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Bear Form is the second shapeshift ability learned by druids, now at level 15. Before level 40, it emulates a mail armor and after that emulates plate armor. 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. It is the most damage resistant form a druid has, and, as of Patch 4.0.3, while using Frenzied Regeneration and having enough Rage to fulfill the effect, gives tremenous survivability. Now Feral druids have a more capable AoE tanking ability, with the addition of Thrash. Mangle is now a more important part of the tanking rotation, generating a great part of the Druid's threat.

Contents 1 Pre-Cataclysm 2 Notes 3 Talent improvement 4 Tips and tactics 5 Patch changes 6 Animations 7 External links

Pre-Cataclysm Edit

The Bear Form ability was upgraded to Dire Bear Form at level 40. You received an increased armor bonus while in dire bear form, to match the introduction of plate armor to warriors and paladins at the same level. This form no longer exists, as of Patch 4.0.3.

Notes Edit

• The quest chain no longer exists, now Bear Form is trainable at level 15 and Dire Bear Form is out of the game, as of patch 4.0.3. Previously, 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.
• Can only use bear form abilities, with the exception of Nature's Grasp.
• You are considered a beast, so abilities that target beasts can be used on you. For example Hibernate and Scare Beast.
• Attack power is increased by 3x your level, but you lose the benefit of weapon DPS and any weapon +damage enchants.
  • Base druid attack power is strength*2 - 20, so bear form attack power is strength*2 + level*3 - 20.
  • Non-damage weapon bonuses, such as +stats, +attack power, or proc effects, will continue to work.
• Threat generated is 1.3x base value.
• The attack speed in (dire) bear form is 2.50.
• Stamina is increased by 25%.
• 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
• Shapeshifting breaks snare, root, and Polymorph effects. (As of Patch 4.0.6, only the Restoration Disentanglement can cause this, consequently causing Feral and Balance Druids to be vulnerable.)
  • The Bear Form makes you immune to Turkey Shooter.
• Your caster form will start regaining mana immediately after you change to bear form, with a convenient extra mana bar displayed below the rage bar.
• In response to complaints, Blizzard has redesigned the Bear and Cat forms, this was released with Patch 3.2.0. These have 5 different fur colors, designated by your hair color (Night elf) or fur color (Tauren).

  

  

  

  

• You cannot parry or block in Bear Form, so your only method of ignoring damage is dodge.

Talent improvement Edit

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 Edit

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.
• In Bear Form, or as a Druid in general, you cannot block or parry, so your only method of ignoring damage is through dodging. However keep in mind that you do not gain rage from dodging an attack. However, druid tanks receive ways to absorb damage equal to or superior to blocking or parrying, and also have talents to make them gain rage when dodging.

Patch changes Edit

• Patch 4.0.3 (2010-11-15): Dire Bear Form was removed. 
  
• / Patch 4.0.1 (2010-10-12): The quest chain will be removed. The level requirement will be 15. 
  
• Patch 3.2.0 (2009-08-04):
  • New textures for bear models, adjustable at the barber shop.
  • Mana energizes that occur while in this form will now appear in the combat log and floating combat text. 
    
• 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 1.6.0 (2005-07-12):
  • Shapeshifting will now counteract the slowing effects of frost-based spells (Frostbolt, Frost Shock, Cone of Cold, etc.).
  • Druid shapeshift form buttons are no longer dimmed while under the effects of Polymorph. 
    
• Patch 1.4.0 (2005-05-05): Shapeshifting into an animal form will now remove Polymorph effects. 
  
• Patch 1.2.0 (2004-12-18): Armor bonus increased from 65% to 180%. 
  

AnimationsEdit

• Bear form shares many animations with the common bear enemy in World of Warcraft, such as clawing, running, biting and roaring.

• Bear form has no /laugh or /cry animations, non suprisingly!

• When speaking, Bear form druids shake their head around and shift their jaws in an odd fashion.

• The Bear Form /dance animation consists of jumping onto their hind legs, waving their front paws around, and hopping from foot to foot, before going onto the ground and bounding up again.

• The Bear Form eating animation causes the druid to land on their behind and chew away, and the interaction animation (looting, etc) consists of the druid clawing and sniffing at the ground.

• Upon death, the druid cries out a roar similier to normal bear mobs before morphing back into their oiginial form.

External links Edit

• Wowhead
• Thottbot
• DB MMO-Champion

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