subject: Leveling Through Random Dungeon Finder As a Restoration Druid [print this page] Leveling Through Random Dungeon Finder As a Restoration Druid
Restoration Druids are fun to level through the Random Dungeon Finder. They are also the easiest class to heal with. Their heal over time (HoT) spells significantly reduce mana usage, even when healing the most aggressive (Or worst geared) tanks. Almost none of the Druids healing spells have a cast time. The only two you will use that do have a cast time are Regrowth and Healing Touch. Even then, you will only use Healing Touch with Nature's Swiftness (Which makes your next spell cast have no cast time) when you get it. Mana efficiency is another great virtue of Druid healers. They are almost never in the five second rule (When you cast a spell that costs mana, your Spirit regeneration does not take into effect until five seconds after you cast the spell). Which means you will almost always have mana regenerating. Overall, Druids can be the best raid healers, if specced and geared correctly. Let's find the best way to play a Druid:
Stats
Druids are able to wear leather, although you will most likely find the best stats to be on cloth. Do not try for any armor type, simply go for the best stats. The three stats you want to look for are:
1) Intellect
2) Spell Power
3) Spirit.
Intellect and Spell Power
I put these two together, because they should be valued about equally in the early and mid levels. In the early levels, you will not find much Spell Power. If you find it, great, but do not sacrifice Intellect for more Spell Power. Doing so will gimp your ability to heal through the trash mobs and bosses. Having an Heirloom Item set will greatly help in this matter. As you get higher in level, Spell Power will start appearing with Intellect on gear. These are the ones you should pick up.
Spirit
Spirit is one of those stats that is great to have. It helps with mana regeneration, but you shouldn't gear for it. Intellect and Spell Power are what you gear for. The Intensity talent makes Spirit a little better, but still it is not something you want to gear for. Fortunately, much of the healer gear comes with Spirit, so you won't have too much trouble finding it.
Talents
Tier 1
Furor - Don't bother with this talent. It has no bearing on healing (I wonder why it's even in the Resto tree). Skip it.
Improved Mark of the Wild - This talent has its benefits. It provides a small boost to your Intellect and Spirit. Max it.
Nature's Focus - This can be useful when a tank can't hold it's aggro. Although, this will not have any use once you get Nature's Swiftness. Plus this and Improved Mark of the Wild are the only two talents you should pick in the first tier. Max it.
Tier 2
Naturalist - I only take this, because there will be times when you have to cast Healing Touch without Nature's Swiftness. This has been the difference between a live tank and a dead tank. Max it.
Sublety - I do not get this as your healing spells will never generate enough aggro to have a mob change targets. Skip it.
Natural Shapeshifter - I get his as only a prerequisite for Master Shapeshifter and only when I need filler points. The 0 reduced mana cast will never make a difference as you should not be out of Tree Form as a dungeon healer.
Tier 3
Intensity - This is a must have for Druid healers. This, with Omen of Clarity, will make it so you almost never run out of mana. Max it.
Omen of Clarity - This talent procs very often. Often enough to make it an essential of part of any Druid build. Get it.
Master Shapeshifter - Only take this talent as a filler until you get Tree Form. It is useless before you have Tree Form (For obvious reasons).
Tier 4
Tranquil Spirit - Healing Touch is never used often enough to make this talent worthwhile. Skip it.
Improved Rejuvenation - Rejuvenation is your main spell. This makes your main spell even better. Max it.
Tier 5
Nature's Swiftness - This talent will more often be used with Healing Touch as a nice emergency combo. It can be a life saver in those dicey situations. Get it.
Gift of Nature - This talent is also a staple of Druid healers. Makes a big difference in the long run. Put 4/5 to get to the next tier, then Max it.
Improved Tranquility - I have never had a need for this talent. Tranquility is rarely, if ever, used. Skip it.
Tier 6
Empowered Touch - Both, this talent and Nature's Bounty, give bonuses to Nourish. This spell is is only learned later on. I skip this while leveling and get in later.
Nature's Bounty - Adding % critical strike chance to Regrowth is amazing in its own right. Regrowth is one of your main healing spells. Max it.
Tier 7
Living Spirit - This talent has limited mileage. It only will increase your mana regeneration by a small amount. Spirit is only used as mana regeneration in Restoration. I skip it.
Swiftmend - This is another emergency use spell. I recommend getting the glyph for this spell, eliminating the consumption effect. Get it.
Natural Perfection - %3 crit for 3 talent points. Enough said. Get it.
Tier 8
Empowered Rejuvenation - This is a great talent. This improves your Rejuvenation, Regrowth, Wild Growth, and Lifebloom spells. This is like more Spell Power. Max it.
Living Seed - Since the spells it affects are only used when necessary, this talent has very limited use. Get it only after getting the top talent.
Tier 9
Revitalize - Again, only get this after getting the top talent. There are other, more important talents to take.
Tree of Life - The all important Tree Form. This and Master Shapeshifter makes for another healing. Get it ASAP.
Improved Tree of Life - This can provide quite a bit of Spell Power. Max it.
Tier 10
Both of these talents are not worth taking, especially when there are many more important talents to get before hand. Skip this whole tier.
Tier11
Wild Growth - This spell is what makes Druids such good raid and 5-man healers. Get it.
Spells
Regrowth and Rejuvenation will be your most used spells. Most often they are the only spells you will need to heal in Random Dungeon Finder. Before you get Lifebloom and Swiftmend, Healing Touch will be your emergency healing spell. So, to put it more simply:
Early levels - Regrowth, Rejuvenation. Healing Touch when you need a big heal.
Later Levels - Rejuvenation, Regrowth, Lifebloom. Nourish or Swiftmend when you need a big heal.
Summary
Hopefully, this will help you in running instances as a Restoration Druid. The advice I have given here is based mostly on my experiences with some forums reading thrown in. Please, let me know what you think about this article. I can write better ones later on if I get some criticism. Thank you for reading.
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