Shifting Perspectives: Gearing your Resto Druid for Kara Part 2
Every week, Shifting Perspectives explores issues affecting druids and those who group with them. This week John Patricelli, the Big Bear Butt Blogger, presents the second part to the Resto Druid gear guide to help you prepare for Karazhan, with the haelp of the lovely and talented 4 Haelz.
Welcome to the second and final part of our guide to gearing up your Resto Druid in preparation for entering the fabled black gate of Karazhan.
Today we pick right back up where we left off last week, by jumping into gear lists, starting with Belts and carrying on through until we're done.
Whether you are a hopeful raider looking for ways to improve your gear, or a seasoned raider about to take a nostalgic trip through the past items you've now grown out of, I hope there will be something of use for you in the lists still to come.
So let's head on in and take a look!
Gear Rankings
This is a direct continuation of the first part of this guide, Gearing your Resto Druid for Kara Part 1. Still, I want to make sure I cover once again the way the gear is ranked in this section, since using your own judgment is especially crucial when selecting Trinkets.
The following lists have been ranked using the new Restoration Druid Item Weighting functionality of Wowhead. These ranking are based PURELY on Mana Regeneration, + Healing, Intellect and Spirit. Special abilities are NOT considered in this ranking.
If you are curious, as I was, as to where they developed their numbers from, make sure you read their FAQ on the subject.
As you do look at the following item ranks, keep in mind a few things.
First, these items are being ranked purely on the basis of measurable numbers for Mana Regeneration, + Healing, Spirit and Intellect. Therefore, some items that have an 'on use' duration may be ranked higher or lower than their actual value. To get the full effect from some of these items, you need to make sure you are using the 'on use' effect whenever possible, perhaps in conjunction with a macro that triggers an item just before a key spell.
Also, special abilities such as Spell Haste would not be weighed in. Be especially careful on Trinkets, as they commonly have special abilities that may completely change the value of the item.
And finally, before jumping on a two-handed weapon as the best choice, make sure you compare the results you would get with the combined effect of a one-handed and off-hand pairing. You might find the one-hand and off-hand work better for your purposes.
Belt
Primal Mooncloth Belt (23.91) - Tailoring BoP (Set is arguably better than Windhawk in Mana regen)
Belt of the Long Road (21.54) - Tailoring BoE
Windhawk Belt (18.53) - Leatherworking BoP (Good hybrid Resto/Moonkin gear)
Cord of Reconstruction (16.52) - Magister's Terrace (Non-Heroic) - Kael'thas Sunstrider
Cord of Sanctification (16.21) - Durnholde Keep (Heroic) - Epoch Hunter
The Sleeper's Cord (13.38) - Arcatraz (Non-Heroic) - Wrath-Scryer Soccothrates
Belt of the Sage (7.18) - Quest reward in Netherstorm
Leggings
Whitemend Pants (24.28) - Tailoring BoE
Pontifex Kilt (23.10) - Steam Vaults (Heroic) - Warlord Kalithresh
Hallowed Trousers (21.23) - Sethekk Halls (Non-Heroic) - Talon King Ikiss
Haramad's Leg Wraps (20.74) - Quest reward.
Pontiff's Pantaloons of Prophecy (20.35) - Durnholde Keep (Heroic) - Captain Skarloc
Pants of the Naaru (17.37) - Quest reward, part of the arcatraz key quest chain
Earthsoul Britches (18.04) - Slave Pens (Heroic) - Quagmirran
Moonglade Pants (14.06) - The Dark Portal/Black Morass (Non-Heroic) - Aeonus
Legging Enchants
Silver Spellthread (cheaper, much better choice for pre-Kara)
Golden Spellthread (expensive, better saved for epic pants)
Boots
Boots of Resuscitation (18.48) - Magister's Terrace (Non-Heroic) - Vexallus
Boots of the Pious (15.23) - Mechanar (Heroic) - Panthaleon the Calculator
Light-Woven Slippers (14.75) - Sethekk Halls (Non-Heroic) - Darkweaver Syth
Jeweled Boots of Sanctification (14.63) - Shattered Halls (Non-Heroic) - Warbringer O'mrogg
Curate's Boots (14.02) - Quest reward.
Boots of the Glade Keeper (13.25) - Mechanar (Non-Heroic) - Cache of the Legion
Boot Enchant
Vitality, mp5 and healthp5
Rings
Band of the Crystalline Void (13.66) - Mana Tombs (Heroic) - Yor
Cosmic Lifeband (12.96) - Mechanar (Non-Heroic) - Nethermancer Sepethrea
Band of Halos (12.85) - 25 badges. Not high-priority, as you should be going through your Violet Eye rep soon
Ring of Fabled Hope (11.71) - Underbog (Heroic) - The Black Stalker
Spiritualist's Mark of the Sha'tar (11.37) - Quest reward. Quest chain begins from The Journal of Val'zareq
Kharmaa's Ring of Fate (10.75) - Magister's Terrace (Non-Heroic) - Kael'thas Sunstrider
Signet of Repose (8.51) - Blood Furnace (Heroic) - Broggok
Ring of Spiritual Precision (8.15) - The Dark Portal/Black Morass (Non-Heroic) - Chrono Lord Deja
Ring Enchant
Healing Power (Enchanter only)
Trinkets
Redeemer's Alchemist Stone (Alchemist's only!) (18.14) - Shattered Sun Offensive - Exalted
Essence of the Martyr (12.81) - 41 badges. You will have this trinket for quite some time, as it has an excellent boost to your raw +healing and a good on-use boost.
Vial of the Sunwell (9.15) - Magister's Terrace (Heroic) - Priestess Delrissa
Oshu'gun Relic (8.08) - Quest reward.
Warp Scarab Brooch (7.93) - Mana Tombs (Heroic) - Nexus-Prince Shaffar
Scarab of the Infinite Cycle (10.67) - The Dark Portal/Black Morass (Non-Heroic) - Aeonus
Lower City Prayerbook (10.67) - Lower City Revered
Bangle of Endless Blessings (unranked) - Botanica (Non-Heroic) - Warp Splinter
Two-Hand
Exodar Life-Staff (75.94) - Drop BoE Healing Staff
Rod of the Blazing Light (67.81) - Magister's Terrace (Heroic) - Vexallus
Seer's Cane (45.62) - Staff, Scryer Revered
Epoch Mender (45.55) - The Dark Portal/Black Morass (Non-Heroic) - Temporus
Staff of Divine Infusion (38.67) - Drop BoE Healing Staff
Main Hand
Hand of Eternity (54.67) - Blacksmithing BoE Mace
The Ancient Scepter of Sue-Min (52.01) - Drop BoE Healing Mace
Shockwave Truncheon (51.98) - Shadow Labs (Heroic) - Murmur
Gavel of Pure Light (51.70) - Sha'tar Exalted
Hammer of the Penitent (41.67) - Mechanar (Non-Heroic) - Mechano-Lord Capacitus
Essence Focuser (41.31) - Drop BoE Healing Mace
K'iru's Presage (40.84) - Shattered Sun Offensive - Revered
Lightsworn Hammer (40.62) - Shattered Halls (Non-Heroic) - Warchief Kargath Bladefist
Battle-Mace of the High Priestess (38.70) - Magister's Terrace (Non-Heroic) - Priestess Delrissa
Dathrohan's Ceremonial Hammer (38.47) - Durnholde Keep (Heroic) - Captain Skarloc
Runed Dagger of Solace (34.60) - Botanica (Non-Heroic) - Thorngrin the Tender
Northshire Battlemace (29.15) - Durnholde/Old Hillsbrad Foothills (Non-Heroic) - Captain Skarloc
Weapon Enchants
Major Healing
Spellsurge
(Weapon enchants are not worth it for pre-Kara as they are really expensive)
Off-Hand
Tears of Heaven (15.09) - 25 badges. Has raw mp5 and +healing.
Voodoo Shaker (13.81) - 35 Badges, ranked lower than Tears of Heaven but a better overall Off-Hand item.
Faol's Signet of Cleansing (13.26) - Ramparts (Heroic) - Omor the Unscarred
Windcaller's Orb (13.02) - Cenarion Expedition - Exalted
Swamplight Lantern (12.04) - Slave Pens (Heroic) - Quagmirran
Lamp of Peaceful Repose (10.86) - Arcatraz (Non-Heroic) - Dalliah the Doomsayer
Lordaeron Medical Guide (10.20) - Durnholde Keep (Heroic) - Lieutenant Drake
Unearthed Orb (8.82) - Quest reward
Idol
Idol of the Emerald Queen - Shadow Labs (Non-Heroic) - Ambassador Hellmaw; (the preferred Resto Idol)
Idol of the Raven Goddess - Quest reward
Harold's Rejuvenating Brooch - Quest reward Requires all 9 Mastery Quests from Nesingwary.
A look at the Moonglade Raiment
Moonglade Raiment, BC Druid Dungeon set
This set is weird. It's supposed to be "hybrid" but it's more "resto." At the same time, it has a bunch of unnecessary stats, like Strength and Agility. The two-set bonus is rather nice, especially for your tanks, but the four-set is lackluster at best. Would not recommend picking up more than two pieces. The headpiece may not be worth the money it takes to socket it with a meta, especially with T4 coming to you courtesy of Prince in the hopefully-near-future.
The "I just turned 70 a week ago" Gear Set
Head: Watcher's Cowl
Neck: Living Ruby Pendant
Shoulders: Ravenwing Pauldrons (1 Purified Jaggal Pearl, 1 Luminous Flame Spessarite)
Back: Sha'tari Anchorite's Cloak
Chest: Lifewarden's Breastplate
Bracers: Goldenvine Wraps
Gloves: Cryo-mitts
Belt: Belt of the Sage
Pants: Haramad's Leg Wraps (3 Purified Jaggal Pearls)
Boots: Curate's Boots
Ring: Cosmic Lifeband
Ring: Spiritualist's Mark of the Sha'tar
Trinket: Oshu'gun Relic
Trinket: Lower City Prayerbook
Weapon: The Essence Focuser
Off-hand: Unearthed Orb
Idol: Harold's Rejuvenating Brooch
With this set equipped, you will gain +937 Healing, +40mp5, +126 Stamina, +189 Intellect, and +167 Spirit.
The "I'm ready for Kara but Don't Have a Crafting Profession" Gear Set
Head: Hood of Primal Life (Glyph of Renewal)
Neck: Necklace of Eternal Hope
Shoulders: Gladiator's Kodohide Spaulders (1 Luminous Flame Spessarite, 1 Purified Jaggal Pearl)
Back: Sha'tari Anchorite's Cloak
Chest: Robes of Summer Flame (1 Luminous Flame Spessarite, 1 Purified Jaggal Pearl, 1 Teardrop Blood Garnet)
Bracers: Goldenvine Wraps
Gloves: Cryo-mitts
Belt: Cord of Belief
Pants: Pants of the Naaru
Boots: Curate's Boots
Ring: Kharmaa's Ring of Fate
Ring: Spiritualist's Mark of the Sha'tar
Trinket: Lower City Prayerbook
Trinket: Scarab of the Infinite Cycle
Weapon: K'iru's Presage
Off-hand: Swamplight Lantern
Idol: Idol of the Emerald Queen
With this set equipped, you will jump to +1054 Healing, +28mp5, +185 Stamina, +278 Intellect, and +176 Spirit.
Not too bad at all, to bring you exactly where Bellwether recommends you should be while successfully healing in Karazhan, and all that without one single drop from the upcoming Raid instance.
With this kind of advance preparation, you can be confident that you are starting strong, well able to support your raid and help keep your tank and your team alive.
And do it all, of course, in that inimitable leafy style.
I hope you have found this list useful, and good luck to you on your adventures in healing your raid as you take on Kara!
Bellwether and Big Bear Butt would like to early thank our sources for the information in this article; without you, this would have been flat out impossible!
WoWWiki
Wowhead
Resto4Life
4 Haelz
Part Time Druid
A Tale of Two Druids
Special thanks to Doodlebug of Hots and Dots for being my model for the cover shoot. Way to work it, Doodle! Is that not one smoking hot tree, ladies and gentlemen? I think so!
Looking for more Druid goodness? Every week Shifting Perspectives provides you with advice, strats and humor for Druids of all specs. Read the first part to the Resto Gear guide for Karazhan, our complete guide to gearing your Bear Tank for Karazhan, and also check out our leveling tips for Moonkin.
