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World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Feral Bear Druid: Races

Every race Feral Bear Druid can be, ranked against each other: best first, with how much the choice matters.

Best races for Feral Bear Druid

Best races for Feral Bear Druid in PvE

Race matters some

Health and a stun decide Bear Druid, not damage. Tauren Endurance adds 5% health and War Stomp works in Bear Form, and the Skyborne haste (an estimated 2 to 3% more threat) gives no defense; the spread is about 5% in health or 2 to 3% in threat. Skyborne (High Order) is the best Alliance pick. Tauren is the best Horde pick.

  1. Tauren S tier

    War Stomp gives Tauren the strongest safety here, which makes it the best pick for Bear Druid.

    Why S, and its scores

    Endurance adds 5% health in Bear Form, and War Stomp works in form. It is the usual Bear tank pick for the Horde. War Stomp stuns up to 5 enemies for 2 seconds on a 90 second cooldown, and Endurance adds 5% health. War Stomp works as an AoE stop on adds. Safety scores 4 of 5 for Bear Druid. Plainsrunning adds up to 30% movement speed while moving, and Endurance adds 5% health. Leveling scores 3 of 5.

    It has no race ahead of it. The next race, Skyborne (High Order), trails by 1.10 and sits in tier B. It falls short on safety (Walk on Air against War Stomp, 1 of 5 to 4) and survival and threat (Wind Blessed against Endurance, 3 of 5 to 4).

    Scores for Tauren for Feral Bear Druid
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 4
    Survival and utility25 4
    Leveling and downtime20 3

    Weighted score 3.80, the best for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lose first place if testing showed Wind Blessed on Skyborne (High Order) worth more than the estimate for Bear Druid now, or if Endurance were cut in a patch.

    The Tauren race page

  2. Skyborne High Order B tier

    Skyborne (High Order)'s Walk on Air trails Tauren's War Stomp on safety.

    Why B, and its scores

    Wind Blessed adds 3% haste, which means faster swings, more rage and an estimated 2 to 3% more threat. It gives no defense. Walk on Air is a 10 second glide on a 90 second cooldown, and that is the whole safety kit. Safety scores 1 of 5 for Bear Druid. Read Ley Line doubles health and mana regen (15 minutes at a ley line, 30 seconds elsewhere) and can be cast while moving. Leveling scores 4 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Tauren. The best, Tauren, is 1.10 ahead because it is stronger on safety (War Stomp, 4 of 5 against 1) and survival and threat (Endurance, 4 of 5 against 3). This race wins on leveling (Read Ley Line) but not by enough. Tier B covers up to 1.17 behind; tier A needs 0.83 or less.

    Scores for Skyborne (High Order) for Feral Bear Druid
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 3
    Survival and utility25 1
    Leveling and downtime20 4

    Weighted score 2.70, 1.10 behind the best race for this spec, which is B tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.27 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Wind Blessed or a change to Endurance on Tauren, would lift it to tier A.

    The Skyborne race page

  3. Skyborne Windshaper C tier

    Skyborne (Windshaper)'s Walk on Air trails Tauren's War Stomp on safety.

    Why C, and its scores

    Wind Blessed adds 3% haste, which means faster swings, more rage and an estimated 2 to 3% more threat. It gives no defense. Walk on Air is a 10 second glide on a 90 second cooldown, and that is the whole safety kit. Safety scores 1 of 5 for Bear Druid. Skysight adds 10% movement speed for 30 seconds, or 15 minutes at an elemental convergence. Leveling scores 3 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Tauren and Skyborne (High Order). The best, Tauren, is 1.30 ahead because it is stronger on safety (War Stomp, 4 of 5 against 1) and survival and threat (Endurance, 4 of 5 against 3). Tier C covers up to 1.50 behind; tier B needs 1.17 or less.

    Scores for Skyborne (Windshaper) for Feral Bear Druid
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 3
    Survival and utility25 1
    Leveling and downtime20 3

    Weighted score 2.50, 1.30 behind the best race for this spec, which is C tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.13 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Wind Blessed or a change to Endurance on Tauren, would lift it to tier B.

    The Skyborne race page

  4. Night Elf C tier

    Night Elf's Elune's Light trails Tauren's Endurance on survival and threat.

    Why C, and its scores

    Quickness adds 1% dodge, and Elune's Light adds crit, about 0.8% on average. Shadowmeld works in form to drop threat in a pinch. Quickness adds 1% dodge, about 1% fewer hits taken, and Shadowmeld drops threat, which a tank does not want. Safety scores 3 of 5 for Bear Druid. Quickness adds 2% movement speed that stacks with other speed effects, and Wisp Spirit adds 75% speed as a wisp. Leveling scores 3 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Tauren, Skyborne (High Order) and Skyborne (Windshaper). The best, Tauren, is 1.35 ahead because it is stronger on survival and threat (Endurance, 4 of 5 against 2) and safety (War Stomp, 4 of 5 against 3). Tier C covers up to 1.50 behind; tier B needs 1.17 or less.

    Scores for Night Elf for Feral Bear Druid
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 2
    Survival and utility25 3
    Leveling and downtime20 3

    Weighted score 2.45, 1.35 behind the best race for this spec, which is C tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.18 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Elune's Light or a change to Endurance on Tauren, would lift it to tier B.

    The Night Elf race page

How these are ranked

Forecast. Rated from the client data and our research, before anyone has played it at this level on this build. Where the data stops, the write-up says what it assumed. Rated as of , build 1.60.1.70450.

For each of the 28 specs, every race that can play it, ranked against each other for that spec: what the race's racials give it in PvE, leveling 1 to 60 and then in dungeons and raids at 60. It answers one question per spec: which race should I pick for it?

A tier says how far a race trails the best race for the same spec, never how it compares with another spec's races: an S Dwarf Protection Warrior and an S Undead Fire Mage are each the best for their own spec. The best race of every spec is S. Each spec also says how much the choice matters: on some specs the best and worst races are a few percent apart, on others one racial decides it.

The scores are the racials' worth on fixed anchors (1 to 5). The tier comes from the weighted score's gap to the spec's best: 5 minus 1.5 times the gap, against the thresholds, so S is within 0.50 of the best and F more than 1.83 behind.

The racials are rated from their tooltips and the client's numbers; none has been measured in play. The percentages are estimates, and no racial is worth more than about 3% of a spec's output, so a damage spec's races are often close and its pick is a matter of a few percent.

Where a racial answers something a spec cannot do without, the gap is larger: Stoneform for a tank, a mana return for a healer, a fear break for a melee spec. Those specs say race matters a lot.

The rubric: each criterion scored 1 to 5
CriterionWeightWhat it measures
The spec's job55What the racials add to what the spec is for at 60: damage for a damage spec, healing and mana for a healer, survival and threat for a tank. 5: about 3% or more of the spec's output, or one racial the role leans on most fights (a tank's Stoneform, a healer's large mana return). 3: about 1 to 1.5%, or a role racial that helps on some fights. 1: nothing that adds to the spec's job.
Survival and utility25Racials that keep this spec alive or help its group, beyond its main job: removing or ignoring a common danger (fear, poison, disease, curse, stun), a damage cut, a threat drop, an interrupt or stun the spec lacks. 5: helps on most fights. 3: one racial that helps on some fights. 1: nothing.
Leveling and downtime20Makes leveling this spec quicker or easier: less eating and drinking, more health, speed, a strong solo cooldown. 5: a large help throughout. 3: helps a little, or helps some of the levels. 1: nothing.
S 0.50 or less behind the best
The best race for this spec, or as good as makes no difference.
A 0.83 or less behind the best
A little behind the best; a fine pick if you prefer it.
B 1.17 or less behind the best
Behind the best, but nothing you will notice most nights.
C 1.50 or less behind the best
Clearly behind the best on what this spec needs.
D 1.83 or less behind the best
Well behind the best; pick it for other reasons.
F more than 1.83 behind
The furthest behind for this spec.

What the ratings assume:

  • Racials as of the stated build: the client's tooltips, cooldowns and numbers, after the 15–16 Oct racial rework.
  • The spec played as its class guide sets it out, in its usual group role at 60, and leveled as that spec.
  • Gear: leveling gear, then pre-raid blues at 60.
  • No Legacy perks and no world buffs.
  • Faction is not rated. Both factions' races sit on one scale; each spec names the best pick on each side.
  • The game rules of the stated build. A patch that changes a racial makes a new version.

Best races for Feral Bear Druid in PvP

Race matters some

Bear holds a point with Bash, Feral Charge and a shapeshift that already breaks roots and slows, so no racial break is needed. What separates the races is staying power and a second stun. The best race adds 5% health and an area stun beside Bash, while the others add dodge or almost nothing. The spread is 1.10, so the choice matters some. Night Elf is the best Alliance pick. Tauren is the best Horde pick.

  1. Tauren S tier

    Tauren leads Feral Bear Druid: War Stomp gives it the best mobility, and Endurance adds defense.

    Why S, and its scores

    Breaks scores 1 of 5: Tauren has no break from control. Burst scores 1 of 5: Endurance adds a 2% crit bonus. Defensives scores 4 of 5: Endurance adds 5% health. The extra health scales with bear health. Mobility scores 5 of 5: War Stomp stuns five enemies within 8 yards for 2 seconds (0.5 second cast, 90 second cooldown, and a stun or interrupt cuts it), and Plainsrunning adds speed while moving.

    No race is ahead of it. The next race, Night Elf, is 0.60 behind and sits in tier A. It falls short on mobility (War Stomp, 5 of 5, against Shadowmeld, 2) and defensives (Endurance, 4 of 5, against its dodge, 3).

    Scores for Tauren for Feral Bear Druid
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 1
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 4
    Mobility and detection20 5

    Weighted score 2.55, the best for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lose first place if testing whether Endurance's health bonus works in every form (a bug is unresolved) went against it, or if its War Stomp were cut in a patch. Night Elf is 0.60 behind, so it would take a large change.

    The Tauren race page

  2. Night Elf A tier

    Night Elf stays close to Tauren for Feral Bear Druid: its dodge keeps it in tier A, short on mobility and defense.

    Why A, and its scores

    Breaks scores 1 of 5: Night Elf has no break from control. Burst scores 2 of 5: Elune's Light adds 10% crit for 15 seconds on a 3 minute cooldown. Defensives scores 3 of 5: Night Elf has only a 1% dodge gain. The dodge feeds avoidance, and Shadowmeld can reset a fight. Mobility scores 2 of 5: Shadowmeld, 2% extra speed and a one-level stealth edge for Rogues and Druids help, and Shadowmeld against players in combat is untested.

    It is 0.60 behind Tauren, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier A. The gap comes from mobility (War Stomp, 5 of 5, against Shadowmeld, 2) and defensives (Endurance, 4 of 5, against its dodge, 3). It does lead on burst (2 of 5 against 1).

    Scores for Night Elf for Feral Bear Druid
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 1
    Burst25 2
    Defensives25 3
    Mobility and detection20 2

    Weighted score 1.95, 0.60 behind the best race for this spec, which is A tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Tauren means making up 0.60. One more point on mobility is worth 0.20, so settling whether Shadowmeld discourages attacks in combat against players (untested) would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Night Elf race page

  3. Skyborne High Order B tier

    Skyborne (High Order) trails Tauren for Feral Bear Druid on mobility and defense, and Wind Blessed does not make up the difference.

    Why B, and its scores

    Breaks scores 1 of 5: Skyborne has no break from control. Burst scores 2 of 5: Wind Blessed adds 3% haste at all times. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Skyborne has no combat defense, only Read Ley Line, which doubles health and mana regeneration out of combat. Ley Line regeneration helps only out of combat. Mobility scores 2 of 5: Walk on Air is a 10 second glide on a 90 second cooldown, and Read Ley Line can be cast while moving.

    It is 0.85 behind Tauren, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier B. The gap comes from mobility (War Stomp, 5 of 5, against Walk on Air, 2) and defensives (Endurance, 4 of 5, against Read Ley Line, 2). It does lead on burst (2 of 5 against 1).

    Scores for Skyborne (High Order) for Feral Bear Druid
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 1
    Burst25 2
    Defensives25 2
    Mobility and detection20 2

    Weighted score 1.70, 0.85 behind the best race for this spec, which is B tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Tauren means making up 0.85. One more point on mobility is worth 0.20, so settling how useful Walk on Air and the new regeneration racial prove in real fights would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Skyborne race page

  4. Skyborne Windshaper B tier

    Skyborne (Windshaper) trails Tauren for Feral Bear Druid on defense and mobility, and Wind Blessed does not make up the difference.

    Why B, and its scores

    Breaks scores 1 of 5: Skyborne has no break from control. Burst scores 2 of 5: Wind Blessed adds 3% haste at all times. Defensives scores 1 of 5: Skyborne has nothing in combat. Mobility scores 2 of 5: Skysight adds 10% speed for 30 seconds and can be cast while moving, and Walk on Air is a 10 second glide on a 90 second cooldown.

    It is 1.10 behind Tauren, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier B. The gap comes from defensives (Endurance, 4 of 5, against 1 here) and mobility (War Stomp, 5 of 5, against Skysight, 2). It does lead on burst (2 of 5 against 1).

    Scores for Skyborne (Windshaper) for Feral Bear Druid
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 1
    Burst25 2
    Defensives25 1
    Mobility and detection20 2

    Weighted score 1.45, 1.10 behind the best race for this spec, which is B tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Tauren means making up 1.10. One more point on mobility is worth 0.20, so settling how useful Walk on Air and the new regeneration racial prove in real fights would not be enough by itself. It would take a patch to its racials.

    The Skyborne race page

How these are ranked

Forecast. Rated from the client data and our research, before anyone has played it at this level on this build. Where the data stops, the write-up says what it assumed. Rated as of , build 1.60.1.70450.

For each of the 28 specs, every race that can play it, ranked against each other for that spec in PvP: what the race's racials give it at level 60 in open-world fights and battlegrounds, against players of similar level and gear. It answers one question per spec: which race should I pick for it in PvP?

A tier says how far a race trails the best race for the same spec, never how it compares with another spec's races. The best race of every spec is S. Each spec also says how much the choice matters.

The scores are the racials' worth on fixed anchors (1 to 5). The tier comes from the weighted score's gap to the spec's best: 5 minus 1.5 times the gap, against the thresholds, so S is within 0.50 of the best and F more than 1.83 behind.

The racials are rated from their tooltips and the client's numbers; none has been measured in play, and diminishing returns on control in this build are not yet confirmed.

A break from the control a spec suffers most weighs most: a stun break for a melee spec that must stay on its target, a fear break for a spec that can't answer fear itself. Where a spec already has its own answer, the racial is worth less to it.

The rubric: each criterion scored 1 to 5
CriterionWeightWhat it measures
Breaks and escapes30Racials that free this spec from the control it suffers most. 5: an on-use break from a whole family of control (all stuns, or all fears and charms) on a cooldown of 2 to 3 minutes, or an always-on cut to control that works every fight. 3: a break for a narrower family (roots and slows, or one effect type such as curses or poisons), or one that only partly fits how this spec is controlled. 1: nothing.
Burst25Racials that raise this spec's damage (or a healer's healing) against players in its burst window. 5: about 10% or more, lined up with its own cooldowns, or an always-on gain the spec uses fully. 3: a smaller gain, or one the spec only partly uses (a physical bonus on a mostly spell spec). 1: nothing.
Defensives25Racials that keep this spec alive against players. 5: one that turns a losing fight: a large damage cut or immunity on use, more health, or healing in combat that a player can't stop. 3: a small or narrow one: a few % cut against one school, a small health or dodge gain, a heal that damage interrupts. 1: nothing.
Mobility and detection20Tools that win fights outside the numbers. 5: an area stun or interrupt the spec lacks, stealth or stealth detection that changes its fights, a lasting speed boost that works in combat. 3: one such tool, or several small ones (a short sprint, a safe fall). 1: nothing.
S 0.50 or less behind the best
The best race for this spec, or as good as makes no difference.
A 0.83 or less behind the best
A little behind the best; a fine pick if you prefer it.
B 1.17 or less behind the best
Behind the best, but nothing you will notice most nights.
C 1.50 or less behind the best
Clearly behind the best on what this spec needs.
D 1.83 or less behind the best
Well behind the best; pick it for other reasons.
F more than 1.83 behind
The furthest behind for this spec.

What the ratings assume:

  • Racials as of the stated build: the client's tooltips, cooldowns and numbers, after the 15–16 Oct racial rework.
  • The spec in a PvP-minded build, as its class's open-world PvP research sets it out.
  • Gear: pre-raid blues. No honor gear yet.
  • Opponents of any class and race, so a racial is worth what it does against the whole field, not one matchup.
  • Faction is not rated: population, queue times and which faction's classes are stronger are not part of the score. Each spec names the best pick on each side.
  • The game rules of the stated build. A patch that changes a racial makes a new version.