Moonkin Talent Build
118,531 views8/3/2009 – Patch 3.2 Hits — Please check out a more updated post on my Patch 3.2 Moonkin Talent Build.
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I have updated this Moonkin Talent Build *SLIGHTLY* for Patch 3.1. There is a separate post on my Patch 3.1 Moonkin Talent Build.
Below is the build I used Pre-Ulduar.
For some reason, it seems that 69/0/2 (link) spec is the best way to go as a balance druid. For PvE, that spec isn’t making the best use of your talent points. When copying someone else’s talent spec, please make sure you remember to take into consideration your specific style of play. If you find yourself AoEing a lot in your raids or heroics, then sure, go ahead and pick up Gale Winds. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are wasting your points; if it is useful to you, that is enough.
That said, keep in mind that my talent build is built around my personal style of play. Particularly, its focused around raiding with a shadow priest (and not a feral druid), being hit-capped, and having a few points to spare to throw in “fun” talents.
Here is the talent build I recommend if your situation reflects mine:
Above is my current raid build. Please note that it doesn’t take advantage of the full arsenal of mana regen/efficiency talents we have available, but I do not have mana issues at all, due to the Spirit and groups I run with. Note the “spare” points I put into Owlkin Frenzy and Gale Winds. If you are having mana issues, you should definitely put those 2 points in Dreamstate.
Also, note that I haven’t picked up Improved Faerie Fire. Its somewhat of a controversial talent; if you are nowhere near hit capped, this will help you hit your targets (if you don’t have a shadow priest in raid). ALSO, it will increase your crit chance by 3% on targets that have IFF on them. Additionally, recent blue posts have told us that you gain the 3% crit (not the hit) bonus from the IFF talent even if a feral druid is keeping FF on the target.
Due to that last sentence above, many raiding moonkins are picking up IFF for the 3% crit. They aren’t actually keeping up IFF on their targets, since it is technically a DPS loss to actually apply it (unless you need the +hit). They are getting 3% free crit, as long as their feral druid maintains FF on the target.
I’ve explained why I’m not taking the target on a personal level. I don’t need the +hit, the armor debuff won’t help my raids that much, and if we have a feral druid, they usually don’t keep up FF. Please take this talent, however, if you need the hit and are nowhere near getting hit-capped.
I will be experimenting later in a balance/feral talent build for PvP, I will update this page if I find a successful build for that.
Hope this helps a little 
Macbook
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[...] Moonkin Talent Build February 11th, 2009 | 19 views | Website | [...]
Interesting spec. I’ve been thinking about doing a Feral/moonkin dual-spec once 3.1 is released. So, I’ve been doing as much moonkin reading as possible.
I should point out that a Feral tank should always keep FF on a single target encounter (boss) as FF should be part of their normal rotation. FF generates a significant amount of rage free threat (as of 3.0). Hitting the button once every 20-30s isn’t too much to ask a Feral tank.
And Feral cats should have plenty of time in their rotation to keep it up as well. As there is always a moment in which they don’t have the energy to mash a yellow attack. So, they might as well cast FF while they wait for energy regen.
@ Felkan — Very good point that I actually mentioned elsewhere, but is definitely worthwhile mentioning on this page.
Improved Faerie Fire is a very nice DPS increase if you have the right raid setup. Imp FF will give you an additional 3% crit chance, as long as ANY Faerie Fire is up on the target. If it is not your IFF, however, you will not get the +3% hit chance.
So, if you have a reliable feral druid in your raid group who always keeps FF up on bosses as well, then you are getting +3% crit without having to keep anything up additionally on your target. Well worth the points in this situation if that is your raid setup, but as its not the case in mine, I don’t pick it up.
Definitely pick up IFF if you have a feral druid who always keeps FF up.
Thanks for pointing this out,
Macbook
Here’s how I currently set my spec -
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=0xG0uifsIdhVhouZMxcub
I’ve not gotten to raiding yet – but I’ve been using a lot of Starfall+Hurricane combo in trash clearing situations.
I think perhaps it’s simply my gear but I had to spec into dreamstate because I was running out of mana (or frantically drinking after each fight and popping pots. I took a point out of celestial focus and sacrifice owlkin frenzy + gale winds to subsidize Dreamstate. After this – I felt much more comfortable with my mana situation.
I’ve also been gemming for hit because with my gear I’m not at hit cap yet and I’ve been trying to get as close to being hit cap before I enter Naxx. I’m at about 216 +hit now…
@ Aju – Spec looks exactly the same as the one I entered Naxx with, incredibly mana efficient and focused mainly on single-target damage. Only difference I had, really, was I had a full 3/3 in Celestial Focus and didn’t pick up Starfail.
Regarding gemming for +hit, I don’t really recommend it. You will probably pick up a lot of +hit gear in Naxx, and having +spell power or other gems will probably make your gold supply happy.
If you can afford it, then by all means, but right now I’m actually trying to drop some +hit on my gear, since I’m over the cap with a shadow priest in group.
Macbook
The funny thing is – my other character is the only shadow priest in my raid. So I’m in the unfortunate circumstances of my druid and my shadow priest doomed to never meet on the battlefield. =)
@ Aju – LOL! Too funny man, that sucks. I wish I had a SP though
Mac
What would be the top balance dps attack rotation?
@ Drood -
http://moonkin.info/moonkin-spell-rotation/
http://www.wowarmory.com/character-talents.xml?r=Aerie+Peak&n=Feralofdeath
My toon hit caped and i dps 4.5k i have 3 upgrade i need ill do 5k with this spec..
the top dps rotation is IS/W to eclipse proc
if u have no shadow priest and need the hit u have to add IFF to ur rotation..
for 3.1 im go with this spec http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=0xG0uifsIdhVhouZMxcub becouse starfire CD will be 1min after u get the new glyph for starfire that make the CD 1min… in a pathwork battle i can use it 2-3 times.
I also use rawr it a gear and max dps counter…http://www.codeplex.com/Rawr
best dps spec out there if your hit capped…
hi there!
lots of good material in here, but there is 1 thing i want to add. Imp FF. also gives our raiders (ranged spellcasters) +3% hit.
i mostly pick it up because then my friends can put on their heavy dps gear and go wild.
ofc, if we have a shadowpriest with us, i let the feral tank keep it up;)
anyways, good job on the site!
Hey Macbook, just saw a post by you elsewhere and figured I’d throw in my two cents; this seemed like a good thread to do so in.
So the other post was about IFF and whether it’s useful for someone who has a shadowpriest and lazy ferals, and is concerned about the DPS decrease of using a GCD to keep FF on the target.
Firstly, with 3.1 right around the corner, all indications are that this talent is getting a pretty big buff. IFF (maybe all FF?) will be given an extended duration — I think I read 5 minutes. If your ferals are still too lazy, it’s definitely worth the cooldown for the crit bonus.
The other thing you brought up was that people had been telling you that IFF is better than IIS. This depends on your rotation. In any Eclipse rotation, this is not true. If you go for solar Eclipse, the 3% damage bonus on Wrath is better than the 3% crit bonus. If you go for lunar Eclipse, the 3% crit chance from IFF becomes negligible at worst, and not worth the GCD at best. (So why go with IIS if the 3% crit is negligible? Because MF is a powerful DoT that should be kept up anyways; not so with FF.)
Really, what I would like to see is have IFF add a DoT component or maybe have it mimic the warlock and feral chance to have your DoTs crit. But this is just wishful thinking.
My analysis: IFF is not worth it in 3.0 but will be worth it in 3.1.
@ Xiera -
Yeah — I think I wrote all that somewhere as well, it just gets increasingly difficult to keep old posts up-to-date and stuff.
I completely agree, which is why currently on live, I don’t have iFF but I lose IIS. I am keeping up MF anyways in my Lunar Eclipse rotation, so while the 3% crit isn’t anything great, its free, and comes with something I’m already casting.
I feel that a lot of people don’t read the IIS tooltip properly; I’ve inferred that many people think that they actually have to keep up IS, and they don’t see the MF aspect of the talent.
I am definitely picking up iFF in 3.1, however.
Macbook
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Thanks for the great info, very usefull
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Im leveling a druid (level 60) with feral spec but i want to change to balance. Can you suggest me a build for leveling using balance? Thanks in advance.
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#0eM0uiIssdhVuouZbx...
How about my build?
pls comment
i find it nearly perfect for PvE
You're missing Faerie Fire, Genesis is a pretty bad point investment, and you may have a little too much mana efficiency in that build.
I would recommend dropping the 1 point in Intensity, dropping Genesis, picking up Moonglow or Imp. MF.
Yeah
http://www.wowarmory.com/character-talents.xml?r=...
Go to my balance spec and check it out. I raid with both a Shadow priest and a Feral druid, i do around 3.5k with this build. do you have any tips/suggestions?
Thanks