Oh, man. Feral druids only just got our lovely Flaming Kitty form, and now they want us to take it into Patch 4.3 and get it covered in slime? Meow. So, if you want to get started a rippin’ and a’Manglin’, here’s your guide to Feral stats, talent spec, reforging, gemming, glyphs, priorities, and all that good stuff.
Updated 29th Nov 2011 for Patch 4.3
Feral DPS changes in Patch 4.3
Not a lot has changed for Feral Druids in Patch 4.3 – Shred has had its damage slightly reduced, but it’s still considerable. Feral Druids also benefit from the 10% melee damage buff, which is nice.
The one significant change is a change to Glyph of Shred, renamed Glyph of Bloodletting. It now also causes Mangle to extend the duration of Rip alongside Shred. This has no effect unless you’re forced to stand in front of the boss, at which points you can still use your standard rotation and not worry about Rip falling off early.
Feral Druid Rotation
Feral Druids don’t have a rotation as such – instead, we have a bunch of buffs and debuffs that it’s important to keep up, and some cooldowns we have to use when possible.
Always open with Faerie Fire Feral on a new target, and if you can, Feral Charge, Mangle or Shred until your energy is depleted, then use Tiger’s Fury and Ravage (to take advantage of Stampede). Then, in order:
- Top Priority: Keep Mangle up on the target at all times. Use Tiger’s Fury and Berserk whenever they come off cooldown.
- Second Priority: Keep a 5 Combo Point Rip up. If the target is below 25% health, you can refresh your Rip with Ferocious Bite.
- Third Priority: Keep up Rake and Savage Roar
- Fourth Priority: Use Shred to gan combo points, or Mangle if you have to be in front of the target.
This is a seriously simplified priority list – Feral Druiding can get really, really complicated. See the WoW forums guide strategy section for more advanced strategies
AOE: On 3 or more mobs, spam Swipe with your cooldowns for maximum DPS.
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Feral Druid Cat Spec
This is the standard Patch 4.3 Feral DPS spec.
Stats, Rotation and Gemming
Feral cats are unusually simple stats-wise. Agility matters more than any other stat. Strength items can be useful if they replace a significantly lower-iLevel item. Other than this, all other stats – Hit, Expertise, Crit, Haste, Mastery – are roughly equivalent.
Reforging: Not really worth it unless you want to focus on AOE, in which case Hit is the clear winner for reforging.
Gems: Delicate Inferno Ruby (Agi) under virtually all circumstances. If a socket bonus is 20 Agi or higher and is non-red in one gem slot, Glinting Demonseye or Deft Ember Topaz.
Feral DPS Enchants
Remember, your profession may supply superior enchants – check the stat priority above. Most superior profession enchants will be obviously so.
| Head | Arcanum of the Ramkahen |
| Shoulders | Greater Inscription of Shattered Crystal |
| Back | Enchant Cloak – Major Agility |
| Chest | Enchant Chest – Peerless Stats |
| Wrist | Enchant Bracer – Agility |
| Hands | Enchant Gloves – Greater Mastery |
| Belt | Ebonsteel Belt Buckle |
| Legs | Dragonscale Leg Armor |
| Feet | Enchant Boots – Major Agility |
| Weapon | Enchant Weapon – Mighty Agility |
Glyphs
Prime: Rip, Berserk and Bloodletting.
Major: Rebirth, Feral Charge, Ferocious Bite.
Minor: Unburdened Rebirth, Dash, Mark of the Wild.
Links
- Forum guide to Feral DPS – for once, the official forums are the place to go.
- Elitist Jerks Feral DPS Guide – I never thought I’d say this, but for a LESS detailed guide, EJ is good.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Just a few corrections (there’s many needed but cba)
You don’t charge and then ravage right away , you charge , then you mangle + shred till you’re depleted on energy, followed by tiger’s fury and then you ravage (15% dmg increase). Then you berserk , use cd’s etc.
“”If a socket bonus is higher than 20 Agi and is non-red in one gem slot.”"
If a socket bonus is EQUAL OR higher than 20 agi …
Many things missing in this guide. On to the next … :s
@Beauty – You’re right, you’ve spotted a couple of typos there. Thanks for the corrections. If you’re serious about there being other mistakes, please do let us know, and I’ll look into them. Unfortunately it’s a common tactic of people commenting on guides to leave with a vague “many other things too” and no further details.
Quick question, what’s the reasoning behind using 130 agi buff and not landslide?
@Chris Hamals – Coz Landslide dont proc for druids, since druids dont use their weapons to attack.
Another point: you should use 5x combo Ferocious Bite when all your buffs and bleeds have more than 10s to fall off, and/or with Berserk up. It can happens like 3~4 times in a 5 minutes fight.
@Chris Hamals – The proc on landslide isnt that awesome due to the fact we already have alot of ap and tbh 1k isnt that much if you take a look at our stats numbers.
130agi just gives much more benefits like ap, crit (armor and dodge) and on top of that its a constant buff instead of a proc, which is always better choice.
@Diogro – Erm, weapon procs such as chance on hit, also proc enchants, work for ferals since 3.02 if i remember correct.
“Stats, Rotation and Gemming
Feral cats are unusually simple stats-wise. Agility matters more than any other stat. Strength items can be useful if they replace a significantly lower-iLevel item. Other than this, all other…..”
I think “Rotation” should be “Reforging”
Derp. You’re absolutely right – thanks, and nice catch!
Hey i was wondering if anyone knew any site that has been recently updated with the dragon soul tier bonus and such and tell about if hit/exp cap is better than stats since there is more frontal fights. All i saw was 2011 info… not sure its quite has accurate at the moment
Gorlak, Dalaran, USA
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