The Druid's Heart of the Wild Vanilla Build: A Compromise Worth Making?

As an officer, I've had my fair share of experience playing various specs in World of Warcraft. And when it comes to druids, I've always been fascinated by the versatility of their builds. Among these, the Heart of the Wild (HotW) build is often overlooked, but it's definitely a viable option for those looking for a unique playstyle.

One of the common misconceptions about HotW is that it's inferior to other healing specs, such as 24/0/27 or the 'full resto' build. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. While it's true that HotW may not offer the same level of optimal healing as these other builds, it more than makes up for it with its ability to perform decently in both healing and tanking roles.

As Taladril pointed out, the point of HotW isn't necessarily to compare itself directly to pure heal builds. Instead, it's about finding a balance that allows druids to excel in multiple areas simultaneously. And when you consider the benefits of 20% more intellect, which is gained through this build, it's hard to argue against its value.

Of course, there are some trade-offs involved with playing HotW. For example, you'll be missing out on the mana reduction provided by Moonglow and the increased healing power granted by Gift of Nature. However, these losses can be mitigated by using your abilities effectively and taking advantage of the crit increases provided by Regrowth.

One of the biggest advantages of full resto builds is undoubtedly Swiftmend, which allows healers to provide a burst of emergency healing in critical situations. But HotW players shouldn't feel like they're at a disadvantage here – instead, they can use their own unique abilities, such as Nature's Swiftness and Heart of the Wild itself, to stay competitive.

Ultimately, whether you choose to play 24/0/27 or HotW is up to personal preference. Both builds have their strengths and weaknesses, and it's all about finding a playstyle that works for you. If you're looking for a build that offers a bit more variety and flexibility in your healing and tanking roles, then HotW might be the way to go.

So don't write off HotW as an inferior build – instead, give it a try and see what kind of results you can achieve with this unique vanilla druid spec.

Druid heart of the wild vanilla