Druids were introduced for the first time Diablo II and they have been a dynamic class ever since. With natural magic, lycanthropy, and animal companions, Druids have countless building options to suit many playstyles. In this guide, I’ll show you how to run both a hybrid Companion/Storm Spellcaster build and a Werebear Pulverize build, either of which can be the lynchpin to the endgame.
Beginner Leveling & Starter Endgame Build – Lightning Storm Companion Druid
This Druid Guide is very flexible and a great way to deal small, consistent passive damage and high active damage without having to juggle too many skills. This (usually) leads to a very relaxed style of play. You can also customize the build to suit your needs in various ways.
The main idea is to generate Essence with either Wind Shear or Storm Strike (while inflicting vulnerability on enemies) and then spend it on Lightning Storm. This deals significant damage to groups of enemies. You will also have a few companion animals that can damage and poison enemies. Finally, you resort to some passive skills that increase damage against vulnerable and poisoned enemies.
Late in the build, you resort to abilities that give your storm abilities (like Wind Shear, Stormstrike, and Lightning Storm) the chance to add Immobilize, another debuff that you get damage bonuses against. Simple synergies and easy-to-manage resources are key.
note: I recommend using Aldkin as a hired mercenary. His fire build ability, Ember’s Gift, allows you to gain unlimited spirit while standing in his firestorm, allowing you to use the lightning storm freely.
Basic knowledge
- Wind Shear – Wild wind shear
- Storm Strike – Violent Storm Strike (Optional: Alternative to Wind Shear)
- Ground spike (optional: when taking resonance)
Core competencies
- Thunderstorm 5/5 – primal thunderstorm
- Heart of the Wild
- Wild impulses
- abundance
Defensive skills
- (Optional: Healing/Essence Generation) Bloodhowl – Innate bloodhowl
- (Optional: Defense / Vulnerable) Cyclone Armor – Innate Cyclone Armor
Companion Abilities
- Wolves – Improved Wolf Pack
- reach of nature
- Poison Creeper – Wild Poison Creeper
- humanity
- clarity
- (Optional: Bonus Pet Damage) Call of the Wild
Anger Abilities
- Elementary exposure
- Electric shock
- Bad omen
- Neurotoxin
- Poison 3/3
Ultimate Skills
- (Optional) Cataclysm – Supreme Cataclysm
- (Optional) Catastrophe
- Despite
- Natural disaster
- Circle of life
- (Optional) Resonance
Key passive
Beginner Leveling and Starter Endgame Build – Werebear “Pulverize” Druid
This build focuses on transforming into Werebear form, both for extra durability and the use of Pulverize, a badass, mind-consuming ability that you boost with Overwhelm and Self-Heal.
Survivability is a key theme in this build. until you reach certain passive defensive abilities further down the tree. But you can mitigate this by putting more points into werebear skills like Debilitating Roar, which reduces enemy damage by 40 percent. If you don’t have trouble surviving on your chosen difficulty, you can opt for Blood Howl for fast healing and spirit generation, but no extra durability.
Choosing your ultimate skill can also depend on survivability versus damage. Use Grizzly Rage to trigger Provocation more often, or use Cataclysm to inflict Vulnerable on nearby enemies. There are many options so you can take the build wherever you want.
note: I recommend using Aldkin as a hired mercenary and using his fire build ability “Ember’s Gift”, which gives you unlimited energy while standing in his firestorm, allowing you to use “Pulverize” freely.
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Basic knowledge
- Wind Shear – Violent wind shear
Core competencies
- Pulverize 5/5 – Furious Pulverize
Defensive skills
- (Optional: Strengthen, Defend, Heal) Weakening Roar 1/5 – Save Weakening Roar
- (Optional: Healing/Spirit Generation) Bloodhowl 1/5 – Innate Bloodhowl
Companion Abilities
- Poison Creeper 1/5 – Wild Poison Creeper
- Wild talent
- clarity
Anger Abilities
- Trample 1/5 – Wild trample
- Repair 3/3
- Provocation 3/3
Ultimate Skills
- (Optional: Self-Heal and Defense) Grizzly Rage – Highest Grizzly Rage
- (Optional: Make enemies vulnerable) Cataclysm – Supreme Cataclysm
- Quickshift 3/3
- Defensive stance
- determination of nature
- disaster
Key passive
Now that you are armed with the knowledge of nature and its power, transform the forces of hatred into food for the beasts of the field and bring balance (however briefly) back to the sanctuary, Wanderer.
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