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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBehold, the power of moonkin
by Mike Schramm 
Apr 25th 2007 at 3:10PM
I agree with myrch over on Livejournal-- there's been a spec creeping up in the DPS charts lately that we might not have expected to get there. Slowly but surely, these players have been finding a niche of gear, talents, and class choice and exploiting it to the fullest. While their class is known for the other two specs, a third is definitely coming to light as one of the best DPSers in the game. The class is druid, and the spec... is moonkin.Laugh if you want (and I certainly do when I see that dance), but moonkin (or Balance-specced) druids are doing well for themselves lately. Druid tanks have been getting all the press because of the new feral gear in Outland (and more recently, a few solid nerfs), but moonkin have been slowly building up their buffs, and using the best gear in both cloth and leather to max out their DPS. While the spec is really meant for PvP, it seems, they can definitely shine in PvE-- everyone loves Innervate, of course, but moonkin give that great crit bonus that adds a lot to any DPS raid group (definitely useful for Shaman, too, despite the Clearcasting nerf). They've got a nice armor bonus, so while they have to really be careful about managing aggro (they so far have no threat-reducing abilities), they can still take a few hits, and they have a few nice roots (Cyclone and the Tauren War Stomp, and Entangling Roots if they happen to be outside) that can hold things down until the tank intercepts. Not to mention that if need be, they're just a gear change and a shapechange away from becoming respectable offhealers, if not main healers.
Myrch lays out what moonkin need to do to really shine-- they've got to really concentrate their focus and load up on the spell damage gear (a guildie of mine, a moonkin who routinely fights mages and hunters for the top DPS spot, often wears cloth just for the spell damage), add a little mp5 to the stuff they wear, and of course watch that aggro. But more and more, we're seeing that a well-geared, well-played moonkin is a really great class to have along in almost any situation.
Filed under: Night Elves, Tauren, Druid, Analysis / Opinion, Raiding, Classes, Talents
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Tiforix Apr 25th 2007 7:32PM
Back @17
You'll be surprised to hear that my main is a Mage. I have no problem with Moonkin DPS the way it is because Moonkins suck at AoE and crowd control. That's where Mages shine.
Stephen Apr 25th 2007 7:27PM
Ever seen an Oomkin, Destro Warlock & a Shadowpriest in a group together? Unlimited mana and huge dps. Just as a Shadowpriest, I'm topping many mages and all of our rogues in damage. Maybe they "suck" or maybe it's because I make sure my mana & hp regen dots are always up on every mob we are fighting and that my +spell damage/healing is near 800 unbuffed.
Only problem is aggro (of course). While I can cast in Fade, any aggro dumping mob loves us on the next tick of our dots. I swear our tank is now on heart medication from us. He's learned to tank at max casting distance just so when our crits pull the mob, they are dead before they reach us.
Freehugz Apr 25th 2007 7:42PM
Off specs are not for raiding, hence the name "off spec".
Quoi Apr 25th 2007 7:42PM
@22
That is interesting. I guess my hostility comes from knowing of some moonkins who think they're better than mages, which makes me angry.
Freehugz Apr 25th 2007 7:57PM
I was thinking about raids and moonkins the other day. I came up with this theoretical situation for raids.
It requires a feral druid with 14 points resto and a moonkin with 27 points resto. On mobs that are melee friendly have the feral druid dps and the moonkin heal. Then when things start to cleave and aoe kick the feral druid back to heal and have the moonkin do dps.
Robert Apr 25th 2007 8:47PM
@Freehugz - Feral druids with only 14 points in resto don't have the longevity to heal raid bosses, even with good gear. With 10k mana and 1000 healing unbuffed, I'm OOM after a few minutes of tossing HoTs. However, a balance druid with heavy resto (such as the popular Dreamstate resto build) can switch between doing DPS and healing as needed. It's nice because you don't need 3 dedicated healers for clearing trash in Karazhan.
Kisstina Apr 25th 2007 11:00PM
@ Pritchard...Yea but a moonkin druid can cast two starfire spells in the time it takes pyro to cast. And sometimes as a moonkin I crit two maybe three times in a row. So a crit for 3k and another crit for 3k really starts to hurt after awile, especially when you stun too.
Rudi Apr 26th 2007 12:50AM
Kiss, a 10/48/3 Fire mage with +750 spell damage has an average crit of almost 3750 for Fireball (when you add Ignite) and easily have a base 25% to crit with fire spells (excluding Combustion). +750 spell damage/25% crit is fairly mediocre gear-wise for a mage and that is excluding Scorch debuffs, trinkets, pots, food, etc.. A fairly wealthy mage who is also a tailor and enchanter can easily get to +900 to fire and crit with Fireball at 4123 for 818 DPS (4742 and 941 DPS against a fully Scorch-debuffed target).
I mean, you'll prolly out-DPS a Frost mage but a raiding Fire-spec mage... nah... ;) Tho in defence of Frosties they would pwn my cute little Fire mage's butt in PvP. ;)
Brim Apr 26th 2007 3:18AM
@Rudi:
Allthough big numbers are fun and having 3.5k starfire crits look nice, the main DPS from a moonkin comes from Wrath. The talents Starlight wrath and Nature's grace (on crit) drop the casting time of a Wrath by a full second. Dropping it to 1,5 seconds.
With about 25% critchance raidbuffed that makes one nasty Wratch machinegun when the average wrathcrit is about 1750 and a normal hit for about 1300. Top that off with the added dps from moonfire dot and the insectswarm dot and mages will have a hard time staying on top of the DPS charts
Bod Apr 26th 2007 3:23AM
There are a lot of ignorant things being said about moonkins here.
Well-geared and played moonkins (say +800 dmg unbuffed and a decent mana pool) can out-dps similar or better-geared frost/arcane mages. It is harder to out-dps a fire mage. They usually cannot beat a well-geared/played rogue or afflication lock, though they may not be far behind.
The ability of a moonkin to off-heal and tank individual mobs for short periods of time in heroics is quite valuable. These attributes are less useful in raids, but innervates and battle rez are still there.
Any discuss of starfire crits as an assessment of the moonkins as a class is a ridiculous waste of time. One should only be chain casting it on long boss fights where mana efficiency is a factor, and even then crits are bad because they prevent one from hugging the second spot on the aggro meter quite as closely as would be desirable to maximize dps.
woeye Apr 26th 2007 4:38AM
I really wish I rolled a druid and not a shaman. They can tank, they can DPS as a caster, they can DPS as a melee and they can heal damn well. So much time wasted on my shaman :(
Moo Apr 26th 2007 10:01AM
So my main is a resto druid(but if I wasn't needed as a healer for my raiding guild I would be moonkin) and well I think all of you caster DPS keep forgetting that if there is a moonkin in the group or even raid you guys are getting our 5% crit buff. So if you are trying to compare DPS always remember your DPS is higher because we are in there. Also we can innervate, CC, OT (as long as you ar e a smart moonkin and wear leather) and offheal anytime needed.
Lastly @ 28 I know I see fire mages die a whole lot more from pulling agro then I do moonkin. You fire mages my think you are hot when you are pupping out DPS but yeah when you guys pull agro (Which all of you do) and are one shotted you can't put out more DPS or be any help.
dontfront Apr 26th 2007 5:42PM
I don't know who y'all are playing with, but moonkin = good dps?
That is crazy. Your other DPS must be elsewhere... or just plain bad.
Hoof Apr 27th 2007 12:57PM
We have 2 Birds in our SSC raid, one that is very deep balance and the other is healing/balance.
The bird that is deep balance usualy comes in about 6-7 on the DPS meter and that is where we want him. If your locks and shadow priests arent above a bird you need to get new locks and shadow priests. He is there to dps but he brings so much more to the raid, innervate, combat res and his aura to name a few.
No one wants to take 3 healing druids to a raid they arent that good, they have a purpose but you dont need 3 to fill that healing role.
We usually take 3 druids, Our main OT is a druid, balance druid and split healign balance druid. Having 3 combat reses can make or break some boss attempts where dps or healing can be touchy and you lose someone in th einitial minute or two.
Innervates on long mana intensive fights is like a ray of hope to an OOM priest.
More crit is always good.
Shinsua May 16th 2007 5:00PM
It is true that a fire mage could easily equal if not overwhelm a balance druids dps in a raid or instance, but lets face facts. Mages can easily kill a ton of enemies at a time, but when enemies come in waves, a mage stands no chance.
Mainly because they cant heal. That and if you ever duel a spell caster in moonkin form. . .I simply pity you. 5% crit rate compared to heals is well. . .an idiotic choice
Amathoynn May 20th 2007 5:05PM
I have researched and read many blogs and discussions on Druids. I've played every spec with my one. As the big picture comes to the fore, all I hear are people griping about so called, "off-specs". I love Druids! I will take an "off-spec" Druid over a main spec 'anything', any day of the week, and twice on Sundays, if played well. And there is No Such Thing as Off-Spec in this game!!! We are what we are! (that goes for all classes)
I was in a guild once that tried to convince me to change to feral because "Moonkins, though fun to look at, are useless". I've heard bs before and it sounded a lot like that. At the moment I'm Feral, just for a change, but will be Moonkin soon, once again:)
People need to realize that there are Talent Trees for a reason; To get the most out of how you play the game, your way. They add uniqueness to an otherwise repetitive class(like most). Blizzard has done an "Amazing job" with their talent trees in maintaining balance for all classes and races. They have listened to all our suggestions on bettering their online experience, without listening too hard.
What I mean by that is if you use every idea that people have, you will have to constantly revamp the balance within the game to keep the characters in par with one another. Some people will always want more. That's the bottom line.
Although I love DPSing with a Moonkin, I care not if I'm as high as a mage because of "All" the things I can do. As stated earlier, we are a class of change. This isn't about who has more what. This is about what we, as an "off-spec" Druid (Pally, etc...)can contribute as a whole. If others can't see that, close-minded as it is, they're not worth partying or raiding with:)
As far as raids are concerned, we contribute more than most think. Most raids consist of someone with a damage and healing meter. This still does not show overall contribution. Not only are Druids a varied class for Tank/DPS/Healing contributions; a part of who we are is buffs
Amathoynn May 20th 2007 5:12PM
---and not just in Moonkin. We balanced to the point that shape-shifting, DPS(Moonkin/Cat), Tanking(Bear), healing, roque'ing(Cat) and buffs make up our whole. Sure, perhaps most times we may not be as "powerful" in certain ways, as others; however, we have enough of variety, no matter spec, to keep us balanced with other classes, whether they want to believe it or not(ANI, Argument not intended). I'm not saying that the system is perfect, but why point out specifics when the point is the "Big Picture"?
I do have something to say about looting, however. When in a group or raid, Druids, I implore you to let those that "Need" the cloth gear have it. If they don't absolutely need it, then please feel free to take it. In my own esteemed opinion, we as Druids are helpers/keepers of nature, etc... I'm not asking any of you to be a role player and/or become completely selfless. Just, please be mindful of others needs. This game is for fun, not for greed.
Games are about having fun. Some play more than others. If you play so much that things start to get to ya, give it a break. There's no reason to bring others down as well. I love my Druid more than my others, mainly because of all the roles I have the ability to fill. I'm bias towards, "Why play one, when you can play all"! But, the Druid fits my play style.
Fit your character (no matter the class) to suit your needs, not others. I for one would rather have fun, play my way and not sell out, than sell out to others with "tunnel vision" and not enjoy myself as much(It's your money).
Amathoynn May 20th 2007 5:28PM
--- I'm by no means stating you shouldn't heal some one when needed, hehe. Don't let them die! hehe
I appreciate those of you that take the time to read this. This isn't a college paper, so it isn't perfect. It was a tangent that perhaps others might of needed to hear.
Play how you want:) It's your (WoW) life after all!:)
Sincerely,
Amathoynn, Druid of Cenarion, Azeroth, Outlands and the Wonder World of Warcraft
Neren Jun 12th 2007 11:17AM
Hey,
First off ty for giving us moonkin's props. Everyone know's that our crit bonus brings all the girls to the yard =P.
Before I begin my comments. Here's my background. My druid is my 2nd Major toon (1st was a arms spec'd tank on Gnomer...I stopped playin him @ 41..but I can 't bear to delete him!) I leveled balance (no one told me that you level faster as a feral!) and have been a moonkin since February. Here are some of my insights & opinion's.
1.) Don't underestimate a moonkin: I still treasure the time a horde troll hunter attempted 4 times to take me down in hellfire =P he ran away after the 4th attempts. He forgot about hibernate & treants....
2.) Players (both in my guild or in PUG runs) have a love\hate relationship with Moonkin's. Either they love the spell crit bonus or they hate the aggro because of it. They're are player's who want me for every run, because of cc in cot or hate me because I only have cyclone in SV, ACH, ALC, etc. It's tough when the pst come in explaining that they'd rather have a lock or hunter. But you learn to deal. The mages in my guild love that my wrath hits while their spells are recharging. so it becomes a constant barrage of damage.
3.) Always give respect to horde moonkin. I think on Fenris they're maybe 2-3 that I've seen in my Outland wanderings. always wave and or kneel, because they're's nothing like a tauren\night elf moonkin pair dancing!
That's it for me,
HOP Rules
Neren (Fenris)
Spellfire Jul 3rd 2007 10:06AM
I dont play a moonkin but as a fire mage I love having them in my party or raid. There is not anyone who can effectively pull aggro from a fire mage when a miscalculated crit lands but a moonkin sure as hell can. Then it becomes ping-ponging the mob til it is dead. I only wished it worked on some of the bosses who the tank says is not tauntable...
I really do get tired of the snob guilds who think that their way of thinking is better. Which most of them probably are assholes in corporate suits that want to take the feelings of uselessness that they have in their everyday lives to a new level so being sorta "racist" towards a class that can step in take a few hits, off-heal, and dps respectively is what they do then so be it; it really is their loss. Plus, they probably didnt level their toon but purchased it so they need a cookie cutter group to make up for their lack of imagination for killing bosses. But for all the moonkins out there, I am going to start writing to Blizzard because you need better gear. Everyone deserves to play a character that they have fun playing, and the Moonkin get alot of crap but they still keep playing so obviously people who pick Moonkin as their toon must be strong willed people. So for all the Moonkin haters, I would watch out....you may be the little kid on the school yard not getting picked to join the team. Always remember, pride always comes before a fall.