Welcome to the WoW Cataclysm Druid 1-85 Speed Leveling Guide with a full talent tree spec updated for patch 4.0.6. This guide will focus on getting your druid to max level fast using the Balance Tree. As always before you venture out into Azeroth make sure you are well stocked with food/water and you are fully repaired.
I have tried many leveling specs for my druids and have found that balance is the fastest talent tree to use. The balance talent tree utilizes the powers of the arcane and nature magic to dispatch enemies swiftly. The most important thing to remember about this talent build is AOE. You are basically going to Moonfire/Insect Swarm all the mobs you want (generally around 4 or 5), then perform the killing blow with Barkskin, Starfall, and Hurricane.
Remember to use Innervate whenever you are running low on mana, as this will help to keep the cost of water down. Also keep Barkskin up as much as possible. If you think you pulled too many, use Typhoon and try to back away a bit.
This guide shows you the best Balance talent points to level, it should be used alongside the fastest route to 85 with the WoW Cataclysm Leveling Guide.
A link to this build can be found here. There’s also a brief summary of the benefits of the talents below.
WoW Cataclysm Druid 1-85 Talent Tree Speed Leveling Guide 4.0.6
Level 85 Druid (31/5/5)
Balance (31 Points)
Nature’s Grace – Rank 3/3
You gain 15% spell haste after you cast Moonfire, Regrowth, or Insect Swarm, lasting 15 sec. This effect has a 1 minute cooldown. When you gain Lunar or Solar Eclipse, the cooldown of Nature’s Grace is instantly reset.Starlight Wrath – Rank 3/3
Reduces the cast time of your Wrath and Starfire spells by 0.5 sec.Nature’s Majesty – Rank 2/2
Increases the critical strike chance with spells by 4%.Genesis – Rank 3/3
Increases the healing done by your periodic spells and by Swiftmend by 6%, and increases the duration of your Moonfire and Insect Swarm by 6 sec.Balance of Power – Rank 2/2
Increases your Nature and Arcane spell damage by 2% and increases your spell hit rating by an additional amount equal to 100% of your Spirit.Euphoria – Rank 2/2
While not in an Eclipse state, you have a 24% chance to double the Solar or Lunar energy generated by your Wrath or Starfire when they deal damage.When you reach a Solar or Lunar eclipse, you instantly are restored 16% of your total mana.
Moonkin Form – Rank 1/1
Shapeshift into Moonkin Form. While in this form your Arcane and Nature spell damage is increased by 10%, the armor contribution from items is increased by 120%, and grants 5% spell haste to all nearby friendly and raid targets within 100 yards. The Moonkin can not cast healing or resurrection spells while shapeshifted.The act of shapeshifting frees the caster of Movement Impairing effects.
Typhoon – Rank 1/1
You summon a violent Typhoon that does 1298 Nature damage to targets within 30 yards when in contact with hostile targets, knocking them back and dazing them for 6 sec.Shooting Stars – Rank 2/2
You have a 4% chance when you deal damage with your Moonfire or Insect Swarm to instantly reset the cooldown of your Starsurge and reduce its cast time by 100%. Lasts 8 sec.Solar Beam – Rank 1/1
You summon a beam of solar light over the enemy target’s location, interrupting the enemy target and silencing all enemy targets under the beam within 5 yards while it is active. Solar Beam lasts for 10 sec.Dreamstate – Rank 2/2
When you cast your Innervate on yourself, you regain an additional 30% of your total mana over its duration.Force of Nature – Rank 1/1
Summons 3 treants to attack enemy targets for 30 sec.Sunfire – Rank 1/1
While in Solar Eclipse, your Moonfire spell will morph into Sunfire.Earth and Moon – Rank 1/1
Your Wrath and Starfire spells apply the Earth and Moon effect, which increases spell damage taken by 8% for 12 sec. Also increases your spell damage by 2%.Fungal Growth – Rank 2/2
When your Treants die or your Wild Mushrooms are triggered, you spawn a Fungal Growth at its wake covering the area within 8 yards, slowing all enemy targets by 50%. Lasts 10 sec.Lunar Shower – Rank 3/3
When you cast Moonfire, you gain Lunar Shower. Lunar Shower increases the direct damage done by your Moonfire by 45%, and reduces the mana cost by 30%. This effect is refreshed and amplified when you move, stacking up to 3 times. Effect lasts for 3 sec.Starfall – Rank 1/1
You summon a flurry of stars from the sky on all targets within 40 yards of the caster, each dealing 369 to 427 Arcane damage. Maximum 20 stars. Lasts 10 sec.Shapeshifting into an animal form or mounting cancels the effect. Any effect which causes you to lose control of your character will suppress the starfall effect.
Feral Combat (5 Points)
Feral Swiftness – Rank 2/2
Increases your movement speed by 30% in Cat Form and increases your chance to dodge while in Cat Form or Bear Form by 4%.Furor – Rank 3/3
Grants you a 100% chance to gain 10 Rage when you shapeshift into Bear Form, allows you to keep up to 100 of your Energy when you shapeshift into Cat Form, and increases your maximum mana by 15%.
Restoration (5 Points)
Natural Shapeshifter – Rank 2/2
Reduces the mana cost of all shapeshifting by 20% and increases the duration of Tree of Life Form by 10 sec.Heart of the Wild – Rank 3/3
Increases your Intellect by 6%. In addition, while in Bear Form your Stamina is increased by 6% and while in Cat Form your attack power is increased by 10%.
Glyphs
Glyph of Insect Swarm (Prime Glyph)
Increases the damage of your Insect Swarm ability by 30%.Glyph of Starfire (Prime Glyph)
Your Starfire ability increases the duration of your Moonfire effect on the target by 3 sec, up to a maximum of 9 additional seconds.Glyph of Wrath (Prime Glyph)
Your Wrath does 10% additional damage to targets afflicted by your Insect Swarm.
Do You Want To Level Faster Like The Pros?
If you are having trouble leveling or need to level faster in WoW Cataclysm I highly suggest you check out Zygor’s Leveling Guide. It has the perfect leveling path that gets you to 85 faster and easier than any other way. No matter what level you are, you load the guide and it points with an arrow to the direction of each monster, quest giver, trainer etc. Its pretty crazy. It also has an in game box that tells you exactly what to do, like kill 5 boars, run west 10 miles, etc. If you dont have this in game add on guide, honestly, you are missing out. You can find out more here or check out the Zygor Cataclysm Leveling Guide Review.

Can you Guys Put the rest of the Glyphs Please!!!
OMG! I dont believe my eyes.. When I got to the last Talant points ans saw you suggested ‘Feral Swiftness’ over ‘Master Shapeshifter’ I was stunned. Could you please help me to see your rationale for this decision? I could see Feral build finding it useful. Balance durids would give up an additional 4% Spell Damage for moving fast?
Otherwise, thank you for all your work, in sorting out some of the details for me!
Peace… Lynlee