style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Finishing
up our series on
theorycrafting we come to the Feral Druid, the most complex of all
Druid specs
but probably the most rewarding. In an earlier href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/70576"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: blue;">article style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
we discussed the basics of
theorycraft along with most of the terms and acronyms.  Below
you find a
further explanation along with my suggested target numbers to strive
for to
maximize your playing experience.
style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: rgb(30, 66, 137);"> 
Theory: style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Main
  Entry: the·o·ry
  style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Pronunciation:
  \ˈthē-ə-rē,
  ˈthir-ē\ style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Function:
  noun style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Inflected
  Form(s): plural the·o·ries style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Etymology:
  Late Latin theoria, from Greek theōria, from
  theōrein style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Date:
  1592 style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">1 style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
:
the analysis of a set of facts in their relation
to one another
2
:
abstract thought :
href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speculation"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: blue;">speculation style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
3
:
the general or abstract principles of a body of fact, a
science, or an art <music theory>
4 a
:
a belief, policy, or procedure proposed or followed as the
basis of action <her method is based on the theory that all
children want to
learn> b
:
an ideal or hypothetical set of facts, principles,
or circumstances —often used in the phrase in
theory<in theory, we have
always advocated freedom for all>
5
:
a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or
body of principles offered to explain phenomena <the wave theory
of
light>
6 a
:
a hypothesis assumed for the sake of argument or
investigation b
:
an unproved assumption :
href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conjecture"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: blue;">conjecture style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
c
:
a body of href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theorems"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: blue;">theorems style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
presenting a concise systematic view of a subject <theory of
equations> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: rgb(30, 66, 137);">Craft: style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Main
  Entry: ²craft style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Function:
  transitive verb style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Date:
  15th century style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity <is
crafting a new sculpture> <a carefully crafted
story>  style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: rgb(30, 66, 137);">Theorycrafting: style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Main
  Entry: the·o·ry
  craft style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Pronunciation:
  thir-Ä“-craft-ing style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Function:
  intransitive verb style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

• style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Date:
  Early 2005 style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">:
To hyper-analyze, mathematically,
game mechanics and abilities to gain a deeper understanding and to
ultimately
maximize effectiveness.  style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Theorycrafting
actually began with StarCraft
and was transitioned to WoW with
the advent of the game. WoW theorycrafting
gained its popularity and notoriety around the time The
Burning Crusade expansion
launched. The main focus of Theorycrafting was initially maximizing DPS
and
minimizing downtime, also known as Min/Maxing. It has spread to all
aspects of
WoW and created many heated debates between crafters and players alike.
Too
many times theorycraft becomes a mish mash of information overload and
conflicting ideas.

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This
week’s article will focus on
the most dynamic of the Druid talent specializations, one that unlike
most
other DPS classes has no set rotation to follow. Top DPS feral players
rely on
skill and quick reaction times to crank out every last hundredth of a
point of
damage to routinely top the meters. Attention to detail and maximum
focus are
needed to get the most out of this spec but like every other WoW class
you are
only as strong as your numbers will allow. Maximizing your stats from
gear and
your talent choices will bridge the gap between average and
outstanding. 

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: rgb(30, 66, 137);">Talent
Specialization  style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
current top Feral DPS single
target href="http://www.wowarmory.com/talent-calc.xml?cid=11&tal=0000000000000000000000000000550202132322010053100030313511204503012000000000000000000"
target="_blank"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: blue;">talent
build style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">.
This is the build most cat druids should use for end game
raiding, it maximizes your effectiveness against raid bosses and still
allows
you to be viable on trash. For players who like to do AoE damage or
mostly do
five player dungeons where you kill in packs use href="http://www.wowarmory.com/talent-calc.xml?cid=11&tal=0000000000000000000000000000503202132322010053120030313511204503012000000000000000000"
target="_blank"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: blue;">this
build style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">.
Feral tanks will want to use href="http://www.wowarmory.com/talent-calc.xml?cid=11&tal=0000000000000000000000000000550230132320210333100300313401205503002000000000000000000"
target="_blank"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: blue;">this
build style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">
to gain the most effectiveness. 

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: rgb(30, 66, 137);">Stats style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">  style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Feral
tanks should also strive to
become expertise and hit capped as it will help with DPS, which will in
turn
help with threat generation. 

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Feral
tank stats, note all stats
given in humanoid form. style="text-align: left; width: 555px;" border="1"
cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"> style="font-weight: bold;"> style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Stat style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">5
Player style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">10
Player style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">25
Player style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">Dodge 25% 28% 30% style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">Defense 375 390 430 style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">Stamina 1550 1800 2000 style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);"> style="font-weight: bold;">Armor 6900 7400 7800

style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Feral
DPS stats, all stats are
given in humanoid form. Feral DPS gemming and gearing is a very much a
balancing act, which is ironic because your damage rotation is a
balancing act
as well. The two main stats to gem for are agility and armor
penetration but
here is the tricky part. If you are below 200 armor penetration with
your
current gear then gem for agility. If you are between 200 and 1230 ArP
then gem
ArP. If you go over 1230 ArP in gear alone, then go back to agility. If
you are
lucky enough to have Grim Toll then you can substitute 620 for 1230 in
the
above formulas.

style="text-align: left; width: 555px;" border="1"
cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2">
style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">Stat style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">5
Player style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">10
Player style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">25
Player style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">Armor
Penetration 350 500 700-1230 style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">Agility 800 950 1200 style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">Critial
Strike 25% 26% 30% style="background-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">Attack
Power 1600 1650 1800

Rotation

Feral DPS has no set rotation but rather a series of priorties that
need to be maintained:

•  Savage Roar should
  always be up
•  Rake should always
  be up
•  Mangle should
  always be up
•  Shred is your go
  to ability for combo point generation
•  Use Rip when you
  have full combo points, if it isn't already up.
•  If  Rip
  is up and you have full combo points then use Savage Roar
•  Pop Tigers Fury
  when below thirty energy
•  Shred is energy
  intesive so make sure to use it with clearcasting as often as possible.
•  Save Berserk for a
  high energy situation where you also get a raid buff such as
  Bloodlust/Heroism

A couple of things to try and remember while learning this priority
list, don't get confused by the statement about using Savage Roar at
full combo points if Rip is already active, it never matters how many
combo points you have, if SR is about to drop then you need to pop it
again. Also if you are following my glyph recommendations and take Glyph
of Shred, Shred will extend your rip duration an extra two seconds so
if  Rake and Rip are about to drop then use Shred and allow
rake to drop for the time it takes you GCD to refresh. If you are still
struggling to learn this rotation then you can pick up the Feral by
Night mod available at all of your favorite mod outlets and use it as a
teaching tool, but be forewarned, many players view it as a borderline
cheat.

style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: rgb(30, 66, 137);">Glyphs

style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"
class="MsoNormal"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">   style="border: 0px solid ; width: 210px; height: 45px;"
v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/74396" />

style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"
class="MsoNormal"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> style=""> style="border: 0px solid ; width: 215px; height: 45px;"
v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/74395" />

style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"
class="MsoNormal"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">  style=""> style="border: 0px solid ; width: 210px; height: 45px;"
v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/74399" />
 The three top feral glyphs currently
available.

style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"
class="MsoNormal"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> style="">  style="border: 0px solid ; width: 210px; height: 45px;"
v:shapes="Picture_x0020_3" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/74403" />

style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"
class="MsoNormal"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> style="">  style="border: 0px solid ; width: 210px; height: 45px;"
v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/74391" />

style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"
class="MsoNormal"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">  style="border: 0px solid ; width: 210px; height: 45px;"
v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1" alt=""
src="http://www.tentonhammer.com/image/view/74392" />

style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> 

 The three top tank glyphs
currently available. 

style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: rgb(30, 66, 137);">Gear style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">

style="line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As
with our other spec types the
abundance of gear available in 3.2 has blown wide open our options. A
feral
Druid has the luxury of the most leather itemization of the three but
the
drawback of not being able to grab anything other than leather unlike
balance
or restoration. As a feral DPS always look for high agility and high
armor
penetration as they currently will be the biggest boons to you damage
output.
As a feral tank dodge, agility and strength are important. 

style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Theorycrafting
is often overly
complex and confusing with the sheer volume of raw data being analyzed.
The
folks behind this "art" are usually found with MBAs on their walls or
have day jobs lecturing about quantum physics. Feral druids are truly
the most
difficult spec to play at a high level, from difficult rotations to a
large
number of important stats to manage. Hopefully this guide will help
clarify
this for you. Until next week, stay safe and have fun in
Azeroth!