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Druid

Bear, cat, and healer in one skin

A druid can be a bear, a cat, and a healer in the same fight, and at level 30 outruns almost everyone on foot. The price is mana: every shapeshift is expensive, so druids learn to count it before learning to fight. In WoW Forever, bears and cats deal damage based on your weapon, Cat Form comes from a quest, and beta testers received a new talent and a heated debate in place of the old energy trick.

TankHealerMeleeCaster

Druid PvP

Level 60 builds with every talent explained, combos and a plan for every matchup, duels, battlegrounds and world PvP.

PvP · Druid45 min read · builds and every matchupOpen guide

Start leveling

Step-by-step routes: where to go, which quests to pick up, when to enter dungeons, talents and addons.

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Level 1–30 routes · quests, gear and talents · guides in Russian

An apprentice of the Cenarion Circle

Veterans teach warriors, books teach mages, and animal spirits teach druids. The demigod Cenarius taught mortals druidic magic; his first pupil was the night elf Malfurion Stormrage, who founded the Cenarion Circle in Moonglade. The Circle still stays out of wars, so Horde and Alliance study under the same teachers there.

Hamuul Runetotem became the first tauren druid in almost twenty generations after seeking out Malfurion, despite Archdruid Fandral Staghelm's opposition. Your tauren is therefore among the first to revive a long-forgotten tradition, and the game remembers it: every few levels, Moonglade calls you back for another trial.

Four skins, one mana bar

People play druids for one thing: changing shape in the middle of a fight. Bear Form brings heavy attacks every 2.5 seconds, rage, and a thick hide. Cat Form offers stealth, fast attacks, and combo points like a rogue. Aquatic Form lets you breathe underwater and swim quickly, while Travel Form adds 40% movement speed outdoors. In caster form you heal and cast spells; there is also a fifth form, Moonkin Form, but it is a Balance talent available from level 40.

Shapeshifting removes roots and slows, but costs mana: entering Bear or Cat Form costs 55% of base mana; leaving is free. Before shifting out to heal, an experienced druid always checks whether enough mana remains to shift back.

Forms are more complete in Forever. Bears and cats use your weapon's damage, whereas Classic weapons were merely stat sticks. You can now drink potions in form and open most doors with a paw. Skyborne have their own forms, with blue and white feathers.

Leveling 1–30: bear, cat, and Moonglade

Druids crawl through their first nine levels. Wrath costs half as much as in Classic but becomes noticeably weaker from level 6; one Classic veteran wrote on Blizzard's forum that leveling a Skyborne druid from 9 to 10 took around an hour. Damage was later increased by 50%, but the advice remains: build your combat around Moonfire and weapon attacks, and always keep Thorns and Mark of the Wild active.

The real druid begins at level 10. Turak Runetotem sends you to the Great Bear Spirit in Moonglade, then to the Barrens, where you must defeat Lunaclaw while still in caster form. Cast Nature's Grasp before the fight: the first enemy to hit you in melee becomes rooted. Your reward is Bear Form, and your mana finally starts recovering during combat.

Moonglade then becomes your second home: Cure Poison awaits at 14, Aquatic Form at 16, and Cat Form at 20. From level 10, Teleport: Moonglade takes you there; in Classic, Bunthen Plainswind flew druids back to Thunder Bluff for free. Questie data suggests he is still there in Forever, making the teleport and flight your second Hearthstone.

From 20, Cat Form is your main form. Sneak up with Prowl, build 4–5 combo points with Claw, and from 20 open from behind with Shred. There is no particularly useful finisher before 32: Rip ticks for 12 seconds, but testers say normal mobs die sooner. Carry combo points to the next mob instead; Forever preserves them when changing targets. Against three mobs, Bear Form helps again, and at 30 your trainer teaches Travel Form.

Dungeons and raids: every role has a price

Bears can tank dungeons from level 10 and hold several mobs reliably from 16, when Swipe hits three targets. At 25, Primal Bite adds a high-threat attack against your main target. Healing is easier too: Regrowth costs 40% less in Forever, healing over time can critically heal, and Revive resurrects out of combat from level 12, something Classic druids lacked.

Early beta bears complained about missed attacks, no rage, and mobs running to teammates. Testers partly blamed form combat skill, which needs leveling like weapon skill. Blizzard responded with numbers: Swipe now scales with attack power, critical hits generate twice as much rage, and Bear Form's threat bonus rose from 30% to 50%. Even before those changes, tester Cornbred said tanking as a level-30 bear was a joy.

Classic raids expected druids to heal, but two druids' HoTs did not stack on the same target, limiting healer slots. Cats ranked behind rogues, forum answers about moonkin were a blunt 'don't,' and bears were seen as backup tanks. Yet Taladril, author of Warcraft Tavern's guide, main-tanked throughout Ahn'Qiraj and Naxxramas progression, and tanked Vol'jin during an Orgrimmar raid: Vol'jin polymorphs enemies, but bears cannot be polymorphed.

There are no raids in beta, but Forever has already helped healers: Swiftmend no longer consumes Rejuvenation, and different druids' HoTs now stack. Blizzard does warn that versatility comes at the cost of weak control: druids lack slows and silence.

PvP: flags, roots, and pursuit

In Classic, druids were considered Warsong Gulch's best flag carriers: Travel Form outruns pursuit, shifting removes roots, bears absorb hits, and HoTs heal on the move. Blizzard forum veterans recall sending a single restoration druid to fetch the flag, sneaking across the whole map into the enemy flag room.

A rogue in the same thread greeted those visitors with Ambush and immediately removed 60% of their health. Hence the rule: sneak as a cat, take hits as a bear. Sap does not work on beasts, but Hibernate works on enemy druids in form; shifting cannot remove stuns or fear.

Forever makes the toolkit more reliable. Nature's Grasp works in forms and indoors and roots with certainty rather than a 35% chance; Entangling Roots also works indoors; Faerie Fire is free in form; cats and bears cannot be disarmed.

Beta has one battleground: Darkspear Islands from level 30, with a flag in the center that must be carried home - a perfect druid job. Testers disagree: some rate Balance and Restoration above Feral in PvP, while others predict druids will be gods in duels if they avoid staying in one form too long.

What is new in Forever, and what testers say

The biggest addition is the Cat Form quest. In Classic you bought it from a trainer; in Forever, at 20 Turak sends you to collect three relics - a fang, a claw, and a silent shadow - in Malfurion's Barrow Dens in Moonglade, where his body sleeps. A statue at the entrance conceals you from the spirit guardians; if they spot you, fight as a bear.

The second change concerns energy. Classic's best cats relied on powershifting: Furor granted 40 energy when entering form. In Forever, that talent preserves energy instead of granting it: at 5/5 you return with your previous energy plus 10 for every second spent out of form. Since October 15, Bear Form preserves the previous energy pool but does not regenerate it. In return, level 25 offers Shifting Power, converting 55% of base mana into 40 energy every 16 seconds.

Blizzard currently leads the argument: in the thread 'Feral druid in forever: gutted again,' a reply calling the old trick a crutch received 63 likes against 25 for the complaint. Lexolas, Seramate's Feral expert, thinks Shifting Power essentially restores powershifting as a button with a cooldown; critics counter that those 40 energy cost mana needed for healing.

One small Wailing Caverns detail: five pieces of Embrace of the Viper from the serpent lords turn your cat into a snake, cosmetically. Reddit captioned it 'finally, playable naga,' while a Mein-MMO reader wondered how a legless snake would ambush anyone.

Is this your class?

Choose druid if you do not want to choose between tanking, healing, and damage: you heal yourself, know how to escape, and groups welcome you in any role.

There are drawbacks: mana for every shift, slow early levels, many action bars, and sharing Agility leather with rogues and hunters. The class's main rule is therefore: do not leave form unless you are sure you have enough mana to return.

If your paws are itching, open the Tauren Druid 1–30 leveling guide: the full journey from Camp Narache to Thousand Needles, including form quests, weapons, and four builds. Even if you chose another race, the talents and forms are shared.

Since October 8, damage absorbed by shields still generates Bear rage, critical hits generate 100% more rage, and Bear's threat bonus is 50%. Since October 15, Moonkin Aura grants spell critical strike chance raid-wide, while Leader of the Pack grants melee and ranged critical strike chance to the entire raid. This does not make Innervate or personal effects raid-wide.

Druid races

Horde

TaurenWar Stomp, Endurance, Plainsrunning (new), CultivationIn Forever, War Stomp works in Bear and Cat Form, stunning up to five nearby enemies for 2 seconds. Endurance grants +5% health and +2% critical damage and healing; Plainsrunning builds running speed up to +30%, but players report it does not stack with Cat or Travel Form. We have a complete 1–30 tauren guide.
Skyborne · WindshaperWalk on Air (gliding), Wind Blessed, Skysight - Russian names are not yet availableSkyborne have unique blue-and-white feathered bear and cat forms. Blizzard has already muted their colors to fit the Classic world and promises Classic-graphics versions in early 2027. Walk on Air works in form; Wind Blessed grants +3% attack and casting speed instead of tauren health and critical-damage bonuses; Skysight does not stack with Cat or Travel Form. This is a paid race, and only tauren get War Stomp. Since October 15, Walk on Air has a 90-second cooldown, and the racial regeneration or speed ability can be activated while moving.

Alliance

Night ElfQuickness, Shadowmeld, Light of EluneQuickness grants +1% dodge and +2% movement speed; in Forever, a night elf druid also has the stealth effectiveness of a character one level higher. Shadowmeld works in form and even in combat, with a 2-minute cooldown. It does not drop combat, but can make an enemy lose their target mid-cast. Light of Elune grants +10% crit for 15 seconds, making this the stealthiest cat and a strong PvP race.
Skyborne · High OrderWalk on Air (gliding), Wind Blessed, Read Leyline - Russian names are not yet availableThe same feathered forms as Horde Skyborne. Read Leyline doubles health and mana regeneration for at least 30 seconds, or 15 minutes near a ley line, greatly reducing downtime for a druid paying mana for every shift. This is a paid race. Since October 15, Walk on Air has a 90-second cooldown, and racial regeneration or speed can be activated while moving.

Leveling builds

Talents for levels 10–30, matching the beta cap. We will update these builds when leveling to 60 opens.

Feral: CatmainFeral Combat 21

The fastest solo route: bear from 10, cat from 20. Beta guides (Warcraft Tavern, Method) and almost all testers recommend it - caster leveling is painful in Forever.

  1. 10–14Ferocity5/5
  2. 15–17Heart of the Wild3/5
  3. 18–19Feral Swiftness2/2
  4. 20–21Sharpened Claws2/2
  5. 22–23Savage Fury2/2
  6. 24Feral Charge1/1
  7. 25–26Blood Frenzy2/2
  8. 27–29Predatory Strikes3/3
  9. 30Leader of the Pack1/1
Why these talents

Strengths: Ferocity reduces the cost of Maul and Claw; Feral Swiftness at 18–19 initially grants +4% bear dodge, then makes cats 30% faster from 20, even indoors in Forever. Blood Frenzy at 25–26 grants extra combo points from crits; Leader of the Pack at 30 grants the group +3% crit while you are in form.

Weaknesses: cats have no multi-target damage - shift to bear against three mobs. No Primal Bite, so dungeon tanking is harder than with the bear build.

Weapon: whichever two-handed mace or staff has the highest DPS - in Forever, form auto-attacks and Claw use weapon damage.

At 30: in Classic, Leader of the Pack also benefited the druid. If it does not in Forever, take 4/5 Heart of the Wild at 30 instead.

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Feral: Bearfor dungeonsFeral Combat 21

The same route with a tanking focus: 5/5 Heart of the Wild by level 19 and Primal Bite at 25. For frequent dungeon runners.

  1. 10–14Ferocity5/5
  2. 15–19Heart of the Wild5/5
  3. 20Feral Charge1/1
  4. 21–22Savage Fury2/2
  5. 23–24Sharpened Claws2/2
  6. 25Primal Bite1/1
  7. 26–27Blood Frenzy2/2
  8. 28–30Thick Hide3/3
Why these talents

Strengths: +20% bear Stamina by 19, Feral Charge at 20 for a charge and interrupt, and Primal Bite at 25 as Forever's main threat attack. The same Sharpened Claws, Savage Fury, and Blood Frenzy support solo cat play.

Weaknesses: no Feral Swiftness, so your cat runs slower and deals less damage before 25 than the main build.

Alternative: if groups pull many mobs, take 3/3 Feral Instinct at 28–30 instead of Thick Hide for 30% stronger Swipe.

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Cat/healer: FurorsafestFeral Combat 12 · Restoration 9

12 points in Feral and 9 in Restoration. For frequent mid-fight healing or playing with no second chances.

  1. 10–14Ferocity5/5
  2. 15–19Furor5/5
  3. 20–21Feral Swiftness2/2
  4. 22–24Heart of the Wild3/5
  5. 25–26Sharpened Claws2/2
  6. 27–29Natural Shapeshifter3/3
  7. 30Naturalist1/5
Why these talents

Strengths: Furor (the Restoration talent, not the spell Wrath) lets you shift out to heal and return with your previous energy, while bears start with 10 rage. Natural Shapeshifter at 27–29 reduces form costs by 30%.

Weaknesses: slower kills than the main build. Forum opinions vary: some call Furor useless for damage, while others want it baseline.

Choose this if: you leave form to heal more often than once every couple of fights.

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Balance: roots and Wrathif you want to castBalance 21

21 points in Balance: faster Wrath at half the cost, and roots withstand more damage. Beta reports call this the slowest solo route, but you can heal groups.

  1. 10–14Improved Wrath5/5
  2. 15–17Moonglow3/3
  3. 18–19Improved Moonfire2/2
  4. 20–22Improved Entangling Roots3/3
  5. 23–24Nature's Reach2/2
  6. 25Insect Swarm1/1
  7. 26–30Vengeance5/5
Why these talents

Strengths: Improved Wrath makes Wrath a 1.5-second cast at half cost; Improved Entangling Roots makes roots deal 75% more damage and withstand more hits, giving you time for 2–3 Wrath casts; Nature's Reach extends range to 36 yards.

Weaknesses: in Forever, ranks 3–5 of Wrath are noticeably weaker than Classic even after buffs, and mana runs out quickly. Balance's only new button before 30 is Insect Swarm at 25.

Alternative: at 23–24 take 2/2 Nature's Majesty (+4% crit) instead of Nature's Reach.

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Useful information

Druid: forms, skills, weapons, manaWhat to train, which form to fight in, and which weapons to use - through level 30

How to level. 1–9: caster. Pull with Moonfire, swing your staff in melee, and keep Thorns and Mark of the Wild active. 10–20: bear. Enrage → Maul on every swing, Demoralizing Roar against two enemies, then Swipe against three from 16. From 20: cat. Prowl, approach, then Claw to 4–5 combo points. Against three or more mobs, return to bear and use War Stomp, which works in form in Forever.

Lvl.SkillSourceLearn it?
1Wrath, Healing Touch, Mark of the WildStarting ability and Gart MistrunnerYes
4Moonfire, RejuvenationtrainerYes
6Thorns, rank 2 WrathtrainerYes
8Entangling Roots, rank 2 Healing TouchtrainerYes - roots now work indoors
10Bear Form, with Growl and MaulBody and Heart questEssential
10Nature's Grasp, Demoralizing RoartrainerYes - Nature's Grasp used to be a talent
10Teleport: Moongladeprobably with the Moonglade questYes - your teleport to the trainer
12Enrage, Regrowth, RevivetrainerYes - Regrowth costs almost half as much in Forever
14BashtrainerYes - an interrupt
14Cure PoisonPower over Poison questYes
16SwipetrainerYes - hits three targets
16Aquatic FormAquatic Form quest, finished around 26Yes - also rewards an idol for −40 mana cost
18Faerie Fire, HibernatetrainerFaerie Fire: yes; Hibernate: against beasts
20Cat Form, Claw, Prowl, RipReturn to Thunder Bluff questEssential
20Shred, Omen of Clarity, RebirthtrainerYes
20StarfiretrainerFeral can skip it
22Soothe AnimaltrainerOptional; Shred is already available at 20
24Rake, Remove CursetrainerYes
26Dash, Abolish PoisontrainerYes - Dash for long journeys
28Cower, Challenging RoartrainerOptional
30Travel Form, TranquilitytrainerYes - +40% movement speed

Horde druid trainers: Gart Mistrunner in Camp Narache (through level 6), Gennia Runetotem in Bloodhoof Village, Turak Runetotem on Elder Rise, Loganaar in Moonglade, and new Nana Lighthoof on Stargazer Mesa north of Thunder Bluff. Orgrimmar and Undercity have no druid trainer. We have not checked exact Forever prices - save up: riding training at 40 costs 100 gold.

FormsWhen to use each
  • Bear Form (10): main form until 20. Weapon-damage attack every 2.5 seconds; hits and crits generate rage. Costs 55% of base mana to enter.
  • Cat Form (20): attacks every second and uses combo points. Method and testers report that combo points persist through target changes in Forever - carry them to the next mob.
  • Aquatic Form (16, quest finished around 26): underwater breathing and faster swimming, useful in Blackfathom Deeps. Also rewards Idol of Shifting Tides: forms cost 40 less mana.
  • Travel Form (30): +40% outdoor movement speed. Until 40, only shamans (Ghost Wolf) keep pace.
Weapons along the routeDPS matters most in Forever
  • 1–9: Elder's Cane from Rite of Strength, then Walking Stick, sold by Mahnott Roughwound in the village (4.2 DPS).
  • 10: learn two-handed maces from Ansekhwa in Thunder Bluff. Dreamwatcher Staff from Thunderhorn Cleansing (5.6).
  • 10–11: Goblin Smasher from Supervisor Fizsprocket, a tauren-only two-handed mace (8.2). Slightly stronger: Quarter Staff (level 11, 9.4) and Giant Mace (level 10, 9.0), sold by Etu Ragetotem.
  • 14: Stonewood Hammer from Centaur Bracers (9.5), or Heavy Spiked Mace, sold by Lizzarik near Ratchet (12.5).
  • 16: Rock Hammer (12.6), from Etu Ragetotem in Thunder Bluff or Ironzar in Ratchet.
  • 20–21: Long Staff (15.2) and Maul (16.0), from Etu Ragetotem; Bonebreaker from Leaders of the Fang (20.4, +7 Strength) if you run Wailing Caverns.
  • 21: Big Bad Basher from Chol'aruk the Vulture (16.0, +4 Strength, +6 Stamina): your main weapon for 20–30.
  • 24: Necromancer's Crooked Staff from Rat'mael's Wrath (15.2), if you do not have the Chol'aruk the Vulture mace.
  • 29: Demolition Hammer from Weapons of Choice (17.6, +9 Strength), optional.
  • 30: War Hammer, from Ohan'ko in Thunder Bluff (22.3); skip it if you have Bonebreaker.
  • Sharpening stones and weightstones work in forms in Forever: prepare your weapon before a long circuit.
Mana and healingSpend less time drinking
  • Entering Bear or Cat Form costs 55% of base mana; leaving is free. Do not leave form just to cast Rejuvenation: if you have enough health for the next mob, keep fighting.
  • Regrowth is your main heal from 12 and costs almost half as much as Classic. Apply Rejuvenation before pulling to heal during combat.
  • Forms do not spend mana: pull with Moonfire, immediately shift to bear, and recover mana while fighting.
  • Health and mana potions work in form in Forever. First Aid now makes healing potions.
  • Veildust Medicine Bag from Curing the Sick: out of combat only. Equip it instead of your two-handed mace, use it, then re-equip the mace.
Class questsFor tauren druids only
  • 1: Verdant Note. 10: Heeding the Call → Moonglade → Great Bear Spirit → Back to Thunder Bluff → Body and Heart rewards Bear Form.
  • 14: Lessons Anew → The Principal Source → Gathering the Cure → Curing the Sick → Power over Poison rewards Cure Poison and Veildust Medicine Bag.
  • 16: A Lesson to Learn → Trial of the Lake → Trial of the Sea Lion → Aquatic Form rewards Aquatic Form, Aquarius Belt, and Idol of Shifting Tides. Pendant halves: the Sludge Fen in the Barrens (at 17) and Silverpine Forest (around 23); combine them at 26.
  • 20, new in Forever: Great Cat Spirit → Great Cat Spirit → Great Cat Spirit → Blessing of the Great Cat Spirit → Return to Thunder Bluff rewards Cat Form.
  • 30: Travel Form, from the trainer, no quest.
Talents 10–304 builds with talent trees and level-by-level order
Staying aliveCombos that save you
  • Use Nature's Grasp before fighting: the first enemy to hit you in melee becomes rooted. Works in forms and indoors in Forever.
  • Two mobs: Demoralizing Roar, then focus one. Three: Swipe and War Stomp for a 2-second stun on everyone nearby.
  • Enemy casting or healing? Use Bash.
  • In trouble: leave form, cast Regrowth and Rejuvenation, then return to bear or escape as a cat.
  • Revive resurrects allies out of combat, saving group members a corpse run.
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →
Dungeons: what to pick up beforehandQuests collected far from the entrance, so you do not have to backtrack
Ragefire Chasm13–18 · Orgrimmar, Cleft of Shadow · skipped by default
  • Searching for the Lost Satchel → Returning the Lost Satchel and Testing an Enemy's Strength - Rahauro, Thunder BluffOnly if you have a group at 13–16: the tauren route reaches Orgrimmar around 22
  • Slaying the Beast and Hidden Enemies → Hidden Enemies - OrgrimmarPick these up there if you do go

Without a group, take none of these quests. Tanking before 16 is difficult because Swipe arrives at 16; healing is easier.

Wailing Caverns17–24 · the Barrens, oasis west of the Crossroads
  • Deviate Hides and Deviate Eradication - at the entranceImmediately before the run: step
  • Smart Drinks - Mebok Mizzyrix, RatchetAfter Raptor Horns: step
  • Trouble at the Docks - Crane Operator Bigglefuzz, RatchetAny Ratchet visit from level 14
  • Serpentbloom - Apothecary Zamah, Thunder BluffAfter Apothecary Zamah: step
  • Leaders of the Fang - Nara Wildmane, Thunder BluffChain begins with The Forgotten Pools in the Crossroads. Reward: Bonebreaker (20.4 DPS mace) or Crescent Staff for healing
  • The Glowing Shard → In NightmaresGlowing Shard drops from Mutanus the Devourer. Turn in to Falla Sagewind near the Crossroads, then Arch Druid Hamuul Runetotem

For druids: Embrace of the Viper from the serpent lords, leather with Intellect and Agility. Beta data says 5 pieces turn Cat Form into a snake, cosmetically.

Ruins of LordaeronNew · above Undercity · around 24 on this route
  • Rat'mael's Wrath - Deathguard Christoph, the post outside UndercityStraight off the zeppelin: step
  • The Light's Justice and A New Plague - UndercityThere too: step
  • A Troubling Request - Tabitha Captiveheart, the SepulcherFirst visit to the Sepulcher: step
  • Unending Torment and The Crest of LordaeronStart inside; turn in at Undercity: step

New Forever dungeon: 6 bosses in any order, quests for levels 21–22.

Shadowfang Keep22–30 · Silverpine Forest · around 24 on this route
  • The Book of Ur - Keeper Bel'dugur, UndercityFirst Undercity visit: step
  • Deathstalkers in Shadowfang and Arugal Must Die - the SepulcherFirst Sepulcher visit: step. Arugal Must Die rewards Seal of Sylvanas
Blackfathom Deeps24–32 · Ashenvale, the Zoram Strand · around 28 on this route
  • Trouble in the Deeps - Tsunaman, Sun Rock RetreatRequired to unlock Allegiance to the Old Gods (step)
  • The Essence of Aku'Mai and Amongst the Ruins - Je'neu SancreaOn the day of the run: step
  • Blackfathom Villainy - starts insideTurn in to Bashana Runetotem, Thunder Bluff (step). Reward: leather bracers with attack power

Aquatic Form is useful here: half the dungeon is underwater.

Razorfen Kraul25–35 · southern Barrens · by 30
  • Willix the Importer - starts insideGroup only, by 30: step
  • A Vengeful Fate - Auld Stonespire, Thunder BluffFrom 29, only on the day of the run: step. The final boss, Charlga Razorflank, drops the heart
  • Blueleaf Tubers - Mebok Mizzyrix, RatchetOnly if you visit Ratchet: the route does not return after 20
Excavation Site: WetlandsNew · 26–31 · southern Wetlands · after 30
  • Changing Tastes - Borstan, OrgrimmarIf you are going with a group
  • Elder Knowledge → Earthly EchoA relic drops inside → Bashana Runetotem → Mull Thunderhorn on Stargazer Mesa. Rewards include a healing staff
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →
Professions and campingWhat to pick, where to train, and what to gather - through level 30
How to learn for free
  • A Humble Request (level 1) rewards your choice of gathering manual: Wild Harvest (Herbalism), Pelt Collecting for Beginners (Skinning), or Mining for Dummies (Mining). Readable from level 3.
  • Apprentice trainers in Camp Narache: Garan Sunstrider (Herbalism), Nawka Wildsong (Skinning), Varta Stonemane (Mining), 10 copper each.
  • Kauni Gentlewind and Vunna Darkmane sell 4-slot herb, skinning, and mining bags, plus a Skinning Knife.
Trainers and ranks
  • Apprentice caps at 75. Journeyman requires skill 50, costs 5 silver, and caps at 150. Expert requires skill 125, costs 50 silver, and caps at 225.
  • Bloodhoof Village: Yonn Deepcut for Skinning, Chaw Stronghide for Leatherworking, Pyall Silentstride for Cooking, Vira Younghoof for First Aid.
  • Thunder Bluff: Komin Winterhoof for Herbalism, Mooranta for Skinning, Pand Stonebinder for First Aid.
Camping (new in Forever)
  • Unlocked through Seeking Adventure → The Great Outdoors → Survival Basics: Cooking. Kaga Wildhoof near Bloodhoof Village teaches resting by a campfire; Pyall Silentstride teaches Cooking and campfires.
  • Each profession has a Survival Basics quest, such as Survival Basics: Herbalism or Survival Basics: Skinning. Kaga Wildhoof offers these when your skill is high enough. Reward: a camping buff item.
  • Herbalism: candle (+Intellect); Skinning: chair (+2% crit); Leatherworking: tent (rested bonus); First Aid: medical kit (+Stamina).
  • Sit beside any campfire for a minute, even someone else's, for a one-hour buff.
Cooking and First Aid
  • In Forever, all cooked food grants +5% experience from kills for 15 minutes - keep it active.
  • First Aid also makes healing potions, a disease poultice, and a tourniquet for bleeds. Druids cannot remove diseases, so the poultice fills that gap.
  • Pand Stonebinder in Thunder Bluff teaches Wool Bandage (skill 80).
What to gather
Money
  • Sell gray items at every stop; auction herbs and leather in Thunder Bluff.
  • Do not buy a vendor weapon when a quest reward is only 1–2 levels away (see the Druid section).
  • Aim for around 10 gold saved by 30: riding requires 100 at 40.
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →
What is new in Forever?Only changes relevant to this route
What remains unchanged
  • Old Mulgore and Barrens quests remain; quest experience and experience requirements per level are unchanged.
  • Bear Form, poison cure, and Aquatic Form class quests are the same as in Classic.
  • No new Horde flight paths for 1–30, and no Thunder Bluff zeppelin: travel to the Eastern Kingdoms through Orgrimmar. Hearthstone cooldown remains one hour.
  • Mounts still require level 40 (first mount free, training 100 gold).
Mulgore and Thunder Bluff
  • Mulgore's map was rebuilt: coordinates differ from old guides. This site uses Forever coordinates.
  • New quests: The Grace of An'she and Mu'sha (bag), Chakuak, Training Duel, Kyle's Gone Missing!, Farwalkers, and the chain Farwalker Mala → Grim Tidings → Our Ancient Enemy → Out of Our Lands → The High Chieftain; at the mine: Fizsprocket's Notes and elite Work Stoppage; Thunderhorn's Report; camping: Seeking Adventure.
  • Thunder Bluff: Traditions of the Bluff and Borton Shadetotem's chain The Earthmother's Silent Steps → The Earthmother's Silent Steps → The Earthmother's Silent Steps.
  • New camp on Stargazer Mesa in northwestern Mulgore: druid trainer Nana Lighthoof and level-30 quests near Grim Peak, visited at 29.
Druid in Forever
  • Cat Form comes from a quest at 20 (step), not a trainer purchase.
  • Weapons deal damage in form: auto-attacks use weapon DPS, abilities use a percentage of weapon damage. Sharpening stones, weapon enchants, and potions work. Forms cannot be disarmed.
  • New trainer abilities: Nature's Grasp (10), Revive (12), Omen of Clarity (20). Wrath is cheaper and weaker; Regrowth costs almost half as much.
  • Talents rebuilt: new Shifting Power, Primal Bite, and Blood Frenzy; Furor redesigned. Powershifting is gone.
  • Bear rage and threat were buffed twice in October: +50% threat in form, twice as much rage from crits.
Tauren racial abilities
  • War Stomp now works in Bear and Cat Form: a 2-second stun on nearby enemies.
  • Endurance: +5% health and +2% critical damage and healing (since October 15; previously +1% hit).
  • Plainsrunning (new): +1% speed for every 5 seconds running, up to 30%; damage or stopping resets it. One guide says it does not stack with Cat or Travel Form.
  • Cultivation: grow an herb nearby every 15 minutes (since October 15; previously once an hour); an extra herb with Herbalism.
  • Nature Resistance is absent from Forever's racial list.
PvP and rulesets
  • Choose a ruleset: Normal makes PvP voluntary (/pvp); PvP flags you automatically in contested and enemy zones; Roleplay works like Normal.
  • Horde territory on the route: Mulgore, the Barrens, Tirisfal, and Silverpine Forest. Contested zones: Stonetalon Mountains (from 18), Hillsbrad Foothills, Ashenvale, and Thousand Needles.
  • Battlegrounds: Warsong Gulch from 10, Arathi Basin from 20, and new Darkspear Islands (15 versus 15) from 30. Testers report only the level-30 battleground is open in beta.
  • Druid advice: shifting removes roots and slows; Faerie Fire is free in form and prevents stealth while active; Hibernate also works on enemy druids in animal form.
Experience and conveniences
  • Cooked food grants +5% experience from kills. Camping buffs, tents, and bedrolls are available.
  • Dungeon quests award 2–3 times the experience of regular quests.
  • No automatic dungeon finder - only a listing board; meeting stones do not summon.
  • The Legacy System unlocks account-wide bonuses when your first character reaches 25.
  • Playing with friends who speak another language? Select the same preferred language under Languages and Communication to meet more often in the same world.
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →
Tips and common mistakesHearthstone settings, dangerous mobs, and things to remember
Lvl.Key pointDo not miss
1–6Manual from A Humble Request, bag from The Grace of An'she and Mu'shaIncense is timed: 10 minutes
6–10Camping and Cooking: Kaga WildhoofDeath skip to the village; free before 10
10Two-handed mace skill, Goblin SmasherDo the Bear Form quest immediately
12Bear Form, ReviveSet your Hearthstone to the Crossroads
16Thunder Bluff and MoongladeApothecary Zamah is timed
17Pendant half in the Sludge FenChest underwater
18Moonglade: cure and trainerBuy Earthroot beforehand
20Cat Form comes from a questSet your Hearthstone to Thunder Bluff before teleporting
20–21Southern Barrens: Big Bad Basher from Chol'aruk the VultureSet your Hearthstone back to the Crossroads
22Undercity and Silverpine ForestSecond pendant half on the seabed
24–25Shadowfang Keep and Ruins of LordaeronDungeon quests only with a group
26Moonglade: Aquatic FormEquip Idol of Shifting Tides
29Grim Peak: new contentBroodmother is elite - bring a group
30Travel FormSave for riding: 100 gold at 40
Hearthstone
  • 1: Camp Narache. Around 9.5: Thunder Bluff. 12: the Crossroads. 20: Thunder Bluff for the Cat Form quest. 20: back to the Crossroads. Around 22.5: Undercity. Around 27.5: Splintertree Post. Around 29.8: Freewind Post.
  • Leave Moonglade by Hearthstone or flight: Bunthen Plainswind flies druids to Thunder Bluff, according to Questie for Forever.
  • Use death skips for short distances. Free before level 10; afterward, Resurrection Sickness and −25% durability.
Dangerous mobs
  • Mulgore: Chief Sharptusk Thornmantle and guards, Palemane Poachers, and elite Venture Co. Clearcutter in the mine.
  • The Barrens: Barak Kodobane, Hezrul Bloodmark and guards, Baron Longshore (16), Serena Bloodfeather (20), and Lunaclaw if summoned with no mana.
  • Stonetalon Mountains: Grimtotem Sorcerers, Besseleth (elite 21), rare elites Sorrow Wing and Sister Riven.
  • 20–30: Chol'aruk (elite 20) near the Crossroads, Syndicate in Durnholde Keep, Keeper Ordan and guards in Ashenvale, Broodmother Valraxx (elite 31) near Grim Peak.
  • Moonglade: enraged spirits in Malfurion's Barrow Dens.
Common mistakes
  • Staying a caster after 10: Wrath is noticeably weaker than Classic in Forever. Get Bear Form immediately.
  • Looking for Cat Form at the trainer at 20: it is a quest from Turak Runetotem on Elder Rise.
  • Using a stat stick instead of a high-damage weapon: Forever forms use weapon damage.
  • Not learning two-handed maces, leaving you unable to equip Goblin Smasher.
  • Abandoning Trial of the Sea Lion when the second pendant half awaits in Silverpine Forest around 23.
  • Returning from Hillsbrad by zeppelin: Teleport: Moonglade plus the Moonglade flight is faster for druids (step).
  • Leaving form after every fight for Rejuvenation: you run out of mana in three fights.
  • Not setting your Hearthstone to Thunder Bluff before the Cat Form quest: you must fly back from Moonglade.
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →
AddonsWhat to install from CurseForge: only addons with a Forever version
For druids
  • ★ Forever_DruidManaBar displays a mana bar below rage or energy in Bear or Cat Form. According to its description, Forever's default UI does not show mana in form, yet that determines whether you can shift out and heal. Made for Forever (1.60.1 file); the author fixes bugs within a day.
  • Tanking dungeons as a bear? Install a threat meter from the Optional card: the built-in damage meter does not show threat.
This section in the leveling guide (Russian) →

Frequently asked questions

Is druid beginner-friendly?

Yes, if buttons do not scare you. Druids forgive leveling mistakes with self-healing, a tough bear, and a cat that can escape. The hard part is tracking rage, energy, and mana without wasting mana on unnecessary shifts; that takes more than one evening to learn.

Which tree should I level before 30?

Almost all beta guides and testers recommend Feral, with Bear Form at 10 and Cat Form at 20. Dungeon tanks should take a build with Primal Bite at 25. Testers rate Balance the slowest leveling tree because it gains almost no new buttons before 30. Beta reports put talent resets at 1 silver if you have not reset recently.

Why does the trainer not offer Cat Form?

Forever grants Cat Form through a level-20 quest chain. For tauren, Turak Runetotem starts it on Elder Rise in Thunder Bluff, then sends you to collect three relics in Malfurion's Barrow Dens in Moonglade. Alliance turn it in at Darnassus, while Skyborne have their own cat spirit. Allow 15–25 minutes.

Does a druid's weapon really matter in Forever?

Yes. Classic form damage did not depend on weapons, so you chose a staff for its stats. In Forever, bear auto-attacks (every 2.5 seconds) and cat auto-attacks (every second) use weapon damage; Claw deals 110% weapon damage, and sharpening stones and enchants work too. Prioritize DPS on a two-handed mace or staff.

Can druids tank and heal dungeons before 30?

Yes, and both will be expected of you. Bears tank from 10, hold several mobs from 16 with Swipe, and gain the high-threat Primal Bite talent at 25. Any tree can heal: Regrowth costs 40% less in Forever, HoTs can crit, and Revive resurrects out of combat from 12. You remove poisons and curses, but not diseases or magic.

Are druids good in PvP?

Classic's best flag carriers: shifting removes roots and slows, backed by Travel Form, Bear Form, and healing. Forever makes Nature's Grasp more reliable, allows roots indoors, and prevents disarms in forms. Weaknesses remain: no slows or silence of your own, and finite shifting mana. Beta players disagree whether Feral or Balance/Restoration is stronger in PvP.

What happened to powershifting?

It was removed. Classic's Furor granted 40 energy per shift, with Wolfshead Helm adding 20. In Forever, 5/5 only preserves energy outside Cat Form; since October 15, Bear Form preserves the previous pool but stops energy regeneration. Its replacement, Shifting Power, converts 55% of base mana into 40 energy in Cat Form every 16 seconds. Some testers call the old trick a crutch; others miss the mana now spent instead of healing.

Which race is best for druid?

For Horde, tauren: War Stomp works in form in Forever, and we have a complete guide. Horde Skyborne exchange tauren health and critical-damage bonuses for +3% attack and casting speed. For Alliance, night elves are harder to detect in stealth, and Shadowmeld works in form. Skyborne are paid but have unique forms. Racials include the October 15 updates.

When do druids get Travel Form?

At level 30 from a trainer, with no quest. It grants +40% outdoor movement speed, while Forever mounts still require 40, so you outrun almost everyone on foot for ten levels. Aquatic Form is available earlier, from 16, but its quest chain finishes around 26 on our route.