Balance Druid PvP Guide — The War Within (11.1.0)
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to play Balance Druid in a PvP environment. The guide will cover everything from talent choices, PvP talents, gameplay and rotation, and useful racial bonuses. It is most applicable to Arena content, but most talents and racial bonuses will work in Rated Battlegrounds and skirmishes.
If you were looking for TBC Classic content, please refer to our TBC Druid PvP guide.
Balance Druids in the Current Meta
Balance Druids are known for strong spread pressure and securing a kill with a strong burst of single-target pressure. However, this has changed significantly. Balance Druids do use DoTs, but they are now known for their strong single-target damage and can easily kill an enemy in a stun.
Balance Druid Strengths and Weaknesses
Strong control with
Cyclone
Multiple mobility spells
Strong burst damage
Cannot do damage when forced into
Bear Form
Little consistent damage
Reliant on juking to gain
Precognition to cast crowd control
Notable 11.1 Changes to Balance Druids
- Many talents have changed position in the talent tree.
- New Talent:
Grievous Wounds –
Rake,
Rip, and
Thrash damage increased by 10%.
- New Talent:
Gale Winds – Increases
Typhoon’s radius by 20% and its range by 5 yards.
- New Talent:
Incessant Tempest – Reduces the cooldown of
Typhoon by 5 seconds.
- New Talent:
Circle of the Wild – Physical damage dealt by your abilities increased by 5% (25% for Restoration Druids).
- New Talent:
Circle of the Heavens – Magical damage dealt by your spells increased by 5% (25% for Restoration Druids).
- New Talent:
Lycara's Meditation – You retain
Lycara's Teachings bonus from your most recent form for 5 seconds after shifting out of it.
- New Talent:
Symbiotic Relationship – Form a bond with an ally. Your self-healing also heals your bonded ally for 10% of the amount healed. Your healing to your bonded ally also heals you for 8% of the amount healed.
- New Talent:
Aessina's Renewal – When a hit deals more than 12% of your maximum health, instantly heal for 10% of your health. This effect cannot occur more than once every 30 seconds.
- New Talent:
Perfectly-Honed Instincts –
Well-Honed Instincts can trigger up to once every 90 seconds.
Ursoc's Spirit has been updated – Stamina increased by 4%. Stamina in
Bear Form is increased by an additional 5%.
Improved Rejuvenation has been changed to
Lingering Healing –
Rejuvenation's duration is increased by 3 seconds.
Regrowth’s duration is increased by 3 seconds when cast on yourself.
Instincts of the Claw is now a 1-point talent (was 2) and has been updated –
Ferocious Bite and
Maul damage increased by 8%.
Lore of the Grove is now a 1-point talent (was 2) and has been updated –
Moonfire and
Sunfire damage increased by 10%.
Fluid Form has been updated –
Skull Bash can now be used in any form and shifts you into
Cat Form if necessary.
Light of the Sun has been removed.
- New Talent:
Changelog
- 03 Mar. 2025 (gear): Updated recommended gear for Season 2 of The War Within.
- 03 Mar. 2025 (talents): Updated recommended talents.
- 24 Feb. 2025 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.
- 24 Feb. 2025 (macros): Updated for Patch 11.1.0.
- 24 Feb. 2025 (playstyle): Updated for Patch 11.1.0.
- 24 Feb. 2025 (comps): Updated for Patch 11.1.0.
- 24 Feb. 2025 (blitz): Updated for Patch 11.1.0.
- 24 Feb. 2025 (gear): Updated for Patch 11.1.0.
- 24 Feb. 2025 (talents): Updated for Patch 11.1.0.
- 24 Feb. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.
- 24 Feb. 2025 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.
- 15 Dec. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
- 15 Dec. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
- 15 Dec. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
- 15 Dec. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
- 15 Dec. 2024 (blitz): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
- 15 Dec. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
- 15 Dec. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
- 15 Dec. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
- 15 Dec. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 11.0.7.
- 22 Nov. 2024 (playstyle): Updated all damage rotations.
- Updated opener damage rotation.
- Updated burst damage rotation.
- Updates sustained damage rotation.
- 22 Nov. 2024 (comps): Updated best team compositions.
- Updated best 2v2 team composition.
- Updated best 3v3 team composition.
- 22 Nov. 2024 (blitz): Updated recommended talents.
- 22 Nov. 2024 (gear): Updated recommended gear.
- 22 Nov. 2024 (talents): Updated recommended talents.
- Updated talent descriptions.
- 22 Nov. 2024 (this page): Updated weaknesses.
- 22 Nov. 2024 (this page): Updated weaknesses.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (blitz): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- 21 Oct. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 11.0.5.
- 16 Sep. 2024 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
- Updated Recommended Embellishments.
- Updated Recommended Enchants.
- 15 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Updated Recommended Talents.
- 12 Sep. 2024 (talents): Updated Recommended Talents.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (blitz): Updated for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 09 Sep. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within Season 1.
- 29 Aug. 2024 (blitz): Page added.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (gear): Updated for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 21 Aug. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for The War Within.
- 26 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated Recommended Talents.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (races): Reviewed for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (playstyle): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (talents): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for The War Within Pre-Patch.
- 23 Jun. 2024 (talents): Updated Recommended Talents.
- 19 May 2024 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
- 19 May 2024 (talents): Updated Recommended Talents.
- 07 May 2024 (races): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (macros): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (comps): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (gear): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (talents): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 07 May 2024 (this page): Reviewed for 10.2.7.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
- 22 Apr. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
- 22 Apr. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
- 22 Apr. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
- 22 Apr. 2024 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear for Patch 10.2.6.
- 22 Apr. 2024 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
- 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
- 22 Apr. 2024 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.6
- 16 Feb. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.
- 16 Feb. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.
- 16 Feb. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.
- 16 Feb. 2024 (blitz): Updated recommended talents for Patch 11.1.
- 16 Feb. 2024 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 11.1.
- 16 Feb. 2024 (talents): Updated recommended talents for Patch 11.1.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2.5.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.5.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.5.
- 15 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.5.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.2.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (comps): Updated for Patch 10.2.
- Updated Best 2v2 Team Compositions.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.2.
- Updated Recommended gear.
- Updated Tier Set bonuses.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.2.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.
- 06 Nov. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.2.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.7.
- 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7
- 04 Sep. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.7
- 10 Jul. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 10 Jul. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.5
- 16 Jun. 2023 (comps): Updated Best 2v2 and 3v3 Team Compositions.
- 16 Jun. 2023 (gear): Several changes made.
- Updated Stat Priority description.
- Updated Recommended Gear section.
- Added Embelishments section.
- Updated Best Gems and Enchants section.
- 16 Jun. 2023 (talents): Several changes made.
- Updated Single-target damage talent tree.
- Added AoE-damage talent tree.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 03 May 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 03 May 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 03 May 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 03 May 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.1.
- 03 May 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- Updated Tier Sets.
- 03 May 2023 (talents): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- Updated Recommended Talents.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 03 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- 03 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.1.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (gear): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- Updated Recommended Gear.
- Added Trinkets to Recommended Gear.
- Added Tier-Set section.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (talents): Updated Talent Tree for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 21 Mar. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 10.0.7.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (races): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (talents): Updated Talent Tree for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 30 Jan. 2023 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 10.0.5.
- 04 Jan. 2023 (playstyle): Updated rotation.
- 12 Dec. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 12 Dec. 2022 (macros): Updated Macros.
- 12 Dec. 2022 (playstyle): Updated Damage rotations.
- 12 Dec. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 12 Dec. 2022 (gear): Updated Recommended Gear.
- Updated Gems and Enchants.
- 12 Dec. 2022 (talents): Updated Recommended Talents.
- Updated PvP Talents.
- 12 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 12 Dec. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Dragonflight Season 1.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (races): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (macros): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (playstyle): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (comps): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (gear): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (talents): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 22 Nov. 2022 (this page): Updated for Dragonflight pre-patch.
- 29 Sep. 2022 (talents): Updated Talent Table.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 01 Aug. 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Shadowlands Season 4.
- 31 May 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 31 May 2022 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.5.
- 01 Mar. 2022 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 01 Mar. 2022 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 01 Mar. 2022 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 01 Mar. 2022 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.2.
- 01 Mar. 2022 (gear): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Updated Recommended Gear section.
- Added Tier-Set section.
- Removed Shards of Domination section.
- 01 Mar. 2022 (talents): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Updated Best PvP Talents.
- 01 Mar. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Added Notable Changes section.
- 01 Mar. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 9.2.
- Added Notable Changes section.
- 22 Nov. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 22 Nov. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 22 Nov. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 22 Nov. 2021 (comps): Updated best 3v3 team compositions for Patch 9.1.5.
- 22 Nov. 2021 (gear): Updated Glove and Ring Recommendation.
- 22 Nov. 2021 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 19 Nov. 2021 (this page): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 19 Nov. 2021 (this page): Page reviewed for Patch 9.1.5.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (gear): Updated recommended gear and added Shards of Domination section.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (talents): Updated PvP talents.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 02 Jul. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.1.
- 02 May 2021 (playstyle): Updated Burst rotation.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (races): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (macros): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (playstyle): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (comps): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (gear): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (talents): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 08 Mar. 2021 (this page): Reviewed for Patch 9.0.5.
- 06 Dec. 2020 (gear): Added BiS gear list for Shadowlands.
- 05 Dec. 2020 (playstyle): Updated Rotations to include Covenant Abilities.
- 05 Dec. 2020 (this page): Added Covenant page.
- 05 Dec. 2020 (this page): Added Covenant page.
- 30 Nov. 2020 (playstyle): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
- 30 Nov. 2020 (gear): Removed outdated Traits and Essences.
- Removed outdated gear.
- Added gems section.
- 30 Nov. 2020 (this page): Removed Azerite mentions and updated gear section. More updates to follow.
- 30 Nov. 2020 (this page): Removed Azerite mentions and updated gear section. More updates to follow.
- 23 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Simplified Burst rotation.
- Updated Sustained Damage rotation.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (races): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (macros): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (playstyle): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (comps): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (gear): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (talents): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
- 14 Oct. 2020 (this page): Updated for Shadowlands pre-patch.
Other PvP Guides
This guide has been written by Mysticall, a seasoned PvP player who has repeatedly achieved 3000 rating. You can watch his stream on Twitch, and you can also check out his YouTube channel.
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