Druid Wolf Build <---Please correct everything you see wrong

[dxtr10101]

OK I just got done digging around for all the wolf form posts I could find and with gathered information I found this. Any and All feedback is welcome.

LAST UPDATE - 9-21-2013 (Original 9-21-2013)

Human 12 Druid / 6 Ranger / 2 Monk
Str - 14
Dex - 16 (all level ups here)
Con - 14
Int - 8
Wis - 16
Cha - 8

Skills - Most likely Concentrate 23, UMD 11, Tumble 1 and the rest in Balance/Swim/Jump <-Suggestions?

1 - Druid - Quicken
2 - Ranger
3 - Ranger - Power Attack
4 - Monk
5 - Ranger
6 - Ranger - Adept of Forms
7 - Druid
8 - Ranger
9 - Ranger - Cleave
10 - Druid
11 - Druid
12 - Druid - Great Cleave
13 - Druid
14 - Druid
15 - Druid - Imp Crit Bludgeon
16 - Druid
17 - Druid
18 - Monk - Grandmaster of Forms, Greater TWF
19 - Druid
20 - Druid

Enhancements:

Human - Healing and Dex

Ranger - Tempest core to get dex attack and damage to unarmed. Various survivability. Killing in Deepwood sniper for doublestrike if I have enough points to spread out.

Monk - Not seeing much of value here unless I use a quarterstaff (was hoping to stay Unarmed)

Druid - Reaving Roar looks nice.

[Charononus]

OK I just got done digging around for all the wolf form posts I could find and with gathered information I found this. Any and All feedback is welcome.

LAST UPDATE - 9-21-2013 (Original 9-21-2013)

Human 12 Druid / 6 Ranger / 2 Monk
Str - 14
Dex - 16 (all level ups here)
Con - 14
Int - 8
Wis - 16
Cha - 8

Skills - Most likely Concentrate 23, UMD 11, Tumble 1 and the rest in Balance/Swim/Jump <-Suggestions?

1 - Druid - Quicken
2 - Ranger
3 - Ranger - Power Attack
4 - Monk
5 - Ranger
6 - Ranger - Adept of Forms
7 - Druid
8 - Ranger
9 - Ranger - Cleave
10 - Druid
11 - Druid
12 - Druid - Great Cleave
13 - Druid
14 - Druid
15 - Druid - Imp Crit Bludgeon
16 - Druid
17 - Druid
18 - Monk - Grandmaster of Forms, Greater TWF
19 - Druid
20 - Druid

Enhancements:

Human - Healing and Dex

Ranger - Tempest core to get dex attack and damage to unarmed. Various survivability. Killing in Deepwood sniper for doublestrike if I have enough points to spread out.

Monk - Not seeing much of value here unless I use a quarterstaff (was hoping to stay Unarmed)

Druid - Reaving Roar looks nice.

First from my understanding only improved weapon finesse will work to give you dex to damage with handwraps, and you don't have weapon finesse in the build. (dex to damage with wraps is buggy) Are you planning on fighting in wolf form? If so you absolutely need the natural fighting line of feats which is available starting at druid level 9 3 feats. Are you planning on using manyshot? You have to switch out of wolf form to do so and it will uncenter you without zen archery. Are you going ranger for the twf bug where it effects druid animal attacks, it is a bug so who knows when it will be fixed.

As far as wraps go, they are 100% what you need to be using as using them allows you to get extra die step increases, personally for a wolf I recommend at least 8 monk for die step increases and extra feats. This leaves 12 druid 8 monk, and my actual favorite 9 druid 9 monk 2 fighter. As far as your cleave feats go, since you don't have the str for oc I'd say drop them and pick up precision for the fort bypass for you SA dice.

[dxtr10101]

First from my understanding only improved weapon finesse will work to give you dex to damage with handwraps, and you don't have weapon finesse in the build. (dex to damage with wraps is buggy) Are you planning on fighting in wolf form? If so you absolutely need the natural fighting line of feats which is available starting at druid level 9 3 feats. Are you planning on using manyshot? You have to switch out of wolf form to do so and it will uncenter you without zen archery. Are you going ranger for the twf bug where it effects druid animal attacks, it is a bug so who knows when it will be fixed.

As far as wraps go, they are 100% what you need to be using as using them allows you to get extra die step increases, personally for a wolf I recommend at least 8 monk for die step increases and extra feats. This leaves 12 druid 8 monk, and my actual favorite 9 druid 9 monk 2 fighter. As far as your cleave feats go, since you don't have the str for oc I'd say drop them and pick up precision for the fort bypass for you SA dice.


I plan on using Unarmed combat with handwraps.
I do not plan on using any archery.
I was reading that improved weapon finesse is broken with UA. If this is the case is it impossible to get strength to UA damage?

[Munkenmo]

dump dex, especially for damage, it's a trap.

Dump ranger, it's pretty pointless for an animal build.

Better splits with more synergy :

9monk / 9druid / 2fighter put level ups in str, pick up master of forms, rely on improved evasion for mitigation.
9monk / 11druid would also be a good split, if you wanted more spell slots. still str focused.

personally though, i think animal form druids should look at their 9/9/2 options.

don't put more than 10 points in jump, try max the heal skill since your self healing will be fairly good.
don't bother spending feats on grandmaster of forms, master in earth stance is good enough.

as far as i know, there are no bugs preventing you from getting str damage when fighting unarmed.

[Charononus]

dump dex, especially for damage, it's a trap.

Dump ranger, it's pretty pointless for an animal build.

Better splits with more synergy :

9monk / 9druid / 2fighter put level ups in str, pick up master of forms, rely on improved evasion for mitigation.
9monk / 11druid would also be a good split, if you wanted more spell slots. still str focused.

personally though, i think animal form druids should look at their 9/9/2 options.

don't put more than 10 points in jump, try max the heal skill since your self healing will be fairly good.
don't bother spending feats on grandmaster of forms, master in earth stance is good enough.

as far as i know, there are no bugs preventing you from getting str damage when fighting unarmed.

This is all the best advice imo, I'm playing a 9/9/2 atm where I took the base str to 23 with a couple level ups and put the rest into wisdom for sf, overwhelming crit, earthstance, sa dice, shadow fade, healing fist, cure crit, there is so much going for that build and I'm getting 5d10 base dice and 26% doublestrike now. Very nice build.

[dxtr10101]

This is all the best advice imo, I'm playing a 9/9/2 atm where I took the base str to 23 with a couple level ups and put the rest into wisdom for sf, overwhelming crit, earthstance, sa dice, shadow fade, healing fist, cure crit, there is so much going for that build and I'm getting 5d10 base dice and 26% doublestrike now. Very nice build.

Do you have a build posted for this one for U19?

[Charononus]

Do you have a build posted for this one for U19?

no sorry not much to it though

18 str
16 wis
14 con
iirc
+3 str tome and 2 level ups to qualify for oc all other level ups to wis
feats include
3x natural fighting
quicken
empower healing
power attack
cleave
great cleave
improved critical bludgeoning
adept of forms
overwhelming critical
master of forms
tactician epic destiny feat
grandmaster of forms
blinding speed epic destiny haste feat

the rest of the stuff is from ed's like a dance of flowers for more attack dice.

[Munkenmo]

Human 9druid/9monk/2fighter.

Stats (32pt)
17 str
11 dex
14 con
8 int
16 wis
8 cha

1 druid : power attack (H), Cleave
2 druid :
3 druid : maximize or empower heal.
4 druid : STR
5 druid :
6 druid : quicken
7 druid :
8 druid : STR
9 druid : Natural Fighting
10 fighter : Great Cleave (F)
11 fighter : Improved critical Bludgeoning (F)
12 monk : Natural Fighting, Stunning Fist (M), STR
13 monk : dodge (M)
14 monk :
15 monk : Natural Fighting
16 monk : STR
17 monk : mobility, deflect arrows or improved sunder, your choice.
18 monk : master of forms
19 monk :
20 monk : STR

[the_laughing_god]

Human 9druid/9monk/2fighter.

Stats (32pt)
17 str
11 dex
14 con
8 int
16 wis
8 cha

1 druid : power attack (H), Cleave
2 druid :
3 druid : maximize or empower heal.
4 druid : STR
5 druid :
6 druid : quicken
7 druid :
8 druid : STR
9 druid : Natural Fighting
10 fighter : Great Cleave (F)
11 fighter : Improved critical Bludgeoning (F)
12 monk : Natural Fighting, Stunning Fist (M), STR
13 monk : dodge (M)
14 monk :
15 monk : Natural Fighting
16 monk : STR
17 monk : mobility, deflect arrows or improved sunder, your choice.
18 monk : master of forms
19 monk :
20 monk : STR


How would you build this as a half-elf?

[Munkenmo]

How would you build this as a half-elf?

I wouldn't, I think half elves are completely worthless with this new enhancement / skill tax system. Especially on this build.
Going helf has effectively cost an Epic feat slot, there's no room to play with heroic ones.

1 monk cleave, power attack(m)
2 druid
3 druid empower heal
4 monk (+str) stunning fist(m)
5 monk (light path)
6 druid Great Cleave
7 druid
8 druid (+str)
9 druid Quicken (atm, TWF for as long as animal forms work with twf)
10 druid
11 druid
12 druid (+str) natural fighting
13 fighter improved crit bludgeon(F)
14 fighter dodge (F) (atm, ITWF for as long as animal forms work with twf)
15 monk natural fighting
16 monk (+str)
17 monk mobility, deflect arrows or improved sunder
18 monk natural fighting (atm, GTWF for as long as animal forms work with twf)
19 monk
20 monk (+str)
21 Epic master of forms
22 Epic
23 Epic
24 Epic (+str) overwhelming crit
25 Epic
26 Epic Perfect TWF
27 Epic Blinding speed
28 Epic (+str) Elusive Target

[Failedlegend]

I concur that 9Monk/9Druid/X2 is the best combination...if you'd like to stick with a Dex/Wis build use the X2 on ranger so you can take the Improved Weapon Finesse in tier 2 DWS. Otherwise you can wait for them to fix The Ninja Spy abilities to work properly with wolf/bear form and or unarmed w/Vorpal Strikes (or Ivy Wraps, or brawling gloves,etc.)

If you go Str/Wis 2Fighter is your best bet but imo Dex/Wis just "feels" right for a Monk or Monk/Druid.

[Tilomere]

Level and Health Blender Build A

Human 3 barb/ 2 ftr /15 druid

Dodge > Mobility > Spring > Combat Exp> WW > PA > CL > GC > TWF > TWF#2 > TWF#3 > IC:B > Quicken Free Heavy armor/martial weapons.

Balanced attacks (knockdown on vorpal)/Cocoon/Improved Combat Exp final twists in Unyielding. PA or Exalted angel would also work.

Enh
Racial 21 HAMP, Heroism
Barb 14 FB for Supreme cleave, Frenzy
Ftr 3 Kensai for wep special - unarmed
Ftr 1 StD 3% fort
NW 34 Alpha Strike
+ a few spare

Cleave every second. No die step, so raw damage is out (so low threat). Quickened sleet storm and heal.

Add in sacrificial dagger -1 Con/hit, -2 level drain on crit, Wall of Wood, Conv. bracers.

Endlessly AoE cleave. Do tons of Con and level damage. Heal to full at will. Avoid aggro with 1d10 base damage. Wear pure tank gear.

-----------------------------------------


Level and Health Blender Build B

Tested and animal safe.

Human 6 barb/ 6 ftr /8 druid

Dodge > Mobility > Spring > Combat Exp> WW > PA > CL > GC > TWF > TWF#2 > TWF#3 > SM > ISM > IC:B > Epic ? Bastard Sword for Nightmare? Free Heavy armor/martial weapons.

Balanced attacks (knockdown on vorpal)/Lithe/Primal Scream final twists in Unyielding. 3-2-1 twists are not so bad.

Enh
Racial 21 HAMP, Heroism
Barb 14 FB for Supreme cleave, Frenzy
Ravager 32 for Critical Rage (+2 crit profile when raging)
Ftr 3 Kensai for wep special - unarmed
Ftr 1 StD 3% fort
NW 9 Dump Tree

You have FB 3 second AoE cleave, WW, GC, and Cleave 5 second AoE cleaves hitting TWF with + 2 crit profile. This should give you a 15-20x3 fast attacking wolf and 17-20x2 bear, but no die step, so raw damage is out (so low threat). You are raged, so no sleet storm or self-healing.

Add in sacrificial dagger -1 Con/hit, -2 level drain on crit. Madstone tower shield, Alchemical Crystal Shield, or Wall of Wood.

Move into a group of mobs, hit Supreme cleave > WW> GC > Supreme Cleave > Cleave

You just attacked AoE 9x with a 30% crit profile. Every mob loses 5.4 levels AoE per 5 second rotation. Hitting 4-5 mobs, you are looking at draining 20-27 total levels per 5 seconds, while having almost non-existent threat since you are keeping your damage low (don't equip too much pew pew), go all tank/HAMP.

An EE CR 58 GH mob will be worth around 500 hp/lvl at first level drain (tested only with hire), with ~10% less for subsequent level drains. So roughly a few k dps from level drains. If this build works :) More players and different EE mobs may differ.

Edit: con damage doesn't work well (90% resist in EE). Lvl drain does work. Lvl drain does more damage to start. Epic Ward restores 1 lvl/3 seconds to drained mobs.

[Havok.cry]

What would you all think about doing a druid/monk wolf build as a warforged? You would get the equivalent of light armor in addition to the monk defenses. Plus you could get docents with heavy armor like abilities rather than light armor like abilities (moot point when you get to dragon scale, but until then).

[unbongwah]

What would you all think about doing a druid/monk wolf build as a warforged? You would get the equivalent of light armor in addition to the monk defenses.
http://ddowiki.com/page/Druidic_Oath

WF druids can't take a body feat.

[Havok.cry]

http://ddowiki.com/page/Druidic_Oath

WF druids can't take a body feat.
I never mentioned a body feat, but thier composite base bodies give armor, and does not break the oath.

Edit: Nevermind, I missed when they took away the +2 armor of composite plating... now they might as well be robes I guess. Oh well.

[Charononus]

Level and Health Blender Build A

Human 3 barb/ 2 ftr /15 druid

Dodge > Mobility > Spring > Combat Exp> WW > PA > CL > GC > TWF > TWF#2 > TWF#3 > IC:B > Quicken Free Heavy armor/martial weapons.

Balanced attacks (knockdown on vorpal)/Cocoon/Improved Combat Exp final twists in Unyielding. PA or Exalted angel would also work.

Enh
Racial 21 HAMP, Heroism
Barb 14 FB for Supreme cleave, Frenzy
Ftr 3 Kensai for wep special - unarmed
Ftr 1 StD 3% fort
NW 34 Alpha Strike
+ a few spare

Cleave every second. No die step, so raw damage is out (so low threat). Quickened sleet storm and heal.

Add in sacrificial dagger -1 Con/hit, -2 level drain on crit, Wall of Wood, Conv. bracers.

Endlessly AoE cleave. Do tons of Con and level damage. Heal to full at will. Avoid aggro with 1d10 base damage. Wear pure tank gear.

-----------------------------------------


Level and Health Blender Build B

I haven't tested critical rage in animal form, so this may not work. I don't know if the enhancement gives +2 crit profile to a weapon, like adrenaline, so will not work in animal form, or if it gives +2 crit profile to a character.

Human 6 barb/ 6 ftr /8 druid

Dodge > Mobility > Spring > Combat Exp> WW > PA > CL > GC > TWF > TWF#2 > TWF#3 > SM > ISM > IC:B > Epic DR Free Heavy armor/martial weapons.

Balanced attacks (knockdown on vorpal)/Lithe/Primal Scream final twists in Unyielding. 3-2-1 twists are not so bad.

Enh
Racial 21 HAMP, Heroism
Barb 14 FB for Supreme cleave, Frenzy
Ravager 32 for Critical Rage (+2 crit profile when raging)
Ftr 3 Kensai for wep special - unarmed
Ftr 1 StD 3% fort
NW 9 Dump Tree

You have FB 3 second AoE cleave, WW, GC, and Cleave 5 second AoE cleaves hitting TWF with + 2 crit profile. This should give you a 15-20x3 fast attacking wolf and 17-20x2 bear, but no die step, so raw damage is out (so low threat). You are raged, so no sleet storm or self-healing.

Add in sacrificial dagger -1 Con/hit, -2 level drain on crit. Madstone tower shield, Alchemical Crystal Shield, or Wall of Wood.

Move into a group of mobs, hit Supreme cleave > WW> GC > Supreme Cleave > Cleave

You just attacked AoE 9x with a 30% crit profile. Every mob loses 20% max health from Con Damage, and then loses 5.4 levels AoE per 5 second rotation. Hitting 4-5 mobs, you are looking at draining 20-27 total levels per 5 seconds, while having almost non-existent threat since you are keeping your damage low (don't equip too much pew pew), go all tank/HAMP.

A cr 70 EE giant has 18k health (from Breaking the Ranks EE), so each level is worth an average of 257 health, with low levels worth very little, and the final levels worth almost twice as much (500 hp/lvl). If you do a single 5 second rotation against a group of 4 CR 70 EE giants (72k total health), you will take off 20% of their max health from Con damage (14.4k hp), and 20 levels (another 10k health), on top of normal hit damage, so 24.4 k damage/ rotation, + auto attack damage/procs. So roughly 5k dps from procs alone.

You talk about con damage and ee, you do realize stat damage doesn't work for the most part in eh and above? Also not convinced this would pull even with a pure build let alone a drunk.

[Tilomere]

You talk about con damage and ee, you do realize stat damage doesn't work for the most part in eh and above? Also not convinced this would pull even with a pure build let alone a drunk.

I know that my 26 wolf druid with TWF + NF feats kills a Con-poison immune lvl 55 EE Wood Woad in Druids deep in ~29 seconds of auto attacks in primal avatar with EE Adamantine knuckles. Druid does 5.5d10 with primal shout, dance of flowers, and renewal twisted. Healer hire, no pets or summons.

Using the exact same setup, except with a sacrificial dagger, my druid kills the same Wood Woad in 21 seconds, un-centered, with 1.5d10.

I didn't use a wolf or dryad . You can have your wolf support either build, with dps wrappings or grave wrappings. Elder dryad supports straight dps.

The drawback is that you are doing max hp damage, and not the normal damage everyone else is. So if you are doing 1k AoE max hp damage, and your party is doing 1k AoE regular damage, your max hp damage doesn't actually kill the mobs faster, unless someone is taking good advantage of the lowered mob saves. In addition, your max hp damage is dependent on the CR and hp of the mob. A 6k health CR 58 GH mob doesn't have enough hp that draining it down is worthwhile. 9k health seems to be the break even point. 30k health wood woad is another story.

[Charononus]

I know that my 26 wolf druid with TWF + NF feats kills a Con-poison immune lvl 55 EE Wood Woad in Druids deep in ~29 seconds of auto attacks in primal avatar with EE Adamantine knuckles. Druid does 5.5d10 with primal shout, dance of flowers, and renewal twisted and am in primal avatar. Healer hire, but they sit on hold and don't do anything.

Using the exact same setup, except with a sacrificial dagger, my druid kills the same Wood Woad in 21 seconds, un-centered, with 1.5d10.

I didn't use a wolf or dryad . You can have your wolf support either build, with dps wrappings or grave wrappings. Elder dryad supports straight dps.

The drawback is that you are doing max hp damage, and not the normal damage everyone else is. So if you are doing 1k AoE max hp damage, and your party is doing 1k AoE regular damage, your max hp damage doesn't actually kill the mobs faster, unless someone is taking good advantage of the lowered mob saves.

I don't know if the barb version of this works. I would love to find out. Probably also could test this on starting trolls in EE madstone, which aren't Con-poison immune.

Watch your combat text when you try to use that stat drainer. ALL MOBS ON EH AND HARDER HAVE EPIC WARD THAT MAKES THEM HIGHLY RESISTANT TO STAT DRAIN, AND MAKES THEM RECOVER FROM IT ALMOST INSTANTLY.

In other words take a video because personally I think you are a complete liar that is making everything you just typed up.

[Tilomere]

Watch your combat text when you try to use that stat drainer. ALL MOBS ON EH AND HARDER HAVE EPIC WARD THAT MAKES THEM HIGHLY RESISTANT TO STAT DRAIN, AND MAKES THEM RECOVER FROM IT ALMOST INSTANTLY.

In other words take a video because personally I think you are a complete liar that is making everything you just typed up.

Ok, the con damage is reduced 90% on EE. The lvl drain works though. Feel free to test which one kills an EE Wood Woad faster for you. Or just believe as you will!

[Charononus]

Ok, the con damage is reduced 90% on EE. The lvl drain works though. My druid does kill an EE wood woad faster at 1.5d10 using a sacrificial dagger than it does at 5.5d10 using EE wraps.

That's why those wraps are boss beaters for red names, use some grave wraps.

[Enoach]

What would you all think about doing a druid/monk wolf build as a warforged? You would get the equivalent of light armor in addition to the monk defenses. Plus you could get docents with heavy armor like abilities rather than light armor like abilities (moot point when you get to dragon scale, but until then).

I tried a warforged Druid Wolf build and for me it was about getting access to the Warforged combat feat DC enhancements. I had fun but ultimately went back to being an Artificer. The life was mainly to help a Guildee out and get the Druid past life feat.

[Tilomere]

That's why those wraps are boss beaters for red names, use some grave wraps.

Grave wraps only drain on vorpal, instead of on crit. So AoE at 9 attacks/rotation they won't beat epic ward 1 lvl regen/3 seconds. They are in between EE knuckles and dagger on wood woad. I don't use stunning fist.

[Charononus]

I tried a warforged Druid Wolf build and for me it was about getting access to the Warforged combat feat DC enhancements. I had fun but ultimately went back to being an Artificer. The life was mainly to help a Guildee out and get the Druid past life feat.

Guildie of mine did a wf version of pretty much the same build I did except I was human. They both perform about the same, I have more wis and have a better ein but our sf is about the same because he has the wf tactics. He however has more fortification and no need to twist brace for impact, but once again he has a harder time getting things like reinforced fists because those are mostly on outfits outside of a couple items. I could go back and forth but it comes down to that both human and wf have their benefits to the build.

[Charononus]

Grave wraps only drain on vorpal, instead of on crit. So AoE at 9 attacks/rotation they won't beat epic ward 1 lvl regen/3 seconds.

True but you stay centered with wraps so you get 1w monk levels, 1.5w dance of flowers twist, 1w handwraps, 1x crit multi, more prr, shadowfade for more incorp, healing fists for a small free trickle of healing, etc allowing you to take less damage and kill faster.

Also your dagger doesn't have stunning on it, grave wraps do, that means the mob isn't fighting back and the whole party is doing more damage to them because they're helpless.

[jalont]

So... I guess this is the best place to ask. Did today's update fix animal form TWF?