Balance Druid Guide 5.4

Balance Druid Guide 5.4
Your Guide to the most exceptional caster spec currently in the game.

[@fituafi]

a part of me died when he said he didnt like the way moonkin looks like.

[@reblenessentertainment4697]

Great video, was on my Regular Healer, tried this rotation out with ilvl 510 healing gear and had 100k dps. love the video good job.

[@Tobez]

Your guides are so god damn awesome, preach. Many thanks.

[@MarkTheMadMan]

Yur the best m8, been playin a boomkin for 7 years now and no matter how frustrated i get with it and even though I've now realise I have NEVER been able to master the dps rotation properly, I always come to you for guides cause you know your shit. Cant wait to see the changes in 6.0, hope they don't make it too easy because i do like a challenge!

[@ImMajorMongoose]

boomkin is love, boomkin is life.

[@Link9092010]

Hey Preach! Great guide as usual, but definitely give some mention to glyph of guided stars, there are 1 or 2 fights in SoO where that glyph comes in handy. Heroic Malkorok comes to mind

[@kyosgg]

THANKS man alot ! ur guide helped me very much !

[@ItalianP7Guys]

Another glyph that's really worth consideration is the glyph of guided stars. Helps a lot increasing your single target damage it is nearly mandatory on a few fights in T16 such as heroic Malk (not wanting to aggro the adds and slow our casting speed.) And Klaxxi to avoid wasting starfall damage on Paragons that are not prioritized.

[@niklasstahl98]

'This is the most interesting spec you could play'. Legion, what have you done? :(

[@supimlux]

Great video as always preach, big fan. Just wanted to give some constructive criticism: 1) haste is not useless between those 2 values, as it still decreases cast time and improves DPS (however you are right in that it isn't viable to gem between these values) 2) just a tip, the treants are BRILLIANT on norushen because they aren`t affected by the damage debuff Great video baller, keep up the great work!

[@Schneebly743]

Quoted from Blizzard tooltip: "When triggered, both Lunar and Solar eclipse grant 15% spell haste for 15 seconds..." Copied from Icy Veins: "For 15 seconds after entering an eclipse state, you gain 15% spell haste." It is haste. My balance affdots show a much weaker number for my dots when nature's grace falls off. NG affects dots.

[@rickblythe123]

Thanks for the video preach. Loved it :-)

[@Schneebly743]

Thanks for the guide Preach, clears up some confusion for me. Glyph of Stars ftw

[@captainchris93]

I dont understand the hate of the moonkin form, thats one of the main reasons i play one.

[@patriklakatos1685]

I personally don't like playing a fat chicken.

[@deadmeu]

Which addons is he using to track his DOT and Nature's Grace?

[@Torke17]

how come im only pulling like 40k with a 507ilvl? what am i doing wrong?

[@LukeDavisWarhammer]

"Craft it myself like a fucking dog" - i lol'd.

[@Haste444]

It's crazy how things change so much between patches and updates.

[@Swisheals]

@mikepreachwow hey man whats the addon u use to track ur dots

[@MTOF1997]

Thanks mate! But ey, that addon wich shows your damage on the right side, whats it called?

[@BioHackGaming]

whats the add on you use for the dmg text? how it falls on the right? and is there a way you can list all your add ons?

[@jin97]

Hey Preach! I picked up the balance druid last patch but wasn't really able to start raiding. I've had some issues on spoils figuring out whether I should put both dots on all of the targets, only the strong dots, or just using hurricane on them. Any thoughts?

[@TheCoDzillaPlayer]

My first 90 (and first ever char) is a night elf druid. Man, its so great though, the versatility and rotation. The restoration as my 2nd spec is pretty nice too :)

[@TheMastermind729]

Don’t you miss those amazing days?

[@EliteRocketBear]

Another lovely tidbit from the icy veins guide, says it isn't reccomended to go for the second haste breakpoint at 10289 if you are going to fall below 12k crit, that while it is bound to be a dps increase if you're able to retain a bare minimum 5k crit rating.

[@panpipes3]

when you enter a eclipse state it's better to apply your weaker DoT first then your stronger one thanks to lunar shower.

[@sblade777]

Preacher, you insulted my sexy laser chicken appearance!!! RAAAAAAGGEEEEEE

[@cocobandito3]

What are you add-ons? Just subscribed, great vid!

[@davidmillers]

What addons do you use for DoT tracking and for your player UI?

[@XKarackaX]

if u cast sun, fire and then go into eclipse and then moonfire, the sunfire wont have the haste buff which = less shooting stars

[@ryanm422]

He mentions an add on that warns you when youre not in moonkin form because you can't tell due to the glyph of stars. What glyph is this and how do I set it up?

[@viggecokarlittecola4655]

Thank you it helped a lot. Can you do one for demon hunter?

[@aqullidd]

rotation link is broken sends you to the rotation of the resto druid

[@Xpress2016]

You said at 12:15 that if you are struggling on decide how and when you need to refresh your dots out of an eclipse, put the dot that will not be boosted by the next eclipse. But it's not a good choice. In fact you will apply a DoT that will not benefit from nature's grace so it will be a very weak DoT that you will need to refresh as soon as you enter an eclispe and you gain the buff.

[@AnonyMous-ne7kw]

Couple of extra points 1) get the addon Balance Power Tracker makes your life so much easier as a moonkin its unfunny 2) dont use mushrooms, unless its an add fight and you can put them up before pull 3) 4pc of t16, makes multi dotting extremely viable again(un nerfs the last nerfs to our dots)

[@gblan]

I have a resto Druid I was thinking about making balance but after watching this video I'm pretty sure I'll be staying as far from that convoluted, jacked-up mess as I can get.

[@RollingPangcake]

Can someone explane to me why you should start your opener in solar eclipse if you have nature's vigil? I do not play a balance druid and it just seems odd to me. I mean why not stack it with your super mega godmode lunar opener with incarnation, the tripple starfalls and CA? ty

[@93broome]

What action bar and health frames and spell tick's/proc addons are these?

[@snooupii]

Mike, what was your favorite expansion?

[@mog5326]

Does anyone knows the addon which shows you the time of your dots ?

[@Tofflemire5]

I can see his fascination with this spec. When you get older in the game eventually you get attracted to difficult classes. It isn't a great class statistically but eventually you just like the challenge.

[@Zaappeer]

what are the "big" cooldowns? damn this class fucks with my brain

[@TenshizakiN008]

Can I just ask, legacy of the Druid? I'd love to see it next, especially with how you've been speaking of the class. I understand it may not come out for a long while, but it's just a suggestion. Thank you so much for this video.

[@Sigmundfruit]

moonkin is my baby. First spec I capped. So happy with it this expansion.

[@TheMastermind729]

I'm sorry for your loss my friend

[@robusmc1713]

Thank-u U The best great detail just changed my main to a Boomkin because no1 plays them, I am Subscribed thxxxxx

[@haltsu4930]

My most common issue with the moonkin is that ( and please if you know or can give any advice I would highly appriciate it :) ) when ever lest say I start casting starfire my shooting stars can sometimes proc like 2 or 3 times while casting a spell. Its kinda irratating or at least it seems to me becouse everyone says that its important to vast any shooting star procs right away. Can someone help me here or to clear what I should do? Thanks :D

[@Jaws082297]

I looked through your videos but i could not find what addon you use that shows your spell duration as bars. Can you tell me what addon that is please?

[@Schneebly743]

FoN should be used as a DoT as the treants snapshot the buffs that you have when you cast it. It can be a DPS burst if used with trinket procs etc. But yeah it definitely removes that 3 min massive blow-everything-the-fuck-up component we get with Inc/CA combo and is more consistent. Not that you didn't know that but other people might not and Preach didn't really spend much time on it in the guide. :P

[@theoneandonlycarlo]

as i said it depends on how your gearing is... the better gear you get the more damage it does.

[@theoneandonlycarlo]

also get the addon balancepowertracker and learn to play with it. the way it shows/predicts your energy is awesome

[@0Eisy0]

Hey, thanks for great guide. I have few question tho, mostly addon concerned. First what is the addon that you use for tracking dots on target? (15:38) really handy Second question, what is the name of addon that add you buttons, or whatever is that you have in the middle of screen tracking duration of spells (8:43)

[@kaleidoskop420]

You can do that with ElvUI and the second one with TellMeWhen :) Hope this helps you out ^^

[@0Eisy0]

cheers m8

[@ChaosturnMusic]

Yes there is. In fact, in your average t15< gear, there is no reason to start in lunar. Trinket+meta procs on pull obviously. solar opener gets you to CA + berserking instantly. instead of having your trinkets and meta running out before you get to your strongest stage of the opener - CA - get there immidiately to make the most use of your procs.

[@doaflip69]

what's the addon that shows how long starfall has left??

[@Laukond]

Why do you not like AskMrRobot in general, seeing as you only recommend it for boomkins? What would the alternative be?

[@MennoGanzeboom]

What addon is that what he uses for the dots?

[@AIONBERSERKER]

HERE COMES THE BOOM

[@PowerWordFace]

you are correct. there is no reason ever why you would start a fight in solar.

[@beefzerkee]

Hey Mike, big fan of your vids, but I have a quick question. I'm looking at your UI, specifically your nameplates that are totally rectangular and allow you to track your DoTs right above the name, i'd love to get the name of that add-on.

[@wat3rcooling]

Try out tidyplates, what I use on my mage :)

[@beefzerkee]

Thanks mate, that's exactly what it was!

[@Martushelt]

His dot addon is Classtimers.

[@IamWhoIamNo1Else]

wat add ons are u using

[@MultiUnknowen]

wht next preach?

[@Morgothh13]

What addon is he using to show the Duration of Moonfire/Sunfire on his target?

[@Aithei]

Weakauras is what he has, and it does the job, I prefer Raven. They do about the same thing but Raven is a little more customizable so it looks good on my UI.

[@billme12345]

I doo so much more damage now thanks

[@BrianBlitzz]

could be tidy plates if he means dots on targets

[@Reddharp]

tell me when, show buff,self, duration, timer

[@adde6789]

I use natures vigil on with a lunar opener and I pull well over 200k dps. (ilvl 516)

[@kraks11]

I wonder why you only covered the fact that Dream of Cenarius increase the amount of healing from healing touch, and not the fact that it increases your next eclipse by 20% after casting healing touch?

[@MCGamerCZ]

Oh hai :D

[@JoleenTheBoomy]

I can't help but comment. As a boomkin main myself, when you mentioned that not many people are picking up Dream of Cenarius, you have to keep in mind that HotW is the go-to choice for most progression raiders because HotW Tranq is the mostly stupidly overpowered heal in the game. It will heal an entire raid from 5% to full almost instantly. That, on top of the fact it can be used to tank momentarily while a tank is brezzed and being rebuffed, or perhaps that last 1% where everyone else is dead. But when it comes to dps, single target, cleave and aoe, Dream of Cenarius pulls ahead. It doesn't just increase your healing touch! It increases the damage of the next eclipse by 25%!

[@Bawk]

I'm a Boomkin main as well and I have never touched DoC. It's clunky and it isn't a fun rotation. If NS had a shorter CD and you could instant HT before every single eclipse, I could see it being fun. Casting heals in the middle of a raid is NOT fun. I don't care how much damage it does. :P

[@RollingPangcake]

YEAAAH BOOMIES!

[@SRC1923]

Whats the name of the font ?

[@trolrage666]

you get way more dps/procs. think about it. you have the weapon, the adds. if you look at pure numbers you will see the difference aswell. I play in a top 100 guild so unless you use the stack-on-garosh tacts this is the way to go

[@3djooboy]

the rotation annotation seems to take me to the resto druid guide......

[@BrianBlitzz]

Its class timers TMW is what he uses to track his cooldowns

[@Schneebly743]

What's your ilvl? Boomie is pretty gear dependent. Check Preach's skada as he is just doing a normal rotation, he is only pulling around 80-90k with 510 gear. Maybe he isn't doing it right but I don't think so.

[@MCGamerCZ]

It does 0.5% more damage, no utility and it requires you to stand still between eclipses.

[@EliteRocketBear]

Force of nature isn't a dps CD tho, it's more of a consistent dps talent for heavy movement fights since moonkins are complete crap at movement if they don't have dot to apply or SS procs to use. Incarnation is only king on fights like Fallen Protectors where you consistently have multiple targets to dps.

[@MCGamerCZ]

So does everything else tho.

[@Grislukten]

Hit chance 15.04%??

[@JackassJimbo]

yes

[@Schneebly743]

No it does grant 15% Haste so your DoTs are affected

[@Schmodin]

moonking. Nice.

[@EliteRocketBear]

There is no actual point in going DoC AND FoN, the talents do not syncronize. While DoC straight up buffs your next eclipse and FoN is not affected by our eclipse (only by our haste, int and crit values). Therefor your best options are rolling with FoN and HotW, or with Incarnation and DoC/Nature's vigil (depends on the fight length).

[@Martushelt]

With the t15 4set bonus it grants 1000 mastery and crit on top of the casting speed, but without it it's only casting speed. imgur(.)com/qWEvWhv - Without the brackets of course.

[@Domoguy13]

My main is a boomy and he is 556. I am doing 170k sustained on dummies self buffed and around 190-200k in our guild raids. All the things i look up say I should be doing 230k+. I dont know why i cant meet that. I know how to play the class well, I have everything gemmed, reforged and enchatned properly. I do not have the legendary cloak but i don't think that alone can cause a 40k drop in dps. I dont know what is wrong but I would like some help.

[@Bawk]

Legendary cloak can do upwards of 8-10% of your total damage, so yes -- it can make up as large as a 40k dps loss. Just depends on how you play.

[@CodTheBoyz]

does preach have all classes lvl 90?

[@dominicstull4539]

yes

[@dellort]

One does not simply not have all classes to 90.

[@CodTheBoyz]

Lord Doffrey i do ^^ i only have three different 90s and and an extra warrior

[@Trashloot]

I miss my old main T.T 5.4 Moonkin was the best (in my opinion).

[@ramezshkifi]

Finally

[@adde6789]

U no like moonking dance? ALIEN!

[@Martushelt]

God, just like last guide, nature's grace only grants you 15% casting speed now(not spell haste), so your dots aren't affected by nature's grace anymore :c

[@BalloonDraw]

This isn't entirely true. Talents do play in a part in how you open on a fight and the type of fight it is depends on which eclipse you'll want to start out going into.

[@theoneandonlycarlo]

nono dots are still affected m8

[@felipedias4567]

What is that ui addon?

[@felipedias4567]

I mean, name

[@darreng6668]

Its TellMeWhen

[@IamthesilentGyge]

Cen Ward is what all Boomkins should run. Remember your a super class. You have 2 hots and a hardcasted heal with Cen Ward. Think about it

[@Bawk]

In PvE you should use Ysera's Gift because it passively heals your entire raid. Cen Ward doesn't provide nearly as much of a benefit to your raid.

[@IamthesilentGyge]

Oh Im a pvp'rs

[@Bawk]

OrphanSec But this is a PvE guide. Silly goose. :P

[@Boomkinization]

Except he's not. When you start getting high-IL int-proc trinkets, doing a solar opener will be stronger cause you'll get the full duration of your procs while under the effect of CA, and your crit will be high enough to go straight into lunar to spend the rest of your Incarnation. Even if in lower gear, doing a solar opener on multitarget fights will often yell better results.

[@marcomiguel2493]

Streeeeeaaaaaaam Preach :(

[@phillefranseus]

I would say ask mr robot sucks imo for balance i dont find it good but reforge light is really good and when ur at 545/550 you should go for the 10k haste cap ;)

[@TheRealBologna]

Pretty solid guide here Preach xD. Just a couple things. I like how you ignored SotF, it's shit xD. Nature's Vigil is just as shit as our glyphs, although it's AMAZING for world pvp. HotW = DoC. Glyphs are in fact shit. 5273 and 10289 are our Haste Breakpoints. If you have 10,289 haste AND ~16,000 crit, then you should start going mastery. If you have Siege of Orgrimmar trinkets, then you should almost always solar burst regardless of talent choice. Don't take FoN unless you understand how to optimize them with trinket procs. Inc - HotW should be the goto talents for "noobs".

[@TheRealBologna]

I release mostly Balance Druid content on my youtube channel, and if you ever want to talk moonkin i'd love to

[@duncan4511]

I would like to ask about starting off in solar eclipse. On most heroic bosses, I can pull around 350- 400k single target dps with starting on Lunar eclipse but I haven't thought about starting in solar.

[@TheRealBologna]

Duncan Sullivan if you have SoO trinkets or even normal ToT trinkets then you should start in solar and use your cooldowns on pull.

[@duncan4511]

Bologna Malfurion I would need to hear more about what makes solar better than lunar in this, because last night was my raid night and I did indeed try to use Solar eclipse, but pulled less numbers than I do in Lunar. If you would like to take a look at my gear, you can armory Vendreck.

[@TheRealBologna]

Duncan Sullivan Cheese#1391 is my btag, US servers

[@theoneandonlycarlo]

the difference between treants hotw and inc doc is very very minor. It all depends on procs and the ease of the gameplay you can put yourself in. Now actually most of the fight on garrosh you will have somethign extra to dot up making doc the stronger talent. Treants will have the upperhand in phase 4 though. Personally i'd take inc plus hotw for the better tranq and just the easyer gameplay as you will be moving ALL THE FUCKING TIME

[@ftlemonpie731]

still can't choise, ele shaman or balance druid (with glyph want to se emy armor) for my 1-80 ress scroll

[@NeilHolmes72]

go ele shaman - it's a blast but I'm biased because I find multi-dotting tedious.

[@Beholder505]

Be different and go Balance. Everybody is either a warlock or an ele shaman now. Moonkins are awesome.

[@EdilarinProducts]

if you want to feel good about yourself... go moonkin. Ele shaman is faceroll.. push a few buttons and get 300k+ dps. If you top dps as a moonkin with shamans and locks in the group... you will feel good :)

[@raultejada8013]

I Was an eleshaman until SOO but the i stopped because I my dps was mediocre to no fault of my own. ele shamans have a simple rotation but they have allot of really strange almost vestigial dps cool downs (stormlash and earth elemental for example) that have to be stacked on-top of the other cool downs in order to do the best dps I am doing boom kin now, the rotation makes me think more then the ele shaman but at the same time its allot easier to me to pull of the rotation. for the reasons I just mentioned however, I have slightly less raid utility.

[@ftlemonpie731]

And what about mages?