Guardian Druid

Patch 7.1.5

Approved by Scobomb Last Updated: 9th Mar, 2017

Stat Priorities

DEFENSIVE: Versatility > Mastery > Haste > Crit

OFFENSIVE (Bear): Haste > Crit ≥ Versatility > Mastery

OFFENSIVE (Catweave): Crit ≥ Versatility > Haste > Mastery

Versatility provides a flat damage and healing increase across the board as well as reducing damage taken.

Mastery increases maximum health, healing received and attack power.

Haste reduces the cool down of our auto attacks some of our spells, including Mangle and Thrash. This leads to a slight increase to rage generation and therefore indirectly survivability (more rage to spend on Ironfur for example).

Crit increases our damage passively as well as increasing our chance to dodge attacks.

Gear

Legendaries:

Here are the legendaries available to Guardian Druids:

Elize's Everlasting Encasement causes Thrash to stack an additional two times which interacts very well with the talent Rend and Tear.

Luffa Wrappings increase the damage and range of Thrash by 25% which is very strong for Mythic+ dungeons and any cleave or AoE situations.

Ekowraith, Creator of Worlds provides passive damage reduction from Thick Hide as well as buffing the passive effects from the Affinity Talents, Balance gains additional range, Feral gains increased movement speed and Restoration gains increased healing.

Cinidaria, the Symbiote provides additional DPS on targets above 90% health as well as giving you 100% leech which provides large healing while damaging these targets (good for necrotic!).

Archimonde's Hatred Reborn provides a decent amount of DPS per usage along with an absorb shield every 75 seconds.

Sephuz's Secret can be procced from Incapacitating Roar on mobs that can be affected by it which provides 25% increased Haste and movement speed.

Prydaz, Xavaric's Magnum Opus simply gives you absorb shields every 30 seconds which reduce the overall damage you will take.

Skysec's Hold causes Frenzied Regeneration to heal you for 12% of your max HP over 3 seconds, which is pretty big but can also be over healing in some situations.

Dual Determination provides an extra charge of Survival Instincts and causes it to recharge 15% faster which can give you an additional cool down or two if required. Useful on specific fights only, for example Mythic Gul'Dan.

Oakheart's Puny Quods causes Barkskin to generate 45 Rage and an additional 15 Rage over 3 seconds when you cast Barkskin, rather weak overall as the Rage generation is minor.

Best Defensive Legendaries: Ekowraith, Creator of Worlds > Prydaz, Xavaric's Magnum Opus > Archimonde's Hatred Reborn > Skysec's Hold > Elize's Everlasting Encasement (with RnT talented) > Dual Determination > Oakheart's Puny Quods

Best Offensive Legendaries (Bear ST): Archimonde's Hatred Reborn > Elize's Everlasting Encasement > Luffa Wrappings > Cinidaria, the Symbiote > Sephuz's Secret

Best Offensive Legendaries (Catweave ST): Archimonde's Hatred Reborn > Elize's Everlasting Encasemen > Cinidaria, the Symbiote > Luffa Wrappings (note Feral legendaries Kil'jaeden's Burning Wish and Chatoyant Signet are also good picks, better than belt + wrists)

GENERAL GEARING:

Generally item level is king but a few rules you can apply when making decisions;

T19 bonuses are really strong for Guardian Druid.

T19 2 piece bonus: worth losing 10ilvl on items for it (for example 5ilvl on 2 items)

T19 4 piece bonus: worth losing 80ilvl on items for it (for example 20ilvl on 4 items)

Chest/Legs/Helm: if item level is +10 then it should be an upgrade regardless of stats (armor and primary), if only +5 item level then consider the stat priority; for example I wouldn’t replace an 880 mastery/vers chest for a 885 haste/crit chest.

Shoulders/Boots/Gloves/Belt if item level is +15 it should be an upgrade

Cloak/Bracers if item level is +20 it should be an upgrade.

Vorem posted a good rule of thumb for rings and neck;

“ If it has vers and mast, give it +20. If it has vers or mast as the higher stat or they're fairly close together, +10. If it has vers or mast as the lower stat, +5. Sockets are worth ~10 ilvls at ~860 or lower; and ~5 ilvls at higher than that”