Updated Nov 11, 2026

Guardian Druid

PvE guide, updated for Patch 12.1.5

Tank Rotation & Cooldowns

How to play Guardian Druid in each rotation style: the full rotation SimulationCraft sims play by default, and the game’s Assisted Highlight and One Button rotations beside it.

Rotation style comparison

How Guardian Druid’s DPS compares when using the game’s assisted modes instead of the full rotation, based on Single Target simulations.

  • Full rotationBaseline
  • Assisted Highlight-13.4%
  • One Button-24.1%
Compare in rankings

The full rotation is the one SimulationCraft’s sims play by default. Its priority list is SimC’s own for the spec, read here for one build and one kind of fight.

Rotation

Beta19 abilities
Beta. This view is new. Some specs’ steps still read as long chains of conditions, and we’re working on making them simpler to follow.
  1. 1Racial abilityWhen ready
  2. 2Bristling Fur
  3. 3Barkskin
  4. 4Lunar BeamWhen ready
  5. 5Heart of the Wild
  6. 6Convoke the Spirits
  7. 7Sundering Roar
  8. 8Berserk
  9. 9Wild Guardian
  10. 10Mangle
  11. 11Ironfur
  12. 12ThrashWhen ready
  13. 13Maul
  14. 14Rake
  15. 15Ferocious Bite
  16. 16Rip
  17. 17Shred
  18. 18Red Moon
  19. 19SwipeWhen ready

Every step also needs the ability off cooldown and affordable. Range checks are left out. A blank Targets cell means any number of targets.

Before the pull

Things to do before entering combat.

  1. 1Cat FormBear Form not active

Cooldowns

When each cooldown was used across the sample fight, so you can see how often each comes back and which ones line up.

  • Lunar BeamLunar Beam: 6 casts, at 0:00, 1:00, 2:01, 3:01, 4:01, 5:026
  • Light's PotentialLight's Potential: 2 casts, at 0:01, 5:032
  • Heart of the WildHeart of the Wild: 3 casts, at 0:01, 2:03, 4:053
  • Incarnation: Guardian of UrsocIncarnation: Guardian of Ursoc: 3 casts, at 0:01, 2:03, 4:053
  • Wild GuardianWild Guardian: 3 casts, at 0:01, 2:03, 4:083
  • On-use itemsOn-use items: 3 casts, at 0:01, 2:03, 4:053
  • BarkskinBarkskin: 11 casts, at 0:01, 0:35, 1:09, 1:43, 2:17, 2:52, 3:26, 4:00, 4:34, 5:09, 5:4311
  • Red MoonRed Moon: 11 casts, at 0:03, 0:33, 1:03, 1:34, 2:04, 2:34, 3:04, 3:49, 4:25, 4:55, 5:2611
  • RakeRake: 2 casts, at 2:02, 4:042

Sample opener

One simulated fight from the start, played by this list on the profile in the Gear section with the guide’s Single target build, whichever build the list above is read for. Procs and timing change the order from fight to fight, so use it to get a feel for the start rather than as a script.

Time
Ability
New
Gone
Up
Pre-pull
0:00.000
Cat Form
Pull
0:00.000
Lunar Beam
0:00.849
Heart of the Wild
0:00.849
Incarnation: Guardian of Ursoc
0:00.849
Barkskin
0:00.849
Wild Guardian

The full priority list

simc@de11f57

Everything above is read from this SimulationCraft list, including the steps the page hides (the potion and on-use items) and the branches your build and fight leave out.

druid_guardian.simc, 82 lines

Is this rotation built for your talents?

The rotation follows your talent build. Sim your highest-DPS build on your own gear, for the mode and rotation style you play.