Druid

Druid
File:GladiatorLanthus.jpg Gladiator Lanthus, a night elf druid.
Available to	Night elf  Tauren  Troll  Worgen
Specializations	Balance (ranged DPS) Feral (melee DPS) Guardian (tank) Restoration (healer)
Resource(s)	Mana, Energy, Rage, Eclipse
Primary attribute	Intellect or Agility
Weapon skills	Staff, Dagger, One-handed or Two-handed Mace, Fist weapon, Polearm and held in off-hand items excluding sheields and weapons.
Armor type	Leather; can also equip Cloth.
Signature abilities	Shapeshifting (e.g. [Cat Form], [Moonkin Form]), [Tranquility], [Rebirth], [Symbiosis].

Classes
Class races	Death Knight	Demon Hunter	Druid	Ev	Hunter	Mage	Monk	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Quests	Death Knight	Demon Hunter	Druid	Evuid	Hunter	Mage	Monk	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Abilities	Death Knight	Demon Hunter	Druid	Evuid	Hunter	Mage	Monk	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Trainers	Death Knight	Demon Hunter	Druid	-	Hunter	Mage	Monk	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Armor sets	Death Knight	Demon Hunter	Druid	Evuid	Hunter	Mage	Monk	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Useful macros	Death Knight	Demon Hunter	Druid	-	Hunter	Mage	Monk	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior
Class Halls	Death Knight	Demon Hunter	Druid	-	Hunter	Mage	Monk	Paladin	Priest	Rogue	Shaman	Warlock	Warrior

We are the preservers of the balance, now and forever, as Malfurion lies in the Dreaming. Never forget this. - Kal of Dolanaar

The druid is a shapeshifting hybrid class available to the night elf, worgen, tauren and troll races. Druids are able to perform each of the three group roles (tanking, healing, and dealing damage) by utilizing their shapeshift forms. While a druid is most effective in the role determined by their active specialization and equipment they can also use their shapeshifting abilities to temporarily switch to a different role in combat. In addition to combat forms, druids can shapeshift into forms that increases movement speed while running, swimming, or flying. The ability to switch roles out of combat - and temporarily perform a different role in combat - makes the druid class one of the most versatile in World of Warcraft.

Class overview

Druids harness the vast powers of nature to preserve balance and protect life. With experience, druids can unleash nature’s raw energy against their enemies, raining celestial fury on them from a great distance, binding them with enchanted vines, or ensnaring them in unrelenting cyclones. Druids can also direct this power to heal wounds and restore life to fallen allies. They are deeply in tune with the animal spirits of Azeroth. As master shapeshifters, druids can take on the forms of a variety of beasts, morphing into a bear, cat, storm crow, or sea lion with ease. This flexibility allows them to fill different roles during their adventures, tearing enemies to shreds one minute and surveying the battlefield from the sky the next. These keepers of the natural order are among the most versatile heroes in Azeroth, and they must be prepared to adjust to new challenges on a moment’s notice.

History

Cenarius instructs Malfurion, Tyrande, and Illidan.

According to tauren mythology, Cenarius (the patron for all druids) instructed them first in druidism as recounted in their myth Forestlord and the First Druids. As it stands, the night elves claim the first druid was Malfurion Stormrage, an idea challenged by the tauren beliefs. He would lead the night elves through the War of the Ancients and the long years that followed. With the creation of the World Tree Nordrassil, the kaldorei druids were bound to Ysera, and her realm, the Emerald Dream, in which they spent centuries of their immortal lives. The Cenarion Circle was eventually formed as the governing society of druids, based in sacred Moonglade.

Locked in slumber in their barrow dens for generations, the druids awoke to meet the threat of the Burning Legion during its recent invasion. The Legion's attack left a terrible scar on the natural order and, after Archimonde's defeat, the druids chose to remain in the waking world and help rebuild their shattered lands.

The night elf druids were recently joined in the Cenarion Circle by the tauren druids. It is not clear from the current game content if the tauren learned druidism separately from the night elves or if they were taught by the night elves. Conflicting information in the Warcraft universe further exacerbates the confusion. Either way, the tauren and the night elf druids do not participate in the Alliance/Horde conflict, but coexist peacefully within the Cenarion Circle.

The Gilnean druids were called Harvest-witches and Celestine also refers to her druidic order as "keepers of the old ways". The harvest-witches would use their primitive druidic skills to cultivate crops but almost "died out" as Gilneas developed, though, when the nation fell into famine, it was the druids who, as Celestine claims, "called upon the earth's blessing and restored the harvest".

Druids belong to many different organizations or sects including the Cenarion Circle, Cenarion Expedition, Druids of the Claw, Druids of the Talon, Druids of the Fang, Druids of the Grove, Druids of the Antler and Druids of the Scythe.

Warcraft Encyclopedia

Druids come and go as they please, and their goals typically have little to do with the "civilized" world. Unaffiliated with any specific government, the primary druidic organization on Azeroth, the Cenarion Circle, answers to no one save itself. The highest rank that a druid can have is that of 'archdruid', and there are only a few archdruids on Azeroth. At the moment the Cenarion Circle's leader is Archdruid Malfurion Stormrage, also the first mortal druid on Azeroth.

Through their deep connection to life and nature, druids are able to take on an unusually large variety of roles. Probably a druid's best-known role is that of a healer. Druids are justly famed for their ability to restore life, cure poisonous wounds and remove curses. Indeed, restoring and protecting the planet is one of the top priorities for all druids, though, to regard a druid as merely a healer is a dangerously simplistic assumption that has led to the defeat of many an unwary foe.

A druid's empathy with the creatures of the wild also allows him to shapeshift into the forms of other animals. For example, a wounded druid whose magical energies are running low might abruptly take on the form of a bear in order to better withstand further injury. Alternatively, the druid might shift into the form of some large cat, sneak up behind an enemy, then pounce and deliver a fierce flurry of melee attacks. Even the deepest oceans can be explored by a druid, who can simply shift into an aquatic creature, allowing him to stay underwater as long as needed.

Until the end of the Third War, druids periodically visited the Emerald Dream to monitor the ebb and flow of life on Azeroth. Today such a visit has become more difficult due to Nordrassil's poor health. Druids possess a deep understanding of the way in which all living things depend upon one another. Whenever this delicate equilibrium is disrupted, the druid works to restore the balance. To that end, a druid can use his connection with the Emerald Dream to exert a calming influence over animals, even forcing some into a temporary state of hibernation. Just as the druid can wield peace and somnolence, the druid can tap into the fury of nature itself: Terrible storms have responded to a druid's call; thorns have sprouted from the druid's skin to wound his attackers; even previously harmless roots have grown up out of the soil at greatly accelerated speeds in order to entangle a foe.

For obvious reasons, druids thrive in the wild outdoors. Inevitably, however, they lose some of their effectiveness when they are forced to endure separation from the natural environment. What good is a cleansing rain when a druid cannot even see the sky? How are roots to capture a foe who is standing atop a high tower? Such cases clearly require a druid with the imagination to consider new strategies and the flexibility to carry them out. Yet this flexibility, too, comes with an underlying negative corollary. The druid tends to be a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none. An unusual mixture of priest, rogue, and warrior, the druid is therefore not equal to any of these three classes in their particular specialties. Even so, the druids' incredible adaptability serves them well in confronting the challenges that Azeroth has to offer.

Races

Druid crest

Main article: Druid races

The druid class can be played by the following races:

			Strength	Agility	Stamina	Intellect	Spirit	Armor	Health	Mana
Alliance	Night elf		17	24	20	22	22	48	54	100
	Worgen		24	22	20	18	21	61	54	68
	Kul Tiran		N/A
Horde	Tauren		26	16	21	18	24	32	65	68
	Troll		22	22	21	18	23	24	54	68
	Highmountain		N/A
	Zandalari		N/A

Racial abilities

These are some of the racial traits relevant to druids:

 Night elf

• [Shadowmeld] is a stealth ability. It can be useful in aggro management for DPS in PvE and a method for escaping combat. Be aware, the ability only drops aggro temporarily.
• Elusiveness (night elf racial) will greatly help your stealth, since this trait stacks with [Prowl].
• [Quickness] is an increase in dodge and makes it harder for enemies to hit you. This is very useful in tanking.
• [Wisp Spirit] minimizes downtime after death.
• [Nature Resistance] grants them a 1% reduction to all Nature damage taken.

In terms of max/min, Night Elves are best for tanking and PvP for the Alliance side.

 Worgen

• [Viciousness] gives worgen a +1% chance to achieve both melee and spell crits and is wonderful for DPS and healing.
• [Darkflight] is a sprint ability with a 2 minute cooldown that can be useful in PvP or PvE. In combination with [Dash] and [Stampeding Roar], worgen druids have the most mobility.
• [Aberration] grants a 1% reduction to all Shadow and Nature damage taken.

In terms of max/min, Worgen are best for DPS and healing for the Alliance side.

 Tauren

• [War Stomp] can stun enemies, making it useful for all specs in PvP and PvE.
• [Endurance] gives a slight health bonus, beneficial for tanks and PvP.
• [Nature Resistance] grants a 1% reduction to all Nature damage taken.

In terms of max/min, Taurens are best for tanking and PvP for the Horde side.

 Troll

• [Berserking] will gives you a 20% attack and casting speed buff every 3 minutes, good for DPS and healing.
• [Da Voodoo Shuffle] reduces the duration of all movement impairing effects by 15%, mostly useful for PvP.
• [Regeneration] increases health regeneration by 10% and allows 10% to continue during combat, minorly useful in PvP, or for giving tanks a slight edge.

In terms of max/min, Trolls are best for DPS and healing for the Horde side.

Notable druids

See also: List of druids

Name	Role	Status	Location
Cenarius	Lord of the Forest	Resurrected	Gates of Sothann, Mount Hyjal
Remulos	Keeper of Moonglade	Alive	Shrine of Remulos, Moonglade
Hamuul Runetotem	Archdruid of the Tauren	Alive	Elder Rise, Thunder Bluff
Fandral Staghelm	Archdruid of the Flame	Killable	Firelands
Malfurion Stormrage	Leader of All Druids	Alive	Temple of the Moon, Darnassus
Zaetar	Father of the Centaur	Deceased	Spirit in the Emerald Dream
Broll Bearmantle	Archdruid of the Cenarion Circle	Alive	Mount Hyjal

Specializations

Morova of the Sands, a tauren balance-druid

For a full list of specialization abilities, see Druid abilities

Druids are the only class that has four specializations, which are:

• Balance - Caster DPS
• Feral - Melee DPS
• Guardian - Tank
• Restoration - Healer

Balance

Can take on the form of a powerful Moonkin, balancing the power of Arcane and Nature magic to destroy enemies at a distance.

Horkin Figluster, a tauren druid

Balance druids focus on dealing ranged magical damage, with an array of signature abilities such as [Starsurge], [Sunfire], [Solar Beam] and [Starfall]. Balance druids use [Moonkin Form] to increase their damage dealt, protect them from harm and grant spell haste to themselves and their party. As well as granting Balance druids a distinctive Owlkin appearance (although this can be changed with  [Glyph of Stars]) this form has also gained Balance druids nicknames such as "Boomkin", reflecting their potential for extremely high damage output.

Balance druids rely on mana to fuel their abilities, and also gain access to the unique [Eclipse] secondary resource system, with the Eclipse Bar displayed underneath their health and mana. Certain spells cause the druid to generate Lunar or Solar Energy, and accumulating 100 of either type will trigger an Eclipse, with each type granting different benefits for a short period. This embodiment of the forces of balance significantly determines the Balance druid's spellcasting choices.

Feral

Takes on the form of a great cat to deal damage with bleeds and bites.

Aresha Thorncaller, a night elf druid

Feral druids are powerful feline melee damage-dealers, using [Cat Form] to deal swift and savage damage to their enemies. They have much in common with rogues, using energy to fuel their attacks and combo points to build to deadly finishing moves. Like rogues, Feral druids are extremely agile, and can use [Prowl] to sneak around and [Pounce] on enemies when they least expect it. Feral druids are often called "Cat", "Kitten" or "Kitty", these affectionate nicknames belying their formidable ferocity.

Guardian

Takes on the form of a mighty bear to absorb damage and protect allies.

Dorn the Tranquil, a tauren druid

Guardian druids are indomitable tanks, using the strength of [Bear Form] to become a towering, snarling wall between themselves and their allies. Similar to Protection warriors, Guardian druids use rage to fuel their abilities, mauling and mangling their enemies and transforming their rage into health with [Frenzied Regeneration]. Guardian druids' Bear Form is improved with Thick Hide (druid ability), allowing them to square up to the most formidable of foes. Guardian druids are often known simply as "Bears".

Restoration

Uses heal-over-time Nature spells to keep allies alive.

Restoration druids are capable healers, specializing in restoring their allies' health through heal over time effects. Restoration druids possess a range of healing options, from direct healing to more sophisticated buffs such as [Living Seed], with abilities such as [Nourish] offering synergistic effects, and can also dispel with [Nature's Cure]. Restoration druids are capable of healing allies without the use of a special shapeshift form, but with the talent [Incarnation] can take on the form of the Tree of Life.

Abilities

For a full list of druid abilities, see Druid abilities

Druids have a range of magical and physical abilities. While each specialization focuses on strengthening a particular area of a druid's repertoire, all druids are capable of using [Cat Form] and [Bear Form], dealing physical and ranged magical damage, healing targets and using numerous other abilities.

Some signature druid abilities:

• [Wrath]
• [Prowl]
• [Entangling Roots]
• [Dash]
• [Faerie Fire]
• [Pounce]
• [Innervate]
• [Rebirth]
• [Mark of the Wild]
• [Hibernate]
• [Tranquility]
• [Cyclone]
• [Symbiosis]

Shapeshifting

The druid's most notable ability is shapeshifting into different forms. These following forms can be obtained when reaching a certain level: [Moonkin Form] (Balance specialization only), [Cat Form], [Bear Form], and [Travel Form] (which increases speed in a form appropriate to the location used, whether it be land, water, or flying allowed).

Many abilities are restricted to a certain form. Others have different forms or effects depending on the druid's form when it is used. Because Cat Form and Bear Form use energy and rage, respectively, rather than mana, druid abilities that use mana cannot be used by druids when they are in these forms. However, druids can quickly shift between forms to gain access to desired abilities.

For all forms, the following applies:

• Immune to [Polymorph] in all forms except the default, humanoid form.
• You can't switch from polymorphed humanoid to another form.
• Shapeshifting breaks all movement-impairing effects (like [Slow] or [Hamstring]) and roots ( [Frost Nova] or [Entangling Roots]) except the 3-second daze that can proc when one is attacked from behind by a melee attack.
• Depending on the form, the druid is considered either Humanoid (Caster and Moonkin), Beast (Travel, Aquatic, Bear, and Cat), or Elemental (Tree of Life); and thus is vulnerable (or immune) to different spells. This also applies to being tracked.
• Shapeshifts are not buffs or magical effects, thus they may not be dispelled.
• Mana regeneration still continues at the same speed as out of the form.
• Weapons and armor that have the "Chance on hit" effect or have gained the said enchantments can still proc regardless of form.
• Items with an "Equip: When hit ..." do work in forms. Some examples of these items are the  [Naglering] and  [Darkmoon Card: Wrath]'s damage,  [Green Whelp Armor] sleep.

If you shapeshift while wearing any disguise, your form buff will remove the disguise buff. This is because it has a blanket effect and can cause unexpected bugs when two buffs are stacked. Items like the  [Noggenfogger Elixir] were changed in 2007 to not stack with Druid forms so that it would not cause any future problems. Subsequent issues have arisen, such as the jet-pack required for Gunship Battle, giving the message "Cannot use whilst shape-shifted". This can make completing some achievements more challenging for feral and balance druids, such as  [With a Little Helper from My Friends], requiring creative thinking such as spending the battles as a gunner in Wintergrasp.

As of 5.0.4, druids can mount while in [Moonkin Form].

Gear

See also: Druid sets

Druids are able to wear cloth and leather armor only, and gain additional benefits from wearing completely leather.

Druids can equip staves, daggers, one-handed or two-handed maces, fist weapons, and polearms. "Held in off-hand" items can still be used, but they cannot dual wield.

RPG

This section contains information from the Warcraft RPG which is considered non-canon.

Druids are keepers of the world who walk the path of nature following the wisdom of the Ancients and Cenarius, healing and nurturing the world. To a druid, nature is a delicate balance of actions in which even the smallest imbalance can create storming turmoil from peaceful skies. Druids draw their power from this wild energy using it to change their shapes and command the forces of nature. Traditionally, druids chose the path of a specific animal totem, however, since the invasion of the Burning Legion, most druids have undergone a number of reforms including encouraging the study of magic from all totems. Druids who do this are known as druids of the wild.

Gallery

• WOW5Y - Druid of the Claw concept.jpg

  Concept art for a night elf druid

• 

  One-Thousand-Battles, a tauren druid

• 

  Myriam Starcaller, a night elf druid

• 

  Taheo Skyspeaker, a tauren balance-druid

• 

  Galahandra, Keeper of the Silent Grove, a night elf druid

• MaleoTheBlur.jpg

  Maleo the Blur, a tauren feral-druid

• 

  Cul Rendhoof, a tauren restoration-druid

• 

  Guardian Steelhoof, a tauren druid

• 

  Givon, a night elf druid in bear form to the left, and a tauren druid in cat form to the right

• 

  Zalan Ragewind, a tauren druid

• 

  Breanna Greenmother, a night elf druid

• 

  Arktos, a night elf feral-druid

• 

  Jasmia, Nature's Chosen, a worgen druid

Videos

• Official Crash Course: Level 90 Druid (Balance)
• Balance Guide (5.2)
• Feral Guide (5.2)
• Guardian Guid (5.2)
• Restoration Guide (5.2)

Patch changes

• Patch 5.0.4 (2012-08-28):
  • Feral Combat splits into two different specs: Feral (melee) and Guardian (tank).
  • Relics have been removed from the game.
  • Druids can now mount while in [Moonkin Form].
    
• Patch 4.2.0 (2011-06-28): Druids now gain 1 attack power per point of Strength, down from 2. They continue to gain 2 attack power per point of Agility while in [Cat Form] or [Bear Form]. In addition, Cat Form's scaling rate from gear upgrades was slower than other classes, which was causing them to fall behind in damage with higher item levels. To counter the Strength change and improve scaling, several abilities had their coefficients modified.
  
• Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12):
  • Worgen and trolls become the third and fourth races capable of becoming druids.
  • Duration of Restoration HoTs reduced from, e.g. 27 to 6 seconds for [Regrowth].
  • Class specific quest chains removed - druids who completed the Epic Flight Form quest chain before the patch now have a Feat of Strength.
  • [Eclipse] has been reworked and the Eclipse Bar added.
    
• Patch 3.2.0 (2009-08-04):
  • If you already possess a 310% speed mount, your Swift Flight Form's speed will increase to 310%.
  • Druids are able to customize the appearance of their Feral forms.
    
• Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): Druids received the regular resurrection spell [Revive].
  

See also

• Elven druid
• Druid sects
• Druids as tanks
• Alamo

External links

World of Warcraft Official Game Guide - Druid

US Druid Forum Druid forums (US)

EU Druid Forum Druid forums (EU)

The Druid Wiki The unofficial Druid wiki

HealingWoW Restoration Druid Class Guides

Icy Veins Balance, Feral, Guardian, and Restoration Druid Raiding Guides (Mists of Pandaria)

WowInsider Shifting Perspectives — weekly Druid feature

WowInsider Druid guides

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