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Druid · spec comparison

Feral Combat vs Restoration

Feral Combat rates higher for Leveling; they tie for PvE and PvP. Tiers come from the tier list, built from the launch client and the 2 November development notes.

Tier by tier

Feral CombatRestorationLeveling · Feral CombatACPvEAAPvPAA

Feral Combat

Tank · Melee DPS · Any weapon with Feral attack power or stats

Two 31-point talents: Primal Bite for Bears and Shifting Power for Cats. Shred at 200% weapon damage, Ravage at 435%, Lacerate at row 4, 115% Bear threat. One build tanks dungeons and kills things in Cat Form on the way there.

Playstyle. Cat: Tiger's Fury, Shred from behind, Rake, Rip at 5 points or Ferocious Bite with Predatory Discipline. Bear: Swipe, Maul, Lacerate stacks, Growl and Feral Charge to pick up adds. Shifting Power turns mana into Energy on a shift.

Rotation

  1. Cat: Tiger's Fury, Rake, Shred to 5 points, Rip on long fights or Ferocious Bite
  2. Cat: Claw from the front when you cannot get behind
  3. Bear: Maul every swing, Lacerate to 5 stacks, Swipe on packs
  4. Bear: Demoralizing Roar, Feral Charge on casters, Bash to interrupt
  5. Shift out to heal in a pinch, back in with Shifting Power for Energy
  6. Dash and Prowl for positioning; Pounce from stealth in PvP

Stat priority

Hit to 9% › Agility › Strength › Stamina › Armor (Bear) › Crit

Tips

  • Thick Hide and Natural Reaction are what let leather tank with 115% threat.
  • Feral Swiftness in Cat Form is 30% speed outdoors: a mount before 40.
  • Shred needs you behind the target; on a boss that is always, on a mob it is a Prowl opener.

Feral Combat guideLeveling buildPvE buildPvE buildPvP buildCalculator

Restoration

Healer · Caster staff or one-hand and off-hand

Wild Growth as the 31-point heal with Naturalist shortening it, Bloom, Swiftmend consuming one effect, Nature's Swiftness, Living Spirit, Gift of Nature and Tranquil Spirit. Heals over time can crit now, so Rejuvenation and Regrowth on everyone is the plan.

Playstyle. Rejuvenation and Regrowth rolling on the tank, Swiftmend when the tank spikes, Wild Growth when the group takes damage, Healing Touch with Nature's Swiftness for the big one. Innervate on the mana-hungry healer.

Rotation

  1. Mark of the Wild, Thorns on the tank
  2. Rejuvenation and Regrowth on the tank before the pull
  3. Swiftmend when the tank drops, then reapply the consumed effect
  4. Wild Growth when three or more are hurt
  5. Healing Touch for steady damage; Nature's Swiftness plus Healing Touch for emergencies
  6. Rejuvenation on melee taking cleave; Tranquility as the panic button

Stat priority

Healing power › Spirit (Living Spirit) › Intellect › MP5 › Spell crit (heals over time crit now) › Stamina

Tips

  • Bloom rewards letting Rejuvenation run its full course: do not overwrite early.
  • Living Spirit makes Spirit a healing stat on top of regen.
  • Druids can drink in forms now; shift to Bear when the healer gets charged.

Restoration guidePvE buildCalculator

Other Druid comparisons

Balance vs Feral Combat · Balance vs Restoration · Druid leveling guide · Best leveling class

Questions players ask

Is Feral Combat or Restoration better for leveling a Druid?
Feral Combat (A tier against C). Two 31-point talents: Primal Bite for Bears and Shifting Power for Cats. Shred at 200% weapon damage, Ravage at 435%, Lacerate at row 4, 115% Bear threat. One build tanks dungeons and kills things in Cat Form on the way there.
Which is better in PvE, Feral Combat or Restoration?
Both are A tier in our PvE ranking; pick by role (Tank · Melee DPS against Healer) and what your group needs.
And for PvP?
Equal at A tier.
Can I play both?
Yes. Dual specialization unlocks at 40 for 10 gold, so most players level in one and keep the other for dungeons or PvP. Both builds load into the calculator from the links here.