| Bear Form | |
|---|---|
| |
| Usable by | |
| Class | Druid |
| Properties | |
| Type | Utility |
| School | N/A |
| Cooldown | None/Global Cooldown |
| Talents | |
| Talented | No |
| Improvement talents | See below |
| Other information | |
| Ranks | 1 |
| Requirements | Level 10, quested |
| Related buff | |
| |
- Just grin and bear it.
Bear Form is the first shapeshift ability learned by a druid. This form has tank-like abilities, similar to a warrior. While in bear form, the druid's mana bar is replaced by a rage bar. The Bear Form ability is upgraded to Dire Bear Form at level 40. You receive an increased armor bonus while in dire bear form, to match the introduction of plate armor to warriors and paladins at the same level.
Notes[]
- To gain the Bear Form ability you must complete the Bear Form quest chain, starting with the quest Heeding the Call. Once you have completed the quests you need to speak to the druid trainer that initially sent you on the quest, to learn the ability. Dire Bear Form is trainable as soon as you reach level 40.
- Shapeshifting breaks snare, root, and Polymorph effects.
- Can only use bear form abilities.
- You are considered a beast, so abilities that target beasts can be used on you. For example Hibernate and Scare Beast.
- Threat generated is 1.3x base value.
- The attack speed in (dire) bear form is 2.50.
- Your caster form will start regaining mana immediately after you change to bear form, even though you can't see the mana bar.
- The armor bonus is only applied to natural armor (received from white effects), and not item modifiers (enchantments, armor kits, etc). For example, a Hakkari Loa Cloak with 50 base armor, and a +20 armor enchant will count for:
- 160 armor in Bear Form:
160 = 50 + 50 * 1.8 + 20 - 255 armor in Dire Bear Form:
255 = 50 + 50 * 3.7 + 20 - 255 armor in Moonkin Form:
255 = 50 + 50 * 3.7 + 20
- 160 armor in Bear Form:
- In response to complaints, Blizzard has redesigned the Bear and Cat forms, this will be released with Patch 3.2.0. These will have 5 different fur colours, designated by your hair colour (Night elf) or fur colour (Tauren).
The new Tauren bear forms
The new Night Elf bear forms
Talent improvement[]
In an effort to keep this list shorter, talents that affect specific abilities, and talents that affect all forms equally, have been omitted.
In Restoration:
Furor gives you a 20-100% chance to gain 10 Rage when you change into Bear Form.
In Feral Combat:
Feral Swiftness increases your chance to dodge while in Bear Form by 2-4%.
Sharpened Claws increases your critical strike chance by 2-6% while in Bear Form.
Predatory Strikes increases your melee attack power by 50-150% of your level and 7-20% of any attack power of your equipped weapon while in Bear Form.
Primal Fury gives you a chance to get 5 extra Rage when you land a critical hit.
Heart of the Wild increases your stamina by 2-10% while in Bear Form.
Natural Reaction increases your dodge chance by 2-6% and you regenerate 1-3 Rage every time you dodge while in Bear Form.
Leader of the Pack increases ranged and melee critical strike chance of all party members within 45 yards by 5% while in Bear Form.
Improved Leader of the Pack adds crit-triggered 2-4% healing to the aura.
Tips and tactics[]
- Main article: Druid tactics
- As a druid, you really need to get a feel for when to change forms. Early on in the game, you may find it useful to cast a few long range spells, such as Wrath or Moonfire, then change to bear form when an enemy gets close.
- Bear form is generally good to use against non-casters or those with higher armor, since you do higher melee damage, but at a slower attack speed.
- If you're not sure if you can handle your (melee) enemy(s) (i.e. higher level, may be adds), use bear form until you get a feel for the fight.
- Also, as a tank, bear form has a pretty reliable taunt to draw aggro away from more squishy party members.
- For details on tanking as a druid in raids, see the druids as tanks page.
Past changes[]
- Patch 3.0.2 (2008-10-14): The mana regeneration penalty when in bear form, dire bear form and cat form has been removed.
- Patch 1.4 (2005-05-05): Shapeshifting into an animal form will now remove Polymorph effects.
- Patch 1.2 (2004-12-18): Armor bonus increased from 65% to 180%.
External links[]
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