[Druid] Boomkin PVE Guide

[Ruudvan]

Boomkin PVE Guide, All you need to know to top the meters as a chicken!
Introduction

A boomkin has almost never been showed love from Blizzard and it is time for all of us to give back and with this guide everybody should be provided the information needed to Cluck-Cluck down every rogue and warlock on each realm

This guide consists of 4 smaller sections:
1. Gear & Stats
2. Spell Rotation
3. Talent & Glyphs
4. Tips and Tricks including Addons

Section 1 Gear & Stats

There is alot to think of when you are gearing up your Boomkin!
First of all we have the highly annoying ''Soft Caps'' Wich means at a certain amount of Haste Rating it is not that desirable anymore because Wrath does'nt gain anything from it.
So to sort these Soft Caps out I will Create a Priority List of what stats you shall aim too and when to stop itemizing for them! From left to right starting with the most important:
Hit rating (263 hit rating) >> Haste rating (401 haste rating) = Spellpower > Crit rating (1575.5 - Int/3) > Haste rating (When Crit ''Soft Capped'') >= Crit rating (above Lunar cap) >> Intellect > Spirit.
So Basicly the 2 most important ''caps'' to aim for is Haste rating 401 and Hit Rating 263 after that Spell Power becomes the most important stat.
GEMS
The gemming is pretty simple: For the Meta Gem spot always use [Chaotic Skyflare Diamond] Red = [Runed Cardinal Ruby], Yellow = [Reckless Ametrine], Blue = [Purified Dreadstone]. It is fairly simple but do not forget the 2 blue sockets that is required to activate your meta gem !
Idols
This part is also fairly simple as there is only 2 options really.
Nr. 1
[Idol of the Lunar Eclipse] for 30 [Emblem of Frost]
Nr. 2 [Idol of Lunar Fury] for 25 [Emblem of Triumph]
As far as enchants go I will put up a small ''dream list'' of the best enchants availible:
For Chest: 10 all stats
For Back: 23 haste
For Head: 30 SP / 20 Crit ( Kirin Tor you can buy rep via emblem of triumph )
For Weapon: 81 SP to staff and 63 SP for 1hand
For Shoulders: 24 SP / 15 crit ( Sons of Hodir, you can buy rep via emblem of triumph )
For Gloves: 28 SP
For Wrists: 30 SP
For Boots: 12 hit / 12 crit
For Leggings: 50 SP / 20 Spirit
Keep in mind that some Professions gives some very interesting enchants such as Tailoring and Engineering.


Section 2 Spell Rotation

In present time there is loads of discussion on this topic. But as I see this the difference is minimal inbetween the different rotations and there is only one I tend to use wich I will explain for you here.
The basic boss rotation:
Start of the fight by popping cooldowns while you running towards the boss, that means: Force of Nature > Fearie Fire > Starfall.
To continue that we will start the common rotation: Moonfire > Insect Swarm > Wrath until Lunar Eclipse > Starfire until Solar Eclipse.
To keep in mind: Refresh dots 0.5 seconds after they fall of, but not always. Refresh Moonfire at all times including during Lunar Eclipse ( Our highest dps phase ) if needed, refresh Insect Swarm during all times except during Lunar Eclipse.
Use starfall every cooldown except during Lunar Eclipse.
Use Force of Nature every cooldown, or preferably save the second pop for heroism / bloodlust.
Refresh Fearie Fire if needed.
Valid information: Reapply dots when you are moving, even if you recently applied them.
For AoE fights you will basicly chain-spam Hurricane and re-apply starfall whenever possible, also you may spec into hurricane and gale winds wich will significially increase your AoE dps.


Section 3 Talents & Glyphs

Talents
This is rather simple.
I will first of all post a link to a talent specc then I will explain my thoughts about it, and please ask questions and give suggestions regarding this specc :)http://talent.************.com/?drui...6mqgpbc,,11623
Why I chose this specc as my favorite:
This specc is based of the usual core points showed here http://talent.************.com/?drui...OkWH8,kdJ,9901
In my specc I decided not to put 2 points in Nature's Reach because with the tank situation we have today threat is often not a problem and range is always managable. Ive also decided to put 3 points in improved Insect Swarm since that will increase my Eclipse dps wich is quite necessary nowadays.
Leftover points in Genesis and Moonglow is pretty unnecessary I just put them there for a minimum more dps and a small mana improvement just to be on the safe side.
As Ive already said, if you want to improve AoE dps specc into Gale Winds and Typhoon preferably droping Improved Insect Swarm or Balance of Power.
Glyphs
Spot 1: Glyph of Moonfire - Item - World of Warcraft
Spot 2: Glyph of Starfire - Item - World of Warcraft
Spot 3: Glyph of Starfall - Item - World of Warcraft or Glyph of Insect Swarm - Item - World of Warcraft

Looking at glyph's what to choose is pretty simple you will almost always go with Starfire, Moonfire and Starfall one but in some situations IS one might also be good but you will often NOT recieve a dps increase by trading it for Starfall glyph.


Section 4 Tips and Tricks including Addons

So the last part of this guide. I will keep this short as there is wideless with tips and tricks and I will teach you some basic ones.
First of all if you got time stay updated on Elitistjerks Boomkin PVE dps thread, wich provides endless theorycrafting about boomkins.

Now everytime you join a raid you need to be prepared ingame, wich ofcourse means gemmed and enchanted properly but it also means that you should bring flasks and pots. For the flask part simply always buy 2-4 Flask of the Frost Wyrm - Item - World of Warcraft. Pot part is also quite simple as if you are going for a hard boss-fight a slight improvement might be to pop a Potion of Speed - Item - World of Warcraft right before or early in a Lunar Eclipse preferably during heroism/bloodlust combined with trinket.
You might save starfall for multiple targets during boss-fights for a slight dps increase.

''Always cast'' this mechanic is easy and most of us know it, basicly 0.2-0.5 seconds before a cast finish start spamming another one to maximize your casting time, this means you are queing spells effectively and minimize downtime.

If there is 2 targets try keeping dots up on both targets as this will increase your dps.

Pop barkskin often, low cooldown and of global cooldown wich means it is a free shield that you almost never will need to save for anything.
I often use this when I want to finish of a Lunar Eclipse and happen to stand in a not so dangerous fire on the floor or something.

Mark of the wild is a free guaranteed clearcasting procc wich means for example if you are low on mana and want to cast hurricane wich has high mana-cost cast mark of the wild on yourself and then cast hurricane for free.

Addons
Most importantly: SquawkAndAwe : WoWInterface Downloads : Druid

Another very effective one is: Quartz - Addons - Curse to help you with a better casting bar.
A addon that I have found very helpfull even for a boomkin is Grid, since it makes the raid interface more comprehensive and compact and it allows me to easily target raidmembers for Innervate or Rebirth: Grid - Addons - Curse




I hope you liked this guide for boomkins and hopefully I will be updating the information given and also ofcourse feel free to ask questions or have suggestions on this guide, I was quite tired at the end so my spelling might not be the best.

Your sincerly Ruudvan, Lazerchicken for life.

[<Angus>]

Awesome guide dude!
I play a boomkin myself and this is exactly what I have been looking for.
+ rep for you!

[stangcobra]

Just fyi its a net dps increase to go with all runed cardinal rubies except for the 2 blues for meta
Also, potion of wild magic will do more for you as the increased crit will allow you to get an eclipse up faster
Lastly if you are a serious raider you need tailoring, end of story

+rep for a good guide though

[mYroon]

Pretty nice guide , i knew about everything from here. Still - i'm going to rep you cause i haven't seen good boomkin guide for a long time.

Btw. - consider using stamina/minor speed increase on boots. We're losing a lot of dps on movement fights and it sometimes can save your ass

[gippy]

I found without 2 points in natures reach i was pulling agg off tanks like a prostitutes knickers for a paying customer.

Few nice tips for any boomkin starter, nice guide +rep

[Ruudvan]

Thank you for the reps and replies highly appreciated with tips etc

[Diskbox]

+Rep
Not very many Boomkin guides and nice to know I have a few things to improve on

[StayStrong]

Really nice guide! Thanks