Bear Form

Bear Form
Bear Form (1 rank) Druid ability 35% of base mana Instant Shapeshift into bear form, increasing melee attack power by (your level*3), armor contribution from cloth and leather items by 180%, and Stamina by 25%. Also protects the caster from Polymorph effects and allows the use of various bear abilities. The act of shapeshifting frees the caster of Polymorph and Movement Impairing effects.
Properties
Class	Druid
School	N/A
Cooldown	None/Global Cooldown
Other information
Requirements	Level 10, quested
Improvements	See below
Related buff
Bear Form Immune to Polymorph effects. Increases melee attack power by (Your Level x 3), armor contribution from items by 180%, and Stamina by 25%.

[[Category:druid abilities]][[Category:druid abilities]]

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.

Rank table

Rank	Level
1	10

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.
• 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.
  • 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).

  

  Tauren bear forms.

  

  Night Elf bear forms.

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

Talent improvement

Bear Form/Talents

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.
• 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.

Patch changes

• 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.
  
• Template:Patch 1.4
• Template:Patch 1.2

External links

• Wowhead
• WoWDB