-Varsity’s - 1.12 - Shaman Druid Guide-Version 2.0



Table of Contents

Part 1

• About me
• What is a Shaman Druid
• Athens the Shaman Druid

Part 2

• Skills
• Stats

Part 3
• Breakpoints
• Vitality Gear
• Max Block Gear
• Inventory
• Also Try

Part 4

• Shaman Druid Strategies / Tips
• Credits


Part 1

About Me

Hello D2 Jsp, my name is Varsity, commonly known as Jon, and I have been playing Diablo ever since 2005. I discovered JSP in 2006 and have been an active user ever since. I mostly play during the summer, and try to get on as much as I can during the school year. My favorite characters are Necromancers, Amazons, and Druids (in this order). I have spent most of the last 2 years, perfecting builds for all 3 of these characters. I decided to write a guide on the Shaman Druid because it is the least known Druid build, and yet it can strongly hold its own in both PvP and PvM situations.

What is a Shaman Druid?

A Shaman Druid is a druid that harnesses both Elemental (Fire) and Summoning Skills. It is not to be confused with the infamous Town Guarding Fissure or Bear druids. The Shaman druid is unique because it duels wielding three types of damage (Fire damage, Physical damage from elemental skills, and Physical Damage from Bear). Now before you say, there is no possible way this character could possibly stand a chance in PvP or PvM, I challenge you to read the rest of this guide, and then make that decision for yourself.

How is this guide different from Version 1?

• Changes and more options added in gear section
• Changes in skill placement
• Detailed dueling explanation with D2’s most popular builds and characters

Version 1 > http://forums.d2jsp.org/index.php?showtopic=33801793&f=87

Athens (My Shaman Druids Stats)

• 99 Faster Cast Rate
• 99 Faster Hit Rate
• 4.7k Life
• 800 Mana
• Maxed Resistances
• 5k Fire Damage (Fissure)
• 3k Fire/Physical Damage (Volcano)
• 8k Fire Damage (Armageddon)
• 6k Physical Damage (Bear)
• 4K Fire Damage (Firestorm)

Note: Damage may differ with different builds based upon differences balance of Summoning/Elemental








Part 2

Skills


20 Molten Bolder
20 Volcano
20 Fissure
20 Grizzly Bear
Rest Firestorm
1 Armageddon (If possible none, try to get point out of pelt)
1 Heart of the Wolverine (If possible none, try to get point out of pelt)
1 Point in Cyclone Armor (Can save you in unsuspecting Sorceress jumps)

Note* For players who are unsure the right balance of skill points to put into their attacks, try using the Skill Placer on d2Items(dot)com > http://d2items.com/skills.php

Stats
• Strength – None/ Enough to use Gear
• Dexterity – None/ (Enough for Max Block, if you are going Max Block)
• Vitality – Everything / (Remaining Stats if you are going Max Block)
• Energy – None

This post was edited by Varsity on Aug 7 2009 11:15pm

Part 3

Break Points

Before I get into gear, I would like to remind you that we will be trying to reach the following goals:
99 Fcr / 99 Fhr / Maxed Resists



Vitality Gear:

Helm

Fire Druid Pelt: Look for the following to stats > 2 Druid Skills, Volcano/Grizzly Bear/ Molten Bolder, X Armageddon
-Your goal is to not have to waste any points getting Armageddon or else you will have to waste valuable skills that could be dumped into Firestorm.

Here is an example of the Pelt that I currently use:



Ravenlore ( Socketed with Shael)
• 3 Elemental Skills / -20 Enemy Fire Res (Necessary for PvP) / Mana / Res / 20 Fhr (shael)

Jalals : Decent for cheaper builds

Weapon

Heart of the Oak : Best Possible Weapon
• 40 Faster Cast Rate / High Res / Mana

Spirit Sword : If looking for more faster hit rate. Not recommended due to loss in skill/ resistances.

Shield

Spirit Shield
• Faster Cast Rate / High Mana and Vitality / Res (Note: You do not need a perfect Spirit to hit Breakpoint!)

Armor

Enigma: Without teleport, you will be a sitting duck in duel games.
• 2 Skills / Teleport

Jewelry

Maras (Skills/Res)
2 Druid Ammy w/ Mods (Look for Str/Life/Resistances)
2x Bk (Skills/Life) / Sojs (Depending on how well your mana holds up in duels)

Gloves / Belt / Boots

Magefists (+1 Fire Skills! / 20 fcr)
Arachnids (+1 Skill / 20 fcr)
Treks or 08 Boots (Str / Vitality/ 20 fhr) (Stats / Fhr / Res )

Switch:

Highest Lvl Bo Cta / Spirit

Max Block Gear:
For a Max Block Set Up, Keep all the gear the same except for:

-Storm Shield (Socketed with 5/-5 Fire Facet OR 7 Fhr/-15 req jewel)
-Jmod (20/-20 Fire)
-19+ Fcr Druid Amulet – (try to get 2 skills, high resistances)
-Some Fhr Gcs to make up for loss of Spirit
-Advice: Use one Soj instead of Bk, to compensate for lost Mana (from loosing spirit)

Inventory:

Druid Torch (Highest Stats Possible)
Anni (Highest Stats Possible)

This is where things get difficult, depending on whether or not you wish to put more damage/life into your bear/summons or your elemental attacks, use a mix of Elemental and Druid summoning gcs.

-I personally use 4 Summoning/ 5 Elemental
Get as much life onto your GCs as Possible!

9x Life Scs / 1x 5 FHR Sc

Also Try!

Crown of the Ages and Spirit Sword for 174 FHR!
30/-30 Fire Sword and 20/-20 Fire Shield for Town guarding!



Part 4

Dueling Strategies:

Amazons

Bow (Easy) : Circle around them while approaching Zons to avoid arrows to the best of your ability. When close enough tele directly onto Zon and cast Firestorm. This attack can not be dodged, and will most likely be strong enough to kill Zons due to their low life / Lack of resistances.

Javas (Medium): Do not get to close. Keep your distance and try casting Volcano on top of Zon. If you are being chased / Name locked, create fissures in between you and the approaching Amazon.

Sorceress

Frozen Orb / Lightening / Fire / Blizzard (Hard) : Most of these duels will be challenging because of Sorc’s tele speed. Try to avoid Sorc attacks while name locking them. Once name-lock is achieved, continue to Volcano until death. If sorce gets to close, avoid attacks by walking, allowing bear to get possible hit in.

Druids

Wind Druids (Easy): Play Defensive, cast fissures on top of yourself, so when druids tele on you, they will take damage, and eventually get broken down. If druid is playing defensively, name lock and Volcano.

Melee Druids (Medium – Hard): Play defensively, create pools of fissures and try to lure melee attacks. Tele to avoid hit and volcano when character is further away. Use Wolves instead of bear, for better protection against melee.

Barbarians

Melee Barbs and Singers(Medium – Hard): Play defensively, create pools of fissures and try to lure melee attacks. Tele to avoid hit and volcano when character is further away. Use Wolves instead of bear, for better protection against melee. Use Bear against singers.

Paladins

Smiters/ Zealers/ Chargers (Hard): Play defensively, create pools of fissures and try to lure melee attacks. Tele to avoid hit and volcano when character is further away. Use Wolves instead of bear, for better protection against melee.

Hammerdins/Fohers : Treat these like Sorcs. Avoid attacks while trying to name lock volcano. If hammerdin is playing offensively, cast fissure pools on yourself, and lure paladin into pool. Remember to recast cyclone armor and summons when dueling fohers, keep your distance to avoid namelock.

Assassins

Trappers (Hard): This is one of the harder duels. Avoid getting to close due to mind blast, even with 99 FHR, Mind blast can be tricky. Cast Fissures in area toward Sin to try to hit. Keep moving to avoid traps. This duel may take awhile do to Sins most likely using Fade.

WW/Ghosts/Hybrids (Hardest): This is like dueling a Barb and Trapper in one. Play defensively, create pools of fissures and try to lure melee attacks. Tele to avoid hit and volcano when character is further away. Use Wolves instead of bear, for better protection against melee. Avoid getting to close due to mind blast, even with 99 FHR, Mind blast can be tricky. Cast Fissures in area toward Sin to try to hit. Keep moving to avoid traps. This duel may take awhile do to Sins most likely using Fade.

Necromancers

Poison and Bone / Poison Nova: (Medium-Hard) : Treat these characters like Sorc’s. Try to avoid attacks while name locking them. Once name-lock is achieved, continue to Volcano until death. Use Wolves to protect yourself against bone spears/ spirits.

Summon Necros: (Incredibly Easy): Create fissure pools on top of yourself. The Necro will teleport on top of you unsuspectingly, and die almost instantly. It is quite funny to watch all their summons die instantly.


Tips:
1) In Team dueling, use Spirit of the Oak to benefit the life of entire team.

2) Constantly recast Fissure in the same spot while teleporting in and out of spot; this causes chars that name lock and tele stomp / melee attack to enter the fissure pool. The pool can be stacked with up to 3 Fissures at once, which can deal around 15k damage at once!

3) Lastly, HAVE FUN! You are using a char that not many people are expecting. Wielding both the ability to deal phys/elemental damage!

For more details on this character, contact Varsity, and USEast Non- Ladder Softcore players; PM Varsity to see this character in game and in action!


Remember, if you took the time to read this guide, post your thoughts and opinions!

This post was edited by Varsity on Aug 7 2009 11:24pm

okey mb

This post was edited by Inh on Aug 7 2009 11:14pm

Please comment

rofl garbage

I personally prefer pure Fire to a Shaman, but your equipment selection is solid. Good job on realising why 99 fcr is still vital for a fire druid despite the timer delays. Why not add a max block setup, though?

no , no and no

ahahaha

i liked this one the most:

Wind Druids (Easy)

1) You are a 09 Noob. Just stating facts.
2) You have never made or dueled with a shaman. You have no idea what they can do.
3) Get a life other than spamming S+G's section.

Gfg

Oh and Tails Chaos, There is a Max block set up in Gear section lol

This post was edited by Varsity on Aug 8 2009 08:55am