Issues fighting twig/vine blights on caster druid

[TallMikeM]

Hi all, hope someone can help. Returned to the game after about a year layoff and thought I'd dust off my cold specc'd caster druid (based on the ginger spyce build). I tend to solo a lot due to time zones, so castery druid was always my fave class to play, it could do most things well. However, I am having real issues, especially in sharn, and specifically with those vine blights (or whatever they're called) in Thrall of the Fungus Lord (but also in wizard of vines etc), I dunno if it's my DC's, but I'm having issues CCing them, they seem to resist or are immune to earthquake and tsunami (I see immune a lot when I cast those), so was hoping some kind soul could let me know where I'm going wrong (even it it's to say 'it's your DC's you fool').

[Tilomere]

Try combine sleet storm, LGS Salt, and some kiting backwards to pull them through it.

LGS Salt has an internal short 0.25 second cool down and only targets closest mob on normal AoE spells, but mobs enter sleet storm one after the other and sleet storm procs on entering, so most of them will be affected as they enter. The sleet storm blind will screw up the twig/vine blights ability to ranged target you accurately, and the blind 50% move penalty + slippery 50% move penalty + salt 85% move/attack speed penalty will all stack and effectively immobilize them AND stop them from effectively fighting back.

Sleet storm isn't hard CC, so it's duration is also unaffected by reaper, so this combo basically works on more or less everything, at any difficulty, except red names, with no save. Then hit the effectively immobilized group with Draconic abilities, with your offstat intelligence, and clean up with druid abilities.

[TallMikeM]

Try combine sleet storm, LGS Salt, and some kiting backwards to pull them through it.

LGS Salt has an internal short 0.25 second cool down and only targets closest mob on normal AoE spells, but mobs enter sleet storm one after the other and sleet storm procs on entering, so most of them will be affected as they enter. The sleet storm blind will screw up the twig/vine blights ability to ranged target you accurately, and the blind 50% move penalty + slippery 50% move penalty + salt 85% move/attack speed penalty will all stack and effectively immobilize them AND stop them from effectively fighting back.

Sleet storm isn't hard CC, so it's duration is also unaffected by reaper, so this combo basically works on more or less everything, at any difficulty, except red names, with no save. Then hit the effectively immobilized group with Draconic abilities, with your offstat intelligence, and clean up with druid abilities.

sadly I was on an extended break when L Shroud came out, so missed out completely on l shroud crafting. I do have a bunch of l materials, will hunt around on toons and see what I can scrape together.
What would I put that on, weapon or item?

[Enoach]

One of the benefits of being a druid is the fact that you can switch your spells up. I realize you mentioned you are cold spec, but that does not prevent you from using fire based spell options.

Also, keep in mind that flame blade uses your wisdom so it is a fallback option when spells are not enough or are not as effective.

[TallMikeM]

One of the benefits of being a druid is the fact that you can switch your spells up. I realize you mentioned you are cold spec, but that does not prevent you from using fire based spell options.

Also, keep in mind that flame blade uses your wisdom so it is a fallback option when spells are not enough or are not as effective.

I did think of that, but have yet to give it a try. Can't harm to try.

[Tilomere]

sadly I was on an extended break when L Shroud came out, so missed out completely on l shroud crafting. I do have a bunch of l materials, will hunt around on toons and see what I can scrape together.
What would I put that on, weapon or item?

It is a weapon effect.

https://ddowiki.com/page/Legendary_G..._bonus_effects

Here is a planner, probably making a dagger is reusable for many builds. Start with dagger, then select tier 3 bonus Salt, then pick what tiers you want on your dagger and it will fill it in.

https://ddocrafting.info/lgs/

The large tier 1 spell power matches ravenloft belts, so if you want that spell power earlier at level 26, or don't have RL its a good choice. Otherwise making the dagger for melee for other lives is also a good choice. You can overwrite prior augments with new ones, so you can craft both water spell power at tier 1 and water melee damage augments at tier 1 and swap them around as you see fit. Tier 1 materials are in abundance.

Sleet Storm Salt is pretty redonkulous for locking down groups.

[Rusty_Can]

However, I am having real issues, especially in sharn, and specifically with those vine blights (or whatever they're called) in Thrall of the Fungus Lord (but also in wizard of vines etc)

A couple of options, which would require switching to wolf form:
- Snowslide
- Howl of Terror seemed to affect those, however
a) the spell was cast by my fiend warlock and the druid version of the spell might behave differently
b) not sure if this is WAI or not
c) it was a few updates ago, so it might no longer work
d) it's an Enchantment spell

[TallMikeM]

thanks Tilo, I'll look into that. TBH I've kinda ignored sleet storm before as it's one of those annoying in pugs spells, the whole needing to make sure everyone has FoM etc, but with sharn and all them pesky ranged mobs, I've started using a lot, and I'm pleasantly reminded it's actually a really effective spell. I do occasionally see LFM's up for L Shroud, so hopefully I can scrape together enough mats to make one.

Rusty, I didn't think to try that, could be very effective as the mobs tend to be all in a bunch, so would be easy to snowslide into.

[TallMikeM]

just wanted to let you know I tried the suggestions given here soloing R1 L Thrall of Fungus and they worked very well, even managed to pull a mythic 3 set of the goggles from there, so doubly happy bunny. TYAVM, the help is much appreciated.

[Vooduspyce]

Sorry that I didn't respond to this sooner, I saw that you referred to my build. Plant creatures can be a pita for a caster druid and I don't have any good advice for you. I was discussing this post in my live stream last night and solod it on LR4. It's not pretty or quick but if you're interested...

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/516929345

[TallMikeM]

thanks for that Nacho (mmmmm, nacho's, drool), that was really good of you to show that and respond, I appreciate it. That's kinda how I ended up doing it (though I'm not as crazy brave as you and only do it solo on R1), it's messy but it does work. Been v low on mana a few times when the souls don't drop, but it is doable.