Skyborne (Windshaper) Druid · Horde · Normal server
Skyborne Druid
FeralRestorationHerbalismAlchemyCookingFishing
PlaybookSkyborne Druid's full plan for launch
How this route works. Skyborne start on Zephras Isle (levels 1–13), then join the Horde path, where dungeon quests carry the XP. Herbs you pick on the way feed Alchemy and First Aid directly. Levels and hubs are Reported unless marked.
Dungeon quests are the XP. Reported
Dungeon mobs give more XP than in Classic and dungeon quests carry the bonus XP (the quest bonus per Kris Zierhut, principal designer). Run each dungeon once with its quests.
Zones follow the next dungeon. Reported
Quest where that bracket's dungeon quests start, collect them all, run the dungeon, turn in, and move on.
Eat before you pull. Confirmed
Crafted food gives Well Fed +5% kill XP (8% with the Cozy Sleeping Bag at camp). That makes Cooking a leveling profession, so start it on day one.
Trainer gates set your profession pace. Classic-baseline
Journeyman needs character level 10, Expert level 20 and Artisan level 35. Keep each profession near its cap before you outlevel the materials in your current zone.
Level1–3
Thendal Village
Zephras Isle
Do
Main chain opener: Coming of Age, Harmony in Balance, Elemental Unrest (quest names from one source) Reported.
Druid trainer here: Xyton Silverwind Reported.
Professions on the way
All: Every profession has a trainer on the isle. Herbalism: Halassa Fernbreeze and Syriel Nightrain, who teach every rank; Alchemy: Iaadaria Bitterwind and Valiena Swiftgale (Valanaar) and Nyassa Swiftdraught (Shen'dar Village) Reported. Learn both as soon as you reach a trainer and buy Empty Vials from a trade supplier.
Herbalism: Pick every herb: the isle has more Peacebloom than any other zone. The isle quest Harvesting Windstones offers the manual Wild Harvest as a reward choice: it teaches Herbalism (+2, up to 15) if you have a free profession slot Reported.
Level3–5
The Standing Stones
Zephras Isle
Do
Yala Windwatcher's elemental cultist quests; Infestation Investigation leads to The Cirrusfly Queen; Reading the Ley Lines and The Anchors of Zephras set up the isle's main plot Reported.
Professions on the way
Alchemy: Peacebloom into Minor Arcane Elixirs (to 10), then Peacebloom and Silverleaf into Elixirs of Minor Defense.
Fishing: Learn Fishing and fish the shoreline: beta testers report meat is scarce on the isle, so fish are your cooking material Confirmed.
Level5–8
Shen'dar Village
Zephras Isle: Shen'dar Village, Shadowgale (also spelled Shadowgate) Forest
Do
Camping: The Great Outdoors and Camping 101 here teach Cooking and the Basic Campfire Reported. Camp and cook from now on: crafted food gives +5% kill XP.
The Problem With Prideclaws (level 4+) and Constable Aonda's bandit and cult chain Reported.
Druid trainer here: Naeluna Swiftmend Reported.
Relic: take the Horde-only quest Meddlesome Mages (levels 5-6) from Illaya Amberwind here; it rewards the idol Windcharged Leaf, 40 less mana per shapeshift Confirmed.
Professions on the way
Herbalism: At skill 20, take Camping 101: Herbalism to Syriel Nightrain for the Incense Candle: Intellect for everyone at your camp Reported.
Alchemy: At skill 20, learn the Mana Well camp object: mana regeneration at your camp Reported.
The finale at the Shrine of Akir (The Inner Sanctum, Confront Lorthuna) Reported. Ruins of Ban'aethal is a new subzone at the isle's northeast edge.
Leave on the skyboat from the dock in Valanaar (about 57.9, 80.9). It lands in Mulgore near Skywatcher Plateau, so Thunder Bluff is your first city Confirmed. The boat to Dalaran and a portal is the Alliance route.
Professions on the way
All: Bank spare herbs in Valanaar before you leave; Alchemy and First Aid will use them.
Level13–18
Thunder Bluff to the Barrens, Ragefire Chasm
Mulgore (Thunder Bluff, Bloodhoof Village), the Barrens (Crossroads), Orgrimmar
Arrive in Mulgore and set your hearthstone in Thunder Bluff; train Journeyman professions there.
Road east into the Barrens; Durotar Supply and Logistics just west of the Crossroads (Dokimi) takes your Waylaid Crates for Merchant's Favor, and Apothecary Durelle there sells the new Alchemy recipes.
Cozy Sleeping Bag chain from level 14: Burned-Out Remains in the Field of Giants (southern Barrens) → Stonetalon → Thoradin's Wall in Hillsbrad (~20). Rest in the bag for +3% XP for 2 hours Reported.
Meet Thrall in Grommash Hold; collect the Ragefire Chasm quests and run it once.
Professions on the way
Herbalism: Mulgore and Barrens herbs: Mageroyal (50) and Briarthorn (70) → ~90.
Alchemy: Journeyman from Bena Winterhoof in Thunder Bluff; Minor Mana Potions and Elixirs of Minor Fortitude → 90.
Cooking: Plainstrider and kodo meat → ~90; Journeyman Campfire kit.
Run Wailing Caverns once with its quests, and farm the five Embrace of the Viper pieces for the hidden Serpent Form while you are there.
Level 20 and Alchemy 125: Expert Alchemy with Doctor Herbert Halsey in Undercity. Cat Form is now a level-20 quest, The Great Cat Spirit: Thunder Bluff to Moonglade, collect three relics in the Stormrage Barrow Den, then back Confirmed. Budget about an hour; the late-September relic loot bug is reported fixed.
Professions on the way
Herbalism: Barrens and Stonetalon herbs: Stranglekelp under water (85), Bruiseweed (100) → ~120.
Alchemy: Elixirs of Wisdom (Mageroyal and Briarthorn) → 120; keep some for Restoration.
Pick the dungeon whose hub is nearest; Bear can tank all three.
Professions on the way
Herbalism: Stonetalon, Ashenvale, Silverpine and Wetlands herbs: Wild Steelbloom (115), Kingsblood (125) → ~150; Expert at 125. Shadetooth in Excavation Site: Wetlands drops the Greenhouse Blueprint (Herbalism 140) Reported.
Alchemy: Lesser Mana Potions → 130, then Fire Oil from your own Firefin Snapper → 150 (keep 30). Expert from Doctor Herbert Halsey in Undercity at 125 and level 20; Fermenter at 140.
Cooking: Expert Cookbook from Wulan in Desolace at 150.
The Drowned City lines up with the Troll Shaman's route if you play both together.
Level 35: Artisan Alchemy with Rogvar in Stonard, Swamp of Sorrows.
Professions on the way
Alchemy: Mana Potions → 195, then Nature Protection Potions (recipe from Glyx Brewright in Stranglethorn) → 225. Artisan from Rogvar in Stonard, Swamp of Sorrows (skill 200, level 35).
Herbalism: Stranglethorn herbs: Goldthorn (170), Khadgar's Whisker (185) → ~200; Artisan from Angrun in Stranglethorn.
Herbalism: Arathi and Alterac herbs, Wintersbite (195) only in Alterac → ~210. Artisan also from Komin Winterhoof in Thunder Bluff or Malvor in Moonglade.
Alchemy: Nature Protection Potions → 230. The next step needs Arthas' Tears from Felwood or the Plaguelands, so pause here or buy them.
Mount Hyjal is the endgame leveling zone. At 60, respec to Restoration for the Dec 9 raids.
Professions on the way
Alchemy: Draught of Detect Undead (Arthas' Tears) → 265, Superior Mana Potions (recipe from Algernon in Undercity) → 290, Major Frenzy or Major Mana Potions → 300; Alchemy Laboratory at 300.
Herbalism: Felwood, Un'Goro, Azshara and Winterspring: Gromsblood (250), Golden Sansam (260), Dreamfoil (270), Mountain Silversage (280), Plaguebloom (285), Icecap (290, Winterspring only) → 300; Seed Hybridizer at 300.
Pick every herb on your route and brew it into elixirs and mana potions; at skill 20 the Incense Candle and Mana Well add Intellect and mana regeneration to your camp. The same herbs make First Aid’s healing potions.
Level 10+
Talents: Feral Cat
Follow the point order on the Talents tab. Classic milestones (unconfirmed for Forever unless marked): Bear Form quest ~10, Aquatic Form ~16, Cat Form 20 (now a quest to Moonglade, Confirmed), Travel Form 30.
Levels 15–25
Wailing Caverns
Farm the five Embrace of the Viper pieces for Serpent Form. Bear can tank Ruins of Lordaeron (15–20).
Levels 35–40
The Drowned City
A good Bear tanking dungeon.
Levels 55–60
Respec to Restoration
Raids open Dec 9: Barrow Deeps (10), Hyjal Summit (20), Onyxia (40).
Spec notes
Feral Cat
Tiger’s Fury is removed (Blizzard, Sept 30). The new 16-point talent Shifting Power gives 40 Energy for Mana every 16 sec (8 sec with Improved Shifting Power), a simpler return of powershifting. Bleeds can crit; Berserk capstone (15 sec, 3-min cooldown, all forms).
Feral Bear
Primal Bite (formerly Mangle) on a 6-sec cooldown, Lacerate, and Berserk makes Primal Bite hit 3 targets: real AoE threat.
Restoration
Wild Growth capstone; Swiftmend no longer eats your HoT; HoTs can crit. No Lifebloom or Tree of Life.
Balance
Eclipse loop and the Moonkin crit aura. Wrath got +~50% base damage on Sept 24, which helps early Balance.
Feral
Restoration
Alchemy
Cooking
Fishing
Zephras Isle
