WoW Wrath Classic: Balance Druid Best in Slot Gear (WotLK)

This article is part of a directory: WoW Wrath Classic (WotLK): Complete Guide Directory

Table of contents

Druid Specialization PvE Guides


Best in Slot Pre-Raid
Best in Slot Phase 1
Best In Slot Phase 2

The time of the chicken is finally here. Balance Druids, or more commonly referred to as boomkin or chickens, are in a great spot for Classic Wrath of the Lich King. They're a solid option on our WotLK PvE DPS tier list and insanely fun to play as well. While they might not constantly reach the top of the damage meters like they have on pre-patch, they're going to be a viable part of your raid moving forward.

Our Balance Druid BIS guide will focus on what gear is best in slot for you as you begin your journey into Wrath of the Lich King Classic. Currently, we'll go over both pre-raid and Phase One best in slot lists. As additional phases are released, we'll update the list accordingly.

Special thanks to the theorycrafting communities for their work discussing items and working on simulations to find the best gear available for players. As always, the best thing to do to determine gear upgrades is to sim your DPS.

Boomkin Best In Slot Pre Raid Gear

Item Slot Navigation Menu
Head	Neck	Shoulders	Back
Chest	Wrist	Hands	Waist
Legs	Feet	Rings	Trinkets
Main-Hand	Off-Hand	Staff	Idol

Pre-Raid Best-In-Slot gear includes everything that can be obtained without stepping inside the first raids of WotLK. This includes gear obtained via Quests, Reputation Vendors, Professions, Dungeons, and Heroic Dungeons. There may also be a few pieces of gear from The Burning Crusade, namely Sunwell Plateau, that are still viable alternatives if you can find a group to go back and farm them.

Head Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Your absolute best option requires Engineering, so everyone won't be able to obtain it. Battlemap Hide Helm is a solid backup.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Greensight Gogs	Engineering craft - Bind on Pickup	Potent Monarch Topaz Chaotic Skyflare Diamond	Arcanum of Burning Mysteries
Viable	Battlemap Hide Helm	Prince Keleseth - Heroic Utgarde Keep	Runed Scarlet Ruby Chaotic Skyflare Diamond	Arcanum of Burning Mysteries
Viable	Helm of Anomalus	Anomalus - Heroic Nexus	Runed Scarlet Ruby Chaotic Skyflare Diamond	Arcanum of Burning Mysteries
Viable	Hat of Wintry Doom	Tailoring craft - Bind on Equip	Runed Scarlet Ruby Chaotic Skyflare Diamond	Arcanum of Burning Mysteries

Neck Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

I'm not sure why you'd consider the other two options when your best bet is obtained through emblems, especially one that's a craft.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location
Best	Encircling Burnished Gold Chains	25 Emblem of Heroism
Viable	Necklace of Taldaram	Prince Taladram - Heroic Ahn'kahet: The Old Kingdom
Viable	Titanium Spellshock Necklace	Jewelcrafting craft - Bind on Equip

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Shoulders Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Hope you enjoy Halls of Stone, because that's where you'll go for your pre-raid shoulders.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Dark Runic Mantle	Bind on Equip drop - Heroics Halls of Stone	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Greater Inscription of the Storm
Viable	Mantle of the Tribunal	Tribunal of the Ages - Halls of Stone		Greater Inscription of the Storm
Viable	Spaulders of Krystallus	Krystallus - Heroic Halls of Stone		Greater Inscription of the Storm

Back Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Easy options here in the cloak slot. You can either pick up the BOE or do some PVP and farm Honor.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Enchants
Best	Deathchill Cloak	Tailoring craft - Bind on Equip	Enchant Cloak - Greater Speed
Viable	Hateful Gladiator's Cloak of Ascendancy	PVP - 38k Honor	Enchant Cloak - Greater Speed
Viable	Cape of Seething Steam	Volkhan - Halls of Lightning	Enchant Cloak - Greater Speed
Viable	Dark Soldier Cape	Honored with Knights of the Ebon Blade	Enchant Cloak - Greater Speed

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Chest Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

I put five options here since you're able to obtain your pre-raid chest piece from a wide variety of places. Tier is the ideal one, but you can pick up others stop-gaps along the way.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Heroes' Dreamwalker Vestments	80 Emblem of Heroism	Runed Scarlet Ruby Purified Twilight Opal	Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats
Viable	Spellweave Robe	Tailoring Craft - Bind on Equip		Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats
Viable	Ebonweave Robe	Tailoring Craft - Bind on Equip		Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats
Viable	Water-Drenched Robe	Ichoron - Heroic Violet Hold	Runed Scarlet Ruby Runed Scarlet Ruby	Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats
Viable	Drakewing Raiments	Drakos the Interrogator - The Oculus	Runed Scarlet Ruby Potent Monarch Topaz	Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats

Wrist Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

A lot of viable options here. Azure Cloth gets the nod, but these are all pretty solid.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Enchants
Best	Azure Cloth Bindings	Ley-Guardian Eregos - Heroic Oculus	Enchant Bracers - Superior Spellpower
Viable	Cuffs of Winged Levitation	Cyanigosa - Heroic Violet Hold	Enchant Bracers - Superior Spellpower
Viable	Plague-Infected Bracers	Mal'Ganis - Heroic Culling of Stratholme	Enchant Bracers - Superior Spellpower
Viable	Bracers of the Divine Elemental	Drakkari Elemental - Heroic Gundrak	Enchant Bracers - Superior Spellpower

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Hands Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

There are some alternatives from BOEs and Sunwell gear, but ultimately, these are your best bets.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Heroes' Dreamwalker Gloves	40 Emblem of Heroism	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Enchant Gloves - Exceptional Spellpower
Viable	Gloves of Glistening Runes	Keristrasza - Heroic Nexus	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Enchant Gloves - Exceptional Spellpower

Waist Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Plush Sash gets you an impressive amount of hit.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets
Best	Plush Sash of Guzbah	40 Emblem of Heroism	Rigid Autumn's Glow
Viable	Girdle of Bane	King Ymiron - Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle
Viable	Ghostflicker Waistband	Exalted with Kirin Tor	Runed Scarlet Ruby
Viable	Sash of Blood Removal	Gal'darah - Heroic Gundrak

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Legs Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

These are all pretty close. It all will honestly depend on what's the easiest for you to get.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Enchants
Best	Woven Bracae Leggings	Loken - Heroic Halls of Lightning	Brilliant Spellthread
Viable	Leggings of the Winged Serpent	The Prophet Tharon'ja - Heroic Drak'Tharon Keep	Brilliant Spellthread
Viable	Windripper Leggings	Leatherworking craft - Bind on Equip	Brilliant Spellthread

Feet Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Getting to exalted is what it is, but it's definitely your best option.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Sandals of Crimson Fury	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Nitro Boosts
Viable	Cleric's Linen Shoes	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Nitro Boosts
Viable	Windripper Boots		Nitro Boosts

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Rings Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

You're only getting a single-digit DPS increase from the Kirin Tor signet. If you're not made of money, there's smarter options.

Reminder that only enchanters can enchant rings.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Signet of the Kirin Tor	Purchased with 8,500 gold from Harold Winston		Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower
Best	Ring of Northern Tears	Jewelcrafting craft - Bind on Equip	Purified Twilight Opal	Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower
Best	Titanium Spellshock Ring	Jewelcrafting craft - Bind on Equip	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower
Viable	Band of Guile	Mal'Ganis - Heroic Culling of Stratholme		Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower
Viable	Annhylde's Ring	Ingvar the Plunderer - Heroic Utgarde Keep		Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower
Viable	The Prospector's Prize	Krystallus - Heroic Halls of Stone		Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower

Trinkets Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

At least Sundial drops off of the one boss in Violet Hold you'll fight every time.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location
Best	Sundial of the Exiled	Cyanigosa - Heroic Violet Hold
Best	Mark of the War Prisoner	40 Emblem of Heroism
Viable	Figurine - Twilight Serpent	Jewelcrafting craft - Bind on Pickup
Viable	Je'Tze's Bell	World BOE
Viable	Darkmoon Card: Illusion	Darkmoon Prisms Deck
Viable	Spark of Life	Sjonnir the Ironshaper - Heroic Halls of Stone

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Main-Hand Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Main Hand/Off Hand is the ideal setup over a Two-Handed weapon.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Enchants
Best	Titansteel Spellblade	Blacksmithing craft - Bind on Equip	Enchant Weapon - Mighty Spellpower
Viable	Titansteel Guardian	Blacksmithing craft - Bind on Equip	Enchant Weapon - Mighty Spellpower
Viable	War Mace of Unrequited Love	Keristrasza - Heroic Nexus	Enchant Weapon - Mighty Spellpower
Viable	Flameheart Spell Scalpel	Revered with Kirin Tor	Enchant Weapon - Mighty Spellpower
Viable	Gavel of the Brewing Storm	Revered with Wyrmrest Accord	Enchant Weapon - Mighty Spellpower

Off-Hand Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Getting your bis for 25 emblems is a no-brainer. There's no real reason to post the other options.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Ward of the Violet Citadel	25 Emblem of Heroism

Staff Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Honestly, only pick these up as a stop-gap for main hand/offhand combo.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Viable	Staff of Draconic Combat	Ley-Guardian Eregos - Heroic Oculus
Viable	Staff of Wayward Principles	Skadi the Ruthless - Heroic Utgarde Pinnacle

Idol Pre Raid Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

The emblem idol is your pre-raid bis. Pick up the quest reward in the meantime.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Idol of Steadfast Renewal	25 Emblem of Heroism
Viable	Idol of the Raven Goddess	Vanquish the Raven God

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Boomkin Best In Slot Phase One Gear

Item Slot Navigation Menu
Head	Neck	Shoulders	Back
Chest	Wrist	Hands	Waist
Legs	Feet	Rings	Trinkets
Main-Hand	Off-Hand	Staff	Idol

Phase one sees the introduction of the first wave of raids in Wrath of the Lich King, they are: Naxxramas, Obsidian Sanctum, and Eye of Eternity

Head Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

4 piece is really good and you'll use one of those tier slots here.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Valorous Dreamwalker Cover	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 25	Runed Scarlet Ruby Chaotic Skyflare Diamond	Arcanum of Burning Mysteries
Viable	Heroes' Dreamwalker Cover	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 10	Runed Scarlet Ruby Chaotic Skyflare Diamond	Arcanum of Burning Mysteries
Viable	Gothik's Cowl	Gothik the Harvester - Naxxramas 25	Potent Monarch Topaz Chaotic Skyflare Diamond	Arcanum of Burning Mysteries
Viable	Headpiece of Reconciliation	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25	Potent Monarch Topaz Chaotic Skyflare Diamond	Arcanum of Burning Mysteries

Neck Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

You and every other caster are going for the Malygos quest reward. Good luck.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets
Best	Wyrmrest Necklace of Power	Heroic Judgment at the Eye of Eternity	Purified Twilight Opal
Viable	Chain of the Ancient Wyrm	Judgment at the Eye of Eternity	Purified Twilight Opal
Viable	Chain of Latent Energies	World BOE
Viable	Cosmic Lights	Sapphiron - Naxxramas 25

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Shoulders Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Tier is what you want here. Everything else is just temporary.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Valorous Dreamwalker Mantle	Loatheb - Naxxramas 25	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Greater Inscription of the Storm
Viable	Heroes' Dreamwalker Mantle	Loatheb - Naxxramas 10	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Greater Inscription of the Storm
Viable	Mantle of the Corrupted	Four Horsemen - Naxxramas 25		Greater Inscription of the Storm
Viable	Mantle of the Fatigued Sage	Grobbulus - Naxxramas 25	Purified Twilight Opal	Greater Inscription of the Storm
Viable	Mantle of the Eternal Sentinel	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25		Greater Inscription of the Storm

Back Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Pennant Cloak is the obvious bis option here.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Pennant Cloak	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25	Purified Twilight Opal	Enchant Cloak - Greater Speed
Viable	Cape of the Unworthy Wizard	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 25		Enchant Cloak - Greater Speed
Viable	Shroud of Luminosity	Multiple enemies - Naxxramas 25		Enchant Cloak - Greater Speed
Viable	Deathchill Cloak	Tailoring craft - Bind on Equip		Enchant Cloak - Greater Speed

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Chest Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Your pre-raid bis should be the Heroes' tier piece. The only real upgrade from there is the Valorous piece.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Valorous Dreamwalker Vestments	Four Horsemen - Naxxramas 25	Runed Scarlet Ruby Purified Twilight Opal	Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats
Viable	Heroes' Dreamwalker Vestments	80 Emblem of Heroism	Runed Scarlet Ruby Purified Twilight Opal	Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats
Viable	Gown of the Spell-Weaver	Malygos - Eye of Eternity 10	Potent Monarch Topaz	Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats
Viable	Heigan's Putrid Vestments	Heigan the Unclean - Naxxramas 25	Potent Monarch Topaz Purified Twilight Opal	Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats
Viable	The Sanctum's Flowing Vestments	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25	Runed Scarlet Ruby Purified Twilight Opal	Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats
Viable	Gown of Blaumeux	Gluth - Naxxramas 10		Enchant Chest - Powerful Stats

Wrist Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Your absolute bis is the Unsullied Cuffs, but other options are available if you need the hit rating.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Unsullied Cuffs	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Enchant Bracers - Superior Spellpower
Viable	Bindings of the Expansive Mind	Instructor Razuvious - Naxxramas 25		Enchant Bracers - Superior Spellpower
Viable	Esteemed Bindings	Instructor Razuvious - Naxxramas 25	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Enchant Bracers - Superior Spellpower
Viable	Wraps of the Astral Traveler	60 Emblem of Valor		Enchant Bracers - Superior Spellpower
Viable	Cuffs of the Shadow Ascendant	60 Emblem of Valor		Enchant Bracers - Superior Spellpower

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Hands Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

It's been a broken record, but 4 piece is that good. Get the tier. Your pre-raid was tier already, go get the upgrade.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Valorous Dreamwalker Gloves	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Enchant Gloves - Exceptional Spellpower
Viable	Heroes' Dreamwalker Gloves	40 Emblem of Heroism	Runed Scarlet Ruby	Enchant Gloves - Exceptional Spellpower
Viable	Gloves of Grandeur	Sapphiron - Naxxramas 25		Enchant Gloves - Exceptional Spellpower
Viable	Gloves of Token Respect	Grand Widow Faerlina - Naxxramas 25		Enchant Gloves - Exceptional Spellpower
Viable	Gloves of the Fallen Wizard	Noth the Pleaguebringer - Naxxramas 25		Enchant Gloves - Exceptional Spellpower

Waist Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

A no-brainer bis option with Leash, but if you need hit, hold off on it.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets
Best	Leash of Heedless Magic	Malygos - Eye of Eternity 25
Viable	Cincture of Polarity	Thaddius - Naxxramas 25
Viable	Belt of False Dignity	Grand Widow Faerlina - Naxxramas 25
Viable	Plush Sash of Guzbah	40 Emblem of Heroism	Rigid Autumn's Glow

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Legs Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

This is your one non-tier slot, but pick them up as you wait for the Malygos legs.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Sockets	Enchants
Best	Leggings of the Wanton Spellcaster	Malygos - Eye of Eternity 25		Brilliant Spellthread
Viable	Valorous Dreamwalker Trousers	Thaddius - Naxxramas 25	Runed Scarlet Ruby Purified Twilight Opal	Brilliant Spellthread
Viable	Heroes' Dreamwalker Trousers	Thaddius - Naxxramas 10	Runed Scarlet Ruby Purified Twilight Opal	Brilliant Spellthread
Viable	Legguards of the Boneyard	Sapphiron - Naxxramas 25	Runed Scarlet Ruby Potent Monarch Topaz	Brilliant Spellthread
Viable	Leggings of Atrophy	Anub'Rekhan - Naxxramas 25		Brilliant Spellthread

Feet Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

You read that right; Malygos 10, not 25, has your best option here.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Enchants
Best	Footsteps of Malygos	Malygos - Eye of Eternity 10	Nitro Boosts
Viable	Arcanic Tramplers	Malygos - Eye of Eternity 25	Nitro Boosts
Viable	Boots of Impetuous Ideals	Loatheb - Naxxramas 25	Nitro Boosts
Viable	Xintor's Expeditionary Boots	40 Emblem of Valor	Nitro Boosts

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Rings Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Manifested Pain and Lost Jewel are a clear-cut best, but Band of Channeled Magic is solid too.

Reminder that only enchanters can enchant rings.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Enchants
Best	Signet of Manifested Pain	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower
Best	Lost Jewel	Anub'Rekhan - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower
Viable	Band of Channeled Magic	25 Emblem of Valor	Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower
Viable	Signet of the Malevolent	Gothik the Harvester - Naxxramas 10	Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower
Viable	Ring of Decaying Beauty	Sapphiron - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower
Viable	Wyrmrest Band	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25	Enchant Ring - Greater Spellpower

Trinkets Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

The top two trinkets are going to be very contested. The other raid options are more than viable.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location
Best	Dying Curse	Multiple enemies - Naxxramas 25
Best	Illustration of the Dragon Soul	Sartharion - Obsidian Sanctum 25
Viable	Embrace of the Spider	Maexxna - Naxxramas 10
Viable	Extract of Necromantic Power	Sapphiron - Naxxramas 25
Viable	Mark of the War Prisoner	Cyanigosa - Heroic Violet Hold
Viable	Figurine - Twilight Serpent	Jewelcrafting craft - Bind on Pickup

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Main-Hand Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Main Hand/Off Hand is the ideal setup over a Two-Handed weapon.

Torch of Holy Fire will most likely be prioritized to a healer.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Enchants
Best	Torch of Holy Fire	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Weapon - Mighty Spellpower
Viable	Haunting Call	Multiple enemies - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Weapon - Mighty Spellpower
Viable	Wraith Strike	Maexxna - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Weapon - Mighty Spellpower
Viable	Hammer of the Astral Plane	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 10	Enchant Weapon - Mighty Spellpower
Viable	The Soulblade	Kel'Thuzad - Naxxramas 10	Enchant Weapon - Mighty Spellpower

Off-Hand Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Accursed Spine is easily your best option here, but there's some importance from getting the hit from Surplus Limb.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location
Best	Accursed Spine	Noth the Plaguebringer - Naxxramas 25
Viable	Surplus Limb	Patchwerk - Naxxramas 25
Viable	Matriarch's Spawn	Maexxna - Naxxramas 25
Viable	Ward of the Violet Citadel	25 Emblem of Heroism

Staff Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

Honestly, only pick these up as a stop-gap for main-hand/off-hand combo.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location	Enchants
Viable	Damnation	Gluth - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Staff - Greater Spellpower
Viable	Greatstaff of the Nexus	Malygos - Eye of Eternity 25	Enchant Staff - Greater Spellpower
Viable	Spire of Sunset	Thaddius - Naxxramas 25	Enchant Staff - Greater Spellpower
Viable	Deadly Gladiator's Focus Staff	PVP - 4500 Arena Points	Enchant Staff - Greater Spellpower

Idol Phase 1 Best In Slot Balance Druid WotLK

There's only one legitimate option in raids for your idol slot.

Best in Slot Rank	Item	Location
Best	Idol of the Shooting Star	Instructor Razuvious - Naxxramas 25
Viable	Idol of Steadfast Renewal	25 Emblem of Heroism
Viable	Idol of the Raven Goddess	Vanquish the Raven God