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Balance viable for end game?Follow
Hi all. I currently play a feral tanking druid but for most of my levelling life and some of my time spent at 70, I was Balance. I've long ago hung up my moonkin suit but I was wondering how viable Balance specced druids are in end game (to be more specific: post-Kara)? Would love to hear your opinions.
Moonkin are at great at end game, i was going moonkin for end game but didnt like it so i went back to feral, i would say if you enjoy moonkin then go for it as they are useful
I have NOT progressed past Karazhan, so I only speak as a forum lurker and from observations of my friends' guilds as they go through Hyjal and BT.
Moonkins are not common. They don't seem to have a great deal of versatility to bring to the party. Their big draw is the the +5% crit aura, obviously. They are also used as off-tanks for some multi-enemy boss fights. However, it seems like they have problems with dropping aggro (as in, they can't), and all of their limited CC can be done by a competent Resto druid.
I believe one of my friends told me that while they aren't bad, they aren't optimal; and some guilds are based on optimal, so Moonkin are out.
Moonkins are not common. They don't seem to have a great deal of versatility to bring to the party. Their big draw is the the +5% crit aura, obviously. They are also used as off-tanks for some multi-enemy boss fights. However, it seems like they have problems with dropping aggro (as in, they can't), and all of their limited CC can be done by a competent Resto druid.
I believe one of my friends told me that while they aren't bad, they aren't optimal; and some guilds are based on optimal, so Moonkin are out.
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However, it seems like they have problems with dropping aggro (as in, they can't), and all of their limited CC can be done by a competent Resto druid.
That's what I've heard also. Yes there are trinkets, Salvation, and if I'm not mistaken you can change to Cat form and Cower.
-Trinkets that reduce threat if I'm not mistaken don't have the 'goodies' that other trinkets have, which is 'gimping' your dps.
-Cat form is using 200+ mana, then back to Boomkin wich is another 200+ mana for a small threat reduction.
I have read that for Dragonkin boss in ZA a Moonkin can Barkskin/Hurricane the hatched dragonkins.
The +crit on spells would be nice for the healer or caster party tho. If your guild has the extra spot for a Boomkin by all means! It sounds like it'll be a blasty. Just sit back and cast the heck out of the mobs.
Any Holy Pallies in your group would love you forever as a Boomkin.
I am attached to several guilds, but RL just F's with my gaming time... who would have ever thought.
With that being said we run a 25 man group and one of usual mixes in two of the guilds combines my Shadow Priest with a Holy/Ret Paladin, Warlock, Balance Druid, and either a Mage or Prot. Paladin if we are in an off tank group.
With proper communication the amount of dps we deal out is phenomenal. All of the above group together for insane spell damage increases, and the VE/VT of my priest keeps a massive amount of mana and health flowing to all members, especially the Pally. The hardest thing for us to figure out in the early grouping was when should I stop the dps on my toon. It took us a while to work out the mechanics as the combined healing and damage created a ton of aggro, but the group works very well in 25 mans, and so so in 10 mans. In 10 mans, when you need to have an off tank and a dedicated healer, it falls to me, just not in Shadow Form... so some of the same effect, but I have to pay attention to keep up the tank quite a bit more than I was used to at first. (I will not lie, the Druid I normally group with got use to dumping Moonkin in order to save our tank because I sucked at healing... what can I say... I rolled a shadow priest!!!! I am better now... I swear... well... at least a "bit" better.)
Regardless, Moonkin can be used if you are in a casual type guild or group. As stated, many guilds want to be hardcore and run optimized groups so you may have to join a guild and talk them into it at first.
I just started playing my Druid again, and I am now grouping with some other re-rollers, and I specced Resto, but I am having more fun than I thought possible in the group. I go from bear to caster and do solid damage and tons of heals, and everyone is happy as we do not wipe. Why did I not start playing a Druid sooner????
With that being said we run a 25 man group and one of usual mixes in two of the guilds combines my Shadow Priest with a Holy/Ret Paladin, Warlock, Balance Druid, and either a Mage or Prot. Paladin if we are in an off tank group.
With proper communication the amount of dps we deal out is phenomenal. All of the above group together for insane spell damage increases, and the VE/VT of my priest keeps a massive amount of mana and health flowing to all members, especially the Pally. The hardest thing for us to figure out in the early grouping was when should I stop the dps on my toon. It took us a while to work out the mechanics as the combined healing and damage created a ton of aggro, but the group works very well in 25 mans, and so so in 10 mans. In 10 mans, when you need to have an off tank and a dedicated healer, it falls to me, just not in Shadow Form... so some of the same effect, but I have to pay attention to keep up the tank quite a bit more than I was used to at first. (I will not lie, the Druid I normally group with got use to dumping Moonkin in order to save our tank because I sucked at healing... what can I say... I rolled a shadow priest!!!! I am better now... I swear... well... at least a "bit" better.)
Regardless, Moonkin can be used if you are in a casual type guild or group. As stated, many guilds want to be hardcore and run optimized groups so you may have to join a guild and talk them into it at first.
I just started playing my Druid again, and I am now grouping with some other re-rollers, and I specced Resto, but I am having more fun than I thought possible in the group. I go from bear to caster and do solid damage and tons of heals, and everyone is happy as we do not wipe. Why did I not start playing a Druid sooner????
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Why did I not start playing a Druid sooner????
A long time ago, before my Warrior was rolled, I had a N.Elf Druid. Loved it. Got to 40, and thanks to the gap in quests/zones to hit at 40, I got bored and stopped playing. I wish I had not, Now at 61 I have valid options on how to go: Healer/Tank. I already have a tank, so I'm going to hit healing... sounds new and fun =)
Seeing as panzerkins can tank gruul and kara, I would say so :P (just youtube panzerkin to see the videos)
keep in mind cyrex, those panzerkin videos are from progressed guilds who dont really NEED to do kara/gruuls anymore. in other words, theyre using overgeared moonkins to do that job, with an overgeared raid. for a druid progressing thru content however, youre not going to see that happen.
the long and the short of it is, balance is perfectly viable end game, but its not until you hit 25-man raiding that it really sees a use. its great for mage dps, destro locks, holy pallies, holy priests and resto shammies, as the crit aura helps up dps, healing done, and keeps the talented priest/shammy armor buffs on the tank(s). feral and resto however, are generally more preferred. balance is not useless by any means, just a bit of a dark horse so to speak.
the long and the short of it is, balance is perfectly viable end game, but its not until you hit 25-man raiding that it really sees a use. its great for mage dps, destro locks, holy pallies, holy priests and resto shammies, as the crit aura helps up dps, healing done, and keeps the talented priest/shammy armor buffs on the tank(s). feral and resto however, are generally more preferred. balance is not useless by any means, just a bit of a dark horse so to speak.
Lol - that gets brought up every now and then. To do something like that the moonkin would need to be in full PvP gear to reach crit immunity without SotF. Their stam would still be significantly below a bear tank, so crushings could become an issue - healers have to keep them topped up the whole fight. The DPS needs to be really smart and on the ball, because the Moonkin will not be able to put out as much threat as many other classes. The moonkin will also need lots of mana regen options as the PvP gear has very little in the way of Mp5 and spirit regen will not be an issue as he will have to cast flat out to build up enough threat.
Yes it is doable, but it requires a guild with skill and gear enough to have made Karazhan trivial long ago.
Edited, Mar 13th 2008 4:36am by RareBeast
Edited, Mar 13th 2008 4:37am by RareBeast
Yes it is doable, but it requires a guild with skill and gear enough to have made Karazhan trivial long ago.
Edited, Mar 13th 2008 4:36am by RareBeast
Edited, Mar 13th 2008 4:37am by RareBeast
Quote:
Seeing as panzerkins can tank gruul and kara, I would say so :P (just youtube panzerkin to see the videos)
QFT
My Boomkin is currently running Kara. I do get lots of love for the spell crit bonus but my guild takes full advantage of the druids versatility. I am often asked to off heal (+ heals is just over 1000 in Heal gear, ~980 without) and abolish poison (Romulo and Julianne fight).
Last week, after a not-so-stellar attempt, I was last man standing on Shade of Aran. He was at < 2% and I was OOM and at 1/2 health. We went toe to toe and I burned any mana I regenerated on wrath spam. Vent got very noisy...
It was the first time in a long time I downed a boss by beating on him with my staff.
As far as post Kara goes I can't provide any insight or experience yet. I would recommend checking in your guild and see if they plan on having a Moonkin in the Raid group. As others have mentioned, a lot of guilds don't see a need for Moonkin (or rather, view a Moonkin as a waste of a slot that could used for a "better" class).
The good news? You are a respec. away from being a high demand healer or tank. I need to work on those sets of gear!
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