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Restoration Druid Mythic+ Guide
Last Updated: August 11th 2024
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11.0 - The War Within
Welcome to the Restoration Druid Mythic+ guide for World of Warcraft patch 11.0! Here, you find anything needed to maximize your character. Let’s give you a brief glimpse of what you signed up for.
Since Restoration Druids can not rely on strong reactive spells like other healers, they need to apply HoTs to counter damage preemptively. As Restoration Druid you must constantly anticipate incoming damage, as you run out of mana if you are just spamming Rejuvenation constantly.
A fact to keep in mind is that to master this spec, you need to learn when and how to use your HoTs effectively for each specific encounter, which requires in-depth boss knowledge that other healers may not need.
In the following sections, delve deeper into strategies to help you excel as a Restoration Druid in patch 11.0. Get ready to master this unique healing spec!
Overview
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Restoration DruidMythic+
Overall Healing
Excellent
Damage
Strong
Utility
Strong
Survivability
Excellent
Mobility
Strong
- Restoration Druid is an excellent choice in a Mythic+ environment due to its top-tier healing performance compared to other healing specs.
- Additionally, Restoration Druids bring great value to the group with their outstanding damage potential, allowing them to save the group time by DPSing during periods of low healing. They can also use abilities like Incapacitating Roar and Stampeding Roar to provide significant support and utility to the team.
- Furthermore, with their strong cooldown Incarnation: Tree of Life, a Restoration Druid can help the team survive nearly all challenging situations.
- They are very agile as they passively move faster and have access to Wild Charge.
- In summary, Restoration Druids excel in healing, damage output, utility, survivability, and mobility, making them a versatile and reliable choice for any Mythic+ group, with no downsides to bringing one.
Talents
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
General
When to use this Spec
This is the default loadout going into any dungeon as it specializes in survivability. You have to adjust the class talent tree based on the utility needed for the affix and dungeon combo. To make your life easier, Dungeon specific talent loadouts are available in the Dungeons section.
Gameplay Altering Talents
Discover all talents that significantly alter your gameplay within the Spec and Class Talent trees. This section gives a concise overview of these talents and their applications but for a more detailed look check out the Rotation and Deep Dive sections below.
Spec Tree
- Verdant Infusion
- Enables you to extend your HoTs with Swiftmend, which no longer consumes a HoT, greatly boosting your single-target healing.
- Tranquil Mind
- The ability to hold a second charge of Omen of Clarity synergizes exceptionally well with your current 4-set. This combination allows you to save powerful burst healing for critical moments, greatly enhancing your healing efficiency.
- Cenarius' Guidance
- This talent drastically reduces the cooldown of Incarnation: Tree of Life, giving you greater flexibility and more frequent access to your most powerful healing ability.
- Reforestation
- This very important and powerful talent grants you Incarnation: Tree of Life for a short period after every third cast of Swiftmend.
- Soul of the Forest
- It empowers your core healing spells after everySwiftmendcast, making it a versatile and very powerful talent that greatly increases your healing capabilities.
- Master Shapeshifter
- This talent grants a flat damage increase to your abilities and allows some to restore mana. This dual benefit makes contributing to the group's damage even more rewarding, as you deal more damage and need to drink less often, helping the group to complete the dungeon faster.
- Undergrowth
- With this, you can have two separate Lifeblooms on different targets, synergizing well with many other talents.
- Photosynthesis
- This talent makes selecting the correct target for your Lifeblooms crucial. You can either greatly increase the healing for the entire group by placing it on yourself or make someone nearly immortal by placing Lifebloom on them.
- Rampant Growth
- Applies Regrowth to all active Lifebloom targets, allowing you to apply up to three Regrowth HoTs with a single cast.
- Verdancy
- Whenever one of your Lifeblooms blooms, your Efflorescence heals three targets within it. A good group can optimize this by having the tank step out of Efflorescence when only non-tank members are in danger.
- Call of the Elder Druid
- This allows you to use your most powerful damage cooldown more frequently, significantly boosting your overall damage output in any Mythic+ dungeon when used correctly.
- Dream of Cenarius
- This talent allows you to convert the damage of certain abilities into healing. When managed correctly, Heart of the Wild enables you to make a significant impact compared to other Restoration Druids, by dealing much more damage.
Class Tree
- Astral Influence
- Increases the range of all your abilities by 5 yards, providing a powerful tool for remaining in range of your group.
- Oakskin
- Barkskin now provides a 30% damage reduction, making it a respectable defensive cooldown.
- Fluid Form
- This allows your abilities to instantly transform you into their required form, saving you a lot of global cooldowns.
- Ursine Vigor
- This increases your HP by an extra amount when shifting into Bear Form for a short time. Timing this well makes you significantly tankier when taking damage while the buff is active.
- Primal Fury
- If you crit with any combo point-generating ability, you generate an additional combo point. This changes how you use finishers in Cat Form, allowing you to use them at 4 combo points instead of 5.
Rotation
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Tier Set
- (2pc):You and your Grove Guardians Nourish casts now heal 2 additional allies at 40% effectiveness.
- (4pc):Consuming Clearcasting now causes your Regrowth to also cast Nourish onto a nearby injured ally at 200% effectiveness, preferring those with your heal over time effects.
The set doesn't require significant changes to your gameplay, but it emphasizes managing Omen of Clarity procs.
Priority List
For Healing
- Keep Efflorescence active on stack points, keep party movement in mind since this is your most expensive spell.
- Keep Lifebloom on two targets that are preferably DPS players, refreshing it no earlier than 4.5 seconds left.
- Cast Swiftmend followed by Wild Growth if there is group dmg.
- Avoid capping Grove Guardians stacks, if there is constant damage.
- Cast Regrowth with any Omen of Clarity procs you get.
- Cast Rejuvenation on your Lifebloom targets to get more Verdancy procs.
- Cast Regrowth on anyone without its HoT that is taking damage.
- Apply Rejuvenation to anyone taking damage.
- Continuously cast Regrowth on people taking damage.
For Damage
Single Target
AoE <5 targets
AoE 5+ targets
- Keep Rip on your target.
- Cast Ferocious Bite at 4 or more combo points.
- Keep Rake on your target.
- Cast Shred to avoid capping energy.
- Keep Moonfire on your target.
- Keep Sunfire on your target.
- Attack your target in Cat Form.
- Cast Wrath if you can not be in melee.
- Keep Rip on as many targets as possible.
- Keep Rake on as many targets as possible.
- Keep Thrash active on all stacked mobs.
- Cast Swipe to avoid capping energy.
- Keep Sunfire on all stacked mobs.
- Keep Moonfire on all targets.
- Attack your target in Cat Form.
- Cast Starfire if you can not be in meele.
- Maintain Sunfire on all stacked mobs.
- Cast Starfire.
Cooldowns
Incarnation: Tree of Life
- A very powerful and versatile cooldown, it greatly increases your healing and makes your Wrath instant. This lets you deal significant damage on the move while restoring mana when combined with Master Shapeshifter.
Heart of the Wild
- This expansion, your strongest damage cooldown also becomes a healing cooldown. Unless you are tackling the highest levels of Mythic+ dungeons, you can handle most damage with Heart of the Wild, thanks to Dream of Cenarius converting your damage into healing. Additionally, Call of the Elder Druid significantly increases the frequency with which Heart of the Wild is active.
Cenarion Ward
- When you apply Cenarion Ward to someone who has your Lifebloom and is in your Efflorescence, they basically become invulnerable to damage for the entire duration of the Cenarion Ward. The only thing to worry about is something that deals their entire HP pool worth of damage in one instance. Make sure to extend this via Verdant Infusion.
Grove Guardians
- Using multiple Grove Guardians at the same time acts as a powerful healing cooldown. In party-sized content, each person typically has a high number of HoTs, and Grove Guardians scale extremely well with mastery. When there's constant damage, make sure you don't overcap them. However, in boss fights with occasional damage, it's better to save them for the most dangerous times.
- These are off the global cooldown and useable while shapeshifted without removing the for, so also a very great tool to heal low damage to continue damaging.
Deep Dive
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Min maxing Lifebloom
- Picking the optimal target for Lifebloom greatly increases your healing during critical moments. While you should always prioritize placing it on someone taking damage, it should ideally not be yourself. This is due to the synergy between Photosynthesis and Verdancy. The talents you picked also allow you to stack a massive number of HoTs on a Lifebloom target, greatly increasing the number of Verdancy procs.
- Another reason not to place Lifebloom on yourself is that you do not benefit from the leech healing generated by Lifebloom's massive healing. Most of the time, simply standing in your Efflorescence and having some HoTs on yourself outheals any AoE damage you take when combined with leech. Mastering this separates a good Restoration Druid from a great one.
Min maxing Efflorescence
- The most obvious aspect of min-maxing Efflorescence is its placement. If you position it well, it increases not only your DPS and HPS but also that of your party members. They need to be within your Efflorescence to survive heavy group damage. The less movement you create, the better.
- The next step of min-maxing this ability is more for coordinated groups as Verdancy only heals 3 people, so if there are times when your tank does not need healing. Kindly ask him to never step into your Efflorescence as he is stealing Verdancy from your Group.
Optimizing Heart of the Wild
- To do the most single target damage during your Heart of the Wild windows, you need to change how you spend Combo Points in Cat Form as you automatically gain one Combo Point every 2 seconds. Meaning when you get to 3 combo points and do not overcap your energy you wait for the automatically generated combo point, and use a 4 combo point finisher to not risk over capping on Combo points as Primal Fury might let you generate 2 combo points per generator.
- In a 2-4 target situation, you should follow the same strategy. For 5 or more targets in AoE, nothing changes from the priority list.
Understanding Mechanics
Rotational min-maxing is just one aspect of mastering a specialization, but there are numerous other key mechanics that influence your performance. Use the following guides to improve them.
- Pandemic
- Spell Queue Window
- Stat Diminishing Returns
Dungeons
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
← Scroll for more Dungeons →
Algeth'ar Academy
Brackenhide Hollow
Halls of Infusion
Neltharus
Ruby Life Pools
The Azure Vault
The Nokhud Offensive
Uldaman: Legacy of Tyr
Boss Tips
Vexamus
- General Tips
- Whenever no Mana Bomb is active, always prioritize casting Nature's Cure on cooldown.
- Output Cds
- Rotate through your healing arsenal, including Incarnation: Tree of Life, multiple Grove Guardians, and Reforestation procs, for each set of Mana Bombs.
- Always have at least one of your Grove Guardians for each set of Mana Bomb.
- Keep in mind you can use Nature's Swiftness + Regrowth together in Bear Form to save someone right before a Mana Bomb explodes.
- Personal/External
- Whenever you are targeted by a Mana Bomb, make sure you are in Bear Form right before it expires.
- Additionally, always use a defensive item, Ironbark, or Barkskin when targeted by a Mana Bomb, especially if it overlaps with Arcane Fissure.
- Whichever option you choose should be decided preemptively; otherwise, this mechanic is a struggle every time.
Overgrown Ancient
- General Tips
- Always prioritize dispelling your tank on cooldown!
- Output Cds
- Save your Grove Guardians for every dot phase and use them separately.
- Personal/External
- Ensure to be in Bear Form and have Barkskin active each Burst Forth, follow the picture above.
Crawth
- Output Cds
- Use all available cooldowns for damage in this fight, as the healing requirements are minimal.
- Personal/External
- Only use defensives after you've gained 2 or more stacks of Sonic Vulnerability when Deafening Screech is happening. Since Deafening Screech happens every 23 seconds, you need to rotate your defensives carefully as your stacks increase. Also, be sure to switch to Bear Form every time Deafening Screech occurs.
- Do not be hesitant to use Ironbark on your tank.
Echo of Doragosa
- Output Cds
- Use all available cooldowns for damage in this fight, as the healing requirements are minimal.
- Personal/External
- Use one of your defensive cooldowns and be in Bear Form each time Energy Bomb expires on you.
- Use Ironbark only on Energy Bomb targets if they do not have their any defensive cooldown ready.
Trash Tips
- Output Cds
- The mobs in Crawths Area do not do group damage, so do not sit on your cooldowns and use them for damage instead.
- Personal/External
- When engaging in combat with Aggravated Skitterflys or Arcane Foragers, preemptively use defensive cooldowns. These enemies tend to jump around and attack random players, causing unexpected damage. By using your defensive abilities early, you can prevent an unlucky death if multiple enemies target you at the same time.
- When you get hit by a Spectral Invoker's Arcane Missiles you should use a strong defensive as well in case your group runs out of stops!
- Utility
- Use Stampeding Roar during boss fights and in places where you can't mount. Every second matters and your party always appreciates the extra movement speed.
- This dungeon has many very deadly casts on the group make sure to utilize your Incapacitating Roar to the best of your ability:
- Corrupted Manafiend: Surge and Mana Void.
- Spellbound Scepter: Mystic Blast big AoE cast needs to be stopped.
- Unruly Textbook: Monotonous Lecture.
- Spectral Invoker: Arcane Missiles.
Boss Tips
Hackclaw's War-Band
- General Tips
- Always dispel your tank as the highest priority.
- Output Cds
- Apply Lifebloom and Cenarion Ward to different targets. Extend Cenarion Ward to instantly remove the Gash Frenzy dot.
- Use Incarnation: Tree of Life frequently to manage Gash Frenzy and reserve your Reforestation procs for the same purpose.
- Personal/External
- Use Barkskin and be in Bear Form when Gash Frenzy occurs.
- Apply Ironbark to someone without a defensive cooldown when Gash Frenzy is about to occur.
Treemouth
- Output Cds
- Use all available cooldowns for damage in this fight, as the healing requirements are minimal.
- Personal/External
- There are no planned uses, so cast your abilities freely if things go wrong.
Gutshot
- Output Cds
- Since this boss does no group damage, use all your tools to maximize your damage.
- Personal/External
- There are no planned uses, so cast your abilities freely if things go wrong.
Decatriach Wratheye
- Output Cds
- Save your Call of the Elder Druid procs for Rotburst Totem, even if it means sacrificing some boss damage. Failing to kill the totems is the most common cause of wipes.
- Personal/External
- Ensure to be in Bear Form for Withered Eruption and rotate one of your personals or defensive items in very high keys.
Trash Tips
- Output Cds
- Have your group use personal defensive abilities while fighting Bonebolt Hunters if your output cooldowns are unavailable.
- If your group is unable to stand on the avoid spots while fighting Wilted Oaks, your party takes very heavy, nearly unhealable damage. Make sure to use your entire defensive spell book there, because the upcoming boss, Treemouth, does not require any of those.
- Personal/External
- When you have Bleeding press at least one of your bigger defensives.
- Utility
- Use Stampeding Roar during boss fights and in places where you can't mount. Every second matters and your party always appreciates the extra movement speed.
- Use your Incapacitating Roar to stop Summon Lashers from Decayed Elders, this significantly reduces the damage your group takes.
- Stop Vicious Clawmangle from Claw Fighters with any of your available stops.
Boss Tips
Watcher Irideus
- Output Cds
- Ideally, never use more than 2 Grove Guardians per Static Surge.
- Use Incarnation: Tree of Life as often as possible to counter Static Surge.
- Save your Reforestation procs for Static Surge.
- If your group struggles with Static Surge, you can greatly increase your spot healing by only having your squishy party members within your Efflorescence.
- Personal/External
- Always ask for personal cooldowns for Static Surge because, at higher key levels, no one survives this with just healing.
- If you are at the risk of dying to the next tick of Static Surge shift into Bear Form, as it massively increases your current HP.
- Use a Potion of Withering Dreams or a Healthstone during this boss encounter if you don't have a defensive cooldown ready for Static Surge.
- If you have a Priest in your group, coordinate with them to use Mass Dispel and Stampeding Roar simultaneously to easily counter Power Overload.
Gulping Goliath
- Output Cds
- If your group struggles with Toxic Effluvias, increase spot healing by placing only squishy members within Efflorescence.
- Counter as many Overpowering Croaks and Toxic Effluvias as possible using Reforestation, multiple Grove Guardians, or Incarnation: Tree of Life each time.
- Personal/External
- Split up your defensive cooldowns to counter Overpowering Croak.
Khajin the Unyielding
- Output Cds
- Maximize your healing output as much as possible. Focus on healing rather than maintaining DoTs. It's acceptable to sacrifice some damage if it means ensuring effective healing.
- Aim to keep at least one Grove Guardians active at all times.
- When you are about to run out of Grove Guardians charges, use Incarnation: Tree of Life to recharge them. Try to avoid using Grove Guardians while in Tree of Life form.
- Make sure to extend your Cenarion Ward on a non lifebloom target every time.
- Personal/External
- Reserve your major defensive cooldowns for dodging Glacial Surge or when moving to hide from a Hailstorm.
- Do not hesitate to use a Healthstone or a Potion of Withering Dreams whenever your HP is low.
Primal Tsunami
- Output Cds
- As this boss does barely any group damage, use all your tools to maximize your damage.
- Personal/External
- Always be in Bear Form for Tempest's Fury. Additionally, you need to use either Barkskin or one of your defensive on-use items every time in high keys.
- Do not hesitate to use either a Healthstone or a Potion of Withering Dreams if you are not at 100% HP before Tempest's Fury.
Trash Tips
- Output Cds
- Plan ahead for multiple sets of Deep Chill from the Glacial Proto-Dragons. If someone cannot remove it, ensure you have an output cooldown ready to heal through the debuff.
- Personal/External
- Always press one of your personals when targeted by Containment Beam.
- While fighting Shocktroopers, use a defensive cooldown when you lose health, as Lightning Blast might execute you.
- Utility
- Remove Deep Chill from the Glacial Proto-Dragons by shapeshifting.
- Use Stampeding Roar during boss fights and in places where you can't mount. Every second matters and your party always appreciates the extra movement speed.
- This dungeon has many deadly casts on the group make sure to utilize your Incapacitating Roar to the best of your ability:
- Refti Defender Demoralizing Shout.
- Primalist Shocktrooper Elemental Focus.
- Primalist Galesinger Thunderstrike.
Boss Tips
Chargath, Bane of Scales
- Output Cds
- Ensure to have either Incarnation: Tree of Life or multiple Grove Guardians active when your group breaks its chains, as this is the deadliest moment of the encounter.
- Personal/External
- If your group does not have a bleed removal for Dragon Strike, have someone tanky bait it, as it targets the furthest player.
- Rotate betweenBarkskin and your defensive on-use items when the boss casts Grounding Spear.
- Be in Bear Form for the initial damage when your group is breaking chains and you don't have any major defensive active. Keep in mind that shapeshifting removes Grounding Spear.
Forgemaster Gorek
- Output Cds
- Either have Incarnation: Tree of Life or multiple Grove Guardians active when Might of the Forge occurs, to manage the initial damage and the subsequent Blazing Aegis dot.
- Personal/External
- Always have a defensive active as Might of the Forge is about to happen, as the initial hit might kill you.
- Be in Bear Form when the boss is about to cast Might of the Forge.
- Do not hesitate to use either a Healthstone or a Potion of Withering Dreams at any point during Might of the Forge.
Magmatusk
- Output Cds
- Rotate through your healing cooldowns, including Incarnation: Tree of Life, Grove Guardians, and Reforestation procs, for each set of Magma Eruption.
- Personal/External
- Rotate through your defensives to reduce the initial hit of Magma Eruption every time.
- Be in Bear Form for Magma Eruption's initial hit.
- Ensure you are in Bear Form when you are targeted by Lava Spray.
Warlord Sargha
- Output Cds
- Use your cooldowns when the boss is about to cast Magma Shield as this is the only party damage event.
- Personal/External
- Rotate through your defensives when targeted with Molten Gold.
- Use Ironbark on a Molten Gold target when Magma Shield occurs, as these effects create a lethal overlap.
Trash Tips
- Output Cds
- When fighting Apex Blazewings, plan ahead and have one of your output cooldowns ready for Candescent Tempest each time. If you don’t have a cooldown available, ask for personals from your team.
- Personal/External
- When you get the bleed of Bold Ambush while fighting Qalashi Hunters make sure to rotate through your defensive arsenal.
- When a Qalashi Blacksmith is casting Forgestomp, and you are not topped off or are simultaneously fighting mobs that do group damage, use a defensive cooldown.
- Utility
- Use Stampeding Roar during boss fights and out of combat. Every second matters and your party always appreciates the extra movement speed.
- Keep an eye out for Qalashi Bonesplitter's Dragonbone Axe and Pierce Marrow to disrupt them.
Boss Tips
Melidrussa Chillworn
- General Tips
- Always cast Nature's Cure on your Tank when he has multiple stacks of Primal Chill. The stacks must never reach 10.
- Output Cds
- Either have Incarnation: Tree of Life or multiple Grove Guardians active for Chillstorm each time.
- Personal/External
- Rotate through your defensive arsenal for every Chillstorm, regardless of whether you are the target. On higher key levels, you also need to use a defensive during the intermission.
- Always be in Bear Form when a Chillstorm explodes.
- Do not hesitate to use either a Healthstone or a Potion of Withering Dreams if you are not at full health before a Chillstorm explodes.
Kokia Blazehoof
- Output Cds
- Make sure to have Incarnation: Tree of Life or multiple Grove Guardians active for each Inferno.
- Personal/External
- Always be in Bear Form when an Elemental is about to finish its Inferno cast.
- Rotate through Barkskin and your on-use defensive items to survive Infernos lethal initial hit.
- Your tank may need Ironbark for Searing Blows, which is one of the most challenging tank mechanics this season. This is especially important if your group lacks an Evoker for bleed removal or if your tank is not a Dwarf.
Kyrakka and Erkhart Stormvein
- Output Cds
- In Phase One, use your cooldowns for damage. But make sure to have them ready for the start of Phase Two!
- In Phase Two, Either have Incarnation: Tree of Life or multiple Grove Guardians active for each set of Flamespits, as it now affects multiple people.
- Personal/External
- Be in Bear Form when you are the target of Flamespit.
- Always have a defensive active whenever you are targeted by Flamespit.
- Do not hesitate to use either a Healthstone or a Potion of Withering Dreams when there is a potential overlap of Interrupting Cloudburst and Flamespit.
Trash Tips
- Output Cds
- Plan ahead for each Blazebound Destroyer in the second boss area. You need an output cooldown for each Inferno cast and your group must always use a defensive ability during each cast.
- When fighting Flamegullet, use your output and defensive cooldowns after it reaches 50% HP, as Molten Blood starts dealing damage then.
- Personal/External
- When fighting Thunderhead, always dispel Rolling Thunder immediately. The explosion damage can easily be mitigated by defensives, but the DoT from the debuff is lethal. If your group has a Priest, asking for Mass Dispel with preemptive defensives is an effective solution for one set of Rolling Thunder.
- Utility
- Use Stampeding Roar during boss fights and in places where you can't mount. Every second matters and your party always appreciates the extra movement speed.
Boss Tips
Leymor
- Output Cds
- Use Incarnation: Tree of Life or multiple Grove Guardians to quickly top off your group after Explosive Brand so they are prepared for the incoming Consuming Stomp.
- Personal/External
- Ensure you are in Bear Form when Explosive Brand expires.
- Always use Barkskin or one of your defensive on-use items for Consuming Stomp.
- If a tree gets consumed by Consuming Stomp, make sure to additionally use Ironbark on yourself, as other defensive alone won't prevent death.
Azureblade
- Output Cds
- Ensure to have Incarnation: Tree of Life and multiple Grove Guardians ready for the start of the intermission, as constant high HPS is needed for an extended period.
- Personal/External
- Rotate through your defensive arsenal during the intermission, as your HPS won't be enough for your group to stay alive.
Telash Greywing
- Output Cds
- Rotate through your healing cooldowns for each set of Frost Bomb, as you need to quickly top off your group afterward.
- Personal/External
- Use a personal defensive every time you are targeted by Icy Devastator.
- When Absolute Zero is happening and you do not have a major raid cooldown available, make sure to use a defensive ability.
- Always be in Bear Form when Frost Bomb expires.
Umbrelskul
- Output Cds
- Use Incarnation: Tree of Life and multiple Grove Guardians as often as possible while a Hardened Crystal is active.
- Personal/External
- Rotate through all defensives, while a Hardened Crystal is active.
- Do not hesitate to use either a Healthstone or a Potion of Withering Dreams when a Hardened Crystal is active.
Trash Tips
- Output Cds
- In this dungeon, Drakonid Breakers are the only trash mobs that deal group damage if everything goes right. Make sure to have your cooldowns ready for them.
- Personal/External
- When targeted by Shoulder Slam, use a defensive ability or ask your group for help.
- Utility
- Use Stampeding Roar during boss fights and out of combat. Every second matters and your party always appreciates the extra movement speed.
- Use Incapacitating Roar to stop Mystic Vapors from the Conjured Lashers at the beginning of the dungeon.
Boss Tips
Granyth
- Output Cds
- As this boss does barely any group damage, make sure to use all your tools to maximize your damage.
- Personal/External
- To survive Shards of Stone, rotate between Barkskin and your other defensive abilities. Shards of Stone of Stone has approximately a 30-second cooldown, you need to make use of your entire defensive arsenal.
The Raging Tempest
- Output Cds
- Save Incarnation: Tree of Life for the start of Electrical Storm.
- Place your Efflorescence on top of the boss during Electrical Storm. This allows your group to stay close to the boss, remain inside the Barrier, and soak the orbs, significantly increasing your healing output.
- Personal/External
- Make sure to be in Bear Form and rotate your defensive cooldowns for Lightning Strike.
Teera and Maruuk
- Output Cds
- Use Incarnation: Tree of Life or multiple Grove Guardians to top off people after Gale Arrow, as Teera rapidly starts to use Quick Shot again!
- Personal/External
- Rotate your defensives every time Gale Arrow happens.
- Always be in Bear Form to survive Gale Arrow initial hit.
- Be aware of getting hit by Quick Shot back to back. Use either a Healthstone or a Potion of Withering Dreams to recover.
Balakar Khan
- General Tips
- In Phase 2, always make dispelling Conductive Strike from your tank your highest priority.
- Output Cds
- In Phase 1, use all your tools on cooldown for damage, as there is barely any group damage.
- Save Incarnation: Tree of Life for the Intermission.
- Do not be hesitant to use either a Healthstone or a Potion of Withering Dreams during the intermission.
- Personal/External
- In Phase 1, when Upheaval happens ensure to be in Bear Form.
- When you are targeted by Iron Spear, use a defensive and be in Bear Form.
- In Phase 3, when Crackling Upheaval happens, be in Bear Form, and use an additional defensive on top of that.
- When targeted by Static Spear, use multiple defensives and be in Bear Form], as this mechanic is likely to kill you. If you get targeted multiple times, you need to be combat resurrected.
Trash Tips
- Output Cds
- Use your output cooldowns when fighting Nokhud Warspears and Longbows in Granyth's area, as they deal significant group damage.
- Personal/External
- Rotate your defensives without hesitation while fighting Nokhud Warspears and Longbows, as it is very easy to be overwhelmed by their attacks.
- Use your Barkskin or one of your defensive items when targeted by Chain Lightning from a Primalist Thunderbeast.
- When Totemic Overload is happening and you are not at 100% HP, use a defensive without hesitation.
- If you are not at full health when Shatter Soul occurs, use a defensive ability immediately.
- Utility
- On Granyth you can use Mass Entanglementon the adds in the middle to permanently cc them if you manually root the new ones.
- Use Stampeding Roar during boss fights and in places where you can't mount. Every second matters and your party always appreciates the extra movement speed.
Boss Tips
The Lost Dwarves
- Output Cds
- Use Incarnation: Tree of Life or multiple Grove Guardians at the beginning of the longboat raid.
- Personal/External
- Rotate through defensives when targeted by Ricocheting Shield.
Bromach
- Output Cds
- Use either Incarnation: Tree of Life or multiple Grove Guardians for each Quaking Totem.
- Personal/External
- Rotate your defensives whenever a Quaking Totem is active, as it is the only damage event in this encounter.
Sentinel Talondras.
- Output Cds
- Use your healing cooldowns separately to heal through Earthen Shards.
- Personal/External
- Rotate through your entire defensive arsenal whenever you are targeted by Earthen Shards.
- Be in Bear Form to survive Crushing Stomps initial hit.
Emberon
- Output Cds
- Spread out your healing cooldowns and use them as often as possible, as there are many different damage events.
- Personal/External
- Rotate through your defensives when Unstable Embers happens, as the initial hit is lethal.
- Ensure you are in Bear Form whenever Unstable Embers happens.
Chrono-Lord Deios
- Output Cds
- Use your healing cooldowns separately as often as possible on this boss, as it has a very high constant HPS requirement.
- Personal/External
- Always have a strong defensive and Bear Form active for every Wing Buffet.
- Dispel Time Sink off a different member and shapeshift to remove it from yourself.
Trash Tips
- Output Cds
- Runic Protectors deal intense group damage when they channel Earthquake, have at least one of your cooldowns ready for this.
- Personal/External
- When fighting Leapers, use a personal defensive preemptively, as their Ambush might one-shot you.
- When fighting Earthen Weavers, if their Hail of Stone gets to channel, do not hesitate to use a defensive.
- When fighting Runic Protectors and they channel Earthquake make sure to rotate through your defensives.
- Utility
- Some noteworthy spells that should be stopped with Incapacitating Roar:
- Vicious Basilisk Spiked Carapace.
- Stonevault Geomancer Chain Lightning.
- Earthen Weaver Hail of Stone.
- Earthen Warder Curse of Stone.
- Use Stampeding Roar during boss fights and out of combat. Every second matters and your party always appreciates the extra movement speed.
- Some noteworthy spells that should be stopped with Incapacitating Roar:
Affixes
Learn how to effectively handle various Mythic+ Affixes as a Restoration Druid. Depending on the level of the Mythic+ Dungeon, you contend with up to two additional Affixes alongside Fortified and Tyrannical.
- Entangling
- Shapeshift into or out of any form to remove this.
- Incorporeal
- Hibernate
- Long range, short cast, and has no cooldown.
- Hibernate
- Bolstering
- Cyclone
- If a mob is in Cyclone they can't gain the bolstering buff. Extremely rarely used.
- Cyclone
- Spiteful
- Mass Entanglement
- Great for when the pack is dead and you're setting up for the next pull.
- Ursol's Vortex
- Great for when mobs die early in a pull.
- Entangling Roots
- Great for when there is a single spite up and you're setting up for the next pack.
- Typhoon
- Great for when you have spitefuls running towards the ranged camp.
- Mass Entanglement
- Sanguine
- Typhoon
- Not only good for knocking mobs out of Sanguine but also great for knocking mobs away before they die from larger mobs that are immune to knockbacks.
- Growl
- Taunting mobs that are about to run through Sanguine to change their pathing can be a massive time save in higher keys, you should always look out for this.
- Typhoon
Stat Priority
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Understand your secondary stat priority and the tertiary stats needed for optimal performance during Mythic+ dungeons as a Restoration Druid. For more detailed information, visit theStats and Attributesguide.
The conclusion here is that you want to equip the highest item level generally.
Blizzard introduced Stat DRs that you need to be aware of. To get to know what those are and why you have to care about them click here to get to our detailed stat DR resource post!
Tertiary
- Avoidance - Reduces damage taken from AoE effects.
- Leech - Returns a portion of your damage and healing done as healing to you. (Excludes self healing)
- Speed - increases movement speed. (Does stack with other movement speed abilities)
The only time you should think about picking a lower item level is if it has Leech or Avoidance. Speed is nice to have, but you should generally ignore that stat.
Here is a showcase of how powerful Leech is for a Healer:
Gear
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Best in Slot
Farmable Alternatives
Due to the way stat weights work for Restoration Druids, there isn't a strict best-in-slot list. Although it is theoretically possible to obtain items with all the correct Tertiaries, doing so requires extraordinary luck or several human lifespans because of the weekly reset system in World of Warcraft.
Slot | Item | Location |
---|---|---|
Head | Bough of the Autumn Blaze | Tier/Catalyst |
Neck | Ouroboreal Necklet | Volcoross |
Shoulder | Mantle of the Autumn Blaze | Tier/Catalyst |
Cloak | Vibrant Wildercloth Shawl | Crafting |
Chest | Allied Heartwarming Fur Coat | Crafting |
Wrist | Frenzyroot Cuffs | Algeth'ar Academy |
Gloves | Handguards of the Autumn Blaze | Tier/Catalyst |
Belt | Elder's Volcanic Binding | Rashok |
Legs | Pants of the Autumn Blaze | Tier/Catalyst |
Boots | Twisted Blossom Stompers | Gnarlroot |
Ring 1 | Seal of Diurna's Chosen | Eranog |
Ring 2 | Seal of Filial Duty | Broodkeeper |
Weapon | Vakash, the Shadowed Inferno | Fyrakk |
Off-Hand | Scripture of Primal Devotion | Kurog |
Trinket 1 | Tome of Unstable Power | Algeth'ar Academy |
Trinket 2 | Ward of Faceless Ire | Echo Of Neltharion |
Authors Note:
This list shows the best items for healing in dungeons from all sources. Keep in mind that getting different tier pieces with Leech / Avoidance changes which off-piece is best for you. Likewise, any other non-trinket item with Leech / Avoidance replaces the one suggested here.
Below you are presented with a good list of farmable alternatives that are obtainable outside of WoW’s weekly lockout system. While replaced in time as you progress, these offer immediate character power.
Slot | Item | Location |
---|---|---|
Head | Vision of Foreshadowed Ends | Uldaman |
Neck | Bromach's Disentombed Locket | Uldaman |
Shoulder | Ancient Hornswog Spaulders | Neltharus |
Cloak | Fireproof Drape | Ruby Life Pools |
Chest | Dragonkiln Chestguard | Neltharus |
Wrist | Frenzyroot Cuffs | Academy |
Gloves | Blightweaver's Clutches | Brackenhide |
Belt | Cinch of Forgotten Duty | Azure Vault |
Legs | Legguards of Adamant Rule | Nokhud Offensive |
Boots | Treads of Restored Order | Halls of Infusion |
Ring 1 | Unstable Arcane Loop | Azure Vault |
Ring 2 | Circle of Ascended Frost | Halls of Infusion |
Trinket 1 | Spoils of Neltharus | Neltharus |
Trinket 2 | Ruby Whelp Shell | Ruby Life Pools |
Two-Hand Weapon | Final Grade | Academy |
One-Hand Weapon | Koroleth's Crackling Dagger | Nokhud Offensive |
Off-Hand | Rod of Perfect Order | Halls of Infusion |
Trinkets
Below you can find active and passive alternatives to our recommended trinkets. Do note that some trinkets are better than others depending on the scenario.
Active Trinket alternatives
- Belor'relos, the Suncaller
- Provides high on demand damage, good in dungeons like Brackenhide Hollow.
- Fyrakk's Tainted Rageheart
- Gives an absorb shield, this might become necessary in higher keys depending on the group composition you are using.
Passive Trinket alternatives
- Ominous Chromatic Essence
- A very strong stat stick that buffs your group if they also wear the trinket. Communicate with your DPS players to determine which stat they want you to buff.
- Screaming Black Dragonscale
- Equip this strong stat stick if your group doesn't have any other Ominous Chromatic Essence users.
Embellishments
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Best in Slot
- Shadowflame-Tempered Armor Patch
- A chance to do fire damage, this can proc your special rings!
- Allied Heartwarming Fur Coat
- This strong stat stick buffs both you and your group and has a very high uptime.
Remaining Sparks
- Make sure to apply Alchemical Flavor Pocket if you have an additional crafted item equipped.
- Crafted items are 525 item level and regular items are 528 on max item level, therefore, it's not beneficial to equip crafted items outside of your 2x embellishments unless you don't have access to other high item level gear on that slot.
Enchantments
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Head | Incandescent Essence |
Neck | Tiered Medallion Setting 3x |
Cloak | Enchant Cloak - Graceful Avoidance |
Chest | Enchant Chest - Waking Stats |
Wrist | Enchant Bracer - Devotion of Avoidance |
Belt | Shadowed Belt Clasp |
Legs | Frozen Spellthread |
Boots | Enchant Boots - Plainsrunner's Breeze |
Ring 1 | Enchant Ring - Devotion of Haste |
Ring 2 | Enchant Ring - Devotion of Haste |
Weapon | Enchant Weapon - Sophic Devotion |
If you reach 20% avoidance make sure to swap avoidance for leech enchants: Enchant Cloak - Regenerative Leech and Enchant Bracer - Devotion of Leech
Consumables
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Phials
- Phial of Tepid Versatility -- Generally the best
- Iced Phial of Corrupting Rage -- For maximum Output
Food
- Grand Banquet of the Kalu'ak
- Deviously Deviled Eggs
Combat Potion
- Elemental Potion of Ultimate Power -- Generally the best
- Potion of Shocking Disclosure -- AoE damage potion
- Aerated Mana Potion -- When stuff goes wrong
Health Potion
- Potion of Withering Dreams -- Big Burst of healing, but leaves a dot behind.
- Dreamwalker's Healing Potion -- Less healing upfront but an additional small heal overtime.
Weapon Rune
- Howling Rune -- Default
- Hissing Rune -- If you have reached haste stat dr
Augment Rune
- Dreambound Augment Rune -- Requires Reputation
- Draconic Augment Rune
Sockets
- Inscribed Illimited Diamond -- Unique, made by work order
- Energized Ysemerald
Races
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
For min-maxing a Restoration Druid in Mythic+ Dungeons, different racial traits can provide a tremendous benefit to your characters. If this is not your top goal, picking a race that fits your style works just as well.
- Shadowmeld -- Night Elf
- Turns you invisible, any action, movement, or suffering any damage breaks this effect.
- Use-cases:
- Cast Shadowmeld when Forgemaster Gorek (Neltharus) targets you with Blazing Aegis, this completely negates the mechanic for you and the rest of the group.
- Run past basically any mob and then cast Shadowmeld to make them reset. Even works on mobs that have stealth detection if you get enough distance before you Shadowmeld.
Recommendation:
It is highly recommended to play a Night Elf this season! The higher the keys you run, the more essential Shadowmeld becomes in certain dungeons, such as Neltharus and others.
Macros
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Discover recommended macros for Restoration Druid during Mythic+ dungeons and watch a quick video guide on creating simple macros for your character.
Macro Import Guide Video
Mouseover Macros
All spells in this Restoration Druid Mythic+ Guide are available as mouseover macros for your convenience!
Rejuvenation
/cast [@mouseover, help] Rejuvenation; Rejuvenation
Regrowth
/cast [@mouseover, help] Regrowth; Regrowth
Swiftmend
/cast [@mouseover, help] Swiftmend; Swiftmend
Lifebloom
/cast [@mouseover, help] Lifebloom; Lifebloom
Grove Guardians
/cast [@mouseover, help] Grove Guardians; Grove Guardians
Wild Growth
/cast [@mouseover, help] Wild Growth; Wild Growth
Wild Charge
/cast [@mouseover, help] Wild Charge; Wild Charge
Ironbark
/cast [@mouseover, help] Ironbark; Ironbark
Rebirth
/cast [@mouseover, help] Rebirth; Rebirth
Recommended Macros
Addons
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Below, you see a screenshot of the author's User Interface for their Restoration Druid, outlining which addons are used and how they are utilized in Mythic+ Dungeons to make your life easier.
Addons
WeakAuras
Changes this Patch
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Patch 11.0
FAQ
Patch 11.0 - The War Within
Restoration Druid
Q: Why do I keep dying?
Q: Why do I keep running out of mana?
Credits
Written By: Rycn
Reviewed By: Meeres