Restoration Druid leveling guide
Restoration is the Druid healer, and leveling alone takes patience. Moonfire, Insect Swarm and Wrath do the damage from range, and Rejuvenation and Swiftmend keep you healthy almost for free. In return, dungeon groups in Northrend will always want you, and Wild Growth and Tree of Life make you one of the strongest group healers.
Strengths and weaknesses
- Heals over time with Rejuvenation, Lifebloom and Wild Growth, and Swiftmend for an instant big heal.
- Very hard to kill: you heal yourself while you keep attacking.
- Great dungeon healer, with Tree of Life and Nature’s Swiftness for emergencies.
- The slowest leveling spec of the Druid, since your damage is low and enemies take long to die.
Talents by level
At level 70
- In Restoration: Improved Mark of the Wild 1/2, Nature’s Focus 3/3, Furor 5/5, Naturalist 5/5, Intensity 3/3, Omen of Clarity, Improved Rejuvenation 3/3, Nature’s Swiftness and Gift of Nature 5/5.
- Nature’s Bounty 5/5, Living Spirit 3/3, Swiftmend, Natural Perfection 3/3, Empowered Rejuvenation 5/5 and Tree of Life.
- Gift of the Earthmother 5/5 and Wild Growth, for 51 points. In Balance: Starlight Wrath 5/5 and Genesis 5/5.
Level 71 to 80
- Moonglow 3/3 and Nature’s Majesty 2/2.
- Improved Moonfire 2/2 and Nature’s Grace 3/3, for 20 points in Balance.
Rotation
One enemy
- Rejuvenation on yourself, then Moonfire and Insect Swarm from range.
- Wrath until the enemy dies, and Entangling Roots if it gets too close.
- Cat Form for enemies with little health, to save mana.
Groups of enemies
- Rejuvenation and Wild Growth on yourself, then Hurricane on a group standing still.
- Moonfire on each enemy, and Bear Form with Swipe (Bear) when they reach you.
Staying alive
- Swiftmend when your health drops quickly, and Nature’s Swiftness with Healing Touch as an instant full heal.
- Barkskin when you take hits, and Entangling Roots to gain distance.
- Innervate when mana runs low, and Nourish from level 80 on long fights.
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
- Spell Power first, then Haste, Spirit, Intellect and Crit.
- A staff, or a one-handed weapon with an off-hand item, with as much Spell Power as possible.
- Enchants: Mighty Spellpower on the weapon, Exceptional Spellpower on the gloves and Superior Spellpower on the bracers.
- Tradeskills: Herbalism with Inscription or Alchemy, since you can gather herbs straight from Flight Form.