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World of Warcraft: Forever · class guide

Restoration Druid: Races

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

Best races for Restoration Druid

Best races for Restoration Druid in PvE

Race matters some

Race matters only a little for Restoration Druid. Wind Blessed is worth an estimated 1 to 2% more healing, since HoT ticks do not speed up, and every other racial is worth less than that. Skyborne (High Order) is the best Alliance pick. Skyborne (Windshaper) is the best Horde pick.

  1. Skyborne High Order S tier

    Read Ley Line gives Skyborne (High Order) the strongest leveling here, which makes it the best pick for Restoration Druid.

    Why S, and its scores

    Wind Blessed adds 3% cast speed on Healing Touch and Regrowth, but HoT ticks are not sped up, so about 1 to 2% more healing (an estimate). 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 Restoration 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.

    It has no race ahead of it. The next race, Skyborne (Windshaper), trails by 0.20 and sits in tier S. It falls short on leveling (Skysight against Read Ley Line, 3 of 5 to 4).

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

    Weighted score 2.70, 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 (Windshaper) worth more than the estimate for Restoration Druid now, or if Wind Blessed were cut in a patch.

    The Skyborne race page

  2. Skyborne Windshaper S tier

    Skyborne (Windshaper)'s Skysight trails Skyborne (High Order)'s Read Ley Line on leveling.

    Why S, and its scores

    Wind Blessed adds 3% cast speed on Healing Touch and Regrowth, but HoT ticks are not sped up, so about 1 to 2% more healing (an estimate). 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 Restoration Druid. Skysight adds 10% movement speed for 30 seconds, or 15 minutes at an elemental convergence. Leveling scores 3 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Skyborne (High Order). The best, Skyborne (High Order), is 0.20 ahead because it is stronger on leveling (Read Ley Line, 4 of 5 against 3). That is within 0.50 of the best, so it stays in tier S.

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

    Weighted score 2.50, 0.20 behind the best race for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lead outright if a test showed Wind Blessed worth more than the estimate now, or if Wind Blessed on Skyborne (High Order) lost value.

    The Skyborne race page

  3. Night Elf S tier

    Night Elf's Elune's Light trails Skyborne (High Order)'s Wind Blessed on healing.

    Why S, and its scores

    Elune's Light adds 10% crit for 15 seconds per 3 minutes, about 0.8% on average for crit heals (an estimate). Shadowmeld can be used in combat to discourage attacks (2 minute cooldown in combat), and Quickness adds 1% dodge. Safety scores 2 of 5 for Restoration 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: Skyborne (High Order) and Skyborne (Windshaper). The best, Skyborne (High Order), is 0.50 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Wind Blessed, 3 of 5 against 2) and leveling (Read Ley Line, 4 of 5 against 3). This race wins on safety (Shadowmeld) but not by enough. That is within 0.50 of the best, so it stays in tier S.

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

    Weighted score 2.20, 0.50 behind the best race for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: It would lead outright if a test showed Elune's Light worth more than the estimate now, or if Wind Blessed on Skyborne (High Order) lost value.

    The Night Elf race page

  4. Tauren A tier

    Tauren's Endurance trails Skyborne (High Order)'s Wind Blessed on healing.

    Why A, and its scores

    Endurance adds 2% to the crit bonus of healing, about 0.2% more healing, and 5% health. War Stomp works in form. War Stomp stuns up to 5 enemies for 2 seconds on a 90 second cooldown, and Endurance adds 5% health. Safety scores 3 of 5 for Restoration Druid. Plainsrunning adds up to 30% movement speed while moving, and Endurance adds 5% health. Leveling scores 3 of 5.

    Ahead of it: Skyborne (High Order), Skyborne (Windshaper) and Night Elf. The best, Skyborne (High Order), is 0.80 ahead because it is stronger on healing (Wind Blessed, 3 of 5 against 1) and leveling (Read Ley Line, 4 of 5 against 3). This race wins on safety (War Stomp) but not by enough. Tier A covers up to 0.83 behind; tier S needs 0.50 or less.

    Scores for Tauren for Restoration Druid
    CriterionWeightScore
    The spec's job55 1
    Survival and utility25 3
    Leveling and downtime20 3

    Weighted score 1.90, 0.80 behind the best race for this spec, which is A tier.

    What would move it: Closing about 0.30 of weighted score, through a higher tested value for Endurance or a change to Wind Blessed on Skyborne (High Order), would lift it to tier S.

    The Tauren 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 Restoration Druid in PvP

Race barely matters

Restoration outlasts two attackers but cannot kill or flee, and only stuns and interrupts end it. No race breaks either, so the choice is about health, dodge and a way to stop one attacker. The spread from best to worst is only 0.65, so the choice matters little. Night Elf and Skyborne (High Order) tie as the best Alliance pick. Tauren is the best Horde pick.

  1. Tauren S tier

    Tauren leads Restoration 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 3 of 5: Endurance adds 5% health. Mobility scores 4 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 0.40 behind and sits in tier S. It falls short on mobility (War Stomp, 4 of 5, against Shadowmeld, 2).

    Scores for Tauren for Restoration Druid
    CriterionWeightScore
    Breaks and escapes30 1
    Burst25 1
    Defensives25 3
    Mobility and detection20 4

    Weighted score 2.10, 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 0.40 behind, so it would take a large change.

    The Tauren race page

  2. Night Elf S tier

    Night Elf stays close to Tauren for Restoration Druid: its dodge keeps it in tier S, short on mobility.

    Why S, and its scores

    Breaks scores 1 of 5: Night Elf has no break from control. Burst scores 1 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. 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 0.40 behind Tauren, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier S. The gap comes from mobility (War Stomp, 4 of 5, against Shadowmeld, 2).

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

    Weighted score 1.70, 0.40 behind the best race for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Tauren means making up 0.40. 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 S tier

    Skyborne (High Order) stays close to Tauren for Restoration Druid: Wind Blessed keeps it in tier S, short on mobility and defense.

    Why S, 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. The haste shortens heal casts and can be used while moving. Defensives scores 2 of 5: Skyborne has no combat defense, only Read Ley Line, which doubles health and mana regeneration 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 0.40 behind Tauren, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier S. The gap comes from mobility (War Stomp, 4 of 5, against Walk on Air, 2) and defensives (Endurance, 3 of 5, against Read Ley Line, 2). It does lead on burst (2 of 5 against 1).

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

    Weighted score 1.70, 0.40 behind the best race for this spec, which is S tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Tauren means making up 0.40. 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 A tier

    Skyborne (Windshaper) stays close to Tauren for Restoration Druid: Wind Blessed keeps it in tier A, short on defense and mobility.

    Why A, 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 0.65 behind Tauren, the best race for this spec, and sits in tier A. The gap comes from defensives (Endurance, 3 of 5, against 1 here) and mobility (War Stomp, 4 of 5, against Skysight, 2). It does lead on burst (2 of 5 against 1).

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

    Weighted score 1.45, 0.65 behind the best race for this spec, which is A tier.

    What would move it: Reaching Tauren means making up 0.65. 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.