PvE Balance Druid Rotations & Cooldowns

Balance Druids have a relatively harder rotation than most other classes in Mists of Pandaria Classic, focused on the Eclipse mechanic and procs/DoT upkeep. We’ll showcase an optimal rotation for single target and AoE and any useful Defensive & Utility spells.

Single-Target Rotation

1. Cast Astral Communion to begin the encounter in an Eclipse state
2. Cast Starfall at the beginning of the encounter
   • Recast Starfall on cooldown & every Lunar Eclipse
3. Use both Sunfire & Moonfire DoTS on the target
   • Always refresh Sunfire at the beginning of a Solar Eclipse
   • Always refresh Moonfire at the beginning of a Lunar Eclipse
4. Cast Starsurge whenever possible
   • Cast Starsurge when Shooting Stars procs
5. Cycle through Lunar Eclipse & Solar Eclipse states
   • Spam Starfire in Lunar Eclipse & to generate Solar Power
   • Spam Wrath in Solar Eclipse & to generate Lunar Power
6. Prioritize using Celestial Alignment together with other offensive cooldowns such as Trinkets/Potions
7. Prioritize using Force of Nature together with other offensive cooldowns
   • Use Force of Nature whenever you have a charge after the initial three casts during your Burst sequence
8. Cast Healing Touch to trigger Dream of Cenarius if you selected the talent before entering Eclipse
9. Cast Nature’s Vigil during your Burst sequence if you selected the talent

The rotation of Balance Druids revolves around cycling through the Lunar Eclipse & Solar Eclipse states and using abilities according to what state you are in and which one follows. Sunfire and Wrath are related to the Solar Eclipse, while Moonfire and Starfire are tied to Lunar Eclipse. Starsurge works with both states since it deals Spellstorm Damage, meaning it should be used whenever available. Starfall must always be used on cooldown since it’s free damage, while Celestial Alignment and Force of Nature should ideally be used together with other offensive cooldowns.

AoE Rotation

If you are in Solar Eclipse:

1. Cast Healing Touch to trigger Dream of Cenarius if you selected the talent before the fight
2. Cast Incarnation at the beginning of the fight to empower Eclipse (If you selected the talent)
3. Multi-Dot with Sunfire as soon as possible
4. Place Wild Mushrooms and use Wild Mushroom: Detonate
5. Cast Starfall
6. Spam Hurricane while Wild Mushroom: Detonate is on cooldown
7. Multi-Dot with Sunfire & Moonfire only if there are 3 or fewer targets

If you are in Lunar Eclipse:

1. Cast Healing Touch to trigger Dream of Cenarius if you selected the talent before the fight
2. Cast Incarnation at the beginning of the fight to empower Eclipse (If you selected the talent)
3. Cast Starfall as soon as possible
4. Multi-DoT with Moonfire
5. Spam Astral Storm until you need to refresh DoTS
6. Multi-Dot with Sunfire & Moonfire only if there are 3 or fewer targets

The AoE rotation for Balance Druids is very different than their Single-Target rotation since it no longer involves cycling through Eclipse states. Instead, the rotation depends on which state you find yourself in, using a specific set of abilities. The idea behind it is that none of the spells you’ll be using consumes either Lunar & Solar Power, meaning you’ll be free to spam while in an enhanced damage state.

Defensive & Utility Spells

• Crowd Control:
  • Typhoon: Powerful Knockback ability that throws away all enemies in a frontal area.
  • Wild Mushrooms: AoE damage ability that also slows targets in a radius by 50%.
  • Ursol’s Vortex: Displacement tool that gathers all enemies in an area and prevents them from leaving by pulling them back to the spell’s center.
  • Solar Beam: Powerful spell that silences all mobs in a specific area, interrupting spell casting.
  • Cyclone: Ability that prevents all actions but renders the target immune to any effect during its duration.
  • Entangling Roots: Places a Root effect on the target, preventing movement.
• Major Defensives:
  • Might of Ursoc: Instantly transforms the Druid into Bear Form, increasing current and maximum HP by 30%.
  • Barkskin: Reduces all forms of damage by 20%. It can be used in any form, even while in Crowd Control.
• Revive:
  • Rebirth: Fast-cast resurrection spell that can be used in and out of combat.
  • Revive: Long cast resurrection spell that can only be used outside combat.
• Buff:
  • Mark of the Wild: Increases Strength, Agility, and Intellect by 5% for all raid members.
  • Symbiosis: Ability that grants one Druid ability to the target in exchange for a specific Class/Specialization ability, depending on the target. Grants extreme diversity based on the target.
• Heal/Utility:
  • Nature’s Swiftness: Turns some of your abilities into instant casts, empowering them for their next cast.
  • Rejuvenation: Healing spell that places a HoT on the target.
  • Healing Touch: Direct Healing Spell that heals a large amount of HP.
  • Tranquility: A channeled Healing Spell that aids all allies and restores massive amounts of HP.
  • Remove Corruption: Removes any Poison & Curse effects from the target.
  • Innervate: Provides massive Mana Regeneration to allies for a limited duration.