Balance Druid PvE Guide - Cataclysm Classic

Cataclysm Classic Balance Druid Rotation

Balance Druids still have their Solar Eclipse and Lunar Eclipse from Wrath of the Lich King, but it is no longer as heavily RNG based. You now have an Eclipse Bar that moves left or right depending on what spells are used, so you have control over entering and leaving
Solar Eclipse
and
Lunar Eclipse
. Balance Druids shine in AoE situations thanks to their new spell
Wild Mushroom
, but still do respectable single target DPS. Your goal is to maintain your dots and maximize your damage during your
Solar Eclipse
and
Lunar Eclipse
, as well as minimizing the time outside of them.

Opener

1. Pre-cast
   Wild Mushroom
   3 times.
2. Pre-pot
   Volcanic Potion
   .
3. Pre-cast
   Starsurge
   . If you get a
   Shooting Stars
   proc afterwards, save it until you first enter
   Solar Eclipse
   .
4. Cast
   Insect Swarm
   and
   Moonfire
   .
5. Cast
   Force of Nature
   before
   Bloodlust
   is used.
6. Cast
   Starfall
   .
7. Cast
   Starfire
   until you enter
   Solar Eclipse
   .
8. Cast
   Wrath
   .
9. Cast
   Wild Mushroom: Detonate
   (Off GCD).
10. Refresh
    Insect Swarm
    and
    Sunfire
    on their last tick or after they expire.
11. Cast
    Wrath
    and
    Starsurge
    until you enter
    Lunar Eclipse
    .
12. Proceed with single target rotation.

Single Target

1. Cast
   Force of Nature
   .
2. Cast
   Starfall
   . You can delay briefly to use at the start of a
   Lunar Eclipse
   .
3. Maintain
   Insect Swarm
   and
   Moonfire
   . Re-apply on their last tick or after they expire. You can delay briefly to use at the start of an eclipse.
4. Cast
   Starsurge
   . This will be an instant cast with
   Shooting Stars
   procs. You can delay briefly to use at the start of an Eclipse.
5. Cast
   Wrath
   during
   Solar Eclipse
   and cast
   Starfire
   during
   Lunar Eclipse
   .
6. Cast
   Wrath
   after leaving
   Solar Eclipse
   and cast
   Starfire
   after leaving a
   Lunar Eclipse
   .
7. Cast
   Wild Mushroom
   while moving if less than 3 are active. Cast
   Wild Mushroom: Detonate
   during the next
   Solar Eclipse
   .
8. Cast
   Moonfire
   while moving.

AoE

• Ideally start in a
  Solar Eclipse
  .
• Cast
  Starfall
  .
• Cast
  Wild Mushroom
  3 times and cast
  Wild Mushroom: Detonate
  .
• Cast
  Insect Swarm
  and
  Moonfire
  on targets that will live for at least a few seconds.
• Cast
  Thorns
  on a tank with multiple mobs on them.
• Cast
  Typhoon
  if glyphed.
• Cast
  Hurricane
  .

Cataclysm Classic Balance Druid Talents

Standard Build

Cataclysm Classic Balance Druid Glyphs

Prime:
Moonfire
,
Insect Swarm
,
Wrath
.
Optional: For AoE fights, replace
Wrath
with
Starsurge
.
Major:
Starfall
,
Rebirth
.
Optional: If you can be within 20yds of the target,
Focus
is your best third major glyph. If there are multiple mobs constantly hitting a tank, you can also use
Thorns
.
Minor:
Typhoon
if you don't need the knockback,
Dash
,
Unburdened Rebirth
.

Cataclysm Classic Balance Druid Best Consumables

Flasks and Elixirs

Best:
• Flask of the Draconic Mind

Food

Best:
• Seafood Magnifique Feast
  ,
• Severed Sagefish Head
  ,
• Fortune Cookie

Alternatives:
• Broiled Dragon Feast
  ,
• Pickled Guppy

Potions

Best:
• Volcanic Potion

Cataclysm Classic Balance Druid Best Races

Alliance

1. Worgen:
   Viciousness

Horde

1. Troll:
   Berserking

Cataclysm Classic Balance Druid Best Professions

1. Engineering:
   Synapse Springs
   .
2. The rest of the professions are very close in power, with Blacksmithing becoming better with epic gems in T13.