The Patch 5.4 Druid Changes

So what happened with Druids in patch 5.4? What are the changes, buffs, nerfs, and new abilities?

Scroll down, all the notes are posted, with links and some comments. Resto and Balance got the lion’s share of changes, Guardian Druids got nothing spefic to them, and Feral only a bit. But if you’re a Guardian and you tank you will want to pay close attention to the Vengeance changes.

I think Resto Druids will be quite happy, Balance a bit less so. At least both of them get Nature’s Swiftness as a one of their abilities. That’s a nice buff all by itself.

There are more links to info at the bottom of the page. Feel free to like or comment.

Skip to: General changes, Balance, Feral, Guardian, Resto, Talents, Glyphs, More.

General Druid 5.4 Changes

Most of the patch 5.4 Druid changes are specific to the individual “specs” or the talents, but a coupld of the general changes are interesting, such as the Bear Form stam addition.

The Buffs:

Bear Form now increases Stamina contribution from cloth and leather items by 40% (up from 20%.) Yes, that Guardian over there will have even crazier HP than before.
Faerie Fire now has a duration of 20 seconds while in PvP combat (down from 40 seconds.) This is a good change and 20 seconds is quite long enough.
Innervate now restores mana based on the Druid’s Spirit.
Teleport: Moonglade now returns the Druid to a location near their original departure point when the spell is cast while in the Moonglade area. In general, this change is the same for any class with a similar

Ouch

Wrath now deals 10% more damage, but has its mana cost increased by 50%.

Balance Spec

A bit more damage from some stuff and a few (greatly) increased mana costs.

Moonkin Form now increases the Druid’s armor by 60%, but no longer reduces all damage taken by 15%.
Eclipse now energizes the Druid for 50% of their maximum mana when triggered, up from 35%.
Shooting Stars now has a reduced chance to activate for each additional target affected by the same spell (Moonfire and Sunfire are tracked separately.)
Starfall now deals 10% more damage.
Starfire, just like Wrath, now deals 10% more damage, but has its mana cost increased by 50%.
Starsurge also has had its mana cost increased by 50%.
Astral Communion now defaults to generating Lunar energy towards a Lunar Eclipse when used after being resurrected or zoning into a new area (used to default to generating Solar energy.)
Nature’s Swiftness is no longer a talent, and is now an ability learned by Balance and Restoration Druids at level 30. (It is replaced by Ysera’s Gift.) This is a pretty decent buff all by itself.

Feral Spec

Predatory Swiftness no longer has a chance to make Cyclone instant, free, and castable in all forms.
Cyclone no longer has a 20-second cooldown for Feral Druids.

Guardian Spec

Lucky bear, there were no changes specific to you this time around, other than the general Bear Form Stam increase. But wait till next time! 😉 There were, however, some general changes to your tanking abilities (all tank classes have the same changes.) You won’t have any problems holding the attention of the opposition, but you’ll be a bit down on the DPS lists.
- All taunt type abilities now increase all threat generated against the target while the taunt is active by 200%. Grabbing the mobs away from errant team members should now be trivial.
- Vengeance has received several changes:

Restoration

You get a new ability (Genesis,) you get Nature’s swidtness as a basic ability, and you can grab Cenarian Ward (tier 2 talent) with no sweat. Pretty sweet.

New spell: Genesis is a new Restoration spell learned at level 88. Genesis targets all party or raid members within 60 yards and accelerates the casting Druid’s Rejuvenation effects, causing them to heal and expire at 400% of the normal rate (All Rejuv. healing is now done in 3 seconds, instead of 12, which isn’t bad at all.) Applies to as many targets as you like. You don’t do more healing, you just do it faster. Naturally, any over-healing from Genesis will charge your ‘shrooms. Costs the same amount of mana to cast as Rejuvenation.
New: Nature’s Swiftness is no longer a talent, and is now an ability learned by Balance and Restoration Druids at level 30. (It is replaced by Ysera’s Gift.)
Living Seed effects can now stack, up to 50% of the casting Druid’s maximum health, and will no longer be consumed if the target is already at full health.
Swiftmend‘s area-of-effect healing effect is now called Efflorescence, also see the Glyph of Efflorescence
Wild Mushroom for Restoration Druids now summons a single mushroom at the friendly target’s location. If the mushroom is recast, the mushroom moves to the new location and retains its accumulated bonus healing. A single mushroom now heals for as much as what 3 mushrooms combined healed for previously.
- The amount of healing stored on a Wild Mushroom is now reduced by Battle Fatigue.
- Wild Mushroom and Wild Mushroom: Bloom now have a shared 3-second cooldown.
- Wild Mushroom macro: Place it somewhere, it charges, put it on it’s new target and insta-heal.
Wild Mushroom: Bloom is no longer capable of critical strikes, and accumulates overhealing done by Rejuvenation by 100%, down from 150%. Overhealing bonus no longer benefits from Naturalist or Mastery: Harmony.
Heart of the Wild when activated, now also provides a 25% bonus to healing for Restoration Druids.