Feral Druid leveling guide
Feral is one of the fastest and most flexible ways to level a Druid. In Cat Form you build combo points with Mangle, Rake and Shred, and Rip and Savage Roar turn them into steady damage. When a pull gets too big, you switch to Bear Form and tank the whole group. Berserk, Survival Instincts and Predatory Strikes’ instant heals keep you going with almost no downtime.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Very fast kills in Cat Form, and a solid tank in Bear Form.
- Almost no downtime: no mana needed in forms, and Predatory Strikes gives instant heals.
- Prowl, Dash and Travel Form make it easy to pick your fights.
- Groups are hard in Cat Form before Swipe at level 71, and changing forms costs time.
Talents by level
At level 70
- In Feral: Ferocity 5/5, Savage Fury 2/2, Feral Swiftness 2/2, Survival Instincts, Sharpened Claws 3/3, Shredding Attacks 2/2, Predatory Strikes 3/3, Primal Fury 2/2 and Primal Precision 2/2.
- Feral Charge, Heart of the Wild 5/5, Survival of the Fittest 3/3, Leader of the Pack, Improved Leader of the Pack 2/2, Predatory Instincts 3/3, King of the Jungle 3/3, Mangle and Improved Mangle 3/3.
- Rend and Tear 5/5, Primal Gore and Berserk, for 51 points. In Restoration: Furor 5/5 and Naturalist 5/5.
Level 71 to 80
- Natural Shapeshifter 3/3, Omen of Clarity and Master Shapeshifter 2/2.
- Intensity 3/3 and Improved Mark of the Wild 1/2, for 20 points in Restoration.
Rotation
One enemy
- Prowl, then Pounce or Ravage to open.
- Mangle (Cat) and Rake, then Shred from behind to build combo points.
- Savage Roar from level 75 with a few points, then Ferocious Bite or Rip at five, and Tiger’s Fury for energy.
Groups of enemies
- Bear Form, then Demoralizing Roar and Swipe (Bear) on the group.
- Swipe (Cat) from level 71 on two or three weaker enemies, and Berserk for a big pull.
Staying alive
- An instant Regrowth or Healing Touch whenever Predatory Swiftness lights up after a finishing move.
- Survival Instincts and Frenzied Regeneration in Bear Form when a fight goes wrong.
- Barkskin in any form, and Dash or Prowl to get away.
Leveling route
| Level | Alliance | Horde |
|---|---|---|
| 70-72 | Borean Tundra (Valiance Keep), Howling Fjord (Valgarde) | Borean Tundra (Warsong Hold), Howling Fjord (Vengeance Landing) |
| 72-74 | Dragonblight (Wintergarde Keep) | Dragonblight (Agmar’s Hammer) |
| 74-75 | Grizzly Hills (Amberpine Lodge) | Grizzly Hills (Conquest Hold) |
| 75-76 | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) | Zul’Drak (Zim’Torga) |
| 76-78 | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) | Sholazar Basin (Nesingwary Base Camp) |
| 78-80 | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) | The Storm Peaks (K3), Icecrown (Argent Vanguard) |
Dungeons worth the detour: Utgarde Keep and The Nexus from level 70, Azjol-Nerub and Ahn’kahet: The Old Kingdom around 72, and Drak’Tharon Keep and The Violet Hold from 74.
Stats, weapons and tradeskills
- Agility first, then Strength, Armor Penetration, Hit, Expertise and Crit.
- A staff or polearm with as much Agility and Feral Attack Power as possible.
- Enchants: Mongoose or Berserking on the weapon, Crusher on the gloves and Greater Assault on the bracers.
- Tradeskills: Skinning with Leatherworking for leather gear and Fur Lining on the bracers.