Resto Druid 8.1 FAQ

Projected 8.1 standings

Balance Changes

The patch notes aren’t particularly good at explaining what specifically is changing so here’s the full list:

• Buff: Wild Growth healing increased by 10%.
• Nerf: Tranquility direct healing decreased by 10%. Tranquility heal over time decreased by 40%.
• Buff: Wild Charge is now off the GCD.
• Fluff: Ursol’s Vortex is learned at a lower level. We also share it with Guardian Druids now.

Moving our power from Tranquility to Wild Growth isn’t necessarily a bad idea since 30+% of our overall power coming from one spell every two minutes wasn’t ideal. It’s a 2-3% nerf to our throughput in most raid cases and a flat buff in Mythic+. Our playstyle won’t change that much. We’re still cooldown-based powerhouses and you’ll still play around Tree of Life, Tranquility and Flourish windows.

Where do we sit on the healer log? But X said…..

Healers were reasonably close together in Uldir and with the 8.1 changes bringing Disc down and Resto Shaman up they should be closer still. We are not on top of the healer power rankings but when everyone is close together that doesn’t matter so much. Play what you enjoy and don’t worry about the theoretical 4% extra HPS you could be doing if you were a Disc Priest. By the time you get good at the spec you rerolled to there’ll be another patch and the rankings will shuffle again. Try not to take “math” done in paint too seriously.

Does this change which talents we take?

You’ll still take Inner Peace / Flourish most of the time. Cooldown strength always depends on the damage windows of each fight but at least for Uldir our progression build won’t change. Soul of the Forest in particular isn’t magically viable because of the small synergy with a 10% Wild Growth buff (that Tree of Life also benefits from).

Feral buffs? So… Catweaving buffs?

The following Feral changes copy over to us as Resto:

• Buff: Rip Energy cost reduced to 20. Combo points now extend duration instead of increasing damage.
• Buff: Shred damage increased by about 20%.
• Nerf: Ferocious Bite no longer refreshes Rip on low health targets.

The other changes, such as the aura buff and mastery changes, are Feral-only.

Trait Revamps

In 8.1 several traits are being revamped while others are being removed entirely and replaced with new traits. All azerite pieces will continue to have four rings until season 2 launches at the end of January along with the new raid and Mythic+ season. The Azerite Page has been updated with all changes and Questionably Epic Live can tell you what your best gear is.

The new Darkshore Warfront add another four new traits

Horde and Alliance get two each. More information will be added on these when the servers come back up.

Does this mean we have a new BiS?

For Uldir you’ll want to run 1 Autumn Leaves, 1 Archive of the Titans and then either a second Archive or a Waking Dream. The Mythic+ best in slot list hasn’t changed and you’ll still want to run 1 Grove Tending and 2 Tradewinds or Archive of the Titans.

New Profession Items

It’s a great day to be an Engineering / Alchemy main. The new items will be potent at the start of the raid tier (and now) before falling off later. Leatherworkers also gain the ability to make 385 BoP boots / pants and Jewelcrafters can be a very powerful 415 socketed ring.

Engineering

Emblazoned Gearspun Goggles

The Breakdown: If you already have a decent 385 helm then save your money. This doesn’t outrank them. If you’re a new alt or still running around in 370 world quest gear then you might consider it. The 400 and 415 ilvl versions of the helm can’t be made until the new raid is live.

Alchemy

Emblazoned Alchemist Stone

The Breakdown: The new Alchemist stone is basically the Mythrax trinket with a big mana bonus attached. Given how mediocre the current slate of trinkets is, this makes it good enough to be a top 2 raiding trinket until Season 2 begins. Alchemists also get two hour flasks. That’s right. It’s time to reroll. This one can be a little confusing because there are actually two 385 Alchemist stones and the one available from the trainer can’t be crafted until Season 2 begins at the end of January. To learn how to craft the Emblazoned stone you need to craft a 355 Sanguinated Stone. That’ll give you the recipe for the 370 ilvl Imbued Alchemist stone which will then unlock the 385 version. Phew. You can scrap the 355 and 370 stones after you make them to get some of the Expulsom back.

So, what else is coming this patch?

Honestly most of the good content is coming when Season 2 begins at the end of January. Until then you’ll have some badass new quest lines and a BFA version of the Legion Invasions to see you through the rest of 2018.