The backbone of the druid class in World of Warcraft is the ability to change forms, or shape shift. Each different druid form offers its strengths and weaknesses to the player which will be used depending on the situation the player find themselves in.
Not all druids will have access to all possible druid forms. Depending on the build, or spec, a player chooses dictates what druid forms they will have available to them.
The druid forms that are available are as follows: Humanoid Form - also called Caster form this is your base Night Elf or Tauren form.
Bear Form - this is the druid's warrior-tank form that comes with a big armor boost.
Aquatic Form - a very handy form that increases your swim speed by half and allows you to breath underwater.
Cat Form - one of two feline forms Cat form is the druid's rogue-like form and has the look of a puma or lion. The ability to do significant melee damage and use stealth makes this form very dangerous.
Travel Form - the second feline form with the look of a cheetah this form will increase the druids running speed by almost half. Travel form can only be used outside.
Dire Bear Form - a tougher version of Bear form with even higher armor and hit point benefits.
Tree of Life Form - this form is only available to those who invest heavily in the Restoration Talent Tree. While your movement speed is reduced in this druid form you will gain many benefits and enhancements to your healing abilities.
Moonkin Form - also called "Boomkin" this form is only open to those who invest deeply into the Balance Talent Tree. This form restricts the types of spells that can be cast while increasing the spell casting abilities of the druid.
Flight Form - another very handy form that allows you to transform into a bird greatly increasing your travel speed and mobility.
Swift Flight From - the faster, epic version of flight form.
(To see pictures of all these forms simply Google it..."Druid Flight Form" for example and you'll see many images to take a look at.)
Beyond the specific benefits of each form there are three blanket benefits to all forms in general. First of all while in any form besides the base humanoid form (Night Elf or Tauren) the druid is immune to polymorph effects (such as the Mage Sheep spell). Secondly, the Druid forms are not considered a spell in the game and therefore cannot be dispelled. And finally, by simply changing from one form to another the druid is able to break certain spell effects. For example if a druid is polymorphed while in humanoid form simply shape shifting into a different form, bear for example, breaks that polymorph. Also, most movement impairing (like hamstring) and roots style spells can be broken by shape shifting as well. This simple sounding benefit can be a huge advantage to the well played druid. It is not uncommon, during the course of a battle, to see druids fluidly shifting forms to combat or counteract certain hostile spell effects. Druids are notoriously difficult to stop!
Like many things in the World of Warcraft what is a strength one moment is a weakness the next. When in most of the druid forms the druid is considered a beast and must suffer the restrictions and weaknesses of that classification while in that form. A few things to keep in mind is that Beasts can be affected by specific spells and effects, such as Hibernation, mana regeneration is slowed a small amount and the benefits from weapons and armor can be modified, reduced or removed.
The subtle differences in strength vs weakness between the druid forms may seem insignificant to the beginner however within those seemingly minor variations lies the vast power of the druid class within World of Warcraft. The Druid is easily the most difficult class in the game to play well however a well played Druid is easily the most effective and dangerous class in the game!
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