WoW Forever Restoration Druid — Guide (Beta Test)
viewsAbout the Class
This guide is based on the World of Warcraft: Forever beta and covers gameplay up to level 20. The talents and combat tips are starting recommendations built on the spells and talents available in the beta. They will be refined as testing continues.
The Restoration Druid heals primarily with healing-over-time effects, backing them up with big single-target heals like 
Healing Touch and 
Swiftmend. Those who played a Druid healer in Classic get a new group healing-over-time effect: Wild Growth.
You are still a shapeshifter: 
Bear Form lets you take a couple of hits, while 
Travel Form and 
Aquatic Form speed up travel on land and in water.
Strengths
- A very flexible healing toolkit: single-target, group, emergency. There is something for every job.
- Healing-over-time effects let you heal on the move instead of standing still.
- A useful group toolkit:
Mark of the Wild, 
Thorns, and the combat resurrection 
Rebirth. - The class covers all four roles, so you will always get a spot in a group.
Weaknesses
- Not a single absorb shield: the only noticeable gap in the healer toolkit.
- A more modest utility kit than some other classes have.
- Only some of the talents are unlocked in the beta, so healing feels more limited than it eventually will be.
- You can't cast while in a form: to heal, you have to shift out.
Stat Priority
- 1Spell Power
- 2Intellect
- 3Spirit
- 4Critical Strike
- 5Haste
In the beta, the easiest approach is to go by item level: pick higher-level items, favoring Spell Power and Intellect. This is advice for the duration of the test, not a final priority.
Talents
Talent Notes
All-Purpose Build
A few points go into Balance to raise your damage and cut downtime.
- Genesis 5/5 — increases your damage over time and healing.
Nature's Reach 1/2 — range and a reduced miss chance.
Nature's Focus 5/5 — makes your spellcasting more reliable while you are taking damage.
Healing Build
- Nature's Focus 5/5
- Naturalist 5/5 — reduces the cast time of Healing Touch and adds damage.
- Gift of the Earthmother 1/1 — reduces the global cooldown of
Rejuvenation, Swiftmend, and Wild Growth.
Ability Priority
- Keep Rejuvenation on the tank and on anyone taking light damage
- Follow up with Healing Touch on anyone who needs more than that
- Before the run, put Thorns on the tank
- If you have time to spare, cast
Wrath or 
Moonfire on enemies: the run will go faster
Class Quests
At level 10 your trainer gives you a quest for Bear Form, and at level 20 one for 
Cat Form. The bear unlocks 
Bash and the ability to tank, while the cat unlocks 
Prowl.
Prowl reduces the range at which enemies detect you, but it isn't invisibility: the higher the enemy's level, the worse stealth works. Enemies with an eye icon above their heads can see you no matter what.
Important Abilities
Best in Slot (BiS)
There is no BiS list for the beta yet: gear and item stats differ noticeably from Classic, and loot sources still haven't been mapped out. Wear items of the highest level available, favoring Spell Power and Intellect.
Enchants, Gems, Consumables
ConsumablesCampfire Bonuses
Campfires in Forever now grant strong buffs. If you see a campfire, sit down by it: the bonuses are worth it.
Best Professions
A convenient pairing for a Druid: Skinning supplies Leatherworking with materials, and you craft your own gear. Professions in the game are flexible, so this is a recommendation, not a hard rule.
Author
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.
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