TBC Classic Balance Druid Guide (Phase 3)

Balance Druid is a ranged spellcaster in leather armor. It uses staves or one-handed weapons together with an off-hand item. The specialization's damage is average, but it is almost always brought to a raid for its support: Innervate restores mana to mages and healers, while Improved Faerie Fire increases the damage of all physical fighters in the group. The rotation is straightforward: the main spell is Starfire, supplemented by keeping periodic effects up.

• Faerie Fire — keep it on the target for the Improved Faerie Fire debuff
• Moonfire — keep it on the target, refresh only after it fully expires
• Force of Nature — if the treants survive most of the duration
• Hurricane — if there are 3 or more targets under the channel
• Insect Swarm — only while moving, so you don't lose damage
• Starfire — filler; when short on mana, drop the periodic effects and cast only this

• Force of Nature — the main damage cooldown; use it when the boss's abilities won't kill the treants and the target will survive 30 seconds
• Hurricane — a short cooldown for area damage
• Innervate — restore mana to yourself, a mage, or a healer
• Entangling Roots — immobilizes an enemy
• Cyclone — removes an enemy from combat
• Tranquility — quick group healing when the group is dropping low

Night Elf

• Nature Resistance increases nature resistance by 10.
• Quickness increases dodge chance by 1%.
• Shadowmeld turns you invisible while you stand still. 10 second cooldown, does not work in combat.
• Wisp Spirit turns you into a wisp after death and speeds up ghost movement by 50%.

Tauren

• Cultivation increases herbalism skill by 15.
• Endurance increases total health by 5%.
• Nature Resistance increases nature resistance by 10.
• War Stomp stuns up to 5 enemies within 8 meters for 2 seconds. 0.5 second cast, 2 minute cooldown.

Tailoring

The primary choice for PvE. The Wrath of Spellfire set gives a large bonus to Arcane damage, plus the Spellstrike Infusion set bonus works too. The cloth cooldowns bring in gold all expansion long.

Leatherworking

An alternative if you don't want to change your tailoring specialization. The Windhawk Armor set works for both damage and healing. It also provides Drums of Battle, but usually the group's Elemental shaman brings those.

Enchanting

Exclusive ring enchants that work all through TBC and noticeably raise your damage.

Engineering

Lots of explosives for area damage, including the Super Sapper Charge.

Alchemy

Passive income from transmutes and the new specializations for elixirs, potions, and transmutation. Suited to a character for whom maximum damage isn't the priority.