wow.gg logo
wow.gg logo
Guides

WoW Forever: Feral Combat Druid

by FourenUpdated 9 minutes read views

About the Class

Feral Combat combines damage in Game iconCat Form with tanking in Game iconBear Form. The cat spends Energy and combo points, the bear spends Rage. In Forever, form damage depends on the damage per second of your equipped weapon, so weapon upgrades genuinely matter for both roles. Separate talents and gear are listed below for each role.

A druid can shift forms for travel, Stealth and survival. Keep in mind that changing form changes the set of actions available to you: being able to take a hit as a bear doesn't make a caster a real tank without the right talents and gear.

Strengths

  • One specialization gives you access to two roles.
  • Little downtime while questing solo.
  • Bleeds scale with attack power.

Weaknesses

  • You need to learn different resources and action bars.
  • Separate gear sets are useful for tanking and damage.
  • Cat Form has little sustained multi-target damage.

Stat Priority

Cat
  1. 1Weapon DPS
  2. 2Expertise
  3. 3Hit
  4. 4Agility
  5. 5Strength

Bear

As a bear, attacking from the front also runs into parries, so Expertise requirements differ from a cat attacking from behind. Don't try to reach every offensive cap at the cost of the survivability you need. Judge weapons by damage per second and useful effects, not by swing speed alone.

Talents

Talents

Rotation (Ability Priority)

Opener

The opener is a set sequence of abilities you use as you engage an enemy. Memorising it helps initiate your rotation in the most optimal way possible.

  1. 1Claw
  2. 2Rip.
  3. 3Shred is available from behind. Rake and Ferocious Bite come later, at level 24.
Abilities Priority

As a cat, build combo points with ability_druid_rakeClaw or with spell_shadow_vampiricauraShred from behind. In long fights, spend them on ability_ghoulfrenzyRip. As a bear, keep the debuff from ability_druid_demoralizingroarDemoralizing Roar up and hold enemies on you; use ability_druid_maulMaul based on the Rage you have available.

Important Abilities

Ability
What It's For
Game iconMark of the WildA lasting, useful group buff
Game iconRebirthBring an ally back into the fight when the right conditions and reagent are available
Game iconInnervatePlan Mana regeneration for yourself or a chosen ally
Game iconBear FormSwitch roles or survive a situation, depending on your gear and talents
Game iconCat FormStealthy movement and cat abilities

Don't save class utility for the end of the fight. Successfully restoring an ally or a healer's resource can be worth more than one more hit of your own.

Best in Slot (BiS)

Best in Slot (BiS)
Slot
Recommended Gear
Source
Alternatives
Head
Darkmantle Cap
Dungeon Set 2, Quest Saving the Best for Last
Ragefury Eyepatch
Shadowcraft Cap
Shoulders
Dark Warder's Pauldrons
Warder Stilgiss, Blackrock Depths
Golden Mantle of the Dawn
Shadowcraft Spaulders
Back
Cape of the Black Baron
Baron Rivendare, Stratholme
Stoneskin Gargoyle Cape
Chest
Darkmantle Tunic
Dungeon Set 2, Quest Saving the Best for Last
Shadowcraft Tunic
Warbear Harness
Wrist
Darkmantle Bracers
Dungeon Set 2, Quest An Earnest Proposition
Shadowcraft Bracers
Feralheart Bracers
Hands
Timbermaw Brawlers
Leatherworking, Leatherworking skill 300
Darkmantle Gloves
Devilsaur Gauntlets
Waist
Might of the Timbermaw
Leatherworking, Leatherworking skill 290
Darkmantle Belt
Prowler's Leather Waistguard
Legs
Warbear Woolies
Leatherworking, Leatherworking skill 285
Darkmantle Pants
Devilsaur Leggings
Feet
Dawn Treaders
Leatherworking, Leatherworking skill 290
Shadowcraft Boots
Darkmantle Boots
Two-Handed Weapon
Thorium Greatmace
Blacksmithing, Blacksmithing skill 270
Hammer of the Titans
Relic
Idol of the Dream
Enchanting skill 320

Enchants, Gems, Consumables

Enchants and Enhancements
Enchant Chest - Stats adds stats to your chest, and Enchant Boots - Agility adds Agility to your boots. Forceful Rugged Armor Kit helps with attack power and armor. As a bear, evaluate the defensive value of enhancements separately from cat damage.
Consumables
Elixir of Greater Agility increases Agility, Elixir of Greater Strength increases Strength, and Major Healing Potion helps with Health. Major Mana Potion is useful for the Mana a cat spends restoring Energy through the talent. In Forever, consumables can be used while shapeshifted; potions share a cooldown.

Best Race

Skyborn — Alliance and Horde

Game iconWind Blessed grants speed, and Game iconRead Leyline helps with resources. It's a versatile choice for a caster; for Feral Combat, the attack speed is useful too.

Night Elf — Alliance

The racial abilities help with survivability, movement and setting up attacks from Stealth. Pick this race if those tools and the look of your forms matter to you.

Tauren — Horde

Game iconWar Stomp provides extra crowd control. If you tank, the larger Health pool is useful too. How much the race matters depends on your role and the specific fight.

Best Professions

Leatherworking and Skinning

Game iconLeatherworking together with Game iconSkinning is convenient for leather gear and armor kits. For Feral Combat, it's an especially practical choice while leveling. Casters can also craft useful items, but they should compare stats for their own role.

Alchemy and Herbalism

Game iconAlchemy and Game iconHerbalism help you keep yourself stocked with consumables. For healers and casters, a supply of Mana restoration is especially important. Game iconEnchanting lets you improve your gear, and Game iconEngineering provides extra gadgets.

FAQ

Is it hard to start as a druid?

Playing a druid means getting used to several forms and resources. Until you get Bear Form, the early game differs from the usual animal-form playstyle, and Cat Form unlocks at level 20. Learn one role at a time.

How do I unlock Cat Form?

In Forever, it's tied to a class quest at level 20. Bear Form unlocks earlier, at level 10, and Aquatic Form at level 16. Don't skip class quest chains in favor of regular leveling.

Does a druid need a weapon in animal form?

Yes. In Forever, weapon damage per second increases the base damage of your forms. Weapon and enhancement procs also count, so the old approach of judging a weapon by its stats alone no longer works.

Can I use consumables while shapeshifted?

Yes. Keep the shared potion cooldown in mind and don't leave a safe form just to click an item out of habit.

Can I heal or tank with a single set of gear?

Basic utility is available to every druid, but a full role takes preparation. For healing, stack Mana and Healing Power; for tanking, Defense and Health; for Cat Form, weapon and offensive stats. Separate gear sets make switching roles much easier.

Author

Fouren

Fouren

Fouren has been playing World of Warcraft for over 15 years. He is an active player with 12 Cutting Edge achievements under his belt, and has reached the top 1% and 0.1% multiple times on various classes. His main classes are healers, particularly Holy Paladin.

You Might Be Interested

Comments

0

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!