Feral Druid Compendium
Written by: Crazymeow
News
Feral Druid in 11.2 is mostly just more of the same. The various buffs we have received have no gameplay impact. That being said, the removal of 11.1 tier set means 
Apex Predator's Craving is no longer mandatory in raid.
This go-around, Tier Set bonuses are based on which hero tree you have selected. Once you acquire 2 pieces, Druid of the Claw will be the hero talent of choice for all PvE Content.
Druid of the Claw Tier Set
2 Set:
Ravage increases your haste by 10%, chance to critically strike by 10%, and the damage your bleeds deal by 30% for 5 sec.
4 Set:
Ravage has a 40% chance to make you Ravage your target again 4 sec later at 100% of the initial power.
2p2p results in a ~8.9% gain in single target over old 4p, switching the point from Apex Predator's Craving to 
Carnivorous Instinct. Getting the full 4p nets a ~14.6% gain in single target.
Wildstalker Tier Set
2 Set:
The rate at which Bloodseeker Vines grow is increased by 40%. Tiger's Fury causes Bloodseeker Vines to grow on up to 3 valid nearby enemies.
4 Set:
Bloodseeker Vines have a 20% chance to trigger Bursting Growth every 2 sec at 100% effectiveness. Each stack of Bloodseeker Vines on an enemy increases Bursting Growth damage taken by 30%.
Going to 2p2p results in a ~6% gain in single target, and switches your build off of Apex Predator's Craving back to the L-Build we played in season 1. Gaining the 4p bonus leads to roughly an 11.4% gain in single target, putting it behind Druid of the Claw even in single target.
Rotation
CAUTION
For Druid of the Claw, replace the moonfire cast with a 
Thrash instead. These graphics will eventually be replaced with something else.
Single Target
What is a priority list?
When reading the priority lists below, you should not think about these as steps to follow in a specific order. At any given point in combat, you should cast the first thing in the list that you are able to cast.
The way this section is written is very formulaic and has the same structure as the Action Priority List (APL) used in sims.
Pre-Combat:
- Stack as many
Adaptive Swarms on allies as you can prepull. 
Prowl
Rake from stealth.
Select which talents you have to filter the priority list:
TIP
Uncheck 
Bloodtalons if you want a simpler builder priority.
Single Target Priority List:
Highest Priority: Cooldowns
- Tiger's Fury at 5 combo points or if you can't cast anything else due to energy constraints.
- Tiger's Fury at 3 combo points or if you can't cast anything else due to energy constraints.
- Proc Bloodtalons with the proper builder if you have no stacks of Bloodtalons and the next spell would trigger Bloodtalons
- Cancel Apex Predator's Craving procs during
Incarn. - Cancel Apex Predator's Craving procs during
Berserk. -
Ferocious Bite with Apex Predator's Craving procs. - Adaptive Swarm when:
-
Rip is up. AND - There isn't an Adaptive Swarm heading to your target, AND
- Adaptive Swarm is either missing or about to expire with 1/2 stacks. For example, with 3 stacks, you would refresh as soon as Adaptive Swarm falls off.
-
- Adaptive Swarm conditions change based on the amount of Adaptive Swarms you have out:
- If you have 3 Adaptive Swarms with at least 2 stacks out, then you will target allies with priority 1 stack > 0 stack > 2 stacks.
- If you have 2 or fewer Adaptive Swarms of at least 2 stacks, cast on your enemy target when swarm is not on them, and is not traveling towards them.
- If you have 3
- Incarnation with Tiger's Fury.
- Berserk with Tiger's Fury. You can hold this for
Convoke if for whatever reason they are misaligned, and you won't lose a cast doing so. -
Feral Frenzy with 1 or no combo points. 2 combo points is also acceptable during Incarn. - Feral Frenzy with 1 or no combo points. 2 combo points is also acceptable during Berserk.
- Convoke when:
- Rip is up. AND
- Tiger's Fury is up. AND
- You have 2 or fewer combo points outside Berserk or 3 or fewer inside Berserk. (or if you must cast it now to have the entirety of convoke within berserk.)
- You may also Convoke if the fight is about to end. Usually you want to Convoke with Berserk if you can do so without losing a cast.
Second Priority: Finishers
- There are 2 scenarios where you can use 3+ combo point rips:
- Rip is in pandemic range near the start of Tiger's Fury
- Rip wont last until the next Tiger's Fury in the last 3 seconds of Tiger's Fury
- Rip if all of these are true:
- You have 5 combo points.
- Rip is missing or in pandemic range.
- Tiger's Fury is up, or won't be up before Rip expires.
- Bloodtalons is up.
- Use a builder if you are inside Incarn/Berserk until you have one or both of
Ravage or 
Coiled to Spring. - Ferocious Bite when:
Last Priority: Generators
Bloodtalons, if you have 0 or 1 stacks of Bloodtalons remaining.- Prowl if all of these are true:
- You do not have a
Sudden Ambush proc. - You are not in Shadowmeld
- You just used a finisher
- You do not have a
-
Shadowmeld if all of these are true:
- You do not have a Sudden Ambush proc.
- You are not in Prowl
- You just used a finisher
- Incarn is up
- Berserk is up.
- You do not have a
- Rake if any of these are true:
- Rake is in pandemic and you wouldn't be downgrading its snapshot
- Rake is in pandemic and will expire before Tiger's Fury is up. Delay as long as reasonable if you are downgrading its snapshot value.
- You would be upgrading the snapshot of Rake.
- Rake if any of these are true:
- Rake is in pandemic and Tiger's Fury is up.
- Rake is in pandemic and will expire before Tiger's Fury is up. Delay as long as reasonable if you are downgrading its snapshot value.
- You are in stealth, and you would be upgrading Rake's snapshot value
- You have a Sudden Ambush proc, and you would be upgrading Rake's snapshot value.
- You are not in Incarn and would be upgrading Rake's snapshot value.
- You are not in Berserk and would be upgrading Rake's snapshot value.
- Use
Shred with Sudden Ambush during Incarn/Berserk - Use Shred if stealthed during Incarn/Berserk
- Use
Brutal Slash if it will cap on charges within the next 4 seconds. - Use Lunar Inspiration
Moonfire if it is in pandemic or you would be upgrading its snapshot. - Cast Thrash if it is in pandemic range, outside of Incarn/Berserk
- Shred with
Clearcasting procs. - Brutal Slash.
- Shred.
- If you still need Bloodtalons proc it with this priority:
Multi Target
What is a priority list?
When reading the priority lists below, you should not think about these as steps to follow in a specific order. At any given point in combat, you should cast the first thing in the list that you are able to cast.
The way this section is written is very formulaic and has the same structure as the Action Priority List (APL) used in sims.
Pre-Combat:
- Stack as many Adaptive Swarm's as you can on allies before the pull (start as early as possible)
- Prowl
- Rake from stealth.
Select which talents you have to filter the priority list:
TIP
Uncheck Bloodtalons if you want a simpler builder priority.
AoE priority list (2+ targets):
Highest Priority: Cooldowns
TIP
Use your single target spells on higher healthed/priority mobs
- Tiger's Fury at 5 combo points or if you run out of energy, delay a few seconds as needed for Incarnation/Berserk.
- Proc Bloodtalons with the proper builder if you have no stacks of Bloodtalons and the next spell would trigger Bloodtalons
- Cancel Apex Predator's Craving procs during Incarnation
- Cancel Apex Predator's Craving procs during Berserk
- Ferocious Bite with Apex Predator's Craving procs.
- Adaptive Swarm when all of these are true:
- There isn't an Adaptive Swarm heading towards your target.
- Adaptive Swarm is not on your target.
- Rip's from
Primal Wrath are up.
- There isn't an
- With Unbridled Swarm talented, use Adaptive Swarm as often as you can with this priority:
- An enemy target has 2 stacks of Adaptive Swarm.
- An enemy target has 1 stack of Adaptive Swarm.
- An enemy target does not have Adaptive Swarm.
- An enemy target has 2 stacks of
- Incarnation. This should always be paired with Tiger's Fury.
- Berserk. This should always be paired with Tiger's Fury.
- Feral Frenzy with 1 or no combo points outside Incarn, or 2 or fewer inside Incarn.
- Feral Frenzy with 1 or no combo points outside Berserk, or 2 or fewer inside Berserk.
- Convoke when:
TIP
Sending Adaptive Swarm on allies with Unbridled Swarm is a very minor loss, the main thing is to not overthink its use.
Second Priority: Finishers
- Primal Wrath at 5 combo points if Ripss have fewer than 6.5s remaining. During Berserk, wait until pandemic instead.
- Primal Wrath at 5 combo points if Ripss have fewer than 6.5s remaining. During Incarn, wait until pandemic instead.
- During Berserk, continue using builders until you have a Ravage proc. Yes, overcap if necessary. Only do this on 3 or more targets.
- During Incarn, continue using builders until you have a Ravage proc. Yes, overcap if necessary. Only do this on 3 or more targets.
- Ferocious Bite a vined target, if one exists, at 5 combo points.
- Ferocious Bite at 5 combo points, preferring vined targets.
- !Ferocious Bite at 5 combo points if either:
- Ravage at 5 combo points if either:
- Clip Primal Wrath at 5 combo points if you've made it this far.
Last Priority: Generators
Bloodtalons if you have 0 or 1 stacks of Bloodtalons.- Thrash if it's either missing or in pandemic range.
- During Incarn/Berserk, Brutal Slash if you have any charges.
- During Incarn/Berserk, Brutal Slash if you have any charges. Yes ignore Bloodtalons for this.
- During Incarn/Berserk, Brutal Slash if you have any charges starting at 3t.
- During Incarn/Berserk, Brutal Slash if you have any charges starting at 3t. Yes ignore Bloodtalons for this.
- During Incarn/Berserk spam
Swipe. - During Incarn/Berserk, ignore Bloodtalons and Swipe.
- During Incarn/Berserk, spam Swipe starting at 3t.
- During Incarn/Berserk, ignore Bloodtalons and Swipe starting at 3t.
- Brutal Slash if it will cap on charges within the next 4 seconds, or mobs will die in the next 4 seconds.
- Swipe if there are 5 or more targets.
- Prowl into Rake on a target where Rake is either missing, in pandemic range, or can be upgraded as long as you don't have a Sudden Ambush proc.
- Prowl into Rake on a target where Rake is either missing, in pandemic range, or can be upgraded.
- Shadowmeld into Rake on a target where Rake is either missing, in pandemic range, or can be upgraded as long as you don't have a Sudden Ambush proc.
- Shadowmeld into Rake on a target where Rake is either missing, in pandemic range, or can be upgraded.
- Refresh Rake's that are either missing, or in pandemic range if you're not capped on Clearcasting stacks.
- Swipe if there are 3 or more targets.
- Rake if you have no Rake's out. We want at least one Rake rolling for the sake of proccing
Bloodseeker Vines. - Refresh
Moonfire's that are either missing, or in pandemic range if you're not capped on Clearcasting stacks. - Brutal Slash
- Swipe
- Rake if it's either missing, or in pandemic range.
- Swipe
- Clip Thrash if you have 3 or more targets. 4 or more if you have low mastery.
- Shred
- Thrash
- If you still need Bloodtalons, proc it with this priority:
TIP
In dungeons, with 
Killing Strikes and Incarn talented, spread out the Shadowmeld and Prowl casts such that you get more Killing Strikes resets.
Talents
Class Talent Explanations
Optional Nodes Explained
Lore of the Grove: If you talent Lunar Inspiration, you should be talenting this as well.
Remove Corruption: Always take if you need poison or curse dispel, which is not every dungeon, and isn't all that common in raid either.
Maim: In dungeons, if you don't take Remove Corruption, this is the standard alternative.
Nurturing Instinct: You put points into this if you are playing Lunar Inspiration (or technically Convoke) and have nothing else to put points in. It is an extremely minor dps increase.
Feline Swiftness: You only drop this if you need another talent point to play something else.
Perfectly-Honed Instincts: Can take if there isn't anything else you want, or if the fight timers suit 90s defensive cooldowns better.
Incapacitating Roar: Often picked in keys as a soft aoe-kick. In raid this is pretty niche.
Ursine Vigor: Mostly keys-only talent for when you need a stronger 
Bear Form. Niche use in Raid.
Fluid Form: Highly recommended talent to reduce global wastage from shapeshifting. If you don't find yourself shapeshifting much, this talent is much less valuable.
Typhoon: If you need a knock, or think the knock will be more useful than 
Ursol's Vortex
Ursol's Vortex: Excellent kiting tool that wont leave mobs spread out all over the place. Can also pair with Typhoon as a poor mans mass grip, or just to use typhoon as a soft-kick without splaying the mobs all over the place.
Mass Entanglement: More of a niche option compared to Ursol's Vortex, Mass Entanglement can be good if you want to root a group of mobs that the group does not intend to attack.
Innervate: If your healer told you to talent this. Well that or you want 
Nature's Vigil and/or 
Forestwalk.
Nature's Vigil: Strong healing during your cooldown windows, particularly in keys. Pair this with Berserk a vast majority of the time.
Forestwalk: Decent survivability bump, given that you're receiving healing and pressing Regrowth, particularly against rot.
Improved Stampeding Roar: For when you want to 
Stampeding Roar more often than its 2 minute cooldown allows.
Lycara's Inspiration: A bit more stamina never hurt anyone.
Niche Options Explained
Heart of the Wild: For cutting-edge levels of keys where you either need a stronger Bear Form to cover damage events, or just another charge of 
Frenzied Regeneration
Hibernate: Almost exclusively used in keys, and rarely so. This is essentially a sap that only works on beasts and dragonkin, essentially you only chose this talent if you have a specific target to hibernate in mind.
Mighty Bash: If you don't need Incapacitating Roar but do need a single-target stun, and can afford to take this instead of Maim. In PvE, Mighty Bash is generally preferred over Maim because it doesn't cost combo points and energy to cast, and is niche enough that the cooldown difference isn't as relevant.
Starfire -> 
Moonkin Form: This is exclusively for access to Moonkin Form's 
Wild Charge for when you cannot Wild Charge inside 
Travel Form. Often combined with 
Flap for more distance.
Gale Winds: If you have the talent point to spare, Gale Winds makes Typhooning mobs easier when mobs are spread out.
Incessant Tempest: If you find yourself in a scenario where you need to knock twice in less than 30 seconds, this talent lets you do that.
Raid Talents
Wildstalker and Druid of the Claw are similar in strength once you acquire 2 pieces of the new tier set-- with DOTC being less than 1% ahead in single target, varying a bit depending on gear. This means you could play either hero tree and perform well.
So, how do you choose? Druid of the Claw is swingier, and thus has a higher capacity for high-rolling. It sims higher in single target, and its also stronger in AoE-- given that you can take advantage of its Berserk windows.
Wildstalker, on the other hand, gets more passive cleave in its full single-target build than Druid of the Claw does, and is more consistent (Lower potential for underperforming). Its AoE potency in cooldowns does not hold up to scrutiny however, especially in a raid environment where you can't properly set up your dots/vines. Lastly, Wildstalker manages forced downtime better than Druid of the Claw, particularly on fights where you can talent Lunar Inspiration.
That being said, you should think of Druid of the Claw as the default tree for all PvE content.
Mythic Manaforge Omega Raid Builds
WARNING
These builds are liable to change with more information.
Please note you can significantly customise the above, see the talent write-up in the following M+ section. Or take inspiration from the given Mythic Raid talents.
WARNING
These have not been updated yet, as they are low priority.
Liberation of Undermine
Neru'bar Palace
Dungeon Talents
Feral goes into 11.2 with much of the same talent choices as last season. Most notably, Wildstalker is more competitive in this game mode than ever before, though admittedly still a bit lacking relative to DOTC.
Talent Explanations
Root Network for Wildstalker is playable for large-aoe dungeons; I would default to Resilient Flourishing.
Section 1 Options Explained
Tireless Energy: Less single target than Merciless Claws but equivalently more AoE damage as well. Highly recommend at least the first point.
Double-Clawed Rake: Strong AoE only talent. Only reason its a choice is because this provides zero single-target value. Gains value with Wildstalker-- enough so to make it required (in my opinion)
Merciless Claws: This represents the most single target, the least AoE, and the most burst of the three options (excluding the 1st point of Tireless Energy) due to its synergy with Berserk: Frenzy. Gains value with Druid of the Claw.
Thrashing Claws: Niche option if running Lunar Inspiration, frees up more globals to Moonfire. Video guide here.
Section 2 Options Explained
Raging Fury vs Tiger's Tenacity: Both are good for Druid of the Claw-- though Raging Fury is a niche pick for more AoE when you talent into x2 Carnivorous Instinct. Tiger's Tenacity is otherwise locked in.
Sudden Ambush: This is a solid all-rounder talent with synergy to Double-Clawed Rake. It's almost always preferred over Savage Fury though, but can rarely be dropped in dungeons with significant AoE, allowing Savage Fury to shine. Most notably Priory.
Savage Fury: Great burst and great for larger pull sizes, however a bit less effective on single-target in comparison to Sudden Ambush. Longer travel time between packs in some dungeons can give time for TF to reset, thereby giving talents like this higher overall uptime as well. Also of note, one of the m+ affixes this season gives cooldown reduction, which this talent greatly benefits from.
Moment of Clarity: Fairly strong single-target and an excellent all-rounder, can help if you are struggling with energy too. Niche for Druid of the Claw as your points in the middle-section are pretty locked, likely replacing the last point in the bottom section if at all.
Lunar Inspiration: strong single-target and low target cleave as Wildstalker, and can help proc Bloodtalons more often. Unplayable as Druid of the Claw.
Brutal Slash vs 
Wild Slashes: Brutal Slash is always better, largely due to it being a relevant dps gain in Single Target, unlike Wild Slashes. That being said, Wild Slashes has a straightforward way of playing, and is decent enough to comment on. Do NOT pair Wild Slashes with Double-Clawed Rake, these talents are anti-synergistic.
Section 3 Options Explained
Incarnation: Avatar of Ashamane vs Convoke the Spirits:
This option only exists for Druid of the Claw. Essentially, Incarnation: Avatar of Ashamane begins surpassing Convoke the Spirits at roughly 3-4 targets-- but its a significant single target loss. The idea is you can drop combat on trash packs making use of the in-combat Prowl. This generates an additional Ravage via Killing Strikes, netting a large amount of value with the tier set. Essentially, you can play Incarnation: Avatar of Ashamane in big AoE keys, particularly if your group is chain pulling and the single target loss is palatable. I wouldn't consider it in lower keys where things die too fast.
Bloodtalons vs 
Lion's Strength:
I would always play Bloodtalons. Optimizing Bloodtalons is a very small gain in single target, so even as a new player you will see ~2% more damage there. In AoE, the talents are much closer in overall value, and Lion's Strength even wins in burst AoE, so in that regard you can justify Lion's Strength, especially since it is easier to play.
Adaptive Swarm: Great for both Hero trees, being one of the single best options you can take for pure single-target. I would recommend running it all the time as Wildstalker, and most of the time as Druid of the Claw.
Unbridled Swarm: Solid single-target with incredible low/mid cleave damage as well. It is partially due to its single-target strength that Feral Frenzy has seen a lot less play this expansion.
Carnivorous Instinct: Excellent burst option, with particular strength in large AOE. Gains more value if playing Raging Fury. The first point is stronger than the second.
Feral Frenzy: Solid single-target/prio option for both Hero trees, and okay in AOE as well, as it lets you cast more Ferocious Bites. Only taken if you want more single-target and already have Adaptive Swarm talented.
Rip & Tear vs 
Veinripper:
Rip & Tear offers more overall damage-- enough so that it should be considered the default. Nichely, Veinripper nets more priority damage.
Saber Jaws: A pure single-target option for Druid of the Claw, its value will vary significantly based on dungeon. Mutually exclusive with the Rip & Tear vs Veinripper node. I consider this niche, as if you want more single-target, Adaptive Swarm is your choice. If you want more single-target beyond that? Usually Feral Frenzy. Its lack of AoE value makes the talent tough, though possible, to justify.