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Restoration Druid Stat Weights and Gearing

Updated 2 weeks, 5 days ago for patch 9.1.0 by Preston. View the change log.

This page covers the stats that are relevant for a Restoration Druid and what kind of things you should look for when gearing up. As a general rule, it’s almost always better to go with the higher item level piece of gear. Feedback is always welcome. You can leave a comment at the bottom of the page, contact me, or tweet @PrestonDvorak.

Stat Priority and Weights

The priorities below correspond to the different builds on the Talents and Builds page. Where are the stat weights? Now, more than ever, generalized stat weights are unnecessary. Item level is really the sole indicator of an upgrade outside of some niche situations with trinkets or special gear introduced with an expansion. Both of which will be noted in the best in slot lists below.

Raiding

Both raiding builds like a balance of secondary stats with a slight favor towards Haste, especially until you get your GCD to around 1.25 seconds (or whatever you feel is speedy enough for you, it's not a hard requirement).

  1. Intellect
  2. Haste (to ~20%)
  3. Critical Strike = Versatility = Mastery
  4. Haste (over ~20%)

General Raid Gearing Notes

  • Always use your highest item level gear, even if it doesn't strictly adhere to the priorities above. Use enchants, gems, and consumables to help balance our secondary stats or reach your Haste goal.
  • Leech is worth about 5 item levels and sockets are worth about 10 item levels when comparing gear.

Mythic+

The Mythic+ priority will favor Mastery slightly over other secondary stats, but you should still use your higher item level gear.

  1. Intellect
  2. Mastery = Haste >=  Versatility = Critical Strike

General Mythic+ Gearing Notes

  • Always use your highest item level gear while favoring Mastery and Haste. Use enchants, gems, and consumables to help boost your Mastery further where possible.
  • Sockets are worth about 10 item levels when comparing gear.

Stat Explanations

Intellect increases the power of all your spells. This includes how much healing your spells heal for and how much damage your damaging spells do.

Haste decreases the cast time of your spells, increases how frequently your heal over time effects heal, and decreases your global cooldown. Your global cooldown affects how quickly you can cast spells that have no cast time, such as Rejuvenation. Getting a low global cooldown is essential as a Restoration Druid because our main healing spell does not have a cast time.

Critical Strike increases the chance of both your healing and damage spells being critical strikes. A critical heal will heal for twice as much as a non-critical heal, this includes heals from healing over time effects. This equates to free healing, but you can't reliably control when it happens.

Mastery increases the amount your heal over time effects heal for based on the total heal over time effects you have on the target. For example, if your mastery is 10% and you have one heal over time effect on a player, that heal over time will be healing for 10% more. If you have two heal over time effects on a player they will both be healing for 20% more. There is no cap on this effect, so the more heal over time effects that are active the more powerful it will be.

Versatility increases all healing and damage you do by a flat percentage. It also decreases all damage you take. This is similar to our Mastery, but without the chance to multiply with more healing effects on a target.

Diminishing Returns on Secondary Stats

Starting in Shadowlands, secondary stat gains suffer diminishing returns starting at 30% rating. Due to this, I don't recommend having over 30% rating for any secondary stat, if you can reasonably help it. This is further reinforced by the fact Restoration Druids like more balanced stats anyway.

You can see the secondary stat diminishing return effects below.

  • From 0% to 30% rating - 0% penalty
  • From 30% to 39% rating - 10% penalty
  • From 39% to 47% rating - 20% penalty
  • From 47% to 54% rating - 30% penalty
  • From 54% to 66% rating - 40% penalty
  • From 66% to 126% rating - 50% penalty

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Best in Slot Lists

With the removal of titanforging mechanics, and the overall streamlining of gear, item level should once again be the primary indicator of an upgrade. This will make Best in Slot lists slightly more useful than in previous expansions, however, there will still be situations that stray from this list. Always use your best judgement when picking gear!

Best in Slot Gear

Raiding - +

The gear below is relevant for all builds when raiding, except where noted in parenthesis. The talent builds noted correspond to those on the Talents and Builds page. Gear from the weekly Mythic+ Great Vault will be a similar item level to the current Mythic-level raid, with only the last bosses in a raid tier having higher item level gear. This is why you see some dungeon items as best in slot. I've tried to always include one Mythic+ item and one Raid item of similar item level to keep things flexible. 

Bosses with Best in Slot Gear

Sanctum of Domination
Eye of the Jailer (1), The Nine (2), Remnant of Ner'zhul (1), Soulrender Dormazain (1), Painsmith Raznal (1), Guardian of the First Ones (1), Fatescribe Roh-Kalo (1), Kel'Thuzad (4), Sylvanas Windrunner (3)

Castle Nathria
Huntsman Altimor (1), Sun King's Salvation (1), Artificer Xy'mox (2), Hungering Destroyer (1), The Blood Council (2), Sludgefist (1), Stone Legion Generals (3), Sire Denathrius (4)

Dungeons (Mythic+ Weekly Vault)
The Necrotic Wake - Blightbone (1)
Plaguefall - Doctor Ickus (1), Domina Venomblade (1)
Mists of Tirna Scithe - Ingra Maloch (1), Mistcaller (1), Tred'ova (2)
Halls of Atonement - Halkias (1)
De Other Side - The Manastorms (1), Dealer Xy'exa (1), Mueh'zala (1)
Sanguine Depths - Kryxis the Voracious (2), Grand Proctor Beryllia (1)
Spires of Ascension - Devos, Paragon of Doubt (1)
Theater of Pain - None

Head
  1. Cap of Writhing Malevolence (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Remnant of Ner'zhul
  2. Hood of the Hidden Path (252) - Mists of Tirna Scithe, Mistcaller
  3. Sadist's Sinister Mask (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
Neck
  1. Interplanar Keystone (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad
  2. Sin Stained Pendant (226) - Halls of Atonement, Halkias
  3. Charm of Eternal Winter (226) - Castle Nathria, Huntsman Altimor
Shoulder
  1. Spaulders of the Crooked Confidant (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad
  2. Malodorous Gristle-Sown Spaulders (252) - Plaguefall, Doctor Ickus
  3. Wicked Flanker's Gorget (233) - Castle Nathria, Stone Legion Generals
Back
  1. Dealer Xy'exa's Cape (252) - De Other Side, Dealer Xy'exa
  2. Self-Replicating Tissue (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Guardian of the First Ones
  3. Crest of the Legionnaire General (233) - Castle Nathria, Stone Legion Generals
Chest
  1. Witherheart Studded Breastplate (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Sylvanas Windrunner
  2. Anima-Splattered Hide (252) - Sanguine Depths, Kryxis the Voracious
  3. Corset of the Deft Duelist (226) - Castle Nathria, The Council of Blood
Wrist
  1. Fastened Venombarb Binds (252) - Plaguefall, Domina Venomblade
  2. Fate-Threaded Bindings (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Fatescribe Roh-Kalo
  3. Precisely Calibrated Chronometer (226) - Castle Nathria, Artificer Xy,mox
Hands
  1. Hangman's Knotbinders (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Painsmith Raznal
  2. Rocket Chicken Handlers (252) - De Other Side, The Manastorms
  3. Bleakwing Assassin's Grips (226) - Castle Nathria, Sun King's Salvation
Waist
  1. Windrunner's Baldric (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Sylvanas Windrunner
  2. Sapgorger Belt (252) - Mists of Tirna Scithe, Tred'ova
  3. Heedless Pugilist's Harness (226) - Castle Nathria, Sludgefist
Legs
  1. Elite Aranakk Breeches (259) - Sanctum of Domiation, Kel'Thuzad
  2. Abyssal Disharmony Breeches (252) - Spires of Ascension, Devos, Paragon of Doubt
  3. Volatile Shadestitch Legguards (226) - Castle Nathria, Hungering Destroyer
Feet
  1. Trenchant Warmonger Treads (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Soulrender Dormazain
  2. Viscera-Stitched Footpads (252) - The Necrotic Wake, Blightbone
  3. Enchanted Toe-Tappers (226) - Castle Nathria, The Council of Blood
Finger
  1. Tarnished Insignia of Quel'Thalas (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Sylvanas Windrunner
  2. Sworn Oath of the Nine (252) - Sanctum of Domination, The Nine
  3. Death God's Signet (252) - De Other Side, Mueh'zala
  4. Entwined Gorger Tendril (252) - Sanguine Depths, Kryxis the Voracious
  5. Most Regal Signet of Sire Denathrius (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
  6. Hyperlight Band (226) - Castle Nathria, Artificer Xy'mox
Two-Hand Weapons

In general, Two-handed weapons have more Intellect than secondary stats, but the difference isn't often significant at similar item levels.

  1. Maledict Opus (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad
  2. Lakali's Spire of Knowledge (252) - Mists of Tirna Scithe, Tred'ova
  3. Mystic Anima Spherule (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
One-Hand Weapons

In general, One-hand/off-hand combinations have more secondary stats than Intellect, but the difference isn't often significant at similar item levels.

  1. Signe's Sonorous Scramaseax (252) - Sanctum of Domination, The Nine
  2. Scithewood Scepter (252) - Mists of Tirna Scithe, Ingra Maloch
  3. Mystic Anima Spherule (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
Off-Hand Items
  1. Guarm's Lost Chew Toy (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Eye of the Jailer
  2. Vessel of Shining Radiance (252) - Sanguine Depths, Grand Proctor Beryllia
  3. Thaumaturgic Anima Bead (233) - Castle Nathria, Stone Legion Generals

Mythic+ - +

The gear below is relevant for Mythic+ and dungeon content. This is best used with the Mythic+ build on the Talents and Builds page. Gear from the weekly Mythic+ Great Vault will be a similar item level to the current Mythic-level raid, with only the last bosses in a raid tier having higher item level gear. This is why you see some dungeon items as best in slot. I've tried to always include one Mythic+ item and one Raid item of similar item level to keep things more flexible.

Bosses with Best in Slot Gear

Sanctum of Domination
Eye of the Jailer (1), The Nine (2), Remnant of Ner'zhul (1), Soulrender Dormazain (1), Painsmith Raznal (1), Guardian of the First Ones (1) Fatescribe Roh-Kalo (1), Kel'Thuzad (4), Sylvanas Windrunner (2)

Castle Nathria
Shriekwing (1), Huntsman Altimor (1), Artificer Xy'mox (2), Hungering Destroyer (1), Lady Inerva Darkvein (1), The Blood Council (2), Sludgefist (1), Stone Legion Generals (2), Sire Denathrius (4)

Dungeons (Mythic+ Weekly Vault)
The Necrotic Wake - Surgeon Stitchflesh (1)
Plaguefall - Globgrog (1), Domina Venomblade (1)
Mists of Tirna Scithe - Ingra Maloch (1), Tred'ova (1)
Halls of Atonement - Halkias (1), Echelon (1), Lord Chamberlain (2)
De Other Side - The Manastorms (1), Mueh'zala (2)
Sanguine Depths - Grand Proctor Beryllia (1), General Kaal (1)
Spires of Ascension - Devos, Paragon of Doubt (1)
Theater of Pain - None

Head
  1. Cap of Writhing Malevolence (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Remnant of Ner'zhul
  2. Digested Interrogator's Gaze (252) - Plaguefall, Globgrog
  3. Sadist's Sinister Mask (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
Neck
  1. Interplanar Keystone (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad
  2. Sin Stained Pendant (252) - Halls of Atonement, Halkias
  3. Charm of Eternal Winter (226) - Castle Nathria, Huntsman Altimor
Shoulder
  1. Spaulders of the Crooked Confidant (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad
  2. Wicked Bladewing Pauldrons (252) - Sanguine Depths, General Kaal
  3. Wicked Flanker's Gorget (233) - Castle Nathria, Stone Legion Generals
Back
  1. Drape of Twisted Loyalties (252) - Spires of Ascension, Devos, Paragon of Doubt
  2. Self-Replicating Tissue (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Guardian of the First Ones
  3. Cowled Batwing Cloak (226) - Castle Nathria, Shriekwing
Chest
  1. Witherheart Studded Breastplate (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Sylvanas Windrunner
  2. Freshly Embalmed Jerkin (252) - The Necrotic Wake, Surgeon Stitchflesh
  3. Corset of the Deft Duelist (226) - Castle Nathria, The Council of Blood
Wrist
  1. Fastened Venombarb Binds (252) - Plaguefall, Domina Venomblade
  2. Fate-Threaded Bindings (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Fatescribe Roh-Kalo
  3. Precisely Calibrated Chronometer (226) - Castle Nathria, Artificer Xy,mox
Hands
  1. Hangman's Knotbinders (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Painsmith Raznal
  2. Rocket Chicken Handlers (252) - De Other Side, The Manastorms
  3. Gloves of Phantom Shadows (226) - Castle Nathria, Lady Inerva Darkvein
Waist
  1. Windrunner's Baldric (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Sylvanas Windrunner
  2. Waistcord of Dark Devotion (252) - Halls of Atonement, Lord Chamberlain
  3. Heedless Pugilist's Harness (226) - Castle Nathria, Sludgefist
Legs
  1. Elite Aranakk Breeches (259) - Sanctum of Domiation, Kel'Thuzad
  2. Skyterror's Stonehide Leggings (252) - Halls of Atonement, Echelon
  3. Volatile Shadestitch Legguards (226) - Castle Nathria, Hungering Destroyer
Feet
  1. Trenchant Warmonger Treads (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Soulrender Dormazain
  2. Primeval Soul's Ankleguards (252) - De Other Side, Mueh'zala
  3. Enchanted Toe-Tappers (226) - Castle Nathria, The Council of Blood
Finger
  1. Tarnished Insignia of Quel'Thalas (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Sylvanas Windrunner
  2. Signet of the False Accuser (252) - Halls of Atonement, Lord Chamberlain
  3. Death God's Signet (252) - De Other Side, Mueh'zala
  4. Sworn Oath of the Nine (252) - Sanctum of Domination, The Nine
  5. Most Regal Signet of Sire Denathrius (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
  6. Hyperlight Band (226) - Castle Nathria, Artificer Xy'mox
Two-Hand Weapons

In general, Two-handed weapons have more intellect than secondary stats, but the difference isn't often significant at similar item levels.

  1. Maledict Opus (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad
  2. Lakali's Spire of Knowledge (252) - Mists of Tirna Scithe, Tred'ova
  3. Mystic Anima Spherule (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
One-Hand Weapons

In general, One-hand/off-hand combinations have more secondary stats than Intellect, but the difference isn't often significant at similar item levels.

  1. Signe's Sonorous Scramaseax (252) - Sanctum of Domination, The Nine
  2. Scithewood Scepter (252) - Mists of Tirna Scithe, Ingra Maloch
  3. Mystic Anima Spherule (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
Off-Hand Items
  1. Guarm's Lost Chew Toy (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Eye of the Jailer
  2. Vessel of Shining Radiance (252) - Sanguine Depths, Grand Proctor Beryllia
  3. Thaumaturgic Anima Bead (233) - Castle Nathria, Stone Legion Generals

Shards of Domination

Certain pieces of gear from Sanctum of Domination have special sockets. For leather armor, these sockets are on Head, Shoulder, Chest, Hand, and Feet items. You can place Shards of Domination in these sockets to gain the Shard's effect. If three of the same type of Shard are socketed, you gain an additional set bonus while in The Maw, Torghast, or Sanctum of Domination.

Obtaining and Upgrading Shards of Domination

Shards of Domination drop from bosses in Sanctum of Domination. It's not yet clear if each Shard drops from a specific boss or if any boss can drop any Shard.

Shards of Domination have five ranks and are upgraded using Stygian Embers at Bonesmith Heirmir in Korthia. Stygian Embers drop from bosses in Sanctum of Domination and from weekly quests in Korthia.

Shard upgrade costs are listed below.

Best in Slot Shards of Domination

Raiding - +

The shards below are relevant for any Raiding build on the Talents and Builds page. You'll want to make sure you're using three shards of the same type to gain the additional set bonus while in Sanctum of Domination. Not all of the individual shards are relevant to healing, but it's still worth using a less than useful shard to gain the set bonus.

Mythic+ - +

The shards below are relevant for the Mythic+ build on the Talents and Builds page. With no set bonuses from Shards outside of Sanctum of Domination, it's much less important to use three shards of the same type.

Best in Slot Trinkets

Raiding - +

The trinkets below are relevant for any Raiding build on the Talents and Builds page. Gear from the weekly Mythic+ Great Vault will be a similar item level to the current Mythic-level raid, with only the last bosses in a raid tier having higher item level gear. This is why you see some dungeon items as best in slot.

Trinkets are generally interchangeable within each tier but are ordered from "best" to "worst."

High Tier
  1. Unbound Changeling (252) - Mists of Tirna Scithe, Ingra Maloch
  2. Carved Ivory Keepsake (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Fatescribe Roh-Kalo
  3. Resonant Silver Bell (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad
  4. First Class Healing Distributor (233) - Tazavesh Hard Mode, P.O.S.T. Master
  5. Soulletting Ruby (252) - Theater of Pain, Kul'tharok
  6. Tome of Insight (233) - Korthian Armaments, Stygia Vendor, Duchess Mynx, Korthia
  7. Titanic Ocular Gland (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Eye of the Jailer
  8. So'leah's Secret Technique (233) - Tazavesh Hard Mode, So'leah
  9. Unchained Gladiator's Insignia of Alacrity (246) - Ranked PvP, Duelist Rank 
  10. Inscrutable Quantum Device (252) - De Other Side, Dealer Xy'exa
Mid Tier
  1. Cabalist's Hymnal (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
  2. Macabre Sheet Music (226) - Castle Nathria, The Council of Blood
  3. Shadowed Orb of Torment (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Remnant of Ner'zhul
  4. Vial of Spectral Essence (252) - Theater of Pain, An Affront of Challengers
  5. Boon of the Archon (252) - Spires of Ascension, Devos, Paragon of Doubt
  6. Lingering Sunmote (252) - Sanguine Depths, Grand Proctor Beryllia
  7. Empyreal Ordnance (252) - Spires of Ascension, Oryphrion
  8. Soul Cage Fragment (233) - World Boss, Mor'geth
Low Tier
  1. Forbidden Necromantic Tome (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad
  2. Siphoning Phylactery Shard (252) - The Necrotic Wake, Nalthor the Rimebinder
  3. Sunblood Amethyst (252) - Halls of Atonement, High Adjudicator Aleez
  4. Overflowing Anima Cage (226) - Sanguine Depths, Executor Tarvold
  5. Scrawled Word of Recall (252) - Sanctum of Domination, The Nine
  6. Manabound Mirror (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
  7. Tuft of Smoldering Plumage (226) - Castle Nathria, Sun King's Salvation
  8. Consumptive Infusion (226) - Castle Nathria, Hungering Destroyer
Situational
  1. Situational trinkets will be noted as they're added.

Mythic+ - +

The trinkets below are relevant for the Mythic+ build on the Talents and Builds page. Gear from the weekly Mythic+ Great Vault will be a similar item level to the current Mythic-level raid, with only the last bosses in a raid tier having higher item level gear. This is why you see some dungeon items as best in slot.

Trinkets are generally interchangeable within each tier but are ordered from "best" to "worst."

High Tier
  1. Unbound Changeling (252) - Mists of Tirna Scithe, Ingra Maloch
  2. Resonant Silver Bell (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad
  3. First Class Healing Distributor (233) - Tazavesh Hard Mode, P.O.S.T. Master
  4. Soulletting Ruby (252) - Theater of Pain, Kul'tharok
  5. Carved Ivory Keepsake (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Fatescribe Roh-Kalo
  6. Unchained Gladiator's Insignia of Alacrity (246) - Ranked PvP, Duelist Rank 
  7. Tome of Insight (233) - Korthian Armaments, Stygia Vendor, Duchess Mynx, Korthia
  8. So'leah's Secret Technique (233) - Tazavesh Hard Mode, So'leah
  9. Soul Cage Fragment (233) - World Boss, Mor'geth
Mid Tier
  1. Titanic Ocular Gland (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Eye of the Jailer
  2. Cabalist's Hymnal (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
  3. Shadowed Orb of Torment (252) - Sanctum of Domination, Remnant of Ner'zhul
  4. Forbidden Necromantic Tome (259) - Sanctum of Domination, Kel'Thuzad
  5. Macabre Sheet Music (226) - Castle Nathria, The Council of Blood
  6. Inscrutable Quantum Device (252) - De Other Side, Dealer Xy'exa
Low Tier
  1. Siphoning Phylactery Shard (252) - The Necrotic Wake, Nalthor the Rimebinder
  2. Vial of Spectral Essence (252) - Theater of Pain, An Affront of Challengers
  3. Boon of the Archon (252) - Spires of Ascension, Devos, Paragon of Doubt
  4. Manabound Mirror (233) - Castle Nathria, Sire Denathrius
  5. Overflowing Anima Cage (226) - Sanguine Depths, Executor Tarvold
  6. Sunblood Amethyst (252) - Halls of Atonement, High Adjudicator Aleez
  7. Empyreal Ordnance (252) - Spires of Ascension, Oryphrion
  8. Lingering Sunmote (252) - Sanguine Depths, Grand Proctor Beryllia
  9. Consumptive Infusion (226) - Castle Nathria, Hungering Destroyer
  10. Scrawled Word of Recall (252) - Sanctum of Domination, The Nine
  11. Tuft of Smoldering Plumage (226) - Castle Nathria, Sun King'
Situational
  1. Situational trinkets will be noted as they're added.

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Changelog - View the last ten changes. - +

July 13, 2021 - 12:05 am (Addons) - Updated Grid2 import code and filtered debuff lists with additional debuff fixes and additions for Tazavesh and Sanctum of Domination.

July 07, 2021 - 12:40 am (Addons) - Updated Grid2 import code with season 2 Mythic+ affixes.

July 06, 2021 - 11:41 pm (Addons) - Updated Grid2 import code with spell ID fixes in Sanctum of Domination.

July 05, 2021 - 2:36 am (Stat Weights and Gearing) - Full review and update to best in slot trinket lists of Raiding and Mythic+.

July 04, 2021 - 11:12 pm (Stat Weights and Gearing) - Updated Tazavesh trinkets to the hard mode item level of 233.

July 04, 2021 - 4:31 pm (Stat Weights and Gearing) - Added Tome of Insight to trinket lists.

July 03, 2021 - 12:20 am (Addons) - Updated Grid2 import code and filtered debuff lists with Tazavesh and Sanctum of Domination debuffs.

June 28, 2021 - 9:19 pm (Legendary Gear) - Added covenant legendary items.

June 26, 2021 - 10:35 pm (Restoration) - Reviewed and updated guide for patch 9.1.

June 26, 2021 - 10:34 pm (Covenants, Soulbinds, and Conduits) - Updated for 9.1, including new soulbind abilities and conduits. Also split soulbind lists into raiding and mythic+.