World of Warcraft at Ten Ton Hammer

To begin our in depth look at Druid theorycraft, we will start with the spec that is both nearest and dearest to my heart, and also the least “complex” of the three - restoration.  In an earlier article 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.
 
Theory:

• Main Entry: the·o·ry
• Pronunciation: \ˈthē-ə-rē, ˈthir-ē\
• Function: noun
• Inflected Form(s): plural the·o·ries
• Etymology: Late Latin theoria, from Greek theōria, from theōrein
• Date: 1592

1 : the analysis of a set of facts in their relation to one another
2 : abstract thought : speculation
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 : conjecture c : a body of theorems presenting a concise systematic view of a subject <theory of equations>

Craft:

• Main Entry: ²craft
• Function: transitive verb
• Date: 15th century

: to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity <is crafting a new sculpture> <a carefully crafted story> 

Theorycrafting:

• Main Entry: the·o·ry craft
• Pronunciation: thir-ē-craft-ing
• Function: intransitive verb
• Date: Early 2005

: To hyper-analyze, mathematically, game mechanics and abilities to gain a deeper understanding and to ultimately maximize effectiveness. 

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.

This week we will be diving into the theorycraft of the restoration Druid. Don’t fret, there will be no coma inducing charts and graphs, complex equations or TLDR (too long, didn’t read, for you non forum acronym types) dissertations, just the distilled numbers you need to strive for to get the best out of your gaming experience. 

Talent Specialization 

The first thing, and easiest to control, is your characters talent specialization.  While there is no one “best” spec, there are a couple that are viewed as optimum.

The most common Restoration spec is the 14/0/57 build.  Prior to 3.2 this spec would have featured Nature’s Swiftness and one throw away point and omitted Empowered Touch, however the inclusion of Nourish in the latter talents benefits makes it a solid choice.

Following this build will optimize several aspects. First, it is the premier mana regen spec (not including a Dreamstate build as it loses too much of the core elements of resto) as well as the optimum spell haste spec.  My numbers section below will assume this spec; most of the numbers will be fairly accurate for you with another spec as long as you make sure to include Gift of the Earthmother 5/5. 

Stats 

The meat and potatoes of all the theorycrafting and min/maxing comes down to one thing - numbers. Here are the target numbers based on what you are wanting to do as PvE restoration Druid. Keep in mind that even with all of the research and gnats ass splitting that goes into this, they are still objective and to be used as a guide. The haste stat listed will be to achieve a one second global cooldown, which is equal to roughly 20% haste rating assuming Celestial Focus 3/3 (19.98 to be exact).

Glyphs

I had actually advised against this glyph in an earlier article, however recent changes to the Innervate mechanic have catapulted it to the top of the list. A must-have for 25 Player raiders due to some of the lengthier encounters.
 
The extra one second of duration may appear trivial but over the length of a raid boss encounter it can pay huge dividends in GCD savings as well as extending your rotations and increasing time out of the FSR.
 
Nourish is one of the most hotly contested spells among theorycrafters. Recent changes to Empowered Touch as well as set bonuses can make this spell a well hasted druid’s best friend.

Gear

If we were to discuss gear a month ago I would give you some very specific itemizations to shoot for, but since patch 3.2 the notion of best in slot has been thrown to the wind in many of the gear slots. I do recommend perusing lootrank.com and going with this search sting. Choosing a best in slot item will relate more to what you already have, making gearing more dynamic and far less static.

Theorycrafting is often overly complex and confusing with the sheer volume of raw date being analyzed. The folks behind this "art" are usually found with MBAs on their walls or have day jobs lecturing about quantum physics. Of the subsets of Druid theorycraft, restoration is actually the least complex (which is akin to saying that a gunhot wound is less deadly than, say, asphyxiation) in terms of statistics and itemization. I hope that some light has been shed here and that your path toward total Druid enlightment has been illuminated slightly. Until next week, stay safe and have fun in Azeroth!