Balance Druid
4.3.4 PvP Guide
http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/...kin-form-1.jpg
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Table of Contents
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1. Introduction
2. Abilities
3. Talents and Glyphs
4. Stats/Gear/Gems/Reforging
5. Professions/Enchants
6. Macros
7. Rotation
8. Miscellaneous
9. Epilogue
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1. Introduction:
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Spoiler:Show This guide is aimed at both new Balance players and experienced Balance players. It should show you how Balance Druids work or just refresh your memory, and provide useful tips.
Balance Druids are usually underestimated by most players even though they can do tons of damage, good healing and have great utility.
Most of a Moonkins damage is spread out through DOTs and Starfall, which makes them very effective for Battlegrounds. They also have strong HOTs and direct heals. As for Utility, they have the most effective silence in the game (Solar Beam), Fungal Growth, Typhoon etc.
Note: Balance in Cataclysm is very different from Balance in Wrath of the Lich King. Eclipse has been completely redesigned and we have lots of new abilities which make us a considerably more viable spec.
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2. Abilities:
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Damage
Spoiler:Show Eclipse: The meter under your characters Health and Mana is your Eclipse gauge. You will move towards a Solar Eclipse (the right side) or a Lunar Eclipse (the left side) depending on which spell you cast. While in Solar Eclipse your Nature damage is increased and while in a Lunar Eclipse your Arcane Damage is increased. The meter can only move one way until an Eclipse is reached. Once you have reached an Eclipse, spells which are affected by that Eclipse will move you towards the opposite Eclipse.
Starfall: Summons stars which will fall on enemies which you are in combat with. Last 10 seconds. Being CC'd or Shapeshifting into any form (except in and out of Moonkin Form) will suppress/remove the effect.
Moonfire/Sunfire: Deals direct Arcane damage and leave a damage DOT on the target. Moonfire morphs into Sunfire when in a Solar Eclipse to deal Nature damage. Generates Lunar/Solar Energy while under the effect of Lunar Shower.
Insect Swarm: Strong Nature damage DOT.
Wrath: Deals Nature damage and generates Lunar Energy.
Starfire: Deals Arcane Damage and generates Solar Energy.
Starsurge: Deals both Arcane and Nature Damage and grants Solar or Lunar Energy depending on which Eclipse you are moving towards. If your gauge is at 0, it will grant Solar Energy. When your DOTs deal damage you have a chance activate Shooting Stars, which resets the CD of your Starsurge and makes it instant cast.
Force of Nature: Summons 3 Treants which deal melee damage to enemies.
HealingSpoiler:Show Rejuvenation: Moderate HOT. Doesn't heal too much, but use it if you can spare the Mana.
Lifebloom: Stacks up to 3 times and heals an average amount over time. When it expires, it heals a large amount. Keep it up and let it expire when you have taken a fair amount of damage, then restack it. Refresh it if you aren't taking a load of damage, so that you can let it expire when you do take a load of damage. When playing with a Healer, you will not need to keep it up all the time.
Regrowth: Fast, efficient heal which leaves a small HOT as well.
Healing Touch: Slow, strong heal. Avoid using it unless there is no danger of being interrupted.
Tranquility: Powerful, channeled AoE heal with a long cool down. Use to heal up yourself and your allies at the same time while on low health.
Utility__________________________________________________Spoiler:Show Solar Beam: Interrupts targets spell casting, locks the school being cast for 5 seconds and silences enemies who are under or move under the beam during it's duration.
Faerie Fire: An enemy cannot Stealth or go Invisible while under the effect of Faerie Fire. Also reduces the target's armor.
Entangling Roots: Roots a target in place.
Nature's Grasp: Roots melee attackers in place when you are struck.
Wild Mushroom/Wild Mushroom: Detonate: Place up to 3 Wild Mushrooms on the ground and Detonate them dealing low damage to nearby enemies and triggering Fungal Growth (with talent).
Cyclone: CC which makes a target invulnerable for 6 seconds. Note: Cyclone does not share a DR with any other CC.
Typhoon: Deals low damage to targets in front of you and knocks them back, dazing them for 6 seconds. Useful for getting enemies out of Stealth, or knocking them off a platform in Arena.
Barkskin: Reduces damage taken by 20% for 12 seconds. Can be used when under a CC effect. Also reduces the chance you will be critically hit by 25% when paired with the Glyph.
Hibernate: Put's a Beast/Dragonkin to sleep for 6 seconds. Keep it bound, can be used on Feral Druids, especially if they are stupid.
Travel Form: Can only be used outdoors. Needs to be bound to an easy to press button so you can kite, get away to heal, or get to a target while they are out of your LoS.
Cat Form: Also needs to be bound to an easy to press button so you can shift quickly to get a Skull Bash if needed, avoid Mana Burn and use Sprint/Stampeding Roar/Prowl.
Bear Form: Your defensive form. While in Bear Form, have Frenzied Regeneration and Enrage bound and use them simultaneously to generate health after you have taken a lot of damage. Also use Bear Form to stun enemies with Bash.
Moonkin Form: Increases your damage dealt by Arcane and Nature spells by 10%, decrease all damage taken by 15% and grants 5% Spell Haste to all nearby allies. Cannot be polymorphed while in Moonkin form and shapeshifting into and out of Moonkin Form removes movement impairing and slowing effects.
3. Talents and Glyphs:
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Talents:
Spoiler:Show http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/...813_155408.jpg
Note: You should read these talents to understand exactly what they do.
Glyphs:
Spoiler:Show http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/...813_155444.jpg
Swap out Glyph of Monsoon with Glyph of Solar Beam for an alternative build.
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4. Stats/Gear/Gems/Reforging:
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Stats:
Spoiler:Show Intellect: This is your main stat. Directly increases your damage output and increases your Crit chance.
Spirit (Hit): 100% of your spirit is converted into Hit rating. You need to be at the 4% Hit cap.
Haste: Decreases the cast time of your spells, decreases the tick time of your DOT's and increases the duration of your DOT's. Most players prefer to stay at 12.50% Haste, as it is a easily reachable breakpoint.
Crit: Indirectly increases your damage. More chance to deal sudden high damage. Great for Shooting Stars.
Resilience: Directly reduces damage taken from enemy players. Discussed more in the Gems section.
Mastery: Increases damage done while in the Eclipse state. Not very good for PvP and I suggest that you avoid it.
Gear:
Spoiler:Show Main Set:
Kodohide Gloves
Wyrmhide Chest
Wyrmhide Shoulders
Wyrmhide Head
Wyrmhide Legs
Offsets:
Bindings of Meditation
Belt of Cruelty
Footguards of Alacrity
Band of Meditation
Band of Cruelty
Drape of Diffusion
Trinkets:
Badge of Dominance and Medallion of Tenacity
Weapons:
Battle Staff or Endgame + Gavel/Spellblade
Relic of Salvation
Note: The reason for gearing like this is so that you can reach the Hit Cap via Spirit.
Also, if you can't get a PvP weapon yet just get something with Haste/Crit preferably.
Gems:
Spoiler:Show Resilience Gemming:
Spoiler:Show Red: Intellect + Resilience.
Blue: Resilience + Stamina.
Yellow: Resilience.
Prismatic:Resilience.
Meta Gem: 54 Intellect + 3% Increased Critical Strike Damage.
Intellect Gemming:
Spoiler:Show Red: Intellect.
Blue: Intellect + Spirit or Intellect + Stamina, depending on if you need to Spirit for the Hit Cap or not.
Yellow: Intellect + Haste. If you think you need more resilience, go for it.
Prismatic: Intellect.
Meta Gem: 54 Intellect + 3% Increased Critical Strike Damage.
Note:When playing a double dps team or 3v3 use "Resilience Gemming" and when playing 2v2 with a healer use "Intellect Gemming". But all in all, "Resilience Gemming" will be the most useful for PvP.
Reforging:
Spoiler:Show I use this structure:
Spirit (Hit 4%) > Haste/Crit > Mastery
I reforge for Haste and then round up my Crit, and my Haste is at about 17%. It is also possible to go for full Haste.
However, this structure is more commonly used:
Spirit (Hit 4%) > Haste (12.50%) > Crit > Mastery
12.50% Haste is an easily reachable breakpoint.
Note: Play around with your reforging and your gems and try get as near to 4% as possible, but never below 4%.
Also, remember that the Moonkin Aura increases Spell Haste by 5% so shapeshift into Moonkin Form while reforging.
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5. Professions/Enchants:
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Professions:
Spoiler:Show I recommend taking Tailoring for the Back Enchant. It is a great DPS boost.
If you gem for Resilience, take Jewelcrafting and get the three +67 Resilience gems.
If you don't gem for Resilience, take any profession which grants +80 Intellect (any profession except for Engineering, Tailoring, Herballism, Skinning and Mining).
Note: Taking Engineering can also be extremely useful for Battlegrounds because of the Synapse Strings enchant and Nitro Boosts.
Enchants:Spoiler:Show Weapon: Power Torrent
Offhand: Intellect
Bracers: Intellect
Chest: Resilience / Stats
Back: Tailoring Enchant / Intellect
Shoulder: Intellect and Haste / Intellect and Resilience
Head: Intellect and Resilience
Gloves: Haste / Synapse Strings
Belt: Ebonsteel Belt Buckle
Legs: Intellect and Stamina
Boots: Haste
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6. Macros:
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Spoiler:Show Note: These are the macros I use that I think are necessary. If you have more just leave a comment and I'll add them in!
Moonkin Form:
This is so you only need to press Moonkin Form once to shapeshift out of immobilization effects.Code:
#showtooltip
/cast moonkin form
/cast moonkin form
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Wrath:
This is so your Treants will attack your current target when you use Wrath.Code:
#showtooltip wrath
/petattack
/cast wrath
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Starfire:
This is so your Treants will attack your current target when you use Starfire.Code:
#showtooltip starfire
/petattack
/cast starfire
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Remove Corruption:
To remove Hex in Arena.Code:
#showtooltip
/cast [target="PartnersName"] remove corruption
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Starfall:
Still make sure to bind your Badge of Dominance so you can see it's CD.Code:
#showtooltip starfall
/use "Cataclysmic/Ruthless/Vicious/Bloodthirsty" Gladiator's Badge of Dominance
/cast starfall
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Solar Beam:
So you can get the interrupt in instantly.Code:
#showtooltip solar beam
/stopcasting
/cast solar beam
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Solar Beam (Focus):
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#showtooltip solar beam
/stopcasting
/cast [target=focus] solar beam
Cyclone (Focus):
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#showtooltip
/cast [target=focus] cyclone
Entangling roots (Focus):
Code:
#showtooltip
/cast [target=focus] entangling roots
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7. Rotation:
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Note: I cannot describe every possible situation that one can encounter in PvP. One learns through experience.
The Balance Rotation On A Basic Level:
Spoiler:Show Use:
1. Keep Moonfire/Sunfire and Insect Swarm up at all times on as many targets as possible for more Starsurge procs.
2. Wrath while approaching a Lunar Eclipse or in a Solar Eclipse.
3. Starfire while approaching a Solar Eclipse or in a Lunar Eclipse
4. Starsurge whenever it's off CD or Shooting Stars has procced.
5. Keep Lifebloom stacked when being attacked.
In between this you need to plan when to use your Starfall and all your Utilities. This depends on the class/classes you are versing and the situation.
Note: As with most classes, being good at Balance requires good knowledge of other classes and their abilities.
In Battlegrounds:
Spoiler:Show General Rotation:
1. Put your DOT's on everything that moves. They will deal tons of spread out damage and they enables more Shooting Stars procs.
2. Try to use Starfall while you are in a Lunar Eclipse with your Spell Power Trinket activated so you can deal optimum damage.
3. Use your direct casts on one target only. Though, switch to other ow health targets and blow them up.
4. Cycle your Cyclone through the enemies Healers and DPS which aren't being focused on, if necessary.
Don't be afraid to flag carry. Your heals, Bear Form, sprints and Travel Form do a good job!
When you have the flag, constantly keep up Lifebloom and Rejuvenation, even if you haven't been attacked yet. Remember to let the Lifebloom expire when attacked and to restack it afterwards.
You can also help your Flag Carrier a lot with your heals, Entangling Roots, Cyclone, Typhoon and Wild Mushrooms.
Killing the Enemy Flag Carrier can be an easy task with a Boomkin in the group. Using Starfall and putting your DOTs on the EFC and his defenders will strain the healers, especially with the occasional Cyclone and Solar Beam.
When defending a flag, place your Wild Mushrooms in a spaced out row so you will have a line of Fungal Growth to kite enemies along when you detonate them. Then go Cat Form, Prowl and wait a distance away from the flag. When an enemy comes along, wait for them to start capping the flag, then Pounce if possible and blow up your mushrooms.
Note: When enemies are heavily grouped up you can also use your Mushrooms for pure damage. Their damage will surprise you, especially if you're in a Solar Eclipse.
While Versing Specific Classes:
Spoiler:Show INCOMPLETE.
Note:This will be done from a 1v1, duel point of view. Keep in mind that there is not one winning formula for every situation, but these are the basic outlines and should point out some tips.
DPS:
Spoiler:Show Warrior:
Spoiler:Show This will focus on Arms as it is the most viable and common spec.
1) This is just to setup the fight.
Start in Stealth. Pounce him, but be careful of Thunderclap. Use Nature's Grasp and stand near enough for him to hit you so he will be rooted. While rooted, stack Lifebloom, apply Insect Swarm and Moonfire (won't break the roots) and place Wild Mushrooms in a spaced out row to kite along (placing the Mushrooms can also be done before the duel).
While doing this, run around him so that you are too near for him too Charge and too far for him to melee you. Then blow up your Mushrooms so the Fungal Growth is spread.
If they manage to Charge you after Pounce, you can use Starfall even earlier.
2) He will then either Charge you and be rooted or attack again and be rooted. Get in a cast of Starsurge and then proceed to kite along the Fungal Growth and cast Starsurge and Wrath/Starfire whenever you can get it in.
3) On the next Charge, Typhoon him away.
Use Starfall with your Spell Power Trinket when you are some distance away from him (after you have Typhooned), but make sure your Medallion Trinket is off CD as he will use Throwdown or Intimidating Shout.
Don't Typhoon after Heroic Leap unless his Charge is on CD. If he Heroic Leaps after the Charge go Cat Form and use Stampeding Roar and run around stacking applying DOTs while using Starfall.
4) When he uses Bladestorm, either go Bear Form, tank it and stun him afterwards and restack Lifebloom, or try get out of it's range. You can also spam Regrowth, use Rejuvenation and stack Lifebloom, but if it's a Reckstorm it's not a good idea.
5) Using Cyclone to throw in a few Regrowth's and refresh Lifebloom is sometimes needed, but beware of Spell Reflect. If he uses Spell Reflect, use another instant Spell to take it away, then Cyclone.
During this, remember to keep refreshing Lifebloom or letting it expire and restacking it.
Staying in Moonkin Form is absolutely necessary while casting spells and being attacked.
Note: Try not to root Warriors after the start as it will trigger their heal. Root them again only if absolutely necessary. Rooting in the beginning is acceptable as he is already on full health and you are simply setting up the fight.
Paladin:
Spoiler:Show This is for Retribution, I won't bother going over Protection.
1) Start in Stealth. Try start with Pounce if possible. If you can't, get a distance away from the Paladin and stack Lifebloom, apply DOTs and place Wild Mushrooms. Use Nature's Grasp so that when the Paladin hitsyou he is forced to use Hand of Freedom or dispel himself (wasting GCD's). blow up your Mushrooms once Hand of Freedom has faded.
If he does not use Hand of Freedom on your roots, try cast Starsurge, Wrath or Starfire. He will probably Repentance you.
2) Do not use your Medallion Trinket on Repentance! Save it for Hammer of Justice, always. Preferably use Starfall when he does not have Repentance.
3) Typhoon is best used after he has ran to you, over your Mushrooms, so that he has to run the length again or use Hand of Freedom. Keep getting casts in whenever you can.
4) He will be healing a lot, so whenever you are a good distance away from him try get in a Cyclone to heal your self up as much as possible. He will probably trinket your first Cyclone.
5) Try use Starfall while your have your trinket so you can you can get out of his stun.
6) During his bubble, use Rejuvenation and expire/restack Lifebloom. After the bubble, go Bear Form and stun him.
7) Haven't confirmed this next tip to be honest, but it works on DKs. You can use Solar Beam and stand in it and free cast as the Paladin can not use Rebuke while silenced.
8) When he uses Avenging Wrath and other CDs go Cat Form, use Stampeding Roar and run around stacking HOTs and applying DOTs. It is also useful to use Bash during Avenging Wrath which should force him to use his Medallion, so you can get a full Cyclone later.
Hunter:
Spoiler:Show Hunter can be a bit tricky, but we can get them if we play it right.
Marksmanship:
Spoiler:Show Note: You need to try get as close to the hunter as possible at all times (so that he can not cast). Remember to constantly keep Lifebloom and Rejuvenation up.
1) Start in Stealth and get away from the Hunter and his flare. He will almost always use camouflage, so put down a Wild Mushroom where he is standing and blow it up then instantly apply DOTs and stack HOTs.
2)Taking him out of his camouflage will probably make him use Scattering Shot and trap/cast Aimed Shot. If he is going to trap, trinket that and go Cat Form/Travel Form and get near to him. If he is casting Aimed Shot, trinket the Scatter and do the same thing.
3) You can place Mushrooms around but the Hunter will usually avoid them. Use Starfall early so that he pops Deterrence and then spam Regrowth and refresh HOTs to heal up as much as possible.
4) After his first Deterrence use your Treants.
5) Remember that he only has one Silence on an average cool down. So you can Cyclone quite often. Cast Starsurge whenever possible.
6) It is best to be in a Solar Eclipse as your DOTs hit harder. High DOT damage is very effective against a Hunter because it ticks through Deterrence.
7) Go Bear Form and use Frenzied Regeneration, Enrage and Barkskin as soon as you are below 50%. But before doing so, make sure Lifebloom is stacked.
8) You can Hibernate his pet if there is some time to do so.
Beast Mastery:
Spoiler:Show Note: For Beast Mastery most of things mentioned in the Marksmanship section still apply. Except, Beast Mastery does not have a Silence.
1) Start in the same way as you should against a Marksmanship. But now he does not have a Scatter Shot. Apply DOTs, stack HOTs and start casting Starsurge. Also DOT his pet.
2) Try use Starfall early so that he uses Deterrence early or so his pet stuns you. If it does stun you, use your Trinket to get out of it.
3) When he uses Bestial Wrath, go Bear Form and use your defensive abilities. Again make sure you have Lifebloom stacked.
4) Hibernate the pet after and before Bestial Wrath. You can also Cyclone the Hunter or the pet.
5) You can free cast a lot against Beast Mastery so feel free to spam some Regrowths and throw frequent Cyclones.
Priest:
Rogue:
Druid:
Warlock:
Death Knight:
Mage:
Shaman:
Healers:
Spoiler:Show
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8. Miscellaneous:
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Tips:
Spoiler:Show Get some Noggenfogger Elixir (bought from Sprinkle Noggenfogger in Gadgetzan) and shrink yourself!
People love targeting and trying (and failing) to kill Boomkins in Battlegrounds, so this will make you a smaller target and you may not be seen at all.
Another, but slightly less, useful item is Kalythas Haunted Locket (bought in Azshara for 5000 gold) which transforms you into a Night Elf Female with a transparent appearance (transparency stays active in Moonkin Form). This compliments the Shrinking effect from Noggenfogger Elixir greatly.
Skull Bash is an extremely useful ability, and should be used versus casters. The best time to use it is after the caster has silenced you and you are still silenced. Depending on the class you're versing, there can be other times to use it however. For example, while versing a Frost Mage you can just try to use it on Frostbolt so they are locked out.
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9. Epilogue:
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http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/...f9178b3bb1.jpg
Thank you for reading and I hope this guide has helped you!
If you have any questions, corrections or anything to add just drop a comment.
Get out there and enjoy Moonkin PvP!
Terix
Warsong Realm
