Looking for some advice to be my best in dungeons and eventually Mythics. I used to main Holy Priest in some high key Mythics, but always wanted to try Restro Druid. I recently started my Druid at lvl 1 and went through to 80 by questing and mostly random dungeons. I know I need to be doing more DPS when the opportunity arises, but I really struggle with switching to Cat form, quickly aquiring targets for a quick Rip/Rake/Thrash etc. Ive watched many youtube videos and I cant grasp how these guys running high keys go to cat form, get a target and throw 2-4 damage spells to one or multiple targets so quickly, then back to healing. I use Clique and I made some quick mousover binds for some damage spells just to test them out (wrath and moonfire) and tried using them by mousing over the Plater name plates but that doesnt seem to work. Are these guys tab targeting that quickly? Assist or Focus Macro? I appreciate any advice I can get. Im still gearing up and just doing timewalking and regular dungeons, practicing. I’ve got my head wrapped around my healing kit pretty well, no issues there, I just want to contribute more dps, especially when I have 80% of my mana and people are topped of with HOT’s, Efflo, Lifeboom, Rejuve etc.
Thanks in advance, I just want to be as efficient as possible and start doing Mythics again but I want to be the best I can be.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Druids (and all the buttons that comes with that). I mostly use mouseover macros; I find them extremely helpful for quickly selecting targets. In my opinion, Resto druid is a higher skill floor (basically requires a higher level of skill for a similiar damage/healing output than another healer spec). You basically have to learn two specs if you want to maximize your potential (Feral and Resto, and even Balance to an extent). There is a talent near the bottom of the class tree where you can basically pick whether you want to focus Balance or Feral (during downtime). I do recommend Fluid form (automatically shifts you when you use Shred, for example) if you are spending alot of downtime doing damage. Of course, you will be using Rake/Rip if the target will live for most, if not all, of the duration, Swipe on 2+ targets (otherwise Shred), and FB as your finisher.
You are going to be spamming buttons ALOT if you are playing Resto with Feral spec. Just whatever you can get done before you have to start healing again. It is high skill cap because Resto is a proactive healer (prepping HOTS for incoming damage) and Feral is a DOT based damage dealer, which is a little bit more nuanced than your typical (spam whatever button lights up) class. There is also the added danger of being in melee range (have to watch out for enemy cleaves, as well as mechanics targetting other melee players).
Balance is much easier and I would honestly recommend that, it is basically just Sunfire on a group of mobs, Moonfire if they will live long enough, Starfire on packs, and Wrath on single target (or if you want to do priority damage).
Good luck
Thanks for the reply! I am specced into Fluid Form so I can get straight to cat form with shred, etc, I just struggle getting something targeted really quick and making sure I am in melee range. I thought about a “target closest enemy/cast rake” macro to get something target really quickly and start a rotation. I’ll look into balance when I get home. Not sure what decision I made on the talent you are referring to. There is definitely a lot going on as Restro Druid. Holy Priest you were reacting to what was happening, now I have to get good at reacting to what is about to happen! I am enjoying it though! Thanks for the feedback!
Your welcome!
I generally just press tab to whatever target I need, or if I need to target a specific one I will just mouseover what I need (no need to click with mouseover macros), but I’m sure there is more than one way to skin a cat
Make sure your settings are adjusted so that enemy name plates aren’t all stacked so that it’s easier to click on the one you want. A big part of doing good damage as resto Druid is knowing the damage patterns well so that you doing the minimal healing that is required and not just wasting globals to heal when there isn’t any damage happening.
As others said, mouseover macros, but also heal/harm macros are great to reduce button bloat.
Like for example, I macro together lifebloom/rake, rejuv/shred, regrowth/swipe as buttons 1, 2, 3. I can target enemy NPC, mouseover tank, hit 1 to lifebloom, move cursor or hold down right mb and hit 1 again to rake into cat form, 2 to shred, then when damage is incoming or someone messes up, mouseover player and hit 2 to drop rejuv onto the player and be back in caster form for healing. Way less thought and keybind-chasing necessary.
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actually really good advice, thanks. I didn’t know you could macro two different spells (active spells, not buffs) into one button
resto druid has ALOT of buttons
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The 1 GCD restriction for macros is after all conditions have run. So if you just put Rake and Rejuvenation onto the same macro without any conditions, it wouldn’t attempt to run the second one. But by using a [help] or [harm] modifier, that would filter out the list of GCD-bearing abilities down to just one.
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Hi… I’m in a similar place as OP but I’ve actually played Druid since day 1 and that was back on 2008.
I really want to start healing with this one. So far I’ve only healed with a Disc Priest since Legion but as a Druid main I believe I need to finally master Resto to actually call myself an Archdruid 
Any advice on how to assign keys? With all the form switching and actionbars changing how do you guys find the best place to avoid scrambling everything?
I know it’s not recommendes but I want to start with Resto and Owl weaving as I main Balance.
Use “help” / “harm” conditional macros to reduce button bloat.
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OMG almost 17 years of playing Druid and I’ve never heard of this!
You’ve just opened a whole new world of possibilities and I can’t wait to get home and try it out!
Thank you very much!
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Visit the UI and Macro forum from time to time. It can give you some good ideas.
Here is a pinned post’s that provides you with some templates. You can still customize these templates to your taste.
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Just want to come by and say I successfully found the recommended /help/harm macro and in the way found so many incredible macros I could’ve never dreamed of.
The way I can finally cast so many abilities while switching from one form to another is something I never thought possible.
I basically replaced most of my keybinds and I feel I’m on fire!
Thanks to everyone who commented their suggestions and I’m sure OP will find them extremely useful as well.
And I thought myself a pro Druid hahaha
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I am glad that it helped. I have been playing Druid since right before TBC and I still find better/efficient ways to play with keybinds and macros. Have fun with it!
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If you like macro’s I also suggest you look into addons like Clique and Cell/Grid etc (even if you don’t heal). It will open up other options for you as well.