Evasion vs Hv Armor on Wolf Build

[CPDK9]

Does one far outweigh the other or is this just a build preference?

Going for evasion also locks Tier 5 Falconry tree but you can pick up another CC with Go for the Kill in Natures Warrior.

Also is Two Handed weapons like the falchion the way to go or sword & board like the scimitar the better option? More damage vs more defense?

[Coffey]

Does one far outweigh the other or is this just a build preference?

Going for evasion also locks Tier 5 Falconry tree but you can pick up another CC with Go for the Kill in Natures Warrior.

Also is Two Handed weapons like the falchion the way to go or sword & board like the scimitar the better option? More damage vs more defense?

Natures Warrior tier 5 is mandatory now if you want the full attack speed at level 12:
Swift Hunter: While in Wolf form you gain Evasion. Armor restrictions apply as normal. Also, increases Attack speed in Wolf form to 15%, and in Winter Wolf form to 30%.

[CPDK9]

Natures Warrior tier 5 is mandatory now if you want the full attack speed at level 12:
Swift Hunter: While in Wolf form you gain Evasion. Armor restrictions apply as normal. Also, increases Attack speed in Wolf form to 15%, and in Winter Wolf form to 30%.

Thank you for that reminder, since I had forgotten about that change. So, it seems that light armor for a wolf is the way to go since your getting evasion.

Any thoughts on weapons? Last I remember wolf builds were favoring falchions over scimitar & shield combo.

Finally aasimar pure druid or 18/1/1 split?

[Discpsycho]

Thank you for that reminder, since I had forgotten about that change. So, it seems that light armor for a wolf is the way to go since your getting evasion.

Any thoughts on weapons? Last I remember wolf builds were favoring falchions over scimitar & shield combo.

Finally aasimar pure druid or 18/1/1 split?

THF is definitely the way to go for a wolf. For all wild shapes, you still get the 1.5x stat modifier to damage for THF. The main perk of a shield is the Improved Nature's Protector stance, which gives +25% competence bonus to HP (same as EDF) but only works in bear form and with a shield.

I think the pure vs. 18/1/1 will depend on your point allocation, feats and endgame gear
- If you don't need any more feats (NFx3, IC, and...?) then 1 Fighter probably isn't worth it. 1 Barb may be for the runspeed, but you're already pretty fast
- If you're investing heavily in Falconry anyway, then there's no sense taking 1 FvS, as Deadly Instinct can replace Divine Will. I'd imagine you'd want one or the other, but that also depends on...
- What's your endgame doublestrike going to look like? The capstone grants +2 Str/Wis (nice, but nothing to write home about), +10 PRR (icing on the gravy), spell cooldown reduction (maybe useful? haven't played a druid for a while) and 10% doublestrike. If you're *not* going for T4 falconry and instead want the rage boosts in Nature's Protector, my hunch is that Divine Will > 10% doublestrike, especially if you're nearly doublestrike-capped

[Alled78]

Does one far outweigh the other or is this just a build preference?

Going for evasion also locks Tier 5 Falconry tree but you can pick up another CC with Go for the Kill in Natures Warrior.

Also is Two Handed weapons like the falchion the way to go or sword & board like the scimitar the better option? More damage vs more defense?

Depends on your build
If u have 17 or more lvl in druid t5 nature warrior is better than falconer

Evasion can help. But u can do well even in medium armor. Remember evasion works only if you reach high reflex saves; if it is low medium armor is better

Then i strongly suggest 2hf weapon in animal form, the one u prefer.

[CPDK9]

Depends on your build
If u have 17 or more lvl in druid t5 nature warrior is better than falconer

Evasion can help. But u can do well even in medium armor. Remember evasion works only if you reach high reflex saves; if it is low medium armor is better

Then i strongly suggest 2hf weapon in animal form, the one u prefer.

Any idea of the numbers you would want to make evasion worthwhile?

[Alled78]

Any idea of the numbers you would want to make evasion worthwhile?

Depends the difficult u play and the content ( last pack and sharn need saves 10-15 higherl)
90 epic elite
100 is good enough for r1 (not optimal for sharn, enough for other content)

[Coffey]

Thank you for that reminder, since I had forgotten about that change. So, it seems that light armor for a wolf is the way to go since your getting evasion.

Any thoughts on weapons? Last I remember wolf builds were favoring falchions over scimitar & shield combo.

Finally aasimar pure druid or 18/1/1 split?

Like Discpsycho said a Two Handed Weapon is the way to go with Wolf. Sword of Shadow (https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Sword_of_Shadow) or a Falchion are great especially if youre going to use Falconry and or a racial tree as part of your build because you wont miss the enhancement bonus to critical threat range as much with these weapons.

[CPDK9]

Depends the difficult u play and the content ( last pack and sharn need saves 10-15 higherl)
90 epic elite
100 is good enough for r1 (not optimal for sharn, enough for other content)


Like Discpsycho said a Two Handed Weapon is the way to go with Wolf. Sword of Shadow (https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Sword_of_Shadow) or a Falchion are great especially if youre going to use Falconry and or a racial tree as part of your build because you wont miss the enhancement bonus to critical threat range as much with these weapons.


THF is definitely the way to go for a wolf. For all wild shapes, you still get the 1.5x stat modifier to damage for THF. The main perk of a shield is the Improved Nature's Protector stance, which gives +25% competence bonus to HP (same as EDF) but only works in bear form and with a shield.

I think the pure vs. 18/1/1 will depend on your point allocation, feats and endgame gear
- If you don't need any more feats (NFx3, IC, and...?) then 1 Fighter probably isn't worth it. 1 Barb may be for the runspeed, but you're already pretty fast
- If you're investing heavily in Falconry anyway, then there's no sense taking 1 FvS, as Deadly Instinct can replace Divine Will. I'd imagine you'd want one or the other, but that also depends on...
- What's your endgame doublestrike going to look like? The capstone grants +2 Str/Wis (nice, but nothing to write home about), +10 PRR (icing on the gravy), spell cooldown reduction (maybe useful? haven't played a druid for a while) and 10% doublestrike. If you're *not* going for T4 falconry and instead want the rage boosts in Nature's Protector, my hunch is that Divine Will > 10% doublestrike, especially if you're nearly doublestrike-capped

Thanks to all for your help and advice.

[Rush007]

Dethek Runestone + a keen one handed weapon is not a bad choice in epics. Still less damage than a two handed weapon, but boosts survival by quite a bit with the shield AC, healing, temp hp, DR along with the stacking 2W.

[Alled78]

Dethek Runestone + a keen one handed weapon is not a bad choice in epics. Still less damage than a two handed weapon, but boosts survival by quite a bit with the shield AC, healing, temp hp, DR along with the stacking 2W.

I wont suggest
Dethek gives only +1. (I have one and tested it)
The gain in survival is far less that loss in dps.

[Rush007]

I wont suggest
Dethek gives only +1. (I have one and tested it)
The gain in survival is far less that loss in dps.

What did you do to test this? It shows up correctly in the inventory panel 7W goes to 9W.

[Alled78]

What did you do to test this? It shows up correctly in the inventory panel 7W goes to 9W.

I tried in my last 5 wolf lives (last is 6 months ago)

I think some bonuses were overscripting each other ( the bonus from weapon prob like keen3)

Did
11 barbarian \ 8 druid\1 cleric
1 barbarian\ 17 druid\ 2cleric
3monk\9 druid\8 figther
6monk/6fighter/8druid
8barbarian/11druid/1cleric

Wanted to try a more defensive set up but always got only +1

[LrdSlvrhnd]

I tried in my last 5 wolf lives (last is 6 months ago)

I think some bonuses were overscripting each other ( the bonus from weapon prob like keen3)

Bit of a necro, but... just tried both a keen (albeit ranged, but that's what I had available) and vorpal, and both got +2[W] with Dethek in wolf form, So no idea what you were doing that was failing to stack, but as far as I can tell it's working properly.