Feral Combat Druid
A dual-purpose spec that can tank in Bear Form or deal melee DPS in Cat Form, often switching between both.
How It Feels to Play
Feral Druid is two specs in one. In Bear Form, you're a tank with the highest health pool in the game and respectable threat generation. In Cat Form, you're a rogue-like DPS with combo points, energy, and bleeds. Many Feral Druids swap between both roles depending on the encounter, which makes the spec endlessly interesting.
Bear tanking feels different from Warrior or Paladin tanking. You don't block or parry. You just have an enormous health pool and high armor from Bear Form. Your threat comes from Mangle, Lacerate, and Maul. You're less reactive than a Warrior (fewer cooldowns) but more consistent. Your huge health pool gives healers more time to react to damage spikes.
Cat DPS is the most complex melee DPS rotation in TBC. You're managing energy, combo points, Mangle, Shred (requires being behind the target), Rip, Savage Roar doesn't exist yet but Ferocious Bite is your finisher, and powershifting (shifting out of Cat and back in to get energy from Furor). It's demanding but rewarding. A great Cat DPS can compete with Rogues on the meters.
The killer feature of Feral is flexibility. You can tank one boss and DPS the next without respeccing. Bring tank gear and DPS gear, and you're always useful.
Strengths
- Can tank AND DPS without respeccing
- Highest health pool of any tank class
- Leader of the Pack provides melee crit to the party
Pain Points
- Cat DPS rotation is extremely complex
- Need to carry two full gear sets
- No crushing blow immunity in Bear Form (unlike Warriors)
Demand & Supply
Feral Druids can tank or DPS, making them extremely flexible. Many guilds use a Feral Druid as their main tank or offtank. The dual-role capability is highly valued, and low Druid population means you're always wanted.
Talent Build
Feral Cat DPS / Bear Tank Hybrid
0/47/1447 into Feral for Mangle, 14 into Restoration for Omen of Clarity and Intensity. This build works for both Cat DPS and Bear tanking; you just swap gear and forms. In Cat: Mangle, then Shred from behind for combo points, keep Savage Roar... err, keep Rip up as your finisher. In Bear: Mangle and Lacerate for threat, Maul for extra damage. Carry two gear sets!
Stat Priority
For Cat DPS: Hit and Expertise first, then Agility (gives crit and dodge) and Strength (gives AP). For Bear Tank: Prioritize Stamina, Armor, Agility (dodge), and Defense Rating. Feral Druids need two gear sets with different stat priorities. These weights are for Cat DPS.
Pre-Raid Best in Slot
| Slot | Item | Source |
|---|---|---|
| head |
Wolfshead Helm
Wolfshead Helm
Crafted - Leatherworking
|
Crafted - Leatherworking |
| Alt |
Mask of the Deceiver
Mask of the Deceiver
Epoch Hunter - Old Hillsbrad Foothills (Heroic)
|
Epoch Hunter - Old Hillsbrad Foothills (Heroic) |
| neck |
Choker of Vile Intent
Choker of Vile Intent
Revered - Keepers of Time
|
Revered - Keepers of Time |
| shoulders |
Wastewalker Shoulderpads
Wastewalker Shoulderpads
Warp Splinter - The Botanica
|
Warp Splinter - The Botanica |
| back |
Auchenai Death Shroud
Auchenai Death Shroud
Exarch Maladaar - Auchenai Crypts
|
Exarch Maladaar - Auchenai Crypts |
| chest |
Tunic of Assassination
Tunic of Assassination
Quest - Wanted: Pathaleon the Calculator's Head
|
Quest - Wanted: Pathaleon the Calculator's Head |
| wrists |
Nightfall Wristguards
Nightfall Wristguards
Murmur - Shadow Labyrinth (Heroic)
|
Murmur - Shadow Labyrinth (Heroic) |
| hands |
Wastewalker Gloves
Wastewalker Gloves
Quagmirran - The Slave Pens (Heroic)
|
Quagmirran - The Slave Pens (Heroic) |
| waist |
Girdle of the Deathdealer
Girdle of the Deathdealer
Warp Splinter - The Botanica (Heroic)
|
Warp Splinter - The Botanica (Heroic) |
| legs |
Wastewalker Leggings
Wastewalker Leggings
Warlord Kalithresh - The Steamvault
|
Warlord Kalithresh - The Steamvault |
| feet |
Boots of the Unjust
Boots of the Unjust
Warchief Kargath Bladefist - The Shattered Halls
|
Warchief Kargath Bladefist - The Shattered Halls |
| ring |
Shapeshifter's Signet
Shapeshifter's Signet
Exalted - Lower City
|
Exalted - Lower City |
| ring |
A'dal's Command
A'dal's Command
Quest - How to Break Into the Arcatraz
|
Quest - How to Break Into the Arcatraz |
| trinket |
Hourglass of the Unraveller
Hourglass of the Unraveller
Temporus - The Black Morass
|
Temporus - The Black Morass |
| trinket |
Bloodlust Brooch
Bloodlust Brooch
41 Badges - G'eras (Shattrath)
|
41 Badges - G'eras (Shattrath) |
| main hand |
Earthwarden
Earthwarden
Exalted - Cenarion Expedition
|
Exalted - Cenarion Expedition |
| Alt | Harbinger Skyriss - The Arcatraz | |
| ranged | The Blood Furnace (Heroic) |
Rotation & Priority
47 into Feral for Mangle, 14 into Restoration for Omen of Clarity and Intensity. This build works for both Cat DPS and Bear tanking; you just swap gear and forms. In Cat: Mangle, then Shred from behind for combo points, keep Savage Roar... err, keep Rip up as your finisher. In Bear: Mangle and Lacerate for threat, Maul for extra damage. Carry two gear sets!
Progression Path
Quest through Outland, run dungeons for gear along the way.
Farm reputation to Revered for Heroic keys. Replace leveling greens.
Collect your Pre-Raid BiS gear and Badge of Justice items.
Enter your first raid. Collect Tier 4 tokens and epic drops.
Progress into SSC, Tempest Keep, Black Temple, and Sunwell.
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