druid flag running / feral druid advice?

thrombombom

Legend
I have a few question that I figured you folks here would be the best to answer. I’m not actually twinking, but I do put effort into levelling battlegrounds, and on most forums that will just get you laughed at!



I have a feral druid, dual-specced kitty and bear. Up through 29 it was all one spec, then through 39 it was kitty for battlegrounds, bear to get fast dungeon queues to grind up gear (I turn XP off in the middle of each bracket, in order to chase gear, then put it back on to run BGs. I was typically running solid blues in all almost all slots (not always BIS, but never too far off), keeping my druid at least competitive with those wearing heirlooms (the toon in question is my main toon on that server, so started with no heirlooms, although he’s bought himself shoulders and chest now to reduce the gear grind).



Up through 39 I certainly died plenty of times, but--barring a real disaster of a BG-- I killed more than died, and did pretty well at running the flag in WSG. This toon is worgen, so between travel form, dash, and darkflight (along with a free action potion and use of a trinket if it was off cooldown), he could simply run past most dangers. And if there was only one person in his way, he could usually just kill them quickly (feral charge à ravage, mangle, rake, finisher would take down a lot of folks).



I knew hitting forty would make things harder. Four classes got armour upgrades, and everyone now has mounts that are as fast as his best running speed, making intercepts easier. What I didn’t expect was to suddenly feel like he was made of tissue paper. Mages seemed to be able to take him down before he could get out of range even if he broke through the slows and roots, rogues could finish him off very fast, even pallies were blowing him away.



So I tried a BG again in bear spec, and he could stay up a lot longer, but the vastly reduced mobility and damage output, it made it easy for him to get swarmed. This is random battlegrounds, so FC support can be pretty spotty—why I’d relied on simply being fast up until now. He’s currently still in the 44 bracket, but my aim at this point is to be prepared properly for the 49 bracket.



So now for the questions:
  • at 49, do feral druids make decent flag carriers?
  • If so, are they in tank spec? Or going for the fast run (in general)
  • If they don’t make decent carriers, any other suggested roles for feral druids? (play like a rogue, I’d assume?)
  • Either role, can anyone point me to some example character profiles? Would like to see their talents, glyphs, enchants, etc.

Any help/advice is welcome!



(also, is 49 xp off actually popping queues? If so, once he is reasonably geared at 48, maybe I should see how the big boys do it for a little while).
 
darkflight + travel form = 225% speed so you'll still be outrunning mounts

and then for another flag, or if you're really in a tight jam sprint + cat form is almost as fast as a mount and definitely faster than any run speed



that being said ferals can be good FCs. youre goinging to want to be like 90% geared, and most likely 49, before coming into an xp off game though b/c most everyone else is BiS or super close to it, so you do not want to be undergeared or you'll get smashed and bring down your team too. and games do pop, they're just scheduled
 
Actually:



travel form = +40%, dark flight = +40%, total = +80%.



Feral swiftness 2/2 = +30%, dash = +70%, total = +100%



Not sure where you got the 225% speed from?



and yes, I would not try the xp off unless I've gotten very close to BIS. Will see if I have the patience this time (was fairly close at 19 and 39, less patient at 29).



Would still love to see a sample character or two (or if there is a list of bis gear that never hurts either. I'm willing to do my own research, but while leveling it is not always clear where the balance between crit and haste is, or if more agility or more stamina is the better defensive trait....)
 
look up greenstomp on boulderfist horde. He's a great fc druid. Druids are very capable fc's but only in the right hands, due to their complexity of choice. Their number one advantage over other tanks is their multiple charges, which they can use as an escape from melee that'll get snared by infected wounds. Under attack, they're pretty limited to bear form, so make sure you use those tools well. ^.^
 
I remember that same feeling



If you really want to get back to really owning everyone again (up till and through 85) you need to mix it up and be a little bit more mobile.

- Bleeds are your #1 source of damage, you can bleed and kite.

- Learn to use Bear Form for a quick soak up of damage while you get back to target, and for armor against melee (After you apply some bleeds in kitty)

- Always be mobile, you are meant to be arguably the most mobile and "slippery" class in the game, use that to your advantage for LoS, ToT, and avoid damagez

- You can LoS and heal. (and dispel curses and poisons)

- Use your stun(s), roots and (at higher levels) your Cyclone is a biggy.

- Save your energy for bursts, don't randomly use energy uselessly.

- Use your allies to your advantage, you do the best damage by far in kitty so if there's no need to take damage, let someone else and sit on the enemy.



Overall you need to out-think your opponents and keep them playing on your terms. Be unpredictable.

P.S - Powershift



(From a druid nut)
 
Just roll a bis restodruid and try fcing, has worked for me in 19s and also at 80+ even though im not close to bis gear there. Can break out of any roots and similar, has very nice self healing etc. Try it out for a few BGs and see if you like it.
<




(To be honest I don't remember how 45-49 BGs are, just see if it works.)
 
darkflight + travelform = 198% speed, dont say anything if you dont have a clue
 
Hurrx said:
darkflight + travelform = 198% speed, dont say anything if you dont have a clue
Click to expand...



i got it confused with my 80 (with pvp set bonus, which obviously my 49 doesnt have).....chill out loser

oh and testing it w/o the bonus it says 196%
 
Thanks for the feedback (and lol about the heated movement speed posts)



I've got that toon on the back burner a bit at the moment, but will work my way back to him and practice using his various charges and shifting options more when it comes to flag carrying.



If I'm going to rely on bear form more in BGs, then I can probably live with one spec for BG flag running and tanking (even if the tanking is not optimized, should be adequate in this age of mostly watered down challenge). Then I'd have to decide if I keep the other spec as kitty, and use it for non-flag-running BGs, or set it up as a resto spec optimized for flag carrying, but which could provide mediocre heals in non-flag-running BGs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Top