughput, pathing through it is required to reach our major offensive cooldown, so it is always taken.
Berserk	Our major cooldown, increasing all ability damage by 10% for 15 seconds, and causes Finishing moves to also refund up to 3 Combo Points generated above the cap of 5. Also causes all Combo Point-generating abilities to generate an additional Combo Point, and passively generates 1 Combo Point per second. It provides a huge flood of resources alongside overflow protection, and has some enhancing talents to focus more on this window.
Berserk: Heart of the Lion	Reduces the cooldown of Berserk down to 2 minutes, making it much easier to align with most encounter mechanics.
Berserk: Frenzy	Causes Combo Point generating abilities to apply a Bleed effect for 135% of the damage dealt over 8 seconds. Adds further Strength to your Berserk windows, especially in single-target, and is always taken.
Sudden Ambush	Gives finishing moves a 6% chance per Combo Point to cause your next, Shred or Rake to deal damage as if you were stealthed. Thanks to Pouncing Strikes, this is an extremely strong single-target option, and keeps up in some cleave situations as well.
Raging Fury	Increases the duration of Tiger's Fury by 5 seconds. This pairs with Predator to bring the duration to 20 seconds, and makes pathing to Bloodtalons much easier.
Tiger's Tenacity	Tiger's Fury causes your next 3 Finishing moves to refund 1 Combo Point, and snapshotted DoTs deal an additional 10% damage. This is a strong competitor, and is an option if you can play around the extra Bleed management.
Infected Wounds	Increases the damage of Rake by 30% and adds a small slow while active. An all-round good talent that works well in multi-target thanks to Double-Clawed Rake.
Dreadful Bleeding	Increases Rip damage by 20%. This affects all of your active Rips and is always taken.
Moment of Clarity	Increases the chance for Omen of Clarity procs to trigger by 30%, allowing it to accumulate a second charge and increase the damage of abilities that consume it by 15%. A good all-round talent that smooths out the rotation, and is always taken.
Brutal Slash	Replaces Swipe with a stronger, cooldown/charge-based ability. This is generally worth the trade-off as you rarely need to Swipe more than once when building Combo Points back up to 5, and has benefits in single-target, especially with Bloodtalons. Competes with Wild Slashes on the choice node, but this is more of a simple passive, which is generally weaker.
Taste for Blood	Increases the damage dealt by your Ferocious Bite by 15%, and an additional 15% during Tiger's Fury. A solid option for a variety of builds and is taken in both single-target and AoE thanks to Rampant Ferocity.
Rampant Ferocity	Causes your Ferocious Bite casts to also deal damage-based on Combo Points spent to nearby enemies affected by your Rip. This is affected by Mastery and is Feral's way of converting Ferocious Bite casts into AoE damage.
Lunar Inspiration	Allows you to cast Moonfire in Cat Form, but causes it to cost 30 Energy and generate 1 Combo Point. This is now a worthwhile single-target option that can be used to activate Bloodtalons, but is in an awkward place and has a higher gameplay requirement than alternatives.
Predatory Swiftness	Mandatory pathing node that allows Regrowth or Entangling Roots to be instantly cast in Cat Form following successful Finishing moves, providing a good survival boost or crowd control.

This tier of talents mostly dictates what final talents you have access to and round out your focus depending on if it is more Bleed or Bite-focused. Many choices here are quite versatile, but some are specialized, allowing you to pick and choose based on how you want to navigate the tree and where you want to end up. Generally, though, the central block of Berserk, Dreadful Bleeding and Raging Fury are always taken.

Ability	Explanation
Carnivorous Instinct	Provides a flat increase to the damage bonus provided by Tiger's Fury. This is a strong selection due to the high uptime of the buff, but below the 20-point line points are very tight, and fitting this in is difficult.
Bloodtalons / Lion's Strength	Both options are strong, effective buffs to your Finishing Moves. Bloodtalons is the more complex of the two, requiring you to pool slightly and cycle your abilities correctly, but rewards you with a higher damage buff to your Finishers. Lion's Strength on the other hand is less conditional if you do not have other talents, such as Brutal Slash to conveniently trigger it, and it is easier to execute. One of these two options is almost always taken and, generally Bloodtalons is superior so long as you can handle the extra gameplay requirements.
Feral Frenzy	Deals a small amount of damage and applies a heavy, short-duration Bleed on your target with a 45-second cooldown and generates 5 Combo Points when activated. This is a powerful instant generator and is taken in most single-target situations.
Adaptive Swarm	is a short DoT/HoT that increases the potency of your over-time-effects when active on a target. It will also jump between allies and enemies in a cycle, healing, and dealing damage in the process. Due to the Strength of Rip and our other bleeds and its relatively high uptime, this is a strong single-target option but falls off in multi-target.
Unbridled Swarm	Adds a multi-target component that improves Adaptive Swarm further in situations where you can have multiple active, but it has minimal effect in single-target.
Frantic Momentum	Grants Finishing moves a 6% chance per Combo Point spent to grants 10% Haste for 6 seconds. A solid increase in any target count is required pathing to reach strong end talents.
Incarnation: Avatar of Ashamane / Convoke the Spirits	Both of these are powerful options, either improving your Berserk by increasing the duration and reducing Energy costs while active or grants a powerful burst cooldown in Convoke the Spirits that will cast a flurry of Druid spells (preferring Ferocious Bite) over a 4-second channel. Both of these are strong in different scenarios depending on if you want condensed or extended burst, but we generally take Convoke the Spirits for the additional burst.
Ashamane's Guidance	Improves your previous talent selection Reduces the cooldown of Convoke the Spirits by 1 minute, reduces the number of spells cast by 4 and increases the chance for it to trigger Feral Frenzy. Causes your Rake and Rip to each individually increase targets' damage taken from you by 3% while Incarnation is active and for 30 seconds after it fades. This is a strong option regardless of which you take, however, points are quite tight in this row, making it hard to fit in. With Incarnation, this can be strong for single-target, but getting the value is hard in AoE, and it can be very awkward to play around. For Convoke, this is very encounter-dependent but 1-minute cooldowns can be very potent in the right situation.
Saber Jaws	This increases the bonus damage conferred to Ferocious Bite when it spends additional Energy. This does put additional resource strain on the spec, but in exchange, it turns Bite into an extremely potent finisher that can be pooled for extra burst.
Soul of the Forest	Increases the damage of your Finishing moves and causes them to generate 2 Energy per Combo Point spent. This is a powerful talent in all situations and has an impact on how smooth the rotation plays with regards to your Energy available, so it is always taken.
Circle of Life and Death	Causes your Bleed effects to deal their damage 20% faster. This effectively gives you more ticks of all of them in a shorter time, and due to how much damage they deal, this is a powerful talent but is more AoE-oriented due to the strong competition for single-target options deep in the tree.
Veinripper / Rip and Tear	A choice node that is mostly used for pathing, and both are valid options but provide modest increases. Rip and Tear is generally preferred in AoE situations where you are casting Primal Wrath while Veinripper removes some of the maintenance components of your Bleeds, increasing their duration.
Apex Predator's Craving	Gives all of your Rip damage ticks a small chance of causing your next, Ferocious Bite to cost no Energy or Combo Points and guarantee it deals the maximum possible damage. This has a 6% proc chance that scales down with each additional Rip active, so while it procs more often in AoE, it is not linear. With the addition of other Bite talents and the more consistent proc rate, this is an extremely solid pickup in all situations.

All of the talents below this line are quite powerful, so you ideally want 10 points spare when you reach here to spend. That means pathing earlier should be done with that in mind. What you take depends on preference, target count, and desired damage profile.

Feral Druids are given Rake and Rip by default, and there are a variety of performance-related talents that should be taken in any talent build:

• Thrash
• Killer Instinct
• Primal Fury
• Rising Light, Falling Night
• Instincts of the Claw
• Lycara's Teachings

It is also always recommended to pick up Skull Bash both as an interrupt and a short charge.

In addition to the above talents, it is generally recommended for all builds to include a variety of defensive talents. The recommended options are:

• Well-Honed Instincts
• Improved Barkskin
• Renewal
• Thick Hide
• Oakskin
• Ursine Vigor

Finally, it is also strongly recommended that all builds include a few mobility talents:

• Feline Swiftness
• Wild Charge / Tiger Dash
• Stampeding Roar / Improved Stampeding Roar*

Both mobility on the left choice node are valuable, and it comes down to preference between more burst speed or a displacement charge. Improved Stampeding Roar does bring the cooldown to 1 minute, which is very valuable, but points are tight at the bottom of the tree, so it cannot always be fit in.

Not all defensive or mobility talents need to be included, but you should try to incorporate an appropriate number of each into your builds, as having none is often a bad idea. The remainder of your points can be spent as you desire for specific Utility, crowd control, or pathing requirements; however, we strongly recommended that you at least consider including some of the following generally applicable utility options:

• Skull Bash
• Incapacitating Roar
• Fluid Form
• Typhoon
• Ursol's Vortex
• Innervate
• Nature's Vigil

Of note here is Innervate and Nature's Vigil. This provides both an external boost to healers in your team via additional mana and a healing cooldown that converts some of your damage into additional healing. Control options are especially useful in Mythic+, with the stand-out being Incapacitating Roar as a low cooldown AoE interrupt tool.

For a more detailed description of each of our class talents, please refer to the Feral Druid DPS Spell Summary page.