Balance Druid DPS Rotation, Cooldowns, and Abilities — The War Within (11.1.5)

Last updated on Apr 21, 2025 at 19:35 by Bora 112 comments
General Information

On this page, you will learn how to optimize the rotation of your Balance Druid in both single-target and multiple-target situations. We also have advanced sections about cooldowns, procs, etc. in order to minmax your DPS. All our content is updated for World of Warcraft — The War Within (11.1.5).

If you were looking for WotLK Classic content, please refer to our WotLK Classic Balance Druid rotation.

1.

Balance Druid Rotation Introduction

2.

Balance Druid Rotation

Balance Druid
Rotation Overview
Keeper of the Grove
Single-Target Rotation
Elune's Chosen
Single-Target Rotation
Keeper of the Grove
Multi-Target Rotation
Elune's Chosen
Multi-Target Rotation
1.1.

Balance Druid Rotation Overview

At the start of combat or with each use of Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment / Incarnation: Chosen of Elune Icon Incarnation: Chosen of Elune, you choose between either Solar or Lunar Eclipse Icon Eclipse. To enter Solar Eclipse, you must cast two Starfire Icon Starfires, and to enter Lunar Eclipse, you need to cast two Wrath Icon Wrath.

From there on, you build Astral Power using the appropriate filler. In Solar Eclipse Icon Eclipse, you cast Wrath Icon Wrath to gain Astral Power and, in Lunar Eclipse, you cast Starfire Icon Starfire. Each Eclipse lasts 15 seconds. Eclipse uptime is incredibly important, and you should aim to be inside Eclipse as often as you can.

On single-target, you will use Starsurge Icon Starsurge, which costs 40 Astral Power. On multi-target, you want to be casting Starfall Icon Starfall, which costs 50 Astral Power. Some spells reduce the cost of these abilities, such as Rattle the Stars Icon Rattle the Stars and Elune's Guidance Icon Elune's Guidance.

Keep your DoTs up on all targets to activate your Mastery bonus. Use cooldowns optimally, either on cooldown or when there is a better moment.

If ever following the below priority lists would make you cap on Astral Power, remember that you should deviate from the priority list and spend your Astral Power instead.

1.1.

Keeper of the Grove Single Target Ability Priority List for Balance Druid

Keeper of the Grove is the primary single target Hero Talent setup. The following is a standard priority list which should be followed generally but can be deviated from if circumstances require.

  1. Apply and maintain Sunfire Icon Sunfire, Moonfire Icon Moonfire, and Stellar Flare Icon Stellar Flare (if talented).
  2. Use Force of Nature Icon Force of Nature outside of Eclipse if your next ability is Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment. Only save Force of Nature if Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits will be off cooldown in 25-seconds.
  3. Cast Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment if you have just cast Force of Nature Icon Force of Nature unless saving to line up with Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits. Then cast Wrath Icon Wrath to spend Dream Surge Icon Dream Surge unless you will cap on Astral Power.
  4. Cast Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits if you have cast Force of Nature Icon Force of Nature and Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment and have less than 40-Astral Power.
  5. If you are not entering cooldowns, cast two Starfire Icon Starfires to enter Solar Eclipse.
  6. Cast Force of Nature Icon Force of Nature.
  7. Spend Dream Surge Icon Dream Surge using Wrath Icon Wrath unless you will cap on Astral Power.
  8. Cast Starsurge Icon Starsurge to spend Astral Power, maintain Starlord Icon Starlord, or to spend Touch the Cosmos Icon Touch the Cosmos.
  9. Cast Wrath Icon Wrath to generate Astral Power.
1.2.

Elune's Chosen Single Target Ability Priority List for Balance Druid.

Elune's Chosen is not the appropriate talent choice for single target encounters but you may end up using this rotation in Mythic+. The following is a standard priority list which should be followed generally but can be deviated from if circumstances require.

You will not be able to enter Solar Eclipse due to Lunar Calling Icon Lunar Calling.

  1. Use Warrior of Elune Icon Warrior of Elune on cooldown. The buff will persist and the cooldown will start.
  2. Apply and maintain Sunfire Icon Sunfire, Moonfire Icon Moonfire, and Stellar Flare Icon Stellar Flare (if talented).
  3. Cast Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment if you have just cast Fury of Elune Icon Fury of Elune unless saving to line up with Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits.
  4. Cast Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits if you have cast Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment and have less than 40-Astral Power.
  5. If you are not entering cooldowns, cast two Wrath Icon Wraths to enter Lunar Eclipse.
  6. Cast Fury of Elune Icon Fury of Elune if not entering Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment.
  7. Cast Starsurge Icon Starsurge to spend Astral Power, maintain Starlord Icon Starlord, or to spend Touch the Cosmos Icon Touch the Cosmos.
  8. Cast Starfire Icon Starfire to generate Astral Power.

You will be casting Starfire Icon Starfire inside Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment on single target due to Lunar Calling Icon Lunar Calling.

1.3.

Keeper of the Grove Multi-Target Ability Priority List for Balance Druid

Keeper of the Grove focuses on short bursts of multi-target damage as opposed to Elune's Chosens more sustained DPS approach. The following is a standard priority list which should be followed generally but can be deviated from if circumstances require.

  1. Apply and maintain Sunfire Icon Sunfire and Moonfire Icon Moonfire.
  2. Cast Force of Nature Icon Force of Nature outside of Eclipse if you next button is Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment.
  3. Cast Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment if you have just cast Force of Nature Icon Force of Nature and then cast Starfire Icon Starfire to spend Dream Surge Icon Dream Surge if you will not cap on Astral Power.
  4. If you are not entering cooldowns, cast two Wrath Icon Wraths to enter Lunar Eclipse.
  5. Cast Force of Nature Icon Force of Nature.
  6. Spend Dream Surge Icon Dream Surge using Starfire Icon Starfire unless you will cap on Astral Power.
  7. Cast Starfall Icon Starfall to spend Astral Power, maintain Starlord Icon Starlord, or to spend Touch the Cosmos Icon Touch the Cosmos.
  8. Cast Starfire Icon Starfire to generate Astral Power.

Sunfire Icon Sunfire should be applied if the target will live approximately 5-seconds and Moonfire Icon Moonfire should be applied if the target will live 6-seconds.

Force of Nature Icon Force of Nature will apply upto 6-Moonfire Icon Moonfires while prioritizing enemies without Moonfire.

1.4.

Elune's Chosen Multi-Target Ability Priority List for Balance Druid

Elune's Chosen is great for sustained multi-target making it a niche choice for some raid encounters as well as a good pick for heavy multi-target Mythic+ dungeons. The following is a standard priority list which should be followed generally but can be deviated from if circumstances require.

You will not be able to enter Solar Eclipse due to Lunar Calling Icon Lunar Calling.

  1. Use Warrior of Elune Icon Warrior of Elune on cooldown. The buff will persist and the cooldown will start.
  2. Apply and maintain Sunfire Icon Sunfire and Moonfire Icon Moonfire.
  3. Cast Fury of Elune Icon Fury of Elune.
  4. Cast Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment
  5. If you are not entering cooldowns, cast two Wrath Icon Wraths to enter Lunar Eclipse.
  6. Cast Starfall Icon Starfall to spend Astral Power, maintain Starlord Icon Starlord, or to spend Touch the Cosmos Icon Touch the Cosmos.
  7. Cast Starfire Icon Starfire to generate Astral Power.

Sunfire Icon Sunfire should be applied if the target will live approximately 5-seconds and Moonfire Icon Moonfire should be applied if the target will live 6-seconds.

1.5.

Keeper of the Grove Opening Cast Sequence

  1. With 2-seconds on the pull-timer, cast two Wrath Icon Wraths.
  2. Apply and maintain Sunfire Icon Sunfire, Moonfire Icon Moonfire, and Stellar Flare Icon Stellar Flare (if talented).
  3. Cast Force of Nature Icon Force of Nature.
  4. Use any on-use trinkets and potions.
  5. If using Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits, spend Astral Power to below 40 and cast Convoke the Spirits.
  6. Spend Dream Surge Icon Dream Surge by casting Wrath Icon Wrath.
  7. Proceed with your standard rotation.
1.6.

Elune's Chosen Opening Cast Sequence

You will not be able to enter Solar Eclipse due to Lunar Calling Icon Lunar Calling.

  1. With 2-seconds on the pull-timer, cast two Wrath Icon Wraths.
  2. Apply and maintain Sunfire Icon Sunfire, Moonfire Icon Moonfire, and Stellar Flare Icon Stellar Flare (if talented).
  3. Use any on-use trinkets and potions.
  4. Cast Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment.
  5. Cast Fury of Elune Icon Fury of Elune (on multi-target, cast this before Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment.
  6. Spend your Astral Power.
  7. Use Starfire Icon Starfire to generate Astral Power.
  8. Proceed with your standard rotation.
2.

Optimizing Talent Choices

Balance Druid is more of a priority system rather than a hard set rotation. Making active decisions as to when you want to use each talent and what you want to focus on in each encounter can affect how you play. This section will dive into some things of note for several important talents.

2.1.

Starlord

Starlord Icon Starlord is the main buff that you work your Astral Power expenditure around. You want to maintain this in two ways. First, you need to have a high overall uptime on this buff, and second, you want the bulk of your buff to be at 3-stacks. This means you should be pooling Astral Power for when your buff ends.

2.2.

Solstice, Balance of All Things, and Nature's Grace

Solstice Icon Solstice and Balance of All Things Icon Balance of All Things trigger their effects at the start of the Eclipse and Nature's Grace Icon Nature's Grace triggers at the end of each Eclipse. Here are some tips on how to play around with these talents:

  • Solstice Icon Solstice generates a good amount of Astral Power at the start of an Eclipse. Try to go into each Eclipse with between 80 to 90 Astral Power to not overcap to excess Shooting Stars Icon Shooting Stars procs.
  • Balance of All Things Icon Balance of All Things does not need to be prioritized over other buffs such as Starlord Icon Starlord.
  • As you leave an Eclipse, start a cast inside Eclipse and have it end outside of Eclipse. This will progress you towards your next Eclipse without consuming Nature's Grace Icon Nature's Grace.
2.3.

Convoke the Spirits

Always try to overlap Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits with Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment / Incarnation: Chosen of Elune Icon Incarnation: Chosen of Elune as well as the buff from Balance of All Things Icon Balance of All Things.

Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits has a 45-yard range from the center of any target's hitbox. This means for larger bosses, max range Convoke the Spirits may end up whiffing all Balance spells if you are too far away.

With Elune's Guidance Icon Elune's Guidance talented, melee Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits is less consistent than ranged Convoke. Avoid being in melee if possible, or you are more likely to lose a Balance-specific catch. This is a minor point but something to avoid if possible.

If you are using Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits on multiple targets, cast Convoke before casting other Starfall Icon Starfalls to raise the chance that you will cast a free Starfall.

3.

Cooldown Usage for Balance Druids

Balance Druid has quite a few cooldown options in The War Within. The main cooldown that we refer to in this guide is Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment, which can be upgraded by another talent called Incarnation: Chosen of Elune Icon Incarnation: Chosen of Elune. You often want to use these immediately every time they come off cooldown as you want to get as many usages as possible.

Cooldowns should be stacked together. If you can use Celestial Alignment Icon Celestial Alignment and other cooldowns, such as Convoke the Spirits Icon Convoke the Spirits or Fury of Elune Icon Fury of Elune at the same time, it will make those other cooldowns stronger as well. These buttons are supposed to do the most damage per press compared to the spells you can always cast.

Some cooldowns come in the form of charge-based spells, such as Wild Mushroom Icon Wild Mushroom and New Moon Icon New Moon. You should not let these cap their charges, as that is the same as another spell being off cooldown and not being used. Keep their charges rolling even if it is not the most efficient use of your time.

4.

Changelog

  • 21 Apr. 2025: Updated and Reviewed for Patch 11.1.5.
  • 24 Feb. 2025: Reviewed and Updated for Patch 11.0.1.
  • 15 Dec. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
  • 21 Oct. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 11.0.5.
  • 09 Sep. 2024: Reviewed for Season 1.
  • 21 Aug. 2024: Updated for The War Within.
  • 23 Jul. 2024: Updated for The War Within PrePatch.
  • 07 May 2024: Reviewed for 10.2.7.
  • 22 Apr. 2024: Updated for new tier set in Dragonflight Season 4.
  • 19 Mar. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6.
  • 15 Jan. 2024: Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
  • 08 Dec. 2023: Updated mention of Rattle the Stars buff.
  • 06 Nov. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.2
  • 04 Sep. 2023: Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
  • 10 Jul. 2023: Updated for Patch 10.1.5.
  • 08 May 2023: Updated with May 9th Hotfixes.
  • 01 May 2023: Updated for Patch 10.1.0.
  • 20 Mar. 2023: Updated some sections to maintain consistency. Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
  • 24 Jan. 2023: Reviewed and updated for Patch 10.0.5.
  • 11 Dec. 2022: Updated for T29 Tier Set.
  • 28 Nov. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight launch.
  • 15 Nov. 2022: Updated talent recommendations.
  • 25 Oct. 2022: Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
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