DeathTitan DC caster druid

[Marcb81]

Yes, Zero Wisdom in Falconry because I would use 11 points in Nature's Protector for the Heavy armor Proficiency to equip the Hruit set heavy armor (and as you said the Defense Stance for more MRR and PRR).

I would like to know if it's possible to equip Dinosaur Bone Ring (artifact slot) and Dinosaur Bone Cloak (non artifact slot) at the same time, in order to consider new equipment options.

Nearly 100% sure it is possible to equip both, but I haven’t personally done it.

[Michele]

Nearly 100% sure it is possible to equip both, but I haven’t personally done it.

a friend tested it and it's possible to have a set with armor+helm+cloak as well as an artifact in another slot.
please can you tell me if the 50 exceptional cold spellpower of the Reflection of Wave staff stacks with the exceptional universal spell power of the The Legendary Leaf Mail? (or the cladding of dead leaves medium armor or clouded dreams ring).

because if it stacks then you are right to say that 50 +29 double implement bonus from draconic would give a nice 79 cold spell power that would be worth having (and give up some force spell power for that).

[Alternative]

Hi, I just started playing Druid and currently I'm using Cladding of Dead Leaves with Reflection of Wave.

When I remove that armor my cold spell power stays exactly the same, so it appears that it doesn't stack.

[Michele]

Hi, I just started playing Druid and currently I'm using Cladding of Dead Leaves with Reflection of Wave.

When I remove that armor my cold spell power stays exactly the same, so it appears that it doesn't stack.

thank you very much, then I remember correctly the stacking issue.

[Marcb81]

Hi, I just started playing Druid and currently I'm using Cladding of Dead Leaves with Reflection of Wave.

When I remove that armor my cold spell power stays exactly the same, so it appears that it doesn't stack.

Yeah, a lot of reflection of wave doesn't work as you want it to. The exceptional 50 cold spell power seems to not stack with cladding of dead leaves or clouded dreams. Also, the 5% exceptional crit mult is really typed as quality, so it doesn't stack with LGS or Dino quality augment. Essentially it gives you 5 uncapped caster levels for Dragon Breath (when I cast it, the combat log says cast at level 52) for comparison and it adds an extra 29 spell power if you have conduit from draconic to double the implement. This may not be worth it for you. The forcefield clicky helps defense a bit, but not as much as having a shield and heavy armor at all times. The DC for paragon cerulean wave is pretty low (100), so it's also not very helpful. You may want to also consider Frozen Wanderer 3&4 as that 50 spell power stacks, but would clearly cost you DC.

Marc

PS - Was raiding recently and saw greater ruin hit for 130k damage. I think that I had wellspring active at the time, but have several hits over 100k without wellspring active. Dragon breath I think is hitting for around 75k. The ability to cast tsunami, dragon breath, ruin, and greater ruin in rapid succession is some pretty incredible burst damage if you've never tried it. I'm also currently playing with dragonsoul filigrees to reduce cooldown times on Ice flowers. Not sure it's the right call but damage is insane. Unfortunately, cooldown reductions do not apply to tsunami or ED stuff or it would be amazing.

[Oliphant]

I recently tried this out and its working great, very destructive R10 DPS. The latest sweetener is the 4th core for Fatesinger providing the healing on Greater Shout. Druid in general has been a great dedicated healer when asked to serve that role, with the only caveat having to be extra careful not to die as I'm quite a bit squishier than a Cleric. I'm impressed by the dots as a side note.

I wanted to finally try out Reflection of Wave so I tried that deviation and it worked really well. I would definitely recommend Reflection of Wave as a fine substitute if that is what you have.

Then I was curious to try your Impaler + Alchemical shield combo and I've been checking that out. Not sure which is better for DPS yet really. I like having the filigrees in a one hander so I can mix in a Salt stick without losing them. My GoMF has Elder's and Writhing Storm sets, so I'm trying out Zephyr cloak now to get more electric power. Ends up losing the Autumn cloak and set so I made a slavers bracers with spell power and quality spell power to make up for it. I put Force Lore on the Slavers item but might have been better putting Sonic lore since the Alchemical shield already had it. I tell myself its not a mistake, its a backup for when I use salt sticks (strokes chin wisely). Losing HP with with set up too, but slightly more DPS expected with extra electric damage.

EDwise, I tried the Primal route, works well, provides Cocoon and maxes out DC/Wisdom. Now I'm trying the Shadowdancer -10% spell cooldown route, which also seems to work with one less DC point.

When I was using Reflection of Wave, was mostly going with the 7 Harper route. I'm now trying out squeezing 11 AP into Natures Defender for more defense and HP. Both seem fine.

[Oliphant]

Tried a few more things, a few more comments:

• Reflection of Wave also works great. If you use Wave then put 5% Force Crit damage on your LGS Goggles Tier 3 as the 5% cold does not stack with Reflection of Wave thing.
• I bit the bullet and just got a +19 Spellcraft augment from DDO store and went back to Dragon Scale bracers and Autumn cloak for Autumn +25% universal sp, more HP.
• Went back to Primal for maxing out the DC but squeezed in that zigzag tetris shape that starts with the cold primal epic strike, the SLA in Tier 2 and their boosts.

[Michele]

Updated the build with dinosaur bone equipment: now it can reach 131 evocation DC and have good dps in R10 quests thanks to 74% cold spell critical chance and 105 cold spell critical multiplier.

[PedXing20]

I like your gear set. I prefer cruel cut to tough shields for the added crit damage. BogW is great for creating helpless.

What are your thoughts on swapping out your lvl 31 feat to Spell Focus Specialty: Transmutation?

[Ultinoob]

I have played a druid using a staff. Not sure which is better but if going full druid i really think a shield is the way to go.

You can get +2 alchemical wisdom from shield and shield bonus to ac.

Not sure 1 more dc is worth it over the defense a shield gives. But hey you are the expert...

Does a 131 dc on earthquake hold doom reapers on r10? any reapers you cannot hold?

Why did you take down your videos? I liked them. gave me something to compare too.

[PedXing20]

You can get +2 alchemical wisdom from shield and shield bonus to ac.

You can carry multiple sets. I'm more DPS focused but i carry summer staff for the affirmation proc (with call lightning), a dino 1H and alchemical shield for a little more DC, 2x 1H dino weapons for nuking, a 4th set for healing and a 5th set for summons (although the summons are pretty useless for the content i run )

The 1/4 staff gives +2 exceptional spell DCs (only source i think) as well as implement bonus. It's a solid option for sure.

And for a DC focused caster, Shifter will have a higher WIS by 5 points FYI.

[jskinner937]

These new goggles may have you playing gear Tetris again.

https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Legendary_Goggles_of_Dusk

[Michele]

I like your gear set. I prefer cruel cut to tough shields for the added crit damage. BogW is great for creating helpless.

What are your thoughts on swapping out your lvl 31 feat to Spell Focus Specialty: Transmutation?

cruel cut set is nice if you don't want/have tough shields.
bogw is a good option, but it would mean sacrificing something more important for me.
Epic spell power at level 31 gives an additional 5% universal spell critical damage, while ice flowers has already an ok DC.

[Michele]

I have played a druid using a staff. Not sure which is better but if going full druid i really think a shield is the way to go.

You can get +2 alchemical wisdom from shield and shield bonus to ac.

Not sure 1 more dc is worth it over the defense a shield gives. But hey you are the expert...

Does a 131 dc on earthquake hold doom reapers on r10? any reapers you cannot hold?

Why did you take down your videos? I liked them. gave me something to compare too.

bone staff gives +1 DC compared to equipping a shield, draconic gives double implement bonus and primal avatar gives +5 spell power, for a total of +36 unversal spell power, staff gives exceptional bonus to universal spell critical chance +5% that you would have to put on ring for 1 more point of evocation DC loss.
Doom reapers are red named, in r10 despair reapers are held in eartquake but they still save greater color spray in some content.
I removed the videos because they are obsolete and now with 32 levels it's easier to solo R6 (I'll post new ones when I have time, maybe in january), but they are still available in my youtube channel.

[Michele]

You can carry multiple sets. I'm more DPS focused but i carry summer staff for the affirmation proc (with call lightning), a dino 1H and alchemical shield for a little more DC, 2x 1H dino weapons for nuking, a 4th set for healing and a 5th set for summons (although the summons are pretty useless for the content i run )

The 1/4 staff gives +2 exceptional spell DCs (only source i think) as well as implement bonus. It's a solid option for sure.

And for a DC focused caster, Shifter will have a higher WIS by 5 points FYI.

with shifter the build would have an odd wisdom and the same evocation DC of a dragonborn (true power enhancement), also 30 less cold spell power and all cold spells with 2 less caster levels.
shifter would have +3 dc to all other schools though, but it's less important than the additional damage coming from dragonborn tree.

[Michele]

These new goggles may have you playing gear Tetris again.

https://ddowiki.com/page/Item:Legendary_Goggles_of_Dusk

I considered those, buy they don't have the insightful wisdom +6 that I put on crafted goggles: the other insightful wisdom +6 options would sacrifice 1 point of DC (ring, unless you have reaper shards to invest on shattered onyx) or cold spell power (trinket).

[Michele]

Please can you tell me if my calculations about word of balance caster level and max caster level are correct, and how useful can be master of the wilds epic feat? (I don't see any items increasing its caster level, and as far as I remember, items with divine augmentation increase only cleric and fvs spells).

dragon breath caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +3 water elemental +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 elder of winter +1 dragonborn +5 reflection of wave = 37
creeping cold caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +3 water elemental +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 elder of winter +1 dragonborn +5 reflection of wave = 37
creeping cold max caster level: 18 base +5 epic levels +3 water elemental +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 wellspring +2 dragonborn +10 master of the wilds = 41
call lightning caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 elder of winter = 28
call lightning max caster level: 15 base +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 wellspring +10 master of the wilds = 33
salt ray caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide = 27
salt ray max caster level: 10 base +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +10 master of the wilds = 27
word of balance caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide = 27
word of balance max caster level: 20 base +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +10 master of the wilds = 37

[Ultinoob]

Please can you tell me if my calculations about word of balance caster level and max caster level are correct, and how useful can be master of the wilds epic feat? (I don't see any items increasing its caster level, and as far as I remember, items with divine augmentation increase only cleric and fvs spells).

dragon breath caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +3 water elemental +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 elder of winter +1 dragonborn +5 reflection of wave = 37
creeping cold caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +3 water elemental +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 elder of winter +1 dragonborn +5 reflection of wave = 37
creeping cold max caster level: 18 base +5 epic levels +3 water elemental +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 wellspring +2 dragonborn +10 master of the wilds = 41
call lightning caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 elder of winter = 28
call lightning max caster level: 15 base +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 wellspring +10 master of the wilds = 33
salt ray caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide = 27
salt ray max caster level: 10 base +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +10 master of the wilds = 27
word of balance caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide = 27
word of balance max caster level: 20 base +5 epic levels +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +10 master of the wilds = 37

You are right about divine augmentation not working for druid. I did a test a long time ago and it seemed some healing spells was affected though. So it’s a mess and I am not building for it.

Your calculations seems to be correct but I might add

Draconbreath seems to have a max caster level of 20 as it is. It is not stated anywhere this is just from experience.

According to your own calculations master of the wilds gives you:
6 caster levels to creeping cold
5 caster levels to call lightning
10 caster levels to salt ray
0 caster levels to word of balance

And if you don’t use reflection of wave it is only 1 you gain to creeping cold.

I was really under the impression that the feat master of the wilds was not worth it, but this might change things. Not sure how to fit it in though.

For a druid level 32 without master of the wilds and without reflection of wave these are the caster levels written in the combat log in winter season and cold form:
Creeping cold 35
call lightning 31
Word of balance 26
salt ray 31
This was however with legendary pendant of azure sea giving 1 more caster level to cold spells.

I think that the combat log is correct about the caster levels but just does not take into account max caster levels.

Maybe this is way off. shouldn't 10 epic levels and 2 legendary levels give you +6 caster levels and max caster levels?

I would say that you calculations are correct but it does not correspond to what is in the combat log so now i am confused...

EDIT: With reflection of wave the only thing that changed was creeping cold to a caster level of 39 so it seems hruits necklace and reflection of wave caster levels do not stack.

[Michele]

Yesterday I tested if Tsunami spell is capped at level 20 or it's uncapped:
1) some tests when I equip the Reflection of wave staff and some tests when I equip the Legendary pendant of the azure sea necklace (both tests made with 783 cold spell power);
2) 3 hours of tests made in Grim and barret epic elite quest against the first wave of mobs at the entrance;
3) with necklace tests my "non critical hits" did about 2100 force damage and 3800 cold damage, while with staff tests my "non critical hits" did about 2600 force damage and 4300 cold damage;
5) with these tests I would say that Tsunami spell is not capped at level 20 and it's uncapped.

Then I made some tests with Draconic incarnation dragon breath because you say that it's capped at level 20 and... YOU ARE RIGHT!!!
With necklace tests the "non critical hits" of dragon breath did about 7100 damage, and about the same damage with staff tests.

You are right about Reflection of wave and Legendary pendant of the azure sea not stacking (I checked only the logs).

Additional cold spell levels from alchemical weapon DO STACK with Legendary pendant of the azure sea (I checked only the logs).

Only the epic levels (ever 2) give additional caster levels and max caster levels (the legendary levels don't give additional caster levels and max caster levels, I say that only because I read it on the wiki).

You are right about the logs not taking in account of max caster levels (it considers only the caster levels).

You are right about divine augmentation not working for druid. I did a test a long time ago and it seemed some healing spells was affected though. So it’s a mess and I am not building for it.

Your calculations seems to be correct but I might add

Draconbreath seems to have a max caster level of 20 as it is. It is not stated anywhere this is just from experience.

According to your own calculations master of the wilds gives you:
6 caster levels to creeping cold
5 caster levels to call lightning
10 caster levels to salt ray
0 caster levels to word of balance

And if you don’t use reflection of wave it is only 1 you gain to creeping cold.

I was really under the impression that the feat master of the wilds was not worth it, but this might change things. Not sure how to fit it in though.

For a druid level 32 without master of the wilds and without reflection of wave these are the caster levels written in the combat log in winter season and cold form:
Creeping cold 35
call lightning 31
Word of balance 26
salt ray 31
This was however with legendary pendant of azure sea giving 1 more caster level to cold spells.

I think that the combat log is correct about the caster levels but just does not take into account max caster levels.

Maybe this is way off. shouldn't 10 epic levels and 2 legendary levels give you +6 caster levels and max caster levels?

I would say that you calculations are correct but it does not correspond to what is in the combat log so now i am confused...

EDIT: With reflection of wave the only thing that changed was creeping cold to a caster level of 39 so it seems hruits necklace and reflection of wave caster levels do not stack.

[Ultinoob]

When you did your test did you have empower, maximise and intensify on? or just one of them?

The caster level of tsunami without the staff should be:
Tsunami caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +3 water elemental +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 elder of winter +1 dragonborn = 32
and with
tsunami caster level: 20 druid levels +5 epic levels +3 water elemental +1 hierophant +1 time and tide +1 elder of winter +1 dragonborn +5 reflection of wave = 37

If comparing this to your damage and spell power:
3800/8.83/12.5~34.4 - where 12.5 is the average damage and 8.83 is your spell power and 34.4 is the caster level.

The same calculation for with the staff gives a caster level of 38.95.