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Rabies Druids @ Level 49 are inexpensive characters, not being reliant on Runewords, Crafted or Rare Items. They are decent in 1v1 but its in TvT's that they really shine.
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Pro's
1. Once built correctly, it can be a pure "click and hold" - YOU will love it
2. 1-hit killing ability vs a range of classes
3. Not Reliant on Runewords, Crafted or Rare Items
4. Cheap
5. Does not require extensive stash gear

Con's
1. Once built correctly, it can be a pure "click and hold" - Your OPPONENTS will hate it.
2. Hard to catch Sorc's
3. Has some anti-char's - Barb | Smiter
4. Cannot 1v7 unlike say, Libby, Sorc's &Tele-Windy.

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Gear

Before I go in to gear something needs to be stated: All of your FRW should be str bugged in order to get the most out of this character. That means any items with +FRW (Boots) should be Strength Bugged. Thus I do not advocate FRW in Circlet, Amulet, Belt or otherwise.
Also I do not advocate 1 point Fury, however this may be something you might want to experiment with (say vs a sorc that is on 1 life shift-fury might get vital final hit in). This guide is the final version of the discussion held here: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=73809469&f=143&o=0

Helmet:
Jalal Mane [ RBF Psn 5/5 "Die" ]
This is the only Helmet. It has everything you need and more. You dont want a 3shape 30 frw Circlet | Coronet (because we want to bug all sources of frw), and there is simply nothing else, rare or otherwise, thats close to as good as this. HLD players take note: Do NOT use FRW circlets.

Armor:
Shaftstop vs Melee (Psn Facet)
Jewelers Dusk of the Whale (4sox, 100 life) vs everything else (x4 Psn Facets)
Pretty straight forward. You need DR vs Bowa | Barb etc. and you get +++ Damage vs everything else in the Dusk (no Frw Penalty).

Shield:
Whitstans "FHR Jewel" ideally the jewel would be something similar to : 7fhr 9 dex 4 repl 30 cold res - requires 100dex for max block
JDOD - Jewels Dragon of Deflection, ideally the jewels would be something similar to : 7fhr 9 dex 4 repl 30 cold res/light res/all res/ar - requires 142 for max block

The requirements for JDOD are 91 str and Thundergods is 110 (or 100 if eth). In order to ensure you can wear shaft on switch I dont advocate Str in shield. While a JDOD setup will have less base life then whitstans (due to max block higher requirements) it allows you to aim for a higher FHR breakpoint (42 vs 86) and it can provide replenish life equal or greater to the life lost in stating to the JDOD. i.e. in long duels the JDOD is probably better.

Rings
Raven 20/250 (or 2, but we usually say 2 is bm, vs Cold Sorc)
SOJ
Rare stat ring 15 Str + as many of the following mods as you can get: AR, Life, Replenish Life, Light Res, Cold Res. [ this allows you to wear Non Eth Thundergods. If Eth thundergods, use a ring with 5 str, or better yet, a Skiller 5Str ]

Amulet
3shape 100 life - the BEST amulet.
2shape 60 life 10 repl + Adds Rare (you dont want Strength since you need to switch it out for Nokozan vs ESFB)
1 Druid 80 life 10 frw 10 repl (reminder: I don't advocate frw from amulet (we want to completely str bug our frw). Reminder: The entire problem with MLD rabies (or any shape druid) is catching opponents. While some might say "get more frw" the better phrase would be "get more str bugged frw". You want as little frw from items not str bugged as you can get. (this is why I do not advocate sanders on any build @ lld whatsoever and why i dont think much of highlords 1.08 @ hld).
Nokozan - Stash Amulet vs ESFB

Boots
Aldurs (or whatever 40frw or 30frw boots allow you to str bug)
No realistic 2nd Option apart from IK Boots for the AR (unless you are some form of hybrid fury, in which case - gores).

Belt
String of ears - The BEST Belt.
24fhr 10 OW 80 life dual res.
Thundergods vigor (get an Eth one, less str required).
DONT get mavina belt (remember FRW from invent or str bugged boots ONLY) and DONT get Str on your belt (since TG's is your highest requirement item).

You dont want str on your belt as you need to be able to switch smoothly to string when required (string required almost always!)

Gloves
Thrang Oul Gloves
+ Poisen Damage. The ONLY Gloves. There is no other pair of gloves worth considering.

1 Hand Weapon
6 sox war axe with x3 shael and x3 15ias 15 all res jewels (105 ias)
4 sox Jewelers Flail of Quickness (40ias). I think this is same range, but faster speed. that allows for x3 ias/15 all res + a jewel of your choice (great!)
Also, If its "anything goes" and you dont need block or res, get a harmony cho-ku-no

2nd slot:
6 sox war axe x6 facets poisen 5/5
Kite of Deflection x3 facets poisen 5/5

Once you hit your opponent, chase after them if they run away, on 2nd slot (more damage).

2 Hand Weapon

I do not advocate the use of a 2 handed weapon, however:

5 sox warfork with x4 15ias 15all res and x1 whatever the hell you want
if you dont need the res, put 5 shaels in it (or have a 2nd one)
if you dont use Thundergods vigor, get a brandistock (lower requirements, same speed).

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Charms
x1 GC Shape 6 Str "Str Bug"
x9 GC's 1 shape 7frw (40+63frw=103frw, we want 120)
x1 sc 5fhr | 5 all res - With Jalal + 7FHR in shield + this charm you have 42 FHR.
x5 3frw/5 all res (118frw, OK great)
x6 sc's 20life 11 Cold Res

The Alternative (too expensive to even consider) option:
x4 sc's 5frw 5 all res (40+45) | 5frw + Adds small charms
x5 Skillers 7frw (40+45+35=120FRW)
x5 Skillers 30 life
x1 sc 5fhr (for 42FHR with Whitstans + Jalal) or you can add skiller FHR to aim for 86FHR

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Your character should now look like this:



i.e. 2.2K life, 118frw, 42fhr, 280mana, 75 all res (85 with Noka), 145 "all res", 250 cold stack (Vs Blizz), 200 light stack (Vs FoH).

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Stash:
Shape 30 Lifers - for when you dont need the FRW.
Eth Thundergods
Dwarf
Rare ring 5str + Adds (for Eth TG) OR a 2nd Shape Skiller with 5-6 Str.
x3 20/11 cold
x1 20/11 light

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Skills
Max Rabies
Max Poisen Creeper (Synergy)
1 point Oak
All remaining points into Lycanthropy.

or
Max Lycanthrophy
Max Rabies
1 point Oak
All remaining points into Poisen Creeper (synergy)

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Some quick things about Rabies:

Some quirky things about rabies:
1. Rabies build is a 1hit kill "skill"
2. Rabies does more damage to a stationary target then one that is moving
3. Rabies does not kill if opponent has successful evaded the druid (read: maintained a ~ 2 screen distance from the druid
4. Rabies "rechecks" every few seconds based on proximity of opponent
5. Contrary to the belief of some, it requires skill to build one right and skill to play one right.
6. Common frw mistakes are not str bugging boots, using item frw at any level (bad) and not having enough frw (bad)
7. In TvT infected opponents can infect their allies if they touch. Therefore infected players should be mindful not to come in contact with allies
8. facets setup (x6 sword, x3 shield) on switch increases the psn damage during point 4. dealing more damage based on the bonus number of facets now "in use"

rabies with 1 point fury druids:
1 point fury druids should really only use 42FR since its too hard to get to 86 without making sacrifices to damage. this should be attained by Jalal + shape 12 fhr.
Oath 2 handers have too high str requirements. Rares are ultra rare, 1 every 3-4 years. consign yourself to using a 5~6 sox weapon weapon with shael / ias/ed or ias/res

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For reference purposes:
LLD Shape Guide (Mauler): http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=70998804&f=143
LLD Shape Guide (Fury): http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=6081727
HLD Shape Guides: http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=8189503 here http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=12979755&f=87 and here (Fury): http://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=72400161&f=87

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Thanks to Joost for the inspirational "Rule"
Thanks to Worrywart, Dreamworks,Marieusz, Worrywart, bonnerf2, Twinsen, Scipi, thesnipa, for contributions to original topic

and to reiterate:

you will find that when you dont str bug, if your wearing say 30frw from circ, 30/40 from boots and 20 from mavina, you are just not winning, part (but not the entire) of the reason for this is because the server has you placed where you are and your opponent can clearly see where you are. when instead its str bugged (as much as possible) your opponent won't see where you truly are, allowing you to potentially get a hit in.

...and the final point is....... Rabies requires SKILL to play! honest

And now for some quotes:






This post was edited by ferdia on Jan 30 2018 03:01pm

Should have named the char aids

I will quote you on that
It was originally my fissure character before I moved it to another account to faciliate a share. Yes the name is bad for a Rabies character

Cool guide bud! The only thing I'd add would be level cap, unless rabies is a lvl49 build. had it in my head it might be one of the Euro-59's along with ghost(??)

its lvl 49 yes. Ty input and I have modified the heading.

Java | Ghost (not skilling trap skills - must use the runeword Chaos) and only Shaper Fury | Fireclaws and Mauler are allowed to 59 (since they are just BAD @ 49)

This post was edited by ferdia on Jan 30 2018 03:09pm

ahhh i had it in my head all shapers were 59. All of those builds make sense at 59!

shit guide learn to build a character
sticky this

One thing I always kept in stash for my 49 rabies was a harmony chu ko nu
Something to think about I guess

On a related note, nobody likes furries.

This post was edited by Worrywart on Jan 31 2018 10:41am

Time to Stash Poison Stack Boys Xd

for pub dueling "anything goes" yes, harmony cho ku no is very very strong.

This post was edited by ferdia on Jan 31 2018 05:37pm