Druid Lore
According to the game lore, druids are the keepers of the world, the protectors of balance, and the followers of the demi-god Cenarius. They have been granted power over nature, including powerful healing and shapeshifting abilities. It is said that the first mortal to be instructed in Druidism by Cenarius was the Night Elf Malfurion Stormrage.[2][3]

Locked in slumber in their barrow dens for centuries, the Druids awoke to meet the threat of the Burning Legion during its recent invasion. After Archimonde’s defeat, the Druids chose to remain in the waking world and help to rebuild their shattered lands. The Legion’s attack left a terrible scar on the natural order, and the Druids seek to heal it. The Night Elf Druids were recently joined in the Cenarion Circle by the Tauren, who once again embraced their Druidic heritage.[4]

[edit] Gameplay
Druids are the primary shape-shifters of World of Warcraft, possessing a variety of animal forms with different types of abilities that are restricted to that specific shape.

Caster Form: In their primary form (also known as Elf-form, Tauren-form or just Druid-form), druids can cast damage and healing spells, as well as various offensive and defensive support spells.
Bear Form: The Druid gains skills highly similar to a warrior, aimed at filling a tank-style role. A Druid in bear form cannot cast spells, barring Faerie Fire (Feral). This form increases armor by 180% and then by 400% when the player upgrades to Dire Bear form. Bear form also increases the Druid’s stamina statistic. A primarily Bear Druid benefits from gear with high stamina, strength, defense, and armor.
Cat Form: The Druid gains skills close to those of a rogue, and acts as a melee damage dealer. In this form a Druid cannot cast spells, barring Faerie Fire (Feral). Druids can prowl in this form, which uses the same mechanics as the Rogue’s stealth. In this form Druids benefit most from a high amount of strength and agility. While the Night Elves transform to a panther during cat form, the Tauren are transformed into a lion.
Moonkin Form: An owlbear-like creature, the Druid acts as a damage-dealing spell caster, but loses their ability to cast healing spells as well as their buff, Mark of the Wild. In this form, the druid has more armor, attack power, an aura that increases the spell critical strike chance of nearby party members by 5%, and the ability to gain mana on every successful melee attack. To gain this form the Druid must have at least thirty-one points in the ‘balance’ talent tree.
Travel, Aquatic, Flight Forms: Also referred to as “movement forms”, they allow the druid to travel faster by land, sea, and with the release of Burning Crusade expansion, by air (only useable in Outland). Since the 2.1.0 patch, it is possible for a Druid to undertake a quest chain to upgrade their flight form to match that of an epic or rare flying mount. When in travel form, like characters on mounts, Druids cannot use any abilities or spells; flight form also cannot be used in combat.
Tree of Life: Transforms the Druid into a tree-like elemental. In this form the Druid gains an aura that increases the healing received for all party members by a factor of the Druid’s Spirit Statistic, yet slows the Druid’s movement speed by 20%. In this form, the Druid can only cast certain Healing spells, albeit at a reduced mana cost. To gain this form the Druid must have at least 41 points in the Restoration talent tree.[