Balance Druid leveling guide
Balance turns the Druid into a caster with Nature and Arcane spells. Moonkin Form adds a lot of armor, Wrath of Cenarius makes Starfire and Wrath hit harder, and Force of Nature summons three treants that fight for you. It spends a lot of mana, so you drink more than a Feral Druid, but most enemies die before they reach you.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Big damage from range with Starfire, Moonfire and Insect Swarm.
- The armor of Moonkin Form lets you survive what kills other casters.
- Force of Nature and Entangling Roots give you time in a hard fight.
- Heavy mana use, so you drink after most fights.
Talents by level
At level 60
- In Balance: Starlight Wrath 5/5, Improved Moonfire 2/2, Focused Starlight 2/2, Control of Nature 3/3, Insect Swarm, Nature’s Reach 2/2 and Vengeance 5/5.
- Lunar Guidance 3/3, Nature’s Grace, Moonglow 3/3, Moonfury 5/5, Moonkin Form, Improved Faerie Fire 2/3, Wrath of Cenarius 5/5 and Force of Nature, for 41 points.
- In Restoration: Improved Mark of the Wild 5/5 and Nature’s Focus 5/5.
Level 61 to 70
- Intensity 3/3 and Omen of Clarity.
- Natural Shapeshifter 3/3 and Furor 3/5, for 20 points in Restoration.
Rotation
One enemy
- Moonkin Form, then Insect Swarm and Moonfire from range.
- Starfire while the enemy walks toward you, and Wrath once it is close.
- Force of Nature for a strong enemy, and Faerie Fire to keep it from fleeing.
Two enemies
- Entangling Roots on one enemy, and Insect Swarm and Moonfire on both.
- Hurricane against a group of weak enemies, and Cyclone from level 70 to take one out of the fight.
Staying alive
- Barkskin reduces the damage you take while you cast.
- Shift out of Moonkin Form to heal with Regrowth and Rejuvenation, or Lifebloom from level 64.
- Innervate restores your mana in a long fight.
Leveling route
| Level | Alliance | Horde |
|---|---|---|
| 60-62 | Hellfire Peninsula (Honor Hold) | Hellfire Peninsula (Thrallmar) |
| 62-64 | Zangarmarsh (Telredor) | Zangarmarsh (Zabra’jin) |
| 64-65 | Terokkar Forest (Allerian Stronghold) | Terokkar Forest (Stonebreaker Hold) |
| 65-67 | Nagrand (Telaar) | Nagrand (Garadar) |
| 67-68 | Blade’s Edge Mountains (Sylvanaar) | Blade’s Edge Mountains (Thunderlord Stronghold) |
| 68-70 | Netherstorm (Area 52), Shadowmoon Valley (Wildhammer Stronghold) | Netherstorm (Area 52), Shadowmoon Valley (Shadowmoon Village) |
Dungeons worth the detour: Hellfire Ramparts and The Blood Furnace from level 60, The Slave Pens and The Underbog around 62, and Mana-Tombs and Auchenai Crypts from 64.
Stats, weapons and tradeskills
- Spell Damage first, then Hit, Crit and Intellect.
- A staff, or a one-handed weapon with an off-hand item, with Spell Damage.
- Enchants: Major Spellpower on the weapon and the gloves, and Spellpower on the bracers.
- Tradeskills: Tailoring for the Spellfire set, or Herbalism with Alchemy for mana potions.