In a Hurry for Haste

Since the news came out about the changes to Gift of the Earthmother in patch 3.3, which will put a much higher premium on haste for us and blow our current haste soft cap right out of the water, I’ve been on the hop trying to pick up haste where ever I could find it.  I always rode the soft cap as closely as possible before, so I was starting out with just 342 haste when I learned I was going to need to more than double that amount to have the same 1 second cast times for spells like Rejuv.  My haste is now at 593, a big improvement, but I’ve got a ways to go.  A lot of the changes I made were in gemming, favoring Reckless Ametrine over pure spell power gems in many cases.  However, I’ve also been on the hunt for many specific loot drops that offer haste.  Since I doubt I’m alone in working over time to improve my haste stats, I decided to make a sort of best in slot list for druids looking to maximize haste for 3.3.  This is not a complete list of resto gear with haste.  I have tried to focus on the highest level gear available that will improve your haste rating.  Enjoy!

Neck

Freya’s Choker of Warding - This is the neck that I’m currently sporting.  It has 39 haste on it and can be picked up from Flame Leviathan in Ulduar, so it’s a pretty easily obtainable drop.
Charm of Meticulous Timing – Drops from Hard Mode XT-002 in Ulduar with 40 haste on it.  The mp5 on this necklace is not ideal for us, but blue socket with a +5 spell power bonus is nice.
Cry of the Val’kyr – Drops from the twin Val’kyrs in TOC 25.  Has 43 haste on it.  The version from heroic 25 TOC also has a yellow socket, which is great for a reckless ametrine, but wow armory shows no socket bonus on this.  Wowhead on the other hand, shows a +5 spell power bonus.  Can that be right?

Head

Helm of Abundant Growth – You can buy this helm from the Emblem of Triumph Quartermaster for 75 Emblems of Triumph.  You’ll get 74 Haste for your trouble, plus a yellow socket for a reckless ametrine if you want to add 10 more haste.
Stormrage Crown – I just picked this up recently from Onyxia 25 man.  Aside from the fact that I get to look like a moose (and that is just hawt! =P), I get 84 haste and a yellow socket on this bad boy.  Sweet!

Shoulders

Malfurion/Runetotem’s Spaulders of Triumph are your best bet here.  The regular 25 man version will give you 67 haste, whereas if you are leet enough to grab some from heroic 25, you’ll have 76 haste on your shoulders.  Either way, if you’re working on your haste and still want to hold onto the T9 4 piece set bonus, your shoulders won’t be the slot to skip.  The 10 man version, the Spaulders of Conquest, will yield 60 haste.

Back

Bolvar’s Devotion/Lady Liadrin’s Conviction – If you’re among the best of the best, you can pick up one of these cloaks with 57 haste on them from a tribute chest for completing heroic 25 TOC with 50 attempts remaining.  So… yea.  lol.  Moving right along.
Shawl of the Refreshing Winds – A regular version of this drops from Icehowl in 25 TOC with 50 haste, while a beefed up version drops from him in Heroic 25 TOC giving only 49 haste but adding a yellow socket bonus, perfect for a gem with haste on it.
Shawl of the Devout Crusader - drops from the tribute chest in 10 man hard mode TOC with 49 haste.

Chest

The most haste you can currently get is on the Robes/Vestments of the Shattered Fellowship, which drops from the Faction Champions in 25 TOC.  74 haste is on this item, but you’ll have to weigh that against losing the 4 pc t9 set bonus.  I felt it was a better option to give up the head slot for Stormrage Crown and keep the other 4 tier pieces, as the Stormrage Crown gives me 10 more haste than this chest would, plus a yellow socket.  Seemed like the more solid choice to me.  The herioc version gives 3 more haste and a yellow socket, making it a tougher call.

Wrists

Best in slot here is going to be the Bracers/Bindings of the Autumn Willow.  These drop from Lord Jaraxxus in TOC 25.  The regular version has 50 haste on it, while the heroic drop gives 57.

Weapon

One Handed Weapon

Misery/Suffering’s End – Drops off Anub in 25 TOC.  The regular version will bring you 58 haste, while 66 haste comes with the heroic version.
If you’re up for hard modes ending in tribute chests, you can find Heartsmasher/Heartcrusher in the tribute chest for heroic 10 man TOC.

Two Handed Weapon

Cold Convergence – Dropping from Anub’arak in 10 TOC, the regular staff has 116 haste and a yellow socket.  The Heroic version haste is 128 and maintains the yellow socket found on the regular version.

Enlightenment – Drops from the Twin Val’kyrs in 20 man TOC.   On regular, this staff has 108 haste, a yellow socket, and a +6 haste socket bonus.  The heroic version has 2 yellow sockets, a +8 haste socket bonus, and 117 haste!  

Off Hand

There are currently no Off Hand items in the highest loot tiers that have haste bonuses on them.

Rings

Ring/Circle of the Darkmender – This is the best in slot ring for a resto druid looking to maximize haste, no doubt about it.  Dropping from Lord Jaraxxus, the regular version has 50 haste on it, while the heroic iteration has 49 haste plus a yellow socket.
Band of the Invoker- also has 50 haste to offer, and can be purchased from the Emblem of Triumph Quartermaster for 35 emblems.

Feet

Blizzard has not seen fit to put haste on foot slot items.  Sorry, Charlie.  =)

Legs

Runetotem’s/Malfurion’s Leggings of Triumph – Once again, your 25 TOC tier pants are going to be your best bet for getting haste on your legs, with one exception below.  The regular version adds 82 haste, whereas heroic britches will give you 94 haste.
Legwraps of the Awakening are an alternative, dropping from Anub in 25 TOC with 90 haste on the regular version and 94 plus a yellow socket on the heroic pants.  As always, however, you’ll have to weigh the benefit of the extra haste against breaking up your set bonus.

Waist

Belt/Cord of Pale Thorns – Drops from the Twin Val’kyrs on 25 TOC.  There’s 59 haste plus a yellow socket on the regular version, and 60 haste plus a yellow socket on the heroic belt (with an added red socket).

Hands

No haste on TOC level resto gloves.  Boomkins get haste.  We get crit.  /sad face.

So there’s the list!  What are you waiting for?  Hurry up!  Go get some!  =P

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