In this article, we explain what the best statistics are for Feral Druids (WoW 4.3), how the class benefits from each of them, and what your reforging strategy should be. We also detail what the various caps are and why they should be attained. The statistics priority is important as it influences reforging strategies as well as itemisation choices (gear, enchants, and gems).

Make sure to check our Gear Optimisation Guide, which serves as a support guide for this article. The other articles of our Feral Druid guide can be accessed from the table of contents on the right.

1. Basics↑top

Feral Druids are unique in that, currently, all of their secondary statistics have roughly similar values. This means that, ultimately, it makes no difference on your DPS which of them you choose to prioritise.

Reaching the Hit and Expertise caps is, also, not mandatory. We will provide deeper insight into these matters in a subsequent section.

Therefore, the stat priority for a Feral Druid is:

1. Agility
2. Mastery Rating = Critical Strike Rating = Haste Rating
3. Expertise Rating until the cap (26 expertise)
4. Hit Rating until the cap (8%)

If you are unsure what the optimal reforging strategy is for this priority, please refer to the reforging section of our Gear Optimisation Guide.

2. Getting a Better Understanding↑top

Agility is your most important stat, which provides the most benefit; you should look for this stat in all of your upgrades, as point for point it surpasses any other stat. It provides you with Attack Power and it increases your critical strike chance.

Mastery Rating increases the damage of bleed effects.

Critical Strike Rating increases your chance to critically hit with attacks.

Haste Rating increases attack speed and Energy regeneration.

Expertise Rating reduces the chance that your attacks will be parried or dodged. It is a somewhat valuable statistic up to the cap of 26 (at which point your attacks cannot be dodged anymore). Please refer to our article on the mechanics of melee attacks for more information.

Hit Rating, until 8% chance to hit, is a somewhat valuable statistic. Its value is not outstanding, and reaching 8% is not mandatory.

2.1. Relative Value of Secondary Statistics

There is no discernible impact on your DPS, regardless of which of your secondary statistics you choose to prioritise. As such, you can choose to focus on which ever one you prefer or you feel suits your playstyle best.

In regards to Hit Rating and Expertise Rating, Feral Druids have, like all melee classes, two caps that should be met. However, unlike other classes, these caps have a very low value (essentially, below that of Haste Rating, Mastery Rating and Critical Strike Rating). This is because 80% of the Energy used on abilities that are dodged or missed is refunded to you and because the damage done by your auto attacks is relatively low.

Of course, you can choose to get both of the Expertise and Hit caps, providing you with more stability and reliability in your rotation, and still do highly competitive DPS. For players still learning the specialisation, we advise this course of action.