Balance Druids may not be a clear-cut top-tier DPS option in World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, but they're still a great choice. Thanks to impressive damage output and the utility the Druid class is known for, they comfortable sit in the A tier on our DPS tier list. Our best in slot guide will help you obtain the best gear Dragonflight has to offer and do the most damage you can.

Item Slot Navigation Menu

Balance Druid Best in Slot Stat Priority

The most important factor to consider when obtaining new gear is your stat priority. In general, you should follow a rule like this:

1. Mastery
2. Haste
3. Critical Strike
4. Versatility

This is a pretty clear-cut stat priority, but one thing to keep in mind is that Mastery trumps everything else. It is far and away your best stat.

Important Notes For BiS Lists

It is important to note that any jump in ilvl by more than 10 points almost always results in the higher ilvl item being better. If you have an upgrade of 5 ilvl or less, compare the stats based on the stat priorities to decide the better item.

When weighing options of other items not listed below, refer to the stat priority of the class and spec. Keep in mind that stats eventually have diminishing returns, so it is not required to have absolutely every slot stack the same 2 stats. For simplicity, we offer the best per slot assuming you have not capped out these stats.

The calculations for diminishing returns are as follows:

• 0 to 30% in a stat - no penalty.
• 30% to 39% in a stat - 10% penalty.
• 39% to 47% in a stat - 20% penalty.
• 47% to 54% in a stat - 30% penalty.
• 54% to 66% in a stat - 40% penalty.
• 66% to 126% in a stat - 50% penalty.

In the case where you have reached 30% in a secondary stat, an item that has a secondary stat that is lower on priority may in fact be a better upgrade. This is why it is always important to sim your gear. For simplicity, we offer the best item in that slot assuming you have not capped out these stats.

Balance Druid BiS Gear

The items appearing in these lists may come from Mythic+, Raids, or The Vault. Their item level will depend on the instance's level of difficulty (Normal, Heroic, Mythic, Mythic+ 1-20). This list does not include Renown or Crafting items as it is meant as a guide on what dungeons or raids to attend to get your best gear from these sources.

Item tooltips will show the Mythic 9 or the Normal Raid difficulty item level version.

Best Head

We recommend the tier helm due to its inclusion of Mastery and it being tier.

Back to Item Menu

Best Neck

Theorycrafting and data show that the Elemental Lariat is almost always your best neck piece. We recommend getting this crafted ASAP. Anything else is honestly not worth mentioning. Use a missive to ensure your desired stats.

Back to Item Menu

Best Shoulders

Once again, we recommend tier.

Back to Item Menu

Best Back

Honestly, as long as you pick up a cloak with Mastery, you're good to go.

Back to Item Menu

Best Chest

This is one of two tier options that does not have Mastery.

Back to Item Menu

Best Wrist

Beyond what is listed, there are several viable options for bracers.

Back to Item Menu

Best Hands

Your gloves don't have Mastery, but they may still be your best bet.

Back to Item Menu

Best Waist

Belt options aren't exciting, but they are what they are.

Back to Item Menu

Best Legs

It's slim pickings for your legs. Tier should be the best bet.

Back to Item Menu

Best Feet

The boots from raids aren't good. Stick with Mythic+ options.

Back to Item Menu

Best Rings

We recommend rings that lean towards mastery. Make sure you always sim upgrades.

Back to Item Menu

Best Trinkets

Trinket sims are provided by bloodmallet.com.

Back to Item Menu

Best Weapons

We highly recommend simming all weapon upgrades.

Back to Item Menu

Best Gems For Balance Druid

Here we list the best gems you can socket your gear with for Balance Druid. As always, it is best to sim to ensure you're using the best options available. These gems are chosen given consideration to your best stats.

• Epic unique gem - Skillful Illimited Diamond
• Remaining gems - Keen Neltharite

Best Enchants For Balance Druid

Here are the best enchants available for Balance Druid in Dragonflight.

• Cloak - Graceful Avoidance
• Chest - Waking Stats
• Bracers - Devotion of Avoidance
• Legs - Frozen Spellthread
• Boots - Watcher's Loam
• Rings - Devotion of Mastery
• Weapon - Sophic Devotion

Back to Item Menu

How To Simulate To Determine Your Best Gear

Raidbots is a tool that World of Warcraft players can use to figure out if the gear they just looted is an upgrade. As mentioned earlier, there are so many nuances and diminishing returns as certain points in the game, that determining an exact set of bis gear is impossible. With the ilvl scaling of Mythic+ loot on higher keys and utility different gear has for different fights, there just isn't a pure "this is the absolute best for the entire Season" list. It's even something that certain classes have come across in Classic Wrath!

Don't worry, because we're still here to help. We highly recommend using raidbots to determine if an item you just acquired is an upgrade. Here's a quick guide to help you run simulations to see if your new item is an upgrade:

• Make sure you have the Simulationcraft add-on installed.
• With your new loot in your inventory, open your chatbox and type /simc.
• A window will open up. Copy the entire text and paste it on the Raidbots Top Gear page. I included my Simulation craft window for my personal character below

• This step is important. On the Top Gear page, scroll down and make sure you're selecting the gear you want simmed. If you do not select the gear you're wearing, as well as the gear in your inventory you just acquired, you won't know if you picked up an upgrade.
• Raidbots will then let you know which items allow you to maximize your DPS.