More beta updates for Druids - Build 12803

There's been another update on the beta servers with plenty of changes for druids. (MMO Article)

Balance

• Wild Mushroom changed, only 3 mushrooms can be placed at one time (Down from 5).
• Cyclone cast time increased to 2 sec. Up from 1.5 sec.
• Faerie Fire now has a 35 yards range, up from 30 yards.
• Insect Swarm now has a 40 yards range, up from 30 yards.
• Starfire now has a 40 yards range, up from 30 yards.
• Entangling Roots now has a 35 yards range, up from 30 yards.
• Thorns now lasts 20 sec, down from 10 minutes. Damage increased by 1400% (Deals 447 damage instead of 32)
• Moonfire now has a 40 yards range, up from 30 yards.
• Wrath now has a 40 yards range, up from 30 yards.
• Moonkin Form now increases Nature and Arcane spell damage by 10%.
• Starlight Wrath now reduces cast time by 0.15/0.25/0.5 sec. (Up from 0.1/0.2/0.3 sec)

Feral

• Lacerate now stacks up to 3 times, down from 5 times.
• Mangle (Bear) no longer has a cooldown.
• Improved Feral Charge is now named Stampede
• Heart of the Wild moved to Tier 1 restoration.
• Furor is now a Feral Tier 1 talent - Gives you 33/66/100% chance to gain 10 Rage when you shapeshift into Bear Form, and you keep up to 33/66/100 of your Energy when you shapeshift into Cat Form, and increases your total Intellect by 2/4/6%.

Restoration

• Tranquility now heals every 2 sec, down from 5 sec. (Old tooltip bug?)
• Rebirth now has a 40 yards range, up from 30 yards.
• Revive now has a 40 yards range, up from 30 yards.
• Empowered Rejuvenation (Tier 6) renamed to Swift Rejuvenation (Tier 5) and revamped - Reduces the global cooldown of your Rejuvenation by 0.25/0.5 sec.
• Efflorescence now affects friendly targets within 4 yards, down from 15 yards.
• Wild Growth mana cost reduced to 27% of base mana, down from 55% of base mana.
• Fury of Stormrage moved from Tier 5 to Tier 4. Now also reduces the mana cost of your Wrath spell by 50/100%.
• Gift of the Earthmother moved from Tier 5 to Tier 6. Rejuvenation spell instant heal increased from 3/6% to 5/10%.
• Nature's Bounty now increases critical strike chance on Regrowth by 20/40/60% (Up from 10/20/30%) and now has a 33/66/100% chance to proc. (Up from 20/40/60%)
• Empowered Touch now Increases the healing done by your Healing Touch and Nourish spells by 5/10%, and your Nourish spell has a 50/100% chance to refresh the duration of your Lifebloom on targets.
• Naturalist moved from Tier 2 to Tier 1. Changed to 2-Ranks, down from 3-Ranks. Reduces the cast time of your Healing Touch and Nourish spells by 0.25/0.5 sec. (Up from 0.15/0.35/0.5 sec)
• Natural Shapeshifter is now a 2 ranks talent, down from 3 Ranks.
• Nature's Cure (Tier 5) *New* - Empowers your Remove Corruption spell to also remove a magic effect from a friendly target.
• Heart of the Wild is now a Tier 1 Restoration talent - Increases your maximum mana by 5/10/15%. In addition, while in Bear Form your Stamina is increased by 3/7/10% and while in Cat Form your attack power is increased by 3/7/10%.

 A lot of changes. It looks like a lot of spells have had their range increased to 40 yards (for druids and for other classes). The Restoration changes all look positive. Wild Growth has had its mana cost reduced drastically (27% of base mana, down from 55% of base mana). Efflorescence has been reduced some, now only affecting friendly targets with 4 yards (from 15 yards). The Resto tree is looking better I think, and also seems there's a spare point now required to get to the next tier, which I think would either be well placed in Revitalise or perhaps Heart of the Wild.

For a Resto tree I'm thinking the following build now: Cata Talent Calculator

Restoration:
Tier 1:
Blessing of the Grove 2/2
Natural Shapeshifter 2/2
Naturalist 2/2
Heart of the Wild 0-1/3

Tier 2:
Master Shapeshifter 1/1
Improved Rejuvenation 3/3

Tier 3:
Living Seed 3/3
Revitalize 0-1/3
Nature's Swiftness 1/1

Tier 4:
Nature's Bounty 3/3
Empowered Touch 2/2

Tier 5:
Efflorescence 3/3
Wild Growth 1/1
Nature's Cure 1/1
Swift Rejuvenation 2/2

Tier 6:
Gift of the Earthmother 3/3

Tier 7:
Tree of Life 1/1

Balance:
Tier 1:
Nature's Grace 3/3
Nature's Majesty 2/2

Tier 2:
Genesis 3/3
Moonglow 2/3

As ever the beta is constantly changing. Looking positive for druids so far though.