Resto PvP Druid FTW!
by Dan O'Halloran 
Aug 15th 2007 at 9:00AM
Mookysolo of the Ner'zhul server has written a PVP guide for Restoration druids. And by "guide" I mean eight enormous posts that take up almost an entire forum page. In that marathon listing, you'll find the three best pieces of equipment per slot, recommended enchants, jewels by color, different talent builds, recommended strategies, theorycraft, mathcraft and a FAQ. To say that it's thorough would be an understatement. He also provides two movies of his PvP exploits for your enjoyment.
For another perspective on the same subject, be sure to check out another Resto PvP Guide on the European forums. Many interesting strategies listed and more movies at the end of that post.
EDIT: I've rewritten the tone of the post to reflect the lack of surprise on behalf of PvP players of the dominance of Resto Druids. Clearly I don't PvP, but my intent here was to pass on an excellent guide I came across. I've altered the tone of the post to be more informational and in the future, I'll put my reaction in context.
That being said, I'm always impressed when players manage to excel with a "gimped" spec. I'll see if I can find such a case for PvP and post it for you guys.
Thanks for the feedback..
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Physical Original Aug 15th 2007 9:30AM
You're supprised? I thought resto was the only viable arena spec.. (well ok, maybe a mix of balance resto but certainly as far as swiftmend).
dotorion Aug 15th 2007 9:32AM
Great post !
I read the EU one already but the US one is even better IMO.
Taeo Aug 15th 2007 10:36AM
Yeah, like #1 I'm confused as to why you're suprised Dan :-P
Resto Druid is currently the basis for several top tier 2v2 teams due to their incredible kiting abilities. They can also do well in 3's and 5's but vs 3 or more DPS their kiting ability is somewhat diminished.
Belthasar Aug 15th 2007 10:06AM
"Moral of this story? Never let anyone tell you what can and can't be done with your spec. Blizzard has provided enough options and versatility that you play the way you want. And if a group member, raid leader or website tells you otherwise, feel free to link this article."
No, you have to spec certain ways to arena well. This guy is using one of the strongest 2v and 3v healing options. Not only is it arguably the strongest spec for his class, but might be one of the strongest healer specs in these brackets.
You can't just spec any way you want, as your last paragraph suggests. Tell that to the Prot or Fury, where are they in the arenas? How about any Destro lock that would have rated hundreds higher if he respecced? Seen many Enhancement Shaman?
Elbows Aug 15th 2007 10:07AM
Yea I don't understand why you would think that healing specs aren't viable PVP specs. In cases such as druid and paladin, they are pretty much the only viable spec. More than half of all priests who PVP are 28/33, myself included.
I like wowinsider and come here everyday, but you guys certainly don't know PVP.
Mats Aug 15th 2007 10:08AM
I think Dan O'Halloran might think all things equal.
A person can do anything with all sorts of specs. "YOU" can not.
Linking a artical such as this, does not prove the value of X spec in X situation. Only YOU can prove that such a spec can be of value to that situation.
chaudharymic Aug 15th 2007 10:14AM
You must not arena, ever. Resto druid / Lock top in so many battlegrp 2v2s it's not even funny.
Moral of this story? Arena before you write articles about it.
Siedre Aug 15th 2007 10:49AM
Sorry, I have to jump on the bandwagon and tell you that this news is the opposite of surprise. ^_^
Also, no, no mass number of pve specced druids will ever reach 2000+ status in arenas. There are talents you take for pvp and talents you take for pve. Pve talents plain don't work at the top levels. Could you see a pve dreamstate primary healer winning in arena? 3 second HT spamming? I think not.
Cosmina Aug 15th 2007 10:46AM
Hafu.
Good Druid.
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html;jsessionid=B8AC56D86D14077ED3065B1690E038A0?topicId=712008060&sid=1
Ryan Aug 15th 2007 10:47AM
@5 That made no sense at all. Some specs are better at certain things regardless of the player.
daniel Aug 15th 2007 10:49AM
Holy PvP Priest FTW? Now that's a challenge...
fhornmikey Aug 15th 2007 10:56AM
It's amazing to me that half the writers on this blog seem completely clueless as to a lot of the things they write about.
keegan Aug 15th 2007 10:59AM
@ 12--agreed.
Elzam Aug 15th 2007 11:06AM
Although I read wowinsider daily, I find it highly disturbing the lack of PvP knowledge that many authors acknowledge. Here, Paladins are touted as being unstoppable healers in all brackets, when in reality upon reaching the 1800 and beyond brackets in 2v2 and 3v3, the dominant force is Resto Druid and Holy Priests.
There is nothing surprising about a high-ranked PvP Resto Druid, as it is one of the best specs for line of sighting the opponents. In addition, the Druid (especially a Resto/Feral dip) is the CC king of the 2v2 arena for the pure fact that its CC is not a duplication of itself and not susceptible to DR like constant fears/polymorph.
Surely there's someone else out there who has been triple cycloned, feral charged, bashed, warstomped, and then triple cycloned again (which is no longer on DR because of the charge/bash/warstomp durations) before they ever get a heal off.
Let's face it, in 2v2 arena line of sighting is king, not DPS. A post like this devoted to a Resto Druid is redundant to the majority of arena players.
You want to surprise me? Show me a great 2v2 video with a Shaman or Paladin healer; that's right, the healers with little to no LOSing with HoTs.
Jchc Aug 15th 2007 11:36AM
Those HoTs! OMG! Those HoTs!!!
Also I agree with 12 you guys need a hardcore pvp blogger. It's a whole different game with arena, the strategies that people come up with in arena are amazing. (ie. Mind control the warrior away from you!! lol I never thought of that)
Killbyproxy Aug 15th 2007 11:43AM
i have a resto druid GLADIATOR, and i can without a doubt say that resto druid is in my opinion, one of the hardest classes to kill, they are also one of the best and most UNDER USED of all pvp classes, resto druids can own in arena, you just need to know how to play them and where to put your talents, just because you are resto doesnt mean that both the balance and feral trees dont have things in them that can make you a more effective HEALER....
chaud Aug 15th 2007 9:06PM
@12, I agree. The quality of WoWInsider has been going downhill, and I have never seen a PvP post that was interesting. It feels like they have a quota to meet, and pump out garbage articles like crazy.
The only useful thing I have seen recently is the Blizcon coverage.
Personally I will say right up front that I write articles for another site, but used to enjoy reading the stuff here. But keep up the good work and such, bad advice on PvP, cheery little questions to end each article, pictures of WoW that appeal to few, ect.
Belthasar Aug 15th 2007 1:51PM
Props to Dan (the writer) on actually making an edit. It was a good find, you just didn't have arena experience. Can't fault you for that if it's not your thing, and it's standup of you to make an edit.
At least you're not that idiot Daniel Howell (a true shame to WoW Insider).
ben1778 Aug 15th 2007 2:18PM
I would like to see the bloggers get more PvP experience for themselves. This would make for MUCH improved articles. That being said, I don't think that the WoWInsider blogs are bad. There just seems to be a lot of articles that have to be corrected heavily due to inexperience of the author. I know each person can't play each class and be a master, but ANY player can go get some pvp experience. Get on some arena teams or at least the bloggers should familiarize themselves with arena/bg stats such as predominant classes/specs in a bracket. Who seems to be favored in the high ends in each bracket? You get the idea. I know a lot of blogs are basically, "Hey look what I saw/read/found over here..." but you still should have a good background for what you're discussing.
Overall, decent article, but i'd like to see the whole staff get more pvp experience in all aspects.
Birthmark Aug 15th 2007 4:54PM
Just goes to show you that just because a class says it's broken doesn't make it true. And graphs showing the class representation of top 20 teams doesn't tell you the whole story. Resto druids are dominating the 2v2 bracket and gaining popularity very fast in the 3v3 and 5v5 bracket as of late. Look up "Hafu" on the general forums. Somebody made a thread complaining LOS is being abused in arena and posted her video as proof. It shows her doing 2v3 arena. She had a 2600+ 2v2 rating. I also don't agree that hunters are broken in arena either. If you watched the Blizzcon footage a dwarf hunter was on the winning 5v5 team and stole the show with with aoe frost traps and massive damage.