Druid spec guide

Balance Druid

Everything for Balance Druid on one page: role, talent order by level, Balance abilities and recommended gear for each level range. Talent and gear picks are calculated from the tooltip values in official game data plus the assumptions Forever Tool states below.

All Druid abilities Open the level 60 build in the calculator

Gear focus: Spell DPS
Talent calculation: Balance (spells)
Level 60 build: 36/0/15
Estimated DPS: +79.1%

Balance Druid at a glance

Summarized from Blizzard's class deep-dive articles. They were published during the beta, so live numbers and talents may differ.

Druid as the developers describe it

Druids stay rooted in versatility and their connection to nature. Shapeshifting feels more fluid and useful across the game, and Balance, Feral Combat and Restoration each get stronger.[1]

With the right gear and talents, Druids can fill any role, but they can't snare, Silence or Interrupt, and their crowd control is weaker. They rely on others for the complete toolkit.

Balance talents in Forever

Nature's Splendor (11-point gold medal): increases the duration of Moonfire, Rejuvenation, Regrowth and Insect Swarm.
Insect Swarm moves into Balance as the 16-point gold medal. It deals Nature damage over 12 seconds and reduces the target's chance to hit.
Moonkin Form's party critical strike bonus now applies to all spells and attacks, and you can cast all non-healing spells in Moonkin Form.
Eclipse (new row 5 talent): casting Wrath reduces the cast time of your next 2 Starfire casts.

Balance talent build

One point per level from level 10, 51 points at level 60. The Balance tree is filled to 31 points first, and the remaining points go where they raise estimated DPS the most in the other trees.

The level 60 build uses the same method as the calculator's "Recommended build" (estimated DPS from tooltip values + judgment weights for talents the math can't capture, such as rage, energy and mana talents), with the extra rule "Balance tree to 31 points first". The order picks, one point at a time, the talent that raises the score the most on the way to that build. Estimated DPS is a rough "compared with no talents" figure and leaves out the damage of newly learned abilities. Talent point rules (starting at level 10) follow classic, since nothing has been announced officially.

Builds by level

Level	Points	Tree split	Est. DPS	Calculator
Level 20	11 points	11/0/0	+13.6%	Open
Level 30	21 points	21/0/0	+25.5%	Open
Level 40	31 points	31/0/0	+52.6%	Open
Level 50	41 points	36/0/5	+62.8%	Open
Level 60	51 points	36/0/15	+79.1%	Open

Talent order by level

Consecutive levels spent on the same talent are grouped on one line.

Levels 10–14Improved Wrath1→5/5
Levels 15–16Nature's Reach1→2/2
Levels 17–18Improved Moonfire1→2/2
Levels 19–21Moonglow1→3/3
Levels 22–23Nature's Majesty1→2/2
Level 24Genesis1/5
Level 25Insect Swarm1/1
Levels 26–29Improved Starfire1→4/5
Levels 30–32Eclipse1→3/3
Level 33Improved Starfire5/5
Level 34Nature's Grace1/1
Levels 35–39Moonfury1→5/5
Level 40Moonkin Form1/1
Levels 41–45Vengeance1→5/5
Levels 46–50Nature's FocusRestoration1→5/5
Levels 51–55NaturalistRestoration1→5/5
Levels 56–58ReflectionRestoration1→3/3
Levels 59–60Natural ShapeshifterRestoration1→2/3

Key talents of the level 60 build

Talents with a large share of estimated DPS, plus talents that grant abilities or handle resources. Descriptions are the tooltip at the rank taken.

Improved Wrath5/5 · Balance
Est. DPS +4.2%
Reduces the cast time of your Wrath spell by 0.5 sec and its Mana cost by 50%.
Moonglow3/3 · Balance
Resource / utility
Reduces the Mana cost of your damaging spells by 25%.
Nature's Majesty2/2 · Balance
Est. DPS +2.9%
Increases your critical strike chance with spells and melee attacks by 4%.
Nature's Reach2/2 · Balance
Est. DPS +4.8%
Increases the range of your offensive Balance spells by 20% and improves your chance to hit by 4%.
Insect Swarm1/1 · Balance
Ability
The enemy target is swarmed by insects, decreasing their chance to hit with attacks by 2% and causing 48 Nature damage over 12 sec.
Vengeance5/5 · Balance
Est. DPS +6.7%
Increases the critical strike damage bonus of your Arcane and Nature spells by 100%.
Improved Starfire5/5 · Balance
Est. DPS +10.4%
Reduces the cast time of Starfire by 0.5 sec and Starfire has a 15% chance to stun its target for 3 sec.
Eclipse3/3 · Balance
Est. DPS +8.5%
Your Wrath spell reduces the cast time of your next 2 Starfire spells by 0.50 sec. Stores up to 4 charges. Lasts 15 sec.
Moonfury5/5 · Balance
Est. DPS +10.0%
Increases the damage done by your Arcane and Nature spells by 10%.
Moonkin Form1/1 · Balance
Ability
Shapeshift into Moonkin Form, increasing Omen of Clarity's chance to trigger by 100%, Armor contribution from items by 360%, and all party or raid members within 45 yards have their Critical Strike chance increased by 3%. Also protects the caster from Polymorph effects and prevents the use of healing spells. The act of shapeshifting frees the caster of Polymorph and Movement Impairing effects.
Naturalist5/5 · Restoration
Est. DPS +10.0%
Reduces the cast time of your Healing Touch and Wild Growth spells by 0.5 sec and increases all damage you deal by 10%.
Reflection3/3 · Restoration
Resource / utility
Allows 50% of your Mana regeneration to continue while casting.

Balance abilities

Balance abilities in the order you first learn them. The numbers are the levels at which each rank is learned; the description is rank 1 without gear or stats.

Balance Druid gear by level

The 3 highest-scoring items for each slot in every level range. Only items whose required level falls inside the range are compared.

How were these picked?

The score is the sum of the item's tooltip lines from official game data (Strength, Stamina, Spell Power, damage per second and so on) multiplied by the weights below. There is no official formula, so the weights are Forever Tool's rough estimates (assumptions). Compare scores only within the same slot.
Equip, use and chance-on-hit effects, set bonuses and resistances are not scored. Items without fixed stats (only armor in the tooltip) are left out.
Only Uncommon and Rare items, plus craftable Epic items, of item level 65 or lower are included (no raid loot). Items that require a profession to use and crafts that need raid materials are left out.
Items without a required level count as item level minus 5. Only armor types a Druid wears are included, with mail and plate counted from level 40 (classic rules, since nothing has been announced).
Sources list only crafting (professions) and quest rewards. Dungeon drops are being collected from player reports; check the item page.

Balance weights (assumed)

Stat	Score per point
Spell Power	1
Spell Damage	1
Nature Damage	0.9
Hit	0.8
Critical Strike	0.6
Haste	0.5
Mana Regeneration per 5 sec	0.5
Arcane Damage	0.5
Intellect	0.4
Stamina	0.2
Spell Piercing	0.2
Spirit	0.1

Levels 1–20

Hall of Thanes 13–18 Ruins of Lordaeron 15–20 Level 1–10 quest zones Level 11–20 quest zones

Head

Totemic Leather HoodScore 11.0
Req. 20 · Spell Power +9 · Stamina +10
Crafted: Leatherworking
Wisdom's Leather HoodScore 8.0
Req. 20 · Spell Damage +6 · Stamina +10
Crafted: Leatherworking
Trapper's Leather HoodScore 5.2
Req. 20 · Intellect +8 · Stamina +10
Crafted: Leatherworking

Neck

Scholarly PendantScore 0.8
Item level 23 · Stamina +3 · Spirit +2
Erudite's AmuletScore 0.6
Item level 23 · Stamina +3
Scout's MedallionScore 0.4
Req. 18 · Stamina +2
Same stats: Sentinel's Medallion

Back

Heavy Woolen CloakScore 4.4
Req. 16 · Spell Power +4 · Spirit +4
Crafted: Tailoring
Battle Healer's CloakScore 4.0
Req. 18 · Spell Damage +3 · Stamina +4 · Spirit +2
Same stats: Caretaker's Cape
Pearl-clasped CloakScore 3.2
Req. 14 · Spell Power +2 · Intellect +3
Crafted: Tailoring

Chest

Stormrider's Leather ArmorScore 10.9
Req. 15 · Spell Power +8 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +3 · Spirit +3
Crafted: Leatherworking
Barkshell TunicScore 8.8
Item level 25 · Spell Power +8 · Stamina +4
Quest: Betrayal from Within (The Barrens)
Wisdom's Leather ArmorScore 7.9
Req. 15 · Spell Damage +5 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +3 · Spirit +3
Crafted: Leatherworking

Wrist

Owl BracersScore 2.0
Req. 20 · Intellect +5
Ratchet WristwrapsScore 1.6
Req. 20 · Intellect +4
Reputation required
Bear BracersScore 1.0
Req. 20 · Stamina +5

Hands

Fletcher's GlovesScore 8.4
Req. 20 · Critical Strike +14
Crafted: Leatherworking
Stormrider's Leather GlovesScore 7.2
Req. 15 · Spell Power +5 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +3
Crafted: Leatherworking
Totemic Leather GlovesScore 5.6
Req. 15 · Spell Power +5 · Stamina +3
Crafted: Leatherworking

Waist

Stormrider's Leather BeltScore 6.2
Req. 12 · Spell Power +4 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +3
Crafted: Leatherworking
Wisdom's Leather BeltScore 5.2
Req. 12 · Spell Damage +3 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +3
Crafted: Leatherworking
Hillman's BeltScore 4.8
Req. 20 · Spell Power +4 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Leatherworking

Legs

Stormrider's Leather PantsScore 13.6
Req. 20 · Spell Power +10 · Intellect +6 · Stamina +4 · Spirit +4
Crafted: Leatherworking
Wisdom's Leather PantsScore 10.6
Req. 20 · Spell Damage +7 · Intellect +6 · Stamina +4 · Spirit +4
Crafted: Leatherworking
Totemic Leather PantsScore 9.4
Req. 20 · Spell Power +7 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Leatherworking

Feet

Stormrider's Leather BootsScore 8.8
Req. 17 · Spell Power +6 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Leatherworking
Totemic Leather BootsScore 6.8
Req. 17 · Spell Power +6 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Leatherworking
Wisdom's Leather BootsScore 6.8
Req. 17 · Spell Damage +4 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +4
Crafted: Leatherworking

Finger

Advisor's RingScore 6.4
Req. 18 · Spell Power +5 · Mana Regeneration per 5 sec +2 · Stamina +2
Same stats: Lorekeeper's Ring
Minor Channeling RingScore 5.8
Item level 24 · Spell Power +5 · Intellect +2
Quest: WANTED: Chok'sul (Loch Modan)
Sacred BandScore 2.4
Item level 25 · Spell Power +2 · Spirit +4
Quest: The Den (Stonetalon Mountains)

Trinket

Rune of PerfectionScore 0.8
Req. 20 · Stamina +4
Same stats: Rune of Duty

Two-hand

Advisor's Gnarled StaffScore 4.7
Req. 18 · Damage per second 19.7 · Intellect +4 · Stamina +8 · Mana Regeneration per 5 sec +3
Same stats: Lorekeeper's Staff
Polished Walking StaffScore 3.4
Item level 24 · Damage per second 11.7 · Intellect +7 · Stamina +3
Quest: Torek's Assault (Ashenvale)
Clear Crystal RodScore 2.8
Item level 21 · Damage per second 10.2 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +4
Quest: Arachnophobia (Stonetalon Mountains)

Main hand

Royal DaggerScore 1.6
Item level 25 · Damage per second 8.5 · Intellect +4
Quest: A Friend of the Family (Stormwind City)
Barrens BasherScore 1.0
Req. 20 · Damage per second 16 · Stamina +5
Reputation required
Quilboar ToothpickScore 1.0
Item level 24 · Damage per second 8.1 · Intellect +2 · Spirit +2
Quest: Chol'aruk the Ravener (The Barrens), Quest: Chol'aruk the Ravener (The Barrens)

Held in off-hand

Mathystra Channeling OrbScore 2.6
Item level 21 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +3
Quest: Baron Marinous (Darkshore)
Defective SamophlangeScore 2.5
Req. 20 · Intellect +5 · Spirit +5
Reputation required
Tear of GriefScore 1.7
Item level 16 · Intellect +5 · Spirit +-3
Quest: For Love Eternal (Darkshore)

Levels 21–40

Excavation Site 24–29 City of Dalaran 28–33 The Drowned City 35–40 Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45 Level 21–30 quest zones Level 31–40 quest zones

Head

Wild HeaddressScore 16.4
Item level 39 · Spell Power +12 · Intellect +11
Quest: WANTED: Marez Cowl (Arathi Highlands)
Big Voodoo MaskScore 14.6
Req. 39 · Spell Power +9 · Intellect +14
Crafted: Leatherworking
Totemic Leather HelmScore 14.6
Req. 25 · Spell Power +12 · Stamina +13
Crafted: Leatherworking

Neck

Scorn's Icy ChokerScore 10.4
Req. 30 · Spell Power +7 · Intellect +6 · Stamina +5
Seal of the ExpeditionScore 5.0
Req. 38 · Intellect +7 · Stamina +11
Reputation required
Same stats: Darkspear Warding Pendant
Amulet of ForgivenessScore 4.7
Item level 43 · Spell Damage +4 · Spirit +7
Quest: Forlorn Necklace (Shen'dralas)

Shoulder

Raptorclaw ShouldersScore 8.2
Item level 29 · Spell Power +7 · Intellect +3
Quest: Ormer's Revenge (Wetlands)
Shabby SpauldersScore 5.2
Item level 45 · Intellect +8 · Stamina +10
Quest: Lost for Words (Feralas)
Darkshire ShoulderguardsScore 2.1
Item level 35 · Stamina +7 · Spirit +7
Quest: Bride of the Embalmer (Duskwood)
Same stats: Cloudy Windraveled Drapes, Azure Windraveled Drapes

Back

Brilliant CloakScore 9.0
Item level 41 · Spell Power +6 · Intellect +5 · Stamina +5
Quest: Strahnbrad Mystery (Alterac Mountains)
Battle Healer's CloakScore 8.1
Req. 38 · Spell Damage +6 · Stamina +8 · Spirit +5
Same stats: Caretaker's Cape
Long Silken CloakScore 8.0
Req. 32 · Spell Power +6 · Intellect +5
Crafted: Tailoring
Same stats: Guardian Cloak