Shifting Perspectives: The feral gear list to rule them all
Every week, WoW Insider brings you Shifting Perspectives for cat, bear, restoration and balance druids. Welcome to our feral cat edition, brought to you by Chase Hasbrouck, aka Alaron of The Fluid Druid blog. Let the face clawing begin!
This is it -- the final feral list of this expansion. By following this, you'll be well prepared to take on anything Deathwing throws your way.
Some notes:
This list is focused on items suitable for PvE content. You may have some success in PvP with these items ... or not. To compare PvP items with PvE, a good rough estimate is to take five points off the item level for weapons and 20 points off the item level for armor. This accounts for the useless resilience.
This list starts at item level 378 (normal Firelands or new 4.3 5-man instances). If you've just hit 85, check the lists for items that can be acquired via the AH or crafting, then take a look at my previous gear list.
In general, one point of agility is worth three points of any of the secondary stats, and all secondary stats are roughly equal. Use that as a guide when comparing items.
I've grouped all the items into rough tiers. These typically line up with ilevel, but not always (mostly due to gem slots). You will almost always want to gem the best +agility gem you can afford into each socket, ignoring socket bonuses unless they are 20 agility or greater.
Weapons and trinkets
Weapon
Kiril, Fury of Beasts (416) Heroic Madness of Deathwing
Spire of Coagulated Globules (410) Heroic Yor'sahj
Kiril, Fury of Beasts (403) Normal Madness of Deathwing
Spire of Coagulated Globules (397) Normal Yor'sahj
Fandral's Flamescythe (391) Heroic Staghelm
Ranseur of Hatred (391), Heroic Firelands (requires normal item + Crystallized Firestone)
Kiril, Fury of Beasts (390) Raid Finder Madness of Deathwing
Spire of Coagulated Globules (384) Raid Finder Yor'sahj
Fandral's Flamescythe (378) Normal Staghelm
Ranseur of Hatred (378) Normal Firelands rare drop, BoE
Thornwood Staff (378), Minor Cache of the Aspects, Well of Eternity
Trinkets
Vial of Shadows (410) Heroic Dragon Soul Random Boss Drop
Wrath of Unchaining (416) Heroic Spine of Deathwing
Vial of Shadows (397) Normal Dragon Soul Random Boss Drop
Wrath of Unchaining (403) Normal Spine of Deathwing
Vial of Shadows (384) Raid Finder Dragon Soul Random Boss Drop
Wrath of Unchaining (390) Raid Finder Spine of Deathwing
Starcatcher Compass (410) Heroic Warmaster Blackhorn
Starcatcher Compass (397) Normal Warmaster Blackhorn
Kiroptyric Sigil (397) 1,650 VP
Matrix Restabilizer (397) Heroic Ragnaros
The Hungerer (391) Heroic Staghelm
Matrix Restabilizer (384) Normal Ragnaros
Starcatcher Compass (384) Raid Finder Warmaster Blackhorn
Ancient Petrified Seed (378) Revered with Avengers of Hyjal
The Hungerer (378) Normal Staghelm
Arrow of Time (378) Murozond, End Time
A good weapon is the key to good feral DPS, so it's essential you get the best you can. Thankfully, unlike Firelands drops, a Dragon Soul weapon is relatively easy to come by, and an upgrade is available when you finish the instance. If you're just getting started, Ranseur's should go pretty cheap on the Auction House now, or there's a good weapon available from Well of Eternity.
The Vial of Shadows trinket is ridiculously awesome. It doesn't look like much, but the proc scales on a 1:1 basis with attack power and can crit. Yes, that means you can see procs of over 50k on this thing. I wouldn't be surprised if it gets nerfed for PvP reasons, though. Not to be outdone, Wrath of Unchaining is pretty nice as well, with a huge hunk of stacking agility. Your top two trinkets are going to be the best two versions of these you can come across.
Set pieces
Head
Deep Earth Headpiece (410) Heroic Warmaster Blackhorn
Deep Earth Headpiece (397) Normal Warmaster Blackhorn
Nocturnal Gaze (397) 2,200 VP
Obsidian Arborweave Headpiece (391) Heroic Ragnaros
Hood of Rampant Disdain (391) Heroic Lord Rhyolith
Deep Earth Headpiece (384) Raid Finder Warmaster Blackhorn
Obsidian Arborweave Headpiece (378) Normal Ragnaros
Hood of Rampant Disdain (378) Normal Lord Rhyolith
Helm of Thorns (378) Minor Cache of the Apects, Well of Eternity
Legs
Deep Earth Legguards (410) Heroic Yor'sahj
Deep Earth Legguards (397) Normal Yor'sahj
Bladeshadow Leggings (397) Leatherworking BoE
Obsidian Arborweave Legguards (391) Heroic Shannox
Cinderweb Leggings (391) Heroic Beth'tilac
Deep Earth Legguards (384) Raid Finder Yor'sahj
Obsidian Arborweave Legguards (378) 2,200 JP
Cinderweb Leggings (378) Normal Beth'tilac
Puppeteer's Pantaloons (378) Queen Azshara, Well of Eternity
Shoulders
Deep Earth Spaulders (410) Heroic Hagara
Underdweller's Spaulders (410) Heroic Morchok
Deep Earth Spaulders (397) Normal Hagara
Underdweller's Spaulders (397) Normal Morchok
Obsidian Arborweave Spaulders (391) Heroic Staghelm
Shoulderpads of the Forgotten Gate (391) Heroic Baleroc
Deep Earth Spaulders (384) Raid Finder Hagara
Underdweller's Spaulders (384) Raid Finder Morchok
Obsidian Arborweave Spaulders (378) Normal Staghelm
Shoulderpads of the Forgotten Gate (378) Normal Baleroc
Desecrated Shoulderguards (378) Archbishop Benedictus, Hour of Twilight
Chest
Deep Earth Raiment (410) Heroic Ultraxion
Deep Earth Raiment (397) Normal Ultraxion
Shadowbinder Chestguard (397) 2,200 VP
Obsidian Arborweave Raiment (391) Heroic Alysrazor
Breastplate of the Incendiary Soul (391) Heroic Baleroc
Deep Earth Raiment (384) Raid Finder Ultraxion
Obsidian Arborweave Raiment (378) 2,200 JP
Breastplate of the Incendiary Soul (378) Normal Baleroc
Time Twisted Tunic (378) Murozond, End Time
Hands
Deep Earth Grips (410) Heroic Zon'ozz
Deep Earth Grips (397) Normal Zon'ozz
Lightfinger Handwraps (397) 1,650 VP
Obsidian Arborweave Grips (391) Heroic Baleroc
Gloves of Dissolving Smoke (391) Heroic Shannox
Deep Earth Grips (384) Raid Finder Zon'ozz
Obsidian Arborweave Grips (378) 1,650 JP
Clutches of Evil (378) Leatherworking BoE
Gloves of Dissolving Smoke (378) Normal Shannox
Gloves of the Hollow (378) Echo (any of first two bosses), End Time
The set pieces are pretty boring. The only off-set choice available from Dragon Soul is the Underdweller's Spaulders, so expect to use that with tier for the other four slots. The VP and BoE choices seem somewhat underwhelming due to the relative lack of difficulty reported with normal Dragon Soul, but they may be useful for alts. At the 378 level, there's an off-set piece available from every new 5-man, so gearing should be very rapid.
Non-set pieces
Waist
Belt of Flayed Skin (410) Heroic Zon'ozz
Belt of Flayed Skin (397) Normal Zon'ozz
Belt of Hidden Keys (397) 1,650 VP
Nightblind Cinch (397) Normal Dragon Soul random drop, BoE
Riplimb's Lost Collar (391) Heroic Firelands random drop
Belt of Flayed Skin (384) Raid Finder Zon'ozz
Belt of the Fallen Brood (379) Sinestra
Flamebinding Girdle (378) Honored with Avengers of Hyjal
Riplimb's Lost Collar (378) Normal Firelands Random Drop
Peroth'arn's Belt (378) Pero'tharn, Well of Eternity
Feet
Molten Blood Footpads (416) Heroic Spine of Deathwing
Interrogator's Bloody Footpads (410) Heroic Yor'sahj
Molten Blood Footpads (403) Normal Spine of Deathwing
Interrogator's Bloody Footpads (397) Normal Yor'sahj
Rooftop Griptoes (397) 1,650 VP
Sandals of Leaping Coals (391) Heroic Staghelm
Molten Blood Footpads (390) Raid Finder Spine of Deathwing
Interrogator's Bloody Footpads (384) Raid Finder Yor'sahj
Sandals of Leaping Coals (378) Normal Staghelm
Treads of the Craft (378) Leatherworking BoE
Wayfinder Boots (378) Arcurion, Hour of Twilight
Wrists
Shadow Wing Armbands (410) Heroic Warmaster Blackhorn
Bladeshadow Wristguards (397) Leatherworking BoE
Shadow Wing Armbands (397) Normal Warmaster Blackhorn
Bracers of Manifold Pockets (397) 1,250 VP
Shadow Wing Armbands (384) Raid Finder Warmaster Blackhorn
Flamebinder Bracers (378) 1,250 JP
Back
Dreadfire Drape (391) Heroic Lord Rhyolith
Batwing Cloak (397) 1,250 VP
Dreadfire Drape (378) Normal Lord Rhyolith
Sleek Flamewrath Cloak (378) Friendly with Avengers of Hyjal
Cloak of the Banshee Queen (378) Echo of Sylvanas, End Time
The non-set pieces are a bit more interesting. At the 397 level, there are lots of VP and BoE options. Curiously, there's no ilevel 410 cloak, so the cloak off heroic Rhyolith is BiS, with the VP cloak close behind. I'd recommend this as your second VP investment if heroic Firelands is out of reach for you. If you're looking to spend gold, the bracers are an excellent option and will be BiS until you can land the heroic bracers.
Jewelry
Neck
Cameo of Terrible Memories (397) 1,250 VP
Choker of the Vanquished Lord (397) Heroic Ragnaros
Choker of the Vanquished Lord (384) Normal Ragnaros
Necklace of Smoke Signals (378) 1,250 JP
Fingers
Seal of Primordial Shadow (410) Heroic Dragon Soul random boss drop
Signet of Grasping Mouths (410) Heroic Hagara
Seal of Primordial Shadow (397) Normal Dragon Soul random boss drop
Signet of Grasping Mouths (397) Normal Hagara
Emergency Descent Loop (397) 1,250 VP
Viridian Signet of the Avengers (391) Exalted with Avengers of Hyjal
Widow's Kiss (391) Heroic Beth'tilac
Seal of Primordial Shadow (384) Raid Finder Dragon Soul random boss drop
Signet of Grasping Mouths (384) Raid Finder Hagara
Splintered Brimstone Seal (378) 1,250 JP
Widow's Kiss (378) Normal Beth'tilac
Mannoroth's Signet (378) Mannoroth, Well of Eternity
Alurmi's Ring (378) Quest reward, Well of Eternity
Relic
Ripfang Relic (397) 700 VP
Covenant of the Flame (391) Heroic Firelands (requires normal item + Crystallized Firestone)
Covenant of the Flame (378) 700 JP
The Cameo should be your first VP purchase almost certainly, as the alternative is likely still out of the reach of most. The relic slot is also an excellent candidate to spend VPs. Rings are a little easier; with heroic Beth'tilac now in reach of more guilds, many will have near-BiS rings already available.
Looking for the latest and greatest in feral cat druid guides? Shifting Perspectives has the answers! Check out our cat 101 for Cataclysm. Also don't miss gearing your cat for Firelands raiding, addons for cat druids and raiding strats for feral cats, as well as our feral cat Firelands boss strats.