This is my first time posting here, I tried posting this on the Blizzard forums but it didn’t get very far. I have spent a long time gathering information, understanding the mechanics of the game and the druid class, and putting together calculations to show the many different stats of the Druid into an application (I do not claim that this is perfectly accurate, as I am still learning and my equations may not be perfect, please share any values that are off so that I can modify them to be accurate).
I originally made this to try on different gear and buffs and see how much DPS I could achieve, what would be the ideal gear to wear. Of course since DPS is only part of what a druid can do, I added in other calculations as well.
The application allows you to see what your stats will look like with various gear, enchant, buff, potion and talent set-ups. Stats include healing efficiency, dps, hp, mana, armor, how much your swiftmend will heal for, your mana regen and much more. I have learned quite a lot while making it, and it has helped me decide on what gear I want to get, hopefully others can get some use out of this as well.
This is what it looks like:
Main UI
Buffs, Enchants, Gear, Stats etc
Download v1.1
Features:
-allows you to enter all your gear
-allows you to add/edit/delete gear
-allows use of enchants
-allows manual stat entering
-select talent set-up
-entry of your estimated miss chance
-entry of damage reduction of mobs
-entry of time between healing touches
-save and load gear\enchant\talent set ups
-use of buffs
-has a table of healing efficiency
-shows damage of cat hit/shred/ravage before and after reduction
-shows average dps in cat form
-shows many stats including hp, mana, regen, armor and more
Note on DPS:
This is by far the hardest calculation to make, especially when you have to go digging through tons of blizzard forums and scouring wowwiki trying to find good combat mechanic information. Currently, I only have miss, hit, armor reduction and crit in the calculations. You can type in the chance you’ll miss a mob and your tohit gear will subtract from that, currently stopping at 1% miss. Glancing blows, and dodge are not yet in the calculation (because I was not sure how they worked exactly at the time). Useable trinkets, omen of clarity proc, and other trinket procs are not in the calculation yet. However the effects of Wolfshead helm are modeled in the shifting DPS formula, I actually found that with furor and wolfshead (60 energy a shift) shifting frequently will yield a large boost to dps. The shifting dps formula has the loss of 1 auto attack (which is more than enough, since sometimes you shift out and swing with your weapon before shifting back), and a dps range, the low meaning you wasted 19 energy each shift, the high meaning no energy wasted a shift, if you shift after every combo, with lag permitting and no more than 19 energy wasted your dps will fall between the 2 numbers. Rune of Metamorphosis anyone?
The DPS value follows these guidelines using a constant 5 shred->rip combo (and shifting after each combo for one), not using cower or tigers fury.
Anyways, how I now understand combat mechanics, from behind a level 63 your swing outcome will be 5.6 miss, 5.6 dodge, 40 glancing, 48.8 hit&crit if you had no +hit or +crit gear. If you had +6 to hit would it take miss to 0? Is dodge at 5.6% no matter what? Anymore than 6 to hit is a waste? And glancing blows are only for white damage? Those are pretty much my only questions regarding DPS to model it more accurately, unless someone sees something I am missing.
Analysis using the applications data
Raw data only shows so much. There are many variables, lag, play-style, spec, encounter design, how obtainable items are that can effect how useful a Druid is at any particular time. Never the less, using the application’s data, here is a comparison of the sustainability of a certain HPS, and the DPS and an analysis based off this information of 4 different talent builds with some of the better gear for each (on a night-elf druid, I do not include paladin or shaman buffs).
Potions + Buffs:
Divine Spirit
Arcane Intellect
Fortitude
Mark of the Wild
Trueshot Aura
Battle Shout
Mana Oil or Elemental Sharp Stone
Elixir of Mongoose
Elixir of Giants
Mageblood Potion
Nightfin soup or Smoked Desert Dumplings
Blasted lands (25 spir or 25 agi)
Flask of Distilled Wisdom
Winterfall Firewater
Major mana (approx 50m/5s-1800m/2min)
Healing gear:
Dreamwalker Headpiece (10 sta 10 int 24 healing)
Dreamwalker Spaulders (33 healing)
Dreamwalker Tunic (4 stats)
Dreamwalker Wristguards (4m/5s)
Dreamwalker Handguards (30 healing)
Dreamwalker Girdle
Dreamwalker Legguards (10 sta 10 int 24 healing)
Dreamwalker Boots (7 sta)
Angelista’s Charm
Cloak of Clarity
Signet ring of the Bronze Dragonflight
Ring of the Devoured
Shard of Scale
Rejuvinating Gem
Scepter of the False Prophet (55 healing)
Sartura’s Might
DPS Gear:
Wolfshead Helm (8 agi)
Mantle of Wicked Revenge (30 AP)
Ghoul Skin Tunic (4 stats)
Qiraji Execution Bracers (9 str)
Gloves of Enforcement (15 agi)
Belt of Never-ending Agony
Leggings of Apocolypse (8 agi)
Boots of the Vanguard (7 agi)
Prestor’s Talisman of Connivery
Cloak of the Fallen God (3 agi)
Circle of Applied Force
Might of Cenarious
Drake Fang Talisman
Rune of Metamorphosis
The End of Dreams (15 agi)
Tome of Knowledge
Healing gear + Potions + Buffs:
329 stam
333 int
206 spirit
131 m/5s (+50m/5s from mana pots)
1045 healing
8/9 dreamwalker bonus’s (I didn’t include the set bonus’s in calculations, it should effect all talent specs about equally however)
DPS gear + Potions + Buffs:
221 strength
331 agi
258 stam
9 tocrit
7 tohit
936 ap
wolfshead helm bonus
rune of metamorphosis (or other dps trinket) bonus.
Build 1 (pure damage)
14/32/5
Build 2 (Healing/Feral)
31/20
Build 3 (Swiftmend Healing with some feral utility)
8/11/32
Build 4 (Max healing efficiency)
24/0/27
Build 1 / Build 2 / Build 3 / Build 4: with full healing gear + buffs + potions
Note: Calculations do not include the chance of spell crit.
Mana: 10,764 / 10,764 / 9,459 / 9,459
300 HPS: 41.12 / indef / indef / indef minutes
400 HPS 8.76 / 27.18 / 29.92 / 294.12 minutes
500 HPS: 3.4 / 8.27 / 8 / 11.65 minutes
650 HPS: 1.82 / 2.53 / 2.74 / 3.31 minutes
800 HPS: 1.21 / 1.54 / 1.58 / 1.85 minutes
Graph of the Data:
Build 1/Build 2/Build 3 DPS (Build 4’s DPS is based on magic, which I have not made calculations for yet)
Note: DPS is calculated with no dodge, minimum 1% miss, no glancing blows and no armor reduction, also the DPS does not include shaman or paladin buffs.
Crit: 38.7 / 38.7 / 29.7
AP: 2202 / 2202 / 1998
DPS: 558 / 507 / 414
DPS Shifting: 612 / 557 / 440
Note: Build 1’s DPS should be higher because it doesn’t include omen of clarity procs, Build 3’s DPS should be lower because it includes Blood Frenzy (Have not made a calculation without it yet)
-----------------
Comparing Build 1 (14/32/5) to Build 2 (31/20):
300 HPS: n/a
400 HPS: Build 2 maintains it 210% longer
500 HPS: Build 2 maintains it 143% longer
650 HPS: Build 2 maintains it 39% longer
800 HPS: Build 2 maintains it 27% longer
5 minutes: approx 450 hps vs 545 hps, build 2 is 21.1% more
7 minutes: approx 420 hps vs 520 hps, build 2 is 23.8% more
10 minutes: approx 380 hps vs 465 hps, build 2 is 22.4% more
15 minutes: approx 345 hps vs 430 hps, build 2 is 24.6% more
DPS: Build 1 is 10.0% more dps (more from omen procs)
DPS Shifting: Build 1 is 9.9% more dps (more from omen procs)
Analysis:
You are trading:
about 20-25% more sustained healing
.5 second faster heals
for
>10% more dps
omen of clarity
burst cat damage potential
more shifting
Build 1: Omen of clarity is random, so you cant really rely on it in a raiding environment for anything besides a boost in DPS (Some of the best burst damage you can get is an omen proc off a ravage). Tanks are usually topped off in less than 2-3 seconds, so tossing a heal off this proc will be an overheal most of the time, but can be marginally useful to add the regrowth hot for almost free. I consider this the ultimate farming build, you are doing the most DPS you can possibly achieve (in feral) and omen procs often enough so that you can give yourself a free heal then immediately go back to killing. Shifting is forgiving with Natural shapeshifter (good for changing roles constantly or mad energy boost for cat). A few points can be changed around and you are the best bear tank you can be in agro generation and mitigation. This build also works well for current 5-10 man content where fights are quick and you have time to mana up between, where sustained healing isn’t very important.
Build 2: A .5 second faster heal is nice, but it does not really effect things if you are constantly casting and stop casting if the tank is at full before the heal goes off (You could argue .5 seconds more gives you more time to determine whether to cancel a heal or not). Your loss in DPS, shifting frenzy and random fun of omen is made up by a large boost (20-25%) in sustained healing, making you more or less equal to a resto druid in sustained healing. Additionally, you can drop your group buff Leader of the Pack (loss of about 1% of your dps, 557->545) for Natures Swiftness. It’s really personal preference which you take, NS is on a 3 minute cooldown. In PVE I enjoy landing a 3k+ instant heal in those oh *&^# moments, but it certainly isn’t required, I also enjoy boosting the Raids DPS constantly. For PVP where damage very much comes in bursts NS will probably see a lot more use than 1% more DPS.
-----------------
Comparing Build 1 (14/32/5) to Build 3 (8/11/32)
300 HPS: n/a
400 HPS: Build 3 maintains it 242% longer
500 HPS: Build 3 maintains it 135% longer
650 HPS: Build 3 maintains it 51% longer
800 HPS: Build 3 maintains it 31% longer
5 minutes: approx 450 hps vs 545 hps, build 3 is 21.1% more
7 minutes: approx 420 hps vs 510 hps, build 3 is 21.4% more
10 minutes: approx 380 hps vs 460 hps, build 3 is 21.1% more
15 minutes: approx 345 hps vs 435 hps, build 3 is 26.1% more
DPS: Build 1 is 34.8% more dps (more from omen procs)
DPS Shifting: Build 1 is 39.1% more dps (more from omen procs)
Analysis:
You are trading:
A good 35-40% dps (more because the resto build has a false DPS boost from blood frenzy)
LotP group buff
Faerie Fire in forms (if you got it)
more agro generation and damage in bear
more HP in bear
for
20-25% more sustained healing
3700(5000 crit) burst heal every 3 minutes
1946(2919 crit) busrt heal every 15 seconds (if your rejuv is on before the burst happens)
1946(2919 crit) 1.5 second heal usable while moving every 15 seconds (rejuv, global cooldown time then swiftment).
Build 1: Much more DPS than build 3. Faerie Fire Feral is great for pulling in forms, keeping rogues from vanishing while in form, wasting the mana of ignorant dispellers trying to keep it off themselves not knowing its free for you, and all around keeping the armor debuff on whatever your fighting for free. It’s much easier, and free, to keep fairie fire on mobs in PVE if a druid has this in form.
Build 3: Trading a large amount of your feral DPS and utility for sustained healing, some burst healing and a little more healing utility via swiftmend. Swiftmend adds a lot more healing utility for the Druid both PVE and PVP. Burst healing never hurts PVP, and if you know someone is going to take a burst of damage in PVE (Arcane burst from the twin emps?) it can make healing easier. Not to mention you can do it while moving. Basically a 1.5 second heal if you are not ready to heal, or instant if you know its coming and already have your rejuv ticking. Can change some feral utility, feral charge, natural shapeshifting or natures grasp for imp regrowth or subtletly if you really want a little more edge to your healing. Someone in the raid should get imp mark, keep in mind feral charge is made much more useful with furor, if you drop furor for mark id consider dropping feral charge as well.
-----------------
Comparing Build 2 (31/20) to Build 3 (8/11/32)
300 HPS: n/a
400 HPS: Build 3 maintains it 10% longer
500 HPS: Build 2 maintains it 3% longer
650 HPS: Build 3 maintains it 8% longer
800 HPS: Build 3 maintains it 3% longer
5 minutes: approx 545 hps vs 545 hps, 0% difference
7 minutes: approx 520 hps vs 510 hps, build 2 is 2.0% more
10 minutes: approx 460 hps vs 465 hps, build 2 is 1.1% more
15 minutes: approx 430 hps vs 435 hps, build 3 is 1.2% more
DPS: Build 2 is 22.5% more dps
DPS Shifting: Build 2 is 26.6% more dps
Analysis:
You are trading:
22-27% dps (more because the resto build has a false DPS boost from blood frenzy)
Faerie Fire in forms (if you got it)
more agro generation and damage in bear
more HP in bear form
for
1946(2919 crit) busrt heal every 15 seconds (if your rejuv is on before the burst happens)
1946(2919 crit) 1.5 second heal usable while moving every 15 seconds (rejuv, global cooldown time then swiftment).
Build 2: More feral utility and DPS. Again, you can choose group buff or burst heal every 3 minutes.
Build 3: NS and Swiftmend makes you the hardest you pretty much possibly can be to kill. You give up almost all your feral DPS and some feral utility to do this though. PVE druids currently spend a large amount of time healing, so you will put the heals to good use there, and can be a good off-tank (if you keep ferocity, thick hide or feral instinct and feral charge) should the need arise and you have some gear for it. Cat DPS is pretty low this spec, good for cower and sprint or as an opener in PVP, that’s about it. PVP in groups you can let loose some wicked burst healing to keep your group up, solo you will win by mostly outlasting your enemy and slowly wearing them down.
-----------------
Build 4 (24/0/7)
5 minutes: approx 570 hps, approx 4.5% more than build 2-3 (26.7% over build 1)
7 minutes: approx 540 hps, approx 4.8% more than build 2-3 (28.6% over build 1)
10 minutes: approx 515 hps, approx 11.4% more than build 2-3 (35.5% over build 1)
15 minutes: approx 465 hps, approx 7.5% more than build 2-3 (34.8% over build 1)
Pros: The best in sustainable healing by 5-10%. 25-35% sustainable healing over pure feral. Improved thorns (if you get it) for those situational times when a player needs to generate as much agro as possible on a large number of enemies (Nef stage 1 or Fankriss for example). Faster casts on spell crits, can chain casts heals faster than anyone if this procs. Can do decent nuking damage. Talents can be changed around a bit for more nuking damage, fun with omen procs, or starfire stun procs. Has NS every 3 minutes. Increased range.
Cons: Lose all your feral utility, no increased agro generation in bear, no feral charge, no thick hide (or bear threat/cat stealth). No agro dump at all while nuking. Can keep furor for instant shift + bear stun if you want to drop imp mark, but that’s about it. Both DPS and healing consume your mana, as opposed to a feral druid being able to DPS while his mana regens.
-----------------
Conclusion:
Build 1: Best DPS and feral utility. Ill probably spec to this for the xpac or if I need to farm for a long time/do tons of 5-10 man instances. Fun to 2-3 shot cloth. Unless your guild has like 14 sick decked out healers that know how to play their class well, you’ll probably want to spec to heal a bit better for PVE.
Build 2: Sustainable healing equal to a pure resto druid, and your option to take either LotP or NS. Able to farm decently solo, and can do decent DPS or tank (20% more HP!) if you ever need to in PVE. All you really lose is swiftmend.
Build 3: The ultimate in healing utility (Throw more points in if you really want to). If you don’t trust others to do the healing, love healing, like to live as long as possible in PVP or your guild is horribly lacking in healing, putting a good 31 points or more here for swiftmend is probably the way to go. Your cat’s best use is to cower, sprint, opener in pvp or /dance if you spec this way.
Build 4: If you like to nuke and still want to put up some good sustained healing (in fact the best) something off of this build is a good way to go. I never really liked giving up my feral utility/damage for nuking damage, others may enjoy otherwise though.