Bow Druid Leveling Discussion

Discuss Median XL!
peilis
Thunder Beetle
56 | 3
Istaryu wrote:
peilis wrote:However it feels it might need some nerfs, it feels a bit too strong, bear buff need some reliability cuz right now it is useless for majority of the game. Switch every attack is really annoying and single target goes to trash.



First you say its too strong and needs nerfs, and then you say its trash. Make up your mind.


Heartseeker damage seems way too high for normal difficulty, though it kinda gets into shape around Nightmare > Hell.
Abandoning main feature of the spec and going full Steady shot > farms all zones. A bit too strong id say.
If bear procs, boss will melt, but thats like winning a lottery. Some sort of consisteny is required.

It would be nice that it would have some sort of charges, like 1 extra charge per 10 base levels or something... so you can cast like 4 cascades at 30 base level (Steady shot). Would fix the annoying switch thing, improve single target, enable cascade to shine. Or simply buff duration. If we get consistency the heartseeker and cascade damage most likely will be too high as well.

Well i havent sayed it is trash, i simply imply that the single target damage (heartseeker) is not that great the reason being for constant switching. Simply my observations that might or might not have any merit at all.
Istaryu
Harpylisk
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peilis wrote:Heartseeker damage seems way too high for normal difficulty


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Frytas
Onyx Knight
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peilis wrote:It would be nice that it would have some sort of charges, like 1 extra charge per 10 base levels or something... so you can cast like 4 cascades at 30 base level (Steady shot). Would fix the annoying switch thing, improve single target, enable cascade to shine. Or simply buff duration. If we get consistency the heartseeker and cascade damage most likely will be too high as well.
I was thinking about the same thing, but I don't know if a charge system is even possible, and giving Steady Aim/Shot a duration would kinda defeat the purpose of bear's buff, cause even if it was shorter, it would at least be player controlled and consistent, so automatically better.
Pain
Azure Drake
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Bow druid is so good that i play it with crossbow and
Ranger's Disguise
Ranger's Disguise
Spirit Mask (Sacred)

Defense: (2836 - 3129) to (3182 - 3510)
(Druid Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 650
Item Level: 120
2% Chance to cast level 20 Sun Strike on Striking
80% Attack Speed
+10 to Widowmaker
+(172 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
15% to Strength
Maximum Life +(2 to 3)%
Physical Resist 10%
Socketed (4)
Ruubel
Onyx Knight
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devs fixed summoner resistance issues with the patch so
Fauztin's Visage
Fauztin's Visage
Field Plate (4)

Defense: 268 to 540
Required Level: 11
Required Strength: 32
Item Level: 19
+(11 to 20)% to Summoned Minion Life
+(6 to 10)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+50% Enhanced Defense
+250 Defense vs. Melee
+50 to Life
Poison Length Reduced by (21 to 25)%
Physical Resist 1%
Socketed (2)
Defense: 890 to 1668
Required Level: 37
Required Strength: 63
Item Level: 36
+(21 to 30)% to Summoned Minion Life
+(11 to 15)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+100% Enhanced Defense
+500 Defense vs. Melee
+100 to Life
Poison Length Reduced by (31 to 35)%
Physical Resist 2%
Socketed (4)
Defense: 2232 to 4107
Required Level: 61
Required Strength: 219
Item Level: 59
+(31 to 40)% to Summoned Minion Life
+(16 to 20)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+150% Enhanced Defense
+750 Defense vs. Melee
+175 to Life
Poison Length Reduced by (41 to 45)%
Physical Resist 3%
Socketed (5)
Defense: 3642 to 6678
Required Level: 75
Required Strength: 438
Item Level: 85
+(41 to 50)% to Summoned Minion Life
+(21 to 25)% to Summoned Minion Resistances
+200% Enhanced Defense
+1000 Defense vs. Melee
+250 to Life
Poison Length Reduced by (46 to 50)%
Physical Resist 5%
Socketed (6)
is definitely a thing at leveling.
Mr_Bill
Designated Troll
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My Hardcore (yes, I know, I'm a masochist) Bow Druid is only Level 70 right now (about to go after Andariel in Nightmare) and so far I have had great success with the "Python" Crossbow Runeword (I happened to find a pretty good rare xbow bolt quarrel early in the game and decided to start out with the "Thammuz" Runeword, which BTW is very good for the early game, then switched to "Python" experimentally when I happened to find a Io rune).

The neat thing about using Steady Shot and "Python" is that its Level 14 Doom seems to go off constantly, and it makes monster mobs extremely vulnerable to physical damage thereafter... between subsequent firings of Steady Shot, the Merc (I'm using an A2 Fighter / Mage) and the Bear, pretty much everything just disintegrates. :-D Other nice things about "Python" are its huge life leech and its bonus to flat character life. A very under-rated Runeword IMO.

We shall see how well this works in the higher difficulties...
BagboyBrown
Acid Prince
45 | 0
Why would anyone play Bow Druid in it's current state? 1 charge is annoying af, 3 shots and you've got carpal tunnel.
Jovoman
Cog
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Well i have to say with my current hunter lvl 130 i can do all regular content, did also every ueber till 130 except the 130 ones now which i will try,


Astrogha was kinda meh but i could farm him good,

Duncraig is easy asf, fauzt u should aim for minimum 15k hp + and 30 phys res+ try to go there with a tanky a5 merc( full str, breakpoints, max resi)

U can also use t4 war hammer and t4 cloudladder then moing max minion life + resistance on it, to cap bear cast on minimum 75 max res
Also u can craft minion life gear for prebuff ( i just crafted a +2sk huge resistance and life buff armor,

Getting him 23k more hp then regular
Ended up with current 180K hp bear

He can tank everything in fauzt dunc, with merc

Only exception is Vizjun cause of bombs but there yourself u can do pretty well if u dodge the bombs too

Overall the hunter for me is great to play single target is very good once u got buff from bear all 125 bosses i just melted down ,

Xaxax's took some more time cause bear mostly hit those big red ones ,


Once u are familiar with the steady aim, ( right click mouse etc... )

Its working very good

Sticking with full set and to note:
It seems so hard to overcome the full set in a row.

I tested a Wf, gg craft bow, doesnt matter
The full set bonus just gives so much sheet dmg that the only way i think u can overcome is
Is with the upped version of void touched,

( even zephyr didnt work well with other setup based on IED ,
Was still under the dmg from full set


For lvling he was very smart and bear is rlly good meat shield once u decide to make him tanky asf.

U can literally craft full minion life gear for prebuff

U can easily get +50k more hp on it,
But around 150k hp is enough for all cotent p1 farming ( except labs) for labs i didnt have test him yet.



The only really downside on this build is the steady aim mechanic i mean if u oky with that and like to play build which requires more skill switch and not brainless afk rightclick hold attack then its good to go
Lookadrood
Cultist
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Has anyone come up with later game ideas? I have the full set and dont know really where to go from here. Im new to the mod in general. Im wondering what jewels to craft and what shrines to craft with. Also a solid list on what SU's to seek out to get past the set. Any help is appreciated!
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Wulf
Onyx Knight
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Lookadrood wrote:Has anyone come up with later game ideas? I have the full set and dont know really where to go from here. Im new to the mod in general. Im wondering what jewels to craft and what shrines to craft with. Also a solid list on what SU's to seek out to get past the set. Any help is appreciated!


I've been playing ele and phys bow druid extensively, and I can confidentally say that elemental is far superior to physical.

To give you specific numbers (both were with midgame gear on midgame charms):
  • Cascades hits required to kill a duncraig Slain Soul: 2-3 (ele) and 6-7 (phys)
  • Time required to kill Kabraxis (no bear): 45 secs (ele) and 60 secs (phys)

And this was with very basic gear: (
Zephyr
Zephyr
Maple Bow (Sacred)

(Druid Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 600
Item Level: 105
Innate Fire Damage: (62.0% of Dexterity)
+1% Attack Speed per 25 Dexterity
Adds 450-650 Fire Damage
-(15 to 30)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
+9 to Heartseeker (Druid Only)
+9 to Cascade (Druid Only)
10% Chance of Crushing Blow
+25% to Summoned Minion Resistances
25% Magic Find
Socketed (6)
,
Caoi Dulra
Caoi Dulra
(Druid Hunter Set)

Nature's Embrace
Nature's Vigil
Nature's Will
Nature's Wrath

Set Bonus with 2 or more set items:
-20% to Enemy Fire Resistance
+50 to all Attributes

Set Bonus with 3 or more set items:
+2 to Druid Skill Levels
Physical Resist 10%

Set Bonus with complete set:
17% Chance to cast level 6 Arrow on Striking
Adds 50-75 Damage
Weapon Physical Damage +100%
Slow Target 30%
+150 to all Attributes
Elemental Resists +40%
5% Reanimate as: Undead Marksman

set 2pc Chest+Belt,
Nezha (Xis)
, Honorific Gloves+Boots, +11sk druid staff to prebuff bear)

As for SU's to look for,
Zephyr
Zephyr
Maple Bow (Sacred)

(Druid Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 600
Item Level: 105
Innate Fire Damage: (62.0% of Dexterity)
+1% Attack Speed per 25 Dexterity
Adds 450-650 Fire Damage
-(15 to 30)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
+9 to Heartseeker (Druid Only)
+9 to Cascade (Druid Only)
10% Chance of Crushing Blow
+25% to Summoned Minion Resistances
25% Magic Find
Socketed (6)
,
Flameskin
Flameskin
Scale Mail (Sacred)

Defense: (7200 - 8440) to (8922 - 10307)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength:
1150
Item Level: 120
Adds 5 - 7 Fire Damage to Weapon per 2% Attack Speed
Weapon Physical Damage -150%
1% Chance to cast level 6 Life Spark on Striking
-20% to Enemy Fire Resistance
+(150 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+(1000 to 2000) Defense
Maximum Fire Resist +2%
(50 to 75)% Bonus to Defense
Requirements +100%
Socketed (6)
,
Bad Mood
Bad Mood
Ring

Required Level: 100
Item Level: 120
-20% Cast Speed
Adds 50-100 Fire Damage
Adds 50-100 Lightning Damage
Adds 50-100 Cold Damage
-(5 to 20)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(5 to 20)% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
-(5 to 20)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
all come to mind, but you can make do with common items (fascinating crafted maple bow/gloves/boots, rare ring fire pierce, 2p nature set is also excellent). The only important part is pierce, little to no SU's are needed to get to the 130 ubers.

For Jewels, Lem crafts and only keep the ones with 15%ias (%dex/%aa/life/dex/aa/-req are all nice secondary affixes to have, but ias is absolutely mandatory). But that said, you will not need that many ias jewels as 7fpa is very good to stick with. Means you'll have more space for Rha runes (-3 fire pierce per). These will increase your dmg way more than what perfect amethysts or the most perfect jewels would give you.