Bow Druid Leveling Discussion

[redicomerade]

Survival Instinct gives some nice cold dmg, chance to freeze, and 10% PR. However, it would remove all flat elemental damage, which would make things like

Wasp Sting

Wasp Sting
Maple Bow (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 7
Required Dexterity: 84
Item Level: 19
Innate Fire Damage: (16.0% of Dexterity)
5% Chance to cast level 10 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
20% Attack Speed
Adds 7-9 Fire Damage
Adds 50-100 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-5% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-5% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+25 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (7 to 10)%
Socketed (2)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 26
Required Dexterity: 126
Item Level: 40
Innate Fire Damage: (24.0% of Dexterity)
6% Chance to cast level 20 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
30% Attack Speed
Adds 20-25 Fire Damage
Adds 100-200 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-10% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-10% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+50 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (15 to 18)%
Socketed (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 44
Required Dexterity: 249
Item Level: 59
Innate Fire Damage: (32.0% of Dexterity)
8% Chance to cast level 30 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
45% Attack Speed
Adds 60-80 Fire Damage
Adds 200-400 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-15% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+75 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (23 to 26)%
Socketed (5)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 53
Required Dexterity: 492
Item Level: 85
Innate Fire Damage: (40.0% of Dexterity)
10% Chance to cast level 40 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
60% Attack Speed
Adds 150-210 Fire Damage
Adds 400-600 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-20% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-20% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+100 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (27 to 30)%
Socketed (6)

pointless since it would remove the 360-500 fire damage. Am I thinking this correctly, or wrong?

It doesn't remove any damage. It just adds 20% of str/dex as additional cold damage.

I picked up Survival Instincts, mostly just for the phys res. The added cold damage is fine I suppose. The freezing is okay (before 105 anyway) but not necessary while leveling.

For anyone who isn't sure, leveling up Survival Instincts only increases the +spell focus you get. Doesn't increase Phys Res, or the % of str/dex to cold damage.

I don't think any of the ultimate choices are bad. In my opinion, you take Survival Instinct until you get 50% Phys Res without it. Then Faerie Fire as your default choice and Vine if you want help with bossing.

The patch notes state that Survival Instinct "Removed flat elemental damage (if you have a source)"

Other than that, I agree with everything you said!

Removed flat Ele damage in previous version of this skill (1.6), and added 20% strength/dex as cold in this version (1.7).
So no, it wont take your damage from other sources at all, it will give you cold, to my taste the number is Little too low on my respeces druid- 500.
So no, it

[redicomerade]

Survival Instinct gives some nice cold dmg, chance to freeze, and 10% PR. However, it would remove all flat elemental damage, which would make things like

Wasp Sting

Wasp Sting
Maple Bow (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 7
Required Dexterity: 84
Item Level: 19
Innate Fire Damage: (16.0% of Dexterity)
5% Chance to cast level 10 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
20% Attack Speed
Adds 7-9 Fire Damage
Adds 50-100 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-5% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-5% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+25 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (7 to 10)%
Socketed (2)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 26
Required Dexterity: 126
Item Level: 40
Innate Fire Damage: (24.0% of Dexterity)
6% Chance to cast level 20 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
30% Attack Speed
Adds 20-25 Fire Damage
Adds 100-200 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-10% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-10% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+50 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (15 to 18)%
Socketed (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 44
Required Dexterity: 249
Item Level: 59
Innate Fire Damage: (32.0% of Dexterity)
8% Chance to cast level 30 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
45% Attack Speed
Adds 60-80 Fire Damage
Adds 200-400 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-15% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+75 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (23 to 26)%
Socketed (5)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 53
Required Dexterity: 492
Item Level: 85
Innate Fire Damage: (40.0% of Dexterity)
10% Chance to cast level 40 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
60% Attack Speed
Adds 150-210 Fire Damage
Adds 400-600 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-20% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-20% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+100 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (27 to 30)%
Socketed (6)

pointless since it would remove the 360-500 fire damage. Am I thinking this correctly, or wrong?

It doesn't remove any damage. It just adds 20% of str/dex as additional cold damage.

I picked up Survival Instincts, mostly just for the phys res. The added cold damage is fine I suppose. The freezing is okay (before 105 anyway) but not necessary while leveling.

For anyone who isn't sure, leveling up Survival Instincts only increases the +spell focus you get. Doesn't increase Phys Res, or the % of str/dex to cold damage.

I don't think any of the ultimate choices are bad. In my opinion, you take Survival Instinct until you get 50% Phys Res without it. Then Faerie Fire as your default choice and Vine if you want help with bossing.

The patch notes state that Survival Instinct "Removed flat elemental damage (if you have a source)"

Other than that, I agree with everything you said!

Removed flat Ele damage in previous version of this skill (1.6), and added 20% strength/dex as cold in this version (1.7).
So no, it wont take your damage from other sources at all, it will give you cold, to my taste the number is Little too low on my respeced druid- 500.

[serek]

anyone has some ideas about upgrades after TU gear? crafts? on which bases (bow)?

[Diaco]

Has anyone tested whether steady aim locks spells too? I'm thinking druid now has great oskill caster potential with the huge all skills bonus from steady aim

[irraticate]

► Show Spoiler

Survival Instinct gives some nice cold dmg, chance to freeze, and 10% PR. However, it would remove all flat elemental damage, which would make things like

Wasp Sting

Wasp Sting
Maple Bow (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 7
Required Dexterity: 84
Item Level: 19
Innate Fire Damage: (16.0% of Dexterity)
5% Chance to cast level 10 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
20% Attack Speed
Adds 7-9 Fire Damage
Adds 50-100 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-5% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-5% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+25 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (7 to 10)%
Socketed (2)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 26
Required Dexterity: 126
Item Level: 40
Innate Fire Damage: (24.0% of Dexterity)
6% Chance to cast level 20 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
30% Attack Speed
Adds 20-25 Fire Damage
Adds 100-200 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-10% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-10% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+50 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (15 to 18)%
Socketed (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 44
Required Dexterity: 249
Item Level: 59
Innate Fire Damage: (32.0% of Dexterity)
8% Chance to cast level 30 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
45% Attack Speed
Adds 60-80 Fire Damage
Adds 200-400 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-15% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+75 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (23 to 26)%
Socketed (5)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 53
Required Dexterity: 492
Item Level: 85
Innate Fire Damage: (40.0% of Dexterity)
10% Chance to cast level 40 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
60% Attack Speed
Adds 150-210 Fire Damage
Adds 400-600 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-20% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-20% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+100 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (27 to 30)%
Socketed (6)

pointless since it would remove the 360-500 fire damage. Am I thinking this correctly, or wrong?

It doesn't remove any damage. It just adds 20% of str/dex as additional cold damage.

I picked up Survival Instincts, mostly just for the phys res. The added cold damage is fine I suppose. The freezing is okay (before 105 anyway) but not necessary while leveling.

For anyone who isn't sure, leveling up Survival Instincts only increases the +spell focus you get. Doesn't increase Phys Res, or the % of str/dex to cold damage.

I don't think any of the ultimate choices are bad. In my opinion, you take Survival Instinct until you get 50% Phys Res without it. Then Faerie Fire as your default choice and Vine if you want help with bossing.

The patch notes state that Survival Instinct "Removed flat elemental damage (if you have a source)"

Other than that, I agree with everything you said!

The patch notes say that because it is stating how it changed the old Ultimate Skill, Force of Nature. Force of Nature use to add max Fire/Cold/Lightning damage if you had another source of that damage type, like a charm. The patch notes are just saying that aspect of the old Force of Nature was removed. After a respec my damage only went down by around the amount Survival Instincts gave in cold damage. Even D2Stats is saying my damage is still mostly fire and part cold.

Has anyone tested whether steady aim locks spells too? I'm thinking druid now has great oskill caster potential with the huge all skills bonus from steady aim

I am able to cast Steady Shot, swap over to Pax Mystica and Blink freely. The description also says "non-Hunter Ranged Skills", which spells aren't technically Ranged skills... so it seems intentional to me.

Edit: Tried a few spells, didn't work while I had Steady Shot buff. Blink does work though, so I suppose "Warp" skills work, just not "Spells".

[Diaco]

Stormclash druid just got a HUGE upgrade, then

[smartasss]

Not really since u are locked out of Seer tree that gives 5% spell dmg per point and Steady aim only lasts few sec. The amount of swaping/precasting - bow and precast like Shamaka etc would just not be worth it.

[CircaG]

► Show Spoiler

Survival Instinct gives some nice cold dmg, chance to freeze, and 10% PR. However, it would remove all flat elemental damage, which would make things like

Wasp Sting

Wasp Sting
Maple Bow (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 7
Required Dexterity: 84
Item Level: 19
Innate Fire Damage: (16.0% of Dexterity)
5% Chance to cast level 10 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
20% Attack Speed
Adds 7-9 Fire Damage
Adds 50-100 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-5% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-5% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+25 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (7 to 10)%
Socketed (2)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 26
Required Dexterity: 126
Item Level: 40
Innate Fire Damage: (24.0% of Dexterity)
6% Chance to cast level 20 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
30% Attack Speed
Adds 20-25 Fire Damage
Adds 100-200 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-10% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-10% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+50 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (15 to 18)%
Socketed (4)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 44
Required Dexterity: 249
Item Level: 59
Innate Fire Damage: (32.0% of Dexterity)
8% Chance to cast level 30 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
45% Attack Speed
Adds 60-80 Fire Damage
Adds 200-400 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-15% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+75 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (23 to 26)%
Socketed (5)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 53
Required Dexterity: 492
Item Level: 85
Innate Fire Damage: (40.0% of Dexterity)
10% Chance to cast level 40 Seal of Fire on Death Blow
60% Attack Speed
Adds 150-210 Fire Damage
Adds 400-600 Poison Damage over 2 seconds
-20% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-20% to Enemy Poison Resistance
+100 Life Regenerated per Second
Poison Length Reduced by (27 to 30)%
Socketed (6)

pointless since it would remove the 360-500 fire damage. Am I thinking this correctly, or wrong?

It doesn't remove any damage. It just adds 20% of str/dex as additional cold damage.

I picked up Survival Instincts, mostly just for the phys res. The added cold damage is fine I suppose. The freezing is okay (before 105 anyway) but not necessary while leveling.

For anyone who isn't sure, leveling up Survival Instincts only increases the +spell focus you get. Doesn't increase Phys Res, or the % of str/dex to cold damage.

I don't think any of the ultimate choices are bad. In my opinion, you take Survival Instinct until you get 50% Phys Res without it. Then Faerie Fire as your default choice and Vine if you want help with bossing.

The patch notes state that Survival Instinct "Removed flat elemental damage (if you have a source)"

Other than that, I agree with everything you said!

The patch notes say that because it is stating how it changed the old Ultimate Skill, Force of Nature. Force of Nature use to add max Fire/Cold/Lightning damage if you had another source of that damage type, like a charm. The patch notes are just saying that aspect of the old Force of Nature was removed. After a respec my damage only went down by around the amount Survival Instincts gave in cold damage. Even D2Stats is saying my damage is still mostly fire and part cold.

Has anyone tested whether steady aim locks spells too? I'm thinking druid now has great oskill caster potential with the huge all skills bonus from steady aim

I am able to cast Steady Shot, swap over to Pax Mystica and Blink freely. The description also says "non-Hunter Ranged Skills", which spells aren't technically Ranged skills... so it seems intentional to me.

ohhhhhh I see now. Thank you for that clarification. I appreciate that!

[Istaryu]

It would be really nice if the bear used the buff immediately when summoned, so at least there is some consistency.

[CircaG]

It would be really nice if the bear used the buff immediately when summoned, so at least there is some consistency.

I don't think that would help anything. Seeing as the CD is 1 minute, that means it wouldn't do too much. However, I do agree with you. The consistency is awful. It's like if I'm in an uber and the bear procs it, it's smooth. But if not, it takes forever. I understand that it would be pretty OP if the bear had it up 100%, but I think a more consistent proc and bigger AOE would be helpful and not OP.