Started a druid for ladder, going to be a elemental fire druid. Primarily for magic find farming terror zones. Knowing that there is no enigma early on (I'm using skullders), I'm trying to make a somewhat budget build but the following concerns I can't seem to figure out.

Is damage reduction important since I'll only have a grizzly bear and won't be teleporting, and also since the terror zones are much higher level?
How about max block?
Is -fire resistance really that important or is +skills enough?

My main issue is not being able to decide whether to go stormshield + shako for the damage reduction and max block, or to do flickering flame + spirit. With SS/shako max block build I have only 1350 life, while with flickering flame/spirit build I have 2100.. quite a difference, and that is WITH oak sage.


On my nonladder summon necro, I went with stormshield + shako for the damage reduction and max block, because I like being able to tele into packs and not die. Not dying is crucial because I'm a high level and don't watn to lose the xp, and also because I'd lose my iron golem. With the druid, these concerns aren't really there so I'm debating whether it's worth the stat points for max block, and also if SS/shako is even worth it for the damage reduction.

This post was edited by tugofpeace on Oct 15 2022 12:42am

I’d say flickering flame in a +3 base is gonna be the most important item of the entire build. The fire res aura will make up for your sunder -70+ and if you really want to deal any damage to fire immunes you need the extra -resistances.

Ideal build is probably something like the following:

Hoto
Enigma
‘Flickering flame’ w/ best +skills you can find
‘Phoenix’ monarch
Magefists
Arach
Combo of fcr amulet/rings to get 19 fcr and as much resists as possible
Best resist boots you can find

Until you can afford enigma/Phoenix I’d probably just wear something like skullders and a gerkes for survivability and mf or a spirit for the damage/fhr.

appreciate the response but doesn't really answer my question regarding max block and damage reduction..

I could certainly do flickering flame + stormshield for dr/max block though.

is dr/max block worth it?

unless you mean it's not worth it due to phoenix being available endgame. in that case I would go for spirit until I get phoenix

This post was edited by tugofpeace on Oct 15 2022 11:20am

If you aren't playing hardcore I wouldn't even think about DR or max block. Just focus on damage and resists.

Yeah sorry, I was trying to say Phoenix is better. The redemption aura gives insane survivability. SS or spirit are both great options before you get it though. Up to you in terms of using ss as a temp for more DR or just taking spirit for the damage. Fire druids can be pretty passive in terms of play style so I wouldn’t too much about max block at all and not sure the dr% is all that necessary either. Just use merc and bear as meat shields and stand back while you cook everything

Edit: I was also suggesting gerkes as it has better all res than SS, which this build will want and its flat mdr/dr is almost as good as the 35% dr from ss in most situations

This post was edited by Flame-Masta on Oct 15 2022 02:07pm