If you want a shield,

You can use Azurewrath vs Baal with low block shield like Tiamat's Rebuke, Dream, or 40ed x 4 shield

Or just use Rising Sun. With higher fire res, fire dmg is not dmg but heal.

intriguing. Would the sanctuary aura from azurewrath (or lawbringer) break the physical immunities of baal's minions? It's not so much baal himself as it his his minions that get in the way.

I did get an eth zod reaper's toll for this, but I wonder if azurewrath would be more effective?

Well, you've missed an important effect on Sanctuary: knock backs undead.

Baal's minions are all undead iirc.

I won't use Lawbringer as its dmg is nearly zero.

Azurewrath and Stormlash are my favorite weapons btw:

Azurewrath:
+230-270% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+30% Increased Attack Speed
Adds 250-500 Magic Damage
Adds 250-500 Cold Damage, 10 sec. Duration (Normal)
+1 To All Skills
+5-10 To All Attributes (varies)

And it's a unique weapon, which means you can sock it! Shael? Ber? It's up to you

looks like I have something new to try later I've spent too much money on this char but...he is fun

Yup, Azurewrath and Stormlash are overlooked but great weapons.

Try Rising Sun first though. It's cheap and effective against Diablo and Baal.

Not that you really care, and we probably could have taken this to PM, but here is my current plan to try:


Ubers: Eth up zod ribcracker for main, azurewrath and shield on swap for baal minions (unless it can work on baal solo). Will consider a duress option, but the damage loss from Duress--> Fort is significant

Normal melee: ebotd GPA (but I do have a bid in on an eth tomb reaver)

I switched from highlords to metal grid and the AR increase was significant. From here, I am considering adding a 30+ Ed/ 15 IAS jewel vs UM in jalal to compensate for the loss of IAS from highlords.

All good as long as you're enjoying this great game!

Any thoughts on swordback hold as the shield with azurewrath

I wouldn't use it, as:

1. You have enough OW resources already.

2. Druid's block recovery is sloooooooooooooow, so 20% Increased Chance of Blocking is a big no.

I'd go instead:

1. Tiamat's Rebuke. Cheap and effective especially when you kill physical immunes and collect torch after having killed Ubers.

2. Dream. I like the aura

3. No shield. I prefer this route over equipping Swordback Hold.

1. Up'd Ribcracker if druid is poor
2. Last wish PB if druid can get expensive gear, because PB cannot be broken, Lw gives high crushing blow, an added offensive aura, fade and life tap



1. Eth Ribcracker has too low %ias to launch life tap with 5% life tap Dracul's grasp, more hits with high %ias, more probabilities you have for life tap
2. Grief doesn't add crushing blow, only deathly strike. Crushing blow > Deathly strike for the Uber mode



Why not ? The high ladder auras are more awesome in D2x because they make full HD characters especially where there is high light radius.



Shael'd up'd Ribcracker can work fine for the Uber mode with a Fury druid like I half previously stated above.



Last wish doesn't have added %ias, but werewolves of any sort can still be fast enough once werewolf skill has been maxed including some %ias bonus in gear. Of course, werewolf or werebear shapes are always slower than human shape.