Balance Druid changes in WoW Patch 5.1

Balance Druid changes in WoW Patch 5.1

Very few. However, theorycrafting has improved somewhat and this guide has had minor updates accordingly.

Balance “Rotation” and Priorities

The Balance rotation hasn’t really changed in MoP – it’s still all about keeping your Damage over Time spells up whilst getting in and out of Eclipse as fast as possible.

Single-target DPS

If possible, before combat begins use Astral Communion to move your Eclipse bar to one cast away from an Eclipse. Once combat has begun:

• Top Priority: If Sunfire or Moonfire isn’t running on your target, cast it.
• Second Priority: If Starsurge is available, cast it. If you’re in Lunar Eclipse and Starfall is available, cast that.
• Third Priority: If you have the Solar Eclipse buff active, cast Wrath. If you have Lunar Eclipse, cast Starfire.
• Fourth Priority: If your eclipse gauge is heading for Solar, cast Starfire. If it’s heading for Lunar, cast Wrath.

This will get you going with Balance DPS. To improve your DPS more, focus on keeping your Sunfire and Moonfire active at all times, and try to cast both of them at the start and end of the appropriate Eclipse (Solar for Sunfire, Lunar for Moonfire).

SIMPLE AOE DPS

Drop Wild Mushrooms before the pull, if possible, then simply spam Hurricane or Astral Storm on the pack.

ADVANCED AOE DPS

In AoE situations, you will want to start in Eclipse (Solar) and only use Wild Mushroom + Wild Mushroom: Detonate if you are able to pre-plant them before the pull.

• With 2-3 targets, apply Sunfire and Moonfire to all mobs and then continue with the single-target rotation on the highest health target.
• At 4-5 mobs, cast Starfall on cooldown and spam Sunfirewith Lunar Shower. At 6-8 targets, only apply Sunfire to targets and channel Hurricane.
• At > 8 targets, simply channel Hurricane.

If you need to AoE in Eclipse (Lunar), cast Starfall on cooldown and channel Astral Storm.

Cooldowns

Use Celestial Alignment as often as possible, immediately after leaving an Eclipse.

Rebirth is still important – make sure to have it bound for a combat res!

Innervate is still a decent mana regeneration cooldown. Use it as soon as you get below 80% mana. With the Glyph, also provides some benefit if cast on others.

Don’t forget Barkskin if something’s attacking you.

Buffs

Remember to cast Mark of the Wild for the party or raid! Cast Symbiosis on a Mage if you can, and use Mirror Images on cooldown.

Also, Moonkin form. Remember to be in it. Seriously, I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen someone forget!

Balance Druid Talent Choices

Many Balance druid talent choices aren’t too relevant in 5.0 – although you’ll probably want to try out several choices for Tiers 2 and 4 in time. However, this is a good, easy-to-use talent build for now:

Tier 1: Feline Swiftness

Tier 2: Nature’s Swiftness – particularly useful for the instant, potent Rebirth.

Tier 3: Faerie Swarm

Tier 4: Incarnation – gives an additional damage cooldown. Use with Nature’s Vigil, on cooldown.

Tier 5: Mighty Bash.

Tier 6: Nature’s Vigil – gives an additional damage cooldown. Use with Incarnation, on cooldown.

Stats, reforging and gemming for Balance Druid

Intellect is still our most important stat, followed by Hit or Spirit to the cap (15% or 5100 rating), followed by Haste to the 5,273 breakpoint, then Critical Strike, followed by Haste and Mastery.

Reforging: Reforge for Spirit to hit cap, then for Haste until you reach 5,273 Haste, then Crit Strike. Reforge out of Hit above the cap first, then Spirit, then Haste and Mastery.

Gems: Use a Brilliant Inferno Ruby in Red sockets. in Blue sockets, use Purified gems (Int/Spirit) and use Potent gems (Int/Crit) in Yellow sockets.

Meta Gem: Burning meta gem.

Boomkin Glyphs

No Boomkin glyphs have particularly massive effects.

Major: Glyph of the Moonbeast, Glyph of Rebirth, Glyph of Innervate

Minor: Glyph of Grace

Balance Druid enchants and item enhancements

You should almost always use a profession enhancement item if it provides appropriate stats instead of a general enchant.

Shoulders – Greater Crane Wing Inscription

Back – Enchant Cloak – Superior Intellect

Chest – Enchant Chest – Glorious Stats

Wrist – Enchant Bracer – Super Intellect

Hands – Enchant Gloves – Superior Mastery

Belt – Living Steel Belt Buckle

Legs – Greater Cerulean Spellthread

Feet – Enchant Boots – Pandaren’s Step

Weapon – Enchant Weapon – Jade Spirit

Off-Hand Weapon – Enchant Weapon – Major Intellect

Links

More Info

Graylo has an extremely useful guide for boomkin over on his blog, Grey Matter

When it comes back online, I’m informed this guide from the official forums is excellent.

Icy Veins have a good, detailed guide to Boomkin mechanics, including a pretty good Eclipse section.

Melting Pot blogosphere on World of Warcraft.