View Full Forums : Talent advice


betto
03-27-2006, 07:20 PM
Sorry if I am asking questions that have already been asked, but I have been looking at these forums for a number of weeks now and I think I am now more confused about what talents to have and which talents not to have.

I am after advice on the best feral/resto and resto/feral builds. I have prety much decided not to go down the balance path (unless someone convinces me otherwise =)). I think i am leaning more towards a resto/feral build, at the mo I do a lot of soloing so i feel the feral side would be useful for this, but when I am in a group I am a healer. Both sides of which I love, I am thinking that the higher I become the more I will be healing that is why I am leaning towards resto/feral, but if I go resto/feral will I become a weedy druid who will strugle when I go soloing.

I am a level 45 druid, I have really messed up my talents at the moment so am after some good advice that will see me through to level 60 and beyond, without the need to respec at a later level. I have already respeced 3 times and do not really want to do it again. =)

Thanks in advance for your help guys.

Ezendius
03-28-2006, 01:46 AM
I'm not that high a level (hit 20 yesterday grinding in ashenvale), but I plan out my talents early.
I'm purely feral so far, going for the Leader of the Pack talent for my 31 points). My last 20 points would be going into restoration.
I like feral because most parties DO have a priest (at least for me), and because a druid's thing that sets them apart is shapeshifting.
Why not balance? You'll never see in /4: LF moonkin form druid <instance>

Anyways, my talent sheet (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/druids2/talents.html?0000000000000000500252130311205105530 3103000000)

gwmort
03-28-2006, 07:24 AM
I'm balance, but I have done a lot of reading on here about the resto/feral type builds. The 30/21 is a real popular choice.

Leader of the Pack doesn't help you much while soloing, and when grouped you'll usually be healing (especially at higher level instances). By swinging that last point from feral into Resto it lets you pick up Nature's Swiftness, which will be nice protection for when you feel the pinch of not being full resto.

betto
03-28-2006, 07:52 AM
:texla: Thanks for the replys guys.

Ezendius, what do you mean by 'You'll never see in /4: LF moonkin form druid'? The reason I said I have decided not to go balance is because I enjoy the bear and cat forms. But thinking about it would I be better going resto/balance? because if I am in a group healing it would be easier to use balance than to have to change into cat/bear as they are both casting forms.

Gwmort, you mention a resto/feral build of 30/21, is this 30 points in feral and 21 points in resto? You say that you are balance, what else do you have your points spent in. Do you find that balance is useful or not, I decided that the moonkin form wasn't worth getting as it gives you the same as dire bear but you can cast balance spells as well.

Does anyone have a good build for a balance/resto build and resto/balance build also what about a more resto than feral build?

I seem to be getting my self more confused about what talents to pick. :confused:

Ezendius
03-28-2006, 08:52 AM
That moonkin form thing was sort of a joke. Moonkin form is like the druid equivelent of a priest's shadow form. I guess we'd be sort of like mages/warlocks, but I don't think its that useful (even though it gives 360% armor). It seems like its just for when you're casting balance spells and wearing cloth gear that would usually be used by caster classes.
Keep in mind, these are just my opinions and I am nowhere near level 60 (just 20).

If you're mainly in caster form, by all means go balance and restoration.
I'm mostly in feral forms since its useful for me. I wish I had 93 talent points. >_<

My new build ideas are 1/29/21 (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/druids2/talents.html?0100000000000000500252130311204032520 2015010000) or 5/30/16. (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/druids2/talents.html?0140000000000000500252130311205032520 2011000000) The first one is going by Gwmort's suggestion to get Nature's Swiftness, but still get Nature's Grasp. The second one is to get a 100% chance of instant root (great in PvP), no leader of the pack, and having some points in restoration for when I have to heal.

If you guys could make any improvements on these, I'd be greatful. I'm so far only in feral with a point in feline swiftness.

Braylore
03-28-2006, 08:57 AM
Having read oodles of posts on talent builds (specs), and having spent many hours playing a druid myself, my suggestion to you is not to be afraid to experiment. Why be like everyone else? I think people that say you have to be 30/21 (not that anyone in here is saying that - he just said it's a popular build), are complete t00ls.

I decided awhile ago that I wanted to try my own hand at tailoring a spec. As a 51 Druid this is my current build: Druid: Feral Combat (41) / Restoration (1) (http://talentcalculator.merciless-gilde.com/?lang=en&show=t&t=68759).

This is where I plan to be at 60, until I feel like trying something else: Druid: Feral Combat (44) / Restoration (7) (http://talentcalculator.merciless-gilde.com/?lang=en&show=t&t=68761)

I think Furor is quite important for pvp ftw, not so much for pve however. Also I think Fairie Fire (Feral) is a must have on pvp servers, if you're going with a feral spec, so you don't have to shapeshift to keep that rogue from vanishing. It's also a good tool to pull mobs without having to ss, when in a party - or when stealth just isn't an option (mobs are packed too tightly together to solo effectively).

:texla:

Braylore
03-28-2006, 09:17 AM
If you guys could make any improvements on these, I'd be greatful. I'm so far only in feral with a point in feline swiftness.

For awhile I had points in Nature's Grasp (NG) and Improved NG (4 TPs), just so I could get Natural Weapons (NW), Natural Shapeshifter (NSS) and even Omen of Clarity (OOC). BTW I had also maxed out IMoTW (which in retrospect is completely n00bish) :shuffle: . But then I realized that spending 5 TPs in balance just to get NW/OOC and NSS was a complete waste. I decided that if I was going to concentrate on building a feral spec, that I wanted to see first hand just how potent I might become by spending virtually all of my pts in this area - also just how useful LoTP would be at higher levels.

NG at first seemed like the shiznilty of PvP-dom, until I later realized that getting off a root is not at all that difficult, especially when you're tauren and have stomp at the ready, and when in fact you don't often need it with a feral spec - since I have 4 stuns at my disposal. Since I had no interest in going balance spec, Improved Wrath was not an option. If you're feral spec you likely spend a lot of your time in cat/bear form, and NSS is of little value. OOC I will admit is NICE when it procs, but IMHO is simply not worth spending 10 TPs in balance just to get it.

gwmort
03-28-2006, 09:22 AM
Yeah I was referring to 30 feral and 21 resto, the Heart of the Wild in the feral tree gives a huge mana pool which compliments resto pretty well.

I love moonkin and use it more like a melee combat mage. I need to be in swinging to get my OoC procs and free spells, I can take hits great with my 6500 AC, I wear all leather now and still have about +135 to spell damage. I crit a ton and can hold aggro on one mob pretty well doing it. I also enjoy wading into the battle hitting barkskin and casting hurricane on the whole area and watching the mobs start taking thorn damage along with the AoE as they try to hurt me.

At the moment I am practically pure balance, with a little in feral trying to max thick hide for even more armor. I intend to respec to 37/0/14 or 34/0/17 once I hit 60, but I haven't decided yet. I was even thinking about a 34/13/4, but that seems a little too spread out for me, and I want to be a good back-up healer for PuGs that just don't get Moonkin.

Ezendius
03-28-2006, 09:52 AM
Little story behind the reason I want a 100% on Nature's Grasp.

Today, my friend from school and a couple of his buds and I were doing the furbolg form quest (Raene's Cleansing in Ashenvale). Some undead rogue and his friend (didn't see his friend, but I saw the name) were ganking us. I kept in prowl, got ganked a few times when I got out because I got disconnected. If I had nature's grasp on, which I did before I respecced feral the day before, I would have had the guy nailed down and the sentinels would have made short work of him. Oh yes, ph33r the druid.

It would also have uses in Warsong Gulch (my favorite battleground out of AB and WSG, AB played as a tauren shaman on the test realm). I'm carrying the flag with a twinked out undead rogue on me. Shift out of whatever form I'm in, pop Nature's Grasp on, shift back in, instaroot, done.

betto
03-30-2006, 05:19 AM
:texla:

Thanks for the advice guys you have given me a lot to think about there.

Braylore, I did try to be different and come up with my own talent build but I ended up messing it up. While I was building it I thought it looked great but as I got to higher lvl's I started looking at it and thinking, WTF why have I waste talent points in that.

I have definatly decided that I will be going with a resto/feral build more leaning towards the resto I think or maybe an even balance of points in each. The reason I have decided this is because I have been doing a few instances recently, and I normally pick up 1 of 2 roles. Either been a healer (by the way any of you healers out there use the 'healing toucher' addon if not i recomend you get it, it calculates what healing touch to cast depending on your targets HP and casts it, it is amazing) or I tank in bear or cat. I love both of these roles so it only makes sense I put points in them =)

betto
03-30-2006, 06:47 AM
Just been massing with the talent calculator, what you guys think of this?

http://www.wow-europe.com/en/info/basics/talents/druid/talents.html?0110000000000000323210130300000050550 0155013001

Balzinn
03-30-2006, 05:48 PM
All personal pref of course:

I wouldn't split between the 1st tier in Feral. Ferocity is many times more useful than Feral aggresion, just finish it. I'd drop Brutal Impact and finish Feral Instinct also. IMO 3TP for 90AP is kinda so-so too, so I'd finish Thick Hide before taking Predatory Strikes.

For the resto tree, you have to look at your own logs and study your healing patterns to decide what's best for you. Those 3 pts may or may not serve you better in imp rejuv or GoN. Remember GoN sharply diminishes in usefulness as you get more healing gear. I wouldn't start with Subtlety. Try to learn to play without it first and after a few months respec if you feel you really need it.

Addons that pick your heals for you kill tanks! /wink

Bahroo
03-30-2006, 06:03 PM
I'm planning to modify my current spec to remain focused on restoration for raiding (AQ40, mainly), but mixed with a bit of 'self preservation' and 'self satisfaction'. ;)

I'm considering a 5/14/32 build...
http://www.wowhead.com/talent/?MzLZxx0sZEEcoxozo

Balance (5 points)

1/1 Nature's Grasp
4/4 Improved Nature's Grasp

Feral Combat (14 points)

5/5 Ferocity
5/5 Feral Instinct
1/1 Feral Charge
3/3 Sharpened Claws

Restoration (32 points)

5/5 Improved Mark of the Wild
5/5 Furor
5/5 Improved Healing Touch
5/5 Nature's Focus
3/3 Reflection
1/1 Insect Swarm
5/5 Tranquil Spirit
1/1 Nature's Swiftness
1/5 Improved Regrowth
1/1 Innervate

This build is mainly Restore, but has a bit of Feral.

Aemilia
03-30-2006, 08:34 PM
As another confused Druid, I'l like to add my own dilemma.

I'm level 60, have been for quite a while, but I am unable to raid and do not pvp. When we got all our talent points back I spec'd for oomkin, as most people did I guess, to test it out. I didn't especially understand it and so went into a resto spec of my own creation: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/druids2/talents.html?0140151011000000000000000000000051550 3155102121

Balance Talents - 14 point(s)

Nature's Grasp rank 1/1
Improved Nature's Grasp rank 4/4
Improved Moonfire rank 1/5
Natural Weapons rank 5/5
Natural Shapeshifter rank 1/3
Omen of Clarity rank 1/1
Nature's Reach rank 1/2
Vengeance rank 5/5
Nature's Grace rank 1/1
Moonglow rank 3/3

Feral Combat Talents - 0 point(s)

Restoration Talents - 37 point(s)

Improved Mark of the Wild rank 5/5
Furor rank 1/5
Improved Healing Touch rank 5/5
Nature's Focus rank 5/5
Reflection rank 3/3
Insect Swarm rank 1/1
Subtlety rank 5/5
Tranquil Spirit rank 5/5
Improved Rejuvenation rank 1/3
Nature's Swiftness rank 1/1
Gift of Nature rank 2/5
Improved Tranquility rank 1/2
Improved Regrowth rank 2/5
Innervate

I've found myself very dissatisfied of late with my talents... I can heal like there's no tomorrow, but when do I really need to do this?
I do alot of solo/grinding, I run instances yes, and as of 1.10 I guess I probably will be primary healer in the group... but is there a way to spec so that I can actually solo effectively and still be a good enough healer on the odd occasions that I need to be?
I've been playing around with tree calculators but haven't come to any conclusions... any help would be muchly appreciated.

Aems x

Balzinn
03-31-2006, 12:12 AM
For solo grinding and also being able to heal when necc I think most people chose 0/30/21. Something like this, mix & match to suit:

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/druids2/talents.html?0000000000000000505050130300215005550 0020310000

Aemilia
03-31-2006, 07:23 AM
Thank you for your swift response, Balzinn. I took your suggestion and went with this: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/druids2/talents.html?0000000000000000515020130320215025550 0000310000

betto
04-01-2006, 12:41 AM
Addons that pick your heals for you kill tanks! /wink

Blazinn I am a little confused as to what you mean by this, are you refering to the fact that by the time the spell is cast that the tank will have taken more damage as compared to the time the addon chose what healing spell to cast? Thus not healing the tank fully.

Balzinn
04-01-2006, 03:20 AM
Yeah. I have a personal objection to addons that have decision making ability which may also jade my views =). Healing toucher isn't so bad, since it doesn't mess with regrowth and rejuv. Intelligent use of the mod will save you mana, regarding it as the magic heal button and not having access to a few ranks ready to cast manually is a liability. Castparty irritates me a lot more in full raids with multiple druids, when people watch TV over their shoulder and mash the 'do the right thing' button. You end up not casting regrowth on the MT because you see the icon has just gone up then see in the log later it was a big bad rank2 healing them for 30hp/tick. My experiences with people who use tools poorly doesn't necc make them bad tools, but it leaves me wary. And like I said, I don't use or care for anything that makes decision for the player.