WoW Forever DB

World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Balance Druid: Leveling

Client build 1.60.1.70425 · updated

Level as Feral: Wrath and Moonfire to 10, Bear from 10 (heal yourself with your mana between pulls, then regenerate it in form), Cat from 20 with Prowl to slip past packs.

How this works

Balance levels fine with more drinking; Restoration is safe but slow. Four class quests teach your forms and Cure Poison, and two of them send you to Moonglade, so learn Teleport: Moonglade at 10. The XP curve is Classic's, but dungeon quests still pay about 2.2 times Classic's XP. The spells and ranks in each band come straight from the client's trainer data.

How Balance fights is on its rotation page.

Level by level

Your race

1–10Bear Form at 10

Wrath, Moonfire and a bear at 10

Kill with Wrath, pull with Moonfire (4), heal with Rejuvenation (4) and keep Thorns (6) up. At 10 your trainer starts the Bear Form quest, and you learn Teleport: Moonglade, Nature's Grasp and your first talent point.

Where
Night Elf: Shadowglen, then Teldrassil from Dolanaar (4–12). The Bear Form chain runs Darnassus → Moonglade → the Great Bear Spirit → Lunaclaw at the Moonkin Stone east of Auberdine.
Skyborne (High Order): Zephras Isle (1–12), from Thendal Grove. Bear Form comes from the new quests The Great Ursera Spirit and Strength and Mercy on the island (kill Ur'endra in the Shen'dar Highlands).
Tauren: Camp Narache, then Mulgore from Bloodhoof Village (3–11). The Bear Form chain runs Thunder Bluff → Moonglade → the Great Bear Spirit → Lunaclaw at the Moonkin Stone between Mulgore and the Barrens.
Skyborne (Windshaper): Zephras Isle (1–12), from Thendal Grove. Bear Form comes from The Great Ursera Spirit and Strength and Mercy on the island.
New spells
Wrath 1 Healing Touch 1 Mark of the Wild 1 Moonfire 4 Rejuvenation 4 Thorns 6 Entangling Roots 8 Nature's Grasp 10 Teleport: Moonglade 10 Bear Form 10 Demoralizing Roar 10 Growl 10 Maul 10
New ranks
Wrath 2 6Healing Touch 2 8Moonfire 2 10Mark of the Wild 2 10Rejuvenation 2 10
Talents
Improved Wrath 4/5 10–13
Tips
  • Thorns on yourself before every pull; Moonfire first, then Wrath while the mob runs in.
  • Skinning and Leatherworking let you make your own leather; Herbalism suits a Druid from Travel Form later.
11–20Cat Form at 20

Bear, then the Moonglade quests

Fight in Bear Form: Maul and Demoralizing Roar, Swipe from 16 for two or three mobs, and heal out of form when you need to. Cure Poison comes from a quest at 14 and Aquatic Form from one at 16. At 20 the Cat Form quest chain teaches Cat Form, Prowl, Claw and Rip, and you train Rebirth, Starfire and Omen of Clarity.

Where
Night Elf: Darkshore from Auberdine (12–21). The Cure Poison chain plays out around Auberdine.
Skyborne (High Order): Take the Alliance skyship to Dalaran. Child of Nature sends you to Sheldras Moontree in Stormwind, who opens Moonglade. No source gives a Skyborne route; Westfall or Loch Modan (10–20) are the nearest Alliance zones (inference).
Tauren: The Barrens from the Crossroads (12–25). The Cure Poison chain runs through the Crossroads.
Skyborne (Windshaper): Take the Horde skyship to Skywatcher Plateau north of Thunder Bluff. Child of Nature sends you to Turak Runetotem in Thunder Bluff; then Mulgore and the Barrens (inference: no source gives a Skyborne route).
Dungeons

Alliance: Wailing Caverns 17–24 (five Fang pieces turn Cat Form into a snake) · Hall of Thanes 13–18 · Deadmines 17–26

Horde: Wailing Caverns 17–24 (five Fang pieces turn Cat Form into a snake) · Ragefire Chasm 13–18 · Deadmines 17–26 · Ruins of Lordaeron 15–20 (new, Undercity)

New spells
Enrage 12 Regrowth 12 Revive 12 Bash 14 Cure Poison 14 Aquatic Form 16 Swipe 16 Faerie Fire 18 Hibernate 18 Omen of Clarity 20 Starfire 20 Cat Form 20 Claw 20 Prowl 20 Rip 20 Shred 20 Rebirth 20
New ranks
Wrath 3 14Thorns 2 14Healing Touch 3 14Moonfire 3 16Rejuvenation 3 16Entangling Roots 2 18Nature's Grasp 2 18Maul 2 18Regrowth 2 18Demoralizing Roar 2 20Healing Touch 4 20Mark of the Wild 3 20
Talents
Improved Wrath 4/5 10–13 Heart of the Wild 5/5 14–18 Feral Swiftness 2/2 19–20
Tips
21–30Beta cap

Cat damage and the beta cap

Shred from behind (20), Rake and Remove Curse (24), Primal Bite or Insect Swarm with your 16th talent point (25), Abolish Poison and Dash (26), Challenging Roar and Cower (28), and Travel Form and Tranquility at 30. Shifting Power (26 in this order) is your energy cooldown. Levels 20–30 cost about twice the XP of 1–20.

Where
Night Elf: Stonetalon Mountains from Stonetalon Peak (20–22) and Ashenvale from Astranaar (20–24), then the boat from Auberdine to Menethil: Wetlands (22–24), Duskwood (24–28), back to Ashenvale (28–30).
Skyborne (High Order): Redridge (20–22) → Wetlands from Menethil (22–24) → Duskwood (24–28) → Ashenvale from Astranaar (28–30).
Tauren: The Barrens from Camp Taurajo (20–22) → Hillsbrad from Tarren Mill (22–24) → Ashenvale from Splintertree Post (24–27) → Thousand Needles from Freewind Post (27–30).
Skyborne (Windshaper): As Tauren: the Barrens → Hillsbrad → Ashenvale (Splintertree) → Thousand Needles.
Dungeons

Alliance: Shadowfang Keep · Blackfathom Deeps · Stockade (Alliance) · Razorfen Kraul · Gnomeregan · Excavation Site: Wetlands 26–31 (new) · Scarlet Monastery Graveyard · Razorfen Downs (25+) · Uldaman (30+)

Horde: Shadowfang Keep · Blackfathom Deeps · Razorfen Kraul · Gnomeregan · Excavation Site: Wetlands 26–31 (new) · Scarlet Monastery Graveyard · Razorfen Downs (25+) · Uldaman (30+)

New spells
Soothe Animal 22 Rake 24 Remove Curse 24 Dash 26 Abolish Poison 26 Challenging Roar 28 Cower 28 Travel Form 30 Tranquility 30
New ranks
Wrath 4 22Moonfire 4 22Rejuvenation 4 22Thorns 3 24Swipe 2 24Regrowth 3 24Revive 2 24Starfire 2 26Maul 3 26Healing Touch 5 26Moonfire 5 28Entangling Roots 3 28Nature's Grasp 3 28Claw 2 28Rip 2 28Rejuvenation 5 28Wrath 5 30Faerie Fire 2 30Bash 2 30Shred 2 30Mark of the Wild 4 30Regrowth 4 30Rebirth 2 30
Talents
Improved Wrath 5/5 21 Nature's Focus 5/5 22–26 Naturalist 5/5 27–31
Tips
  • Use Shifting Power below 60 energy so none is wasted; spend Omen of Clarity procs on Shred.
  • Respawns are faster in Hillsbrad, Ashenvale, Wetlands, Duskwood and Thousand Needles, so crowded quest mobs come back sooner.
31–40Berserk at 40

Thirties: finishers, then the big talents

Ferocious Bite and Ravage (32), Pounce (36), and at 40 Dire Bear Form, Hurricane, Innervate and your mount. Your 31st talent point opens Berserk, Moonkin Form or Wild Growth, and Dual Specialization unlocks at 40.

Where
Arathi Highlands, Stranglethorn Vale, Desolace and Alterac (30–40), then Dustwallow Marsh and Swamp of Sorrows. Riverglades (35–45) is a new contested zone (announced).
Dungeons
Scarlet Monastery wings · City of Dalaran 28–33 (later beta update) · The Drowned City 35–40 (new) · Razorfen Downs
New spells
Ferocious Bite 32 Ravage 32 Track Humanoids 32 Frenzied Regeneration 36 Pounce 36 Hurricane 40 Dire Bear Form 40 Feline Grace 40 Innervate 40
New ranks
Demoralizing Roar 3 32Healing Touch 6 32Moonfire 6 34Thorns 4 34Starfire 3 34Maul 4 34Swipe 3 34Rake 2 34Rejuvenation 6 34Rip 3 36Regrowth 5 36Revive 3 36Wrath 6 38Entangling Roots 4 38Nature's Grasp 4 38Hibernate 2 38Soothe Animal 2 38Claw 3 38Shred 3 38Healing Touch 7 38Moonfire 7 40Prowl 2 40Cower 2 40Ferocious Bite 2 40Mark of the Wild 5 40Rejuvenation 7 40Rebirth 3 40Tranquility 2 40
Talents
Naturalist 5/5 27–31 Reflection 3/3 32–34 Moonglow 3/3 35–37 Nature's Majesty 2/2 38–39 Nature's Splendor 1/1 40
Tips
  • Primal Bite rank 2 comes from the trainer at 36 (rank 1 comes with the talent).
41–50Lacerate at 42

Forties: Lacerate and Barkskin

Lacerate at 42 gives bears a stacking bleed with high threat, Barkskin at 44 a free 20% physical damage cut, and Gift of the Wild at 50 a group buff.

Where
Tanaris, Feralas, the Hinterlands, Searing Gorge and Azshara.
Dungeons
Krol'dok Stronghold 40–45 (new) · Uldaman · Zul'Farrak · Maraudon · Alcaz Prison 48–53 (new)
New spells
Lacerate 42 Barkskin 44 Gift of the Wild 50
New ranks
Faerie Fire 3 42Starfire 4 42Demoralizing Roar 4 42Maul 5 42Ravage 2 42Regrowth 6 42Thorns 5 44Swipe 4 44Rip 4 44Rake 3 44Healing Touch 8 44Wrath 7 46Moonfire 8 46Bash 3 46Shred 4 46Dash 2 46Pounce 2 46Rejuvenation 8 46Entangling Roots 5 48Nature's Grasp 5 48Claw 4 48Ferocious Bite 3 48Regrowth 7 48Revive 4 48Starfire 5 50Hurricane 2 50Maul 6 50Ravage 3 50Lacerate 2 50Healing Touch 9 50Mark of the Wild 6 50Rebirth 4 50Tranquility 3 50
Talents
Nature's Reach 2/2 41–42 Improved Moonfire 2/2 43–44 Insect Swarm 1/1 45 Improved Starfire 4/5 46–49 Nature's Grace 1/1 50
51–60Un'Goro at 52

Fifties: the last ranks

The last ranks of everything come at 54–60. At 52 Torwa Pathfinder in Un'Goro starts the Druid chain Toxic Test, Bloodpetal Poison and A Better Ingredient (Sunken Temple).

Where
Un'Goro Crater, Felwood, Burning Steppes, Western and Eastern Plaguelands, Winterspring and Silithus; Moonglade (55–60) is your class home.
Dungeons
Sunken Temple · Blackrock Depths · Dire Maul · Blackmaw Hold 55–60 (new) · Lower Blackrock Spire · Scholomance · Stratholme · Shaper's Terrace 58–60 (new)
New ranks
Moonfire 9 52Demoralizing Roar 5 52Rip 5 52Cower 3 52Rejuvenation 9 52Wrath 8 54Thorns 6 54Faerie Fire 4 54Soothe Animal 3 54Swipe 5 54Shred 5 54Rake 4 54Regrowth 8 54Ferocious Bite 4 56Pounce 3 56Healing Touch 10 56Moonfire 10 58Entangling Roots 6 58Nature's Grasp 6 58Hibernate 3 58Starfire 6 58Maul 7 58Claw 5 58Ravage 4 58Lacerate 3 58Rejuvenation 10 58Starfire 7 60Hurricane 3 60Prowl 3 60Rip 6 60Ferocious Bite 5 60Healing Touch 11 60Mark of the Wild 7 60Rejuvenation 11 60Regrowth 9 60Revive 5 60Rebirth 5 60Tranquility 4 60Gift of the Wild 2 60
Talents
Improved Starfire 5/5 51 Eclipse 3/3 52–54 Moonfury 5/5 55–59 Moonkin Form 1/1 60

Talents above follow the Balance leveling order. The Forever 1-60 levelling order for Balance. It opens with Improved Wrath, Heart of the Wild and Feral Swiftness, takes Nature's Focus, Naturalist and Reflection for mana, and ends on Moonkin Form at 60. The Classic Balance order puts Vengeance and Moonfury first and has no Restoration detour. Guide's pick, untested Step through it in the talent trees.

Class quests and mounts

  • Level 10, Bear Form. Night Elf and Tauren: the Classic chain from your trainer (Mathrengyl Bearwalker in Darnassus, Turak Runetotem in Thunder Bluff) → Teleport: Moonglade → Dendrite Starblaze in Nighthaven → the Great Bear Spirit → Body and Heart: summon and beat Lunaclaw at a Moonkin Stone (east of Auberdine, or between Mulgore and the Barrens). Skyborne: new quests on Zephras Isle, The Great Ursera Spirit and Strength and Mercy (kill the maddened Ur'endra), then Child of Nature sends High Order to Sheldras Moontree in Stormwind and Windshaper to Turak Runetotem, and on to Moonglade. Live in beta
  • Level 14, Cure Poison. The Classic five-quest chain Lessons Anew → The Principal Source → Gathering the Cure → Curing the Sick → Power over Poison (3,325 XP): Night Elves around Auberdine, Tauren around the Crossroads. Skyborne (High Order) can take it too; it isn't known which version Skyborne (Windshaper) get. Live in beta
  • Level 16, Aquatic Form. A Lesson to Learn → Trial of the Lake → Trial of the Sea Lion (join the two halves of the Pendant of the Sea Lion at the Shrine of Remulos) → Aquatic Form back at your trainer. Reward: the Aquarius Belt. Unchanged from Classic as far as is known. Classic
  • Level 20, Cat Form (new). The Great Cat Spirit: Moonglade, then three relics from the Stormrage Barrow Dens (click the statue at the door for a 5-minute stealth). The trainer then teaches Cat Form, Prowl, Claw and Rip free (2,885 XP). Skyborne meet the Avatar of Saeyleenan in The Great Windborne Cat Spirit. The relics are party loot: group up with other Druids. Live in beta
  • Level 30, Travel Form: trained, no quest. Live in beta
  • Level 52, Un'Goro: Torwa Pathfinder's chain Toxic Test → Bloodpetal Poison → A Better Ingredient (Sunken Temple) rewards a choice of the Moonshadow Stave, Forest's Embrace or Grizzled Pelt. Classic
  • Cosmetic: wearing the five Fang pieces from Wailing Caverns turns Cat Form into a serpent; the barbershop offers other form looks by race. Live in beta

Weapons on the way

  • Feral: weapon damage counts in form. Pick the highest-DPS weapon; its speed doesn't matter, because the form sets the swing (1.0 s Cat, 2.5 s Bear). Weapon enchants and procs work in form. Live in beta
  • Level 30 Feral pick: the Viscous Hammer, a two-handed mace, chosen on damage first, then stats. Live in beta
  • Relic slot: Druids carry Idols, such as the Idol of Shifting Tides (new in Forever) or the Mystic Mushroom. Live in beta
  • Wolfshead Helm (Leatherworking 200, level 40): "+5 Rage from activating Enrage and an additional 20 Energy from activating Shifting Power". It no longer gives energy on a shift. Live in beta
  • Manual Crowd Pummeler (Gnomeregan): back with updated stats, so the Classic recommendation no longer applies. Unconfirmed
  • Polearms from 20: new for Druids; trainers: Woo Ping in Stormwind, Archibald in Undercity. Classic Druids couldn't. Unconfirmed

How to level well

  • Bear from 10: kill in Bear Form, heal with Rejuvenation and Healing Touch between pulls, and let mana regenerate while you fight in form.
  • Cat from 20: Prowl past packs you don't need; Feral Swiftness makes Cat 30% faster, indoors too.
  • Shift to escape: every shapeshift breaks roots and slows, and Nature's Grasp roots the next thing that hits you.
  • Potions work in form, so a bear or cat doesn't have to drop form to drink one (Mana Potions too).
  • Moonglade is a second hearth: Teleport: Moonglade is a 10-second cast to Kalimdor, handy for the class quests.
  • XP extras: the Cozy Sleeping Bag (+3% for 2 hours), well-fed food that adds kill XP, and the Well Rested and Talented legacy perks once you have legacy points.
  • Professions to consider: Skinning and Leatherworking (new leather patterns, Wolfshead Helm), or Herbalism from Travel Form with Alchemy.
  • Balance levelling works with Moonfire, Insect Swarm (25) and Wrath, rooting a second mob; expect more drinking than Feral. Restoration levels slowest.