Druid - Do I need to play the shapeshifts for damage?

[Purrfection]

I'm new to the game and have had the best success with the healer so far. However, I like the Druid's Heal over Time better as well as the rat for escape etc.

Can you also play the druid with the spear, or does it simply make more sense to do damage with the panther and the bear? I always have the feeling that dodge and hitting the opponent's head with a weapon is easier and the animal forms are much harder in combat.

[Mori me]

i would suggest play with the spear or whatever you like, but main point is to using treant as well

[Mori me]

they can boost your damage, tank it sometimes, or get your enemy trapped with no escape, push enemy to the wall from 2 sides and take away his ability to move while you can, or you deal damage from backside of the treant

[Aldain]

It's pretty much fine to play Druid as "Cleric with a Spear and Treant Summon", the shapeshift forms can be good with the right builds though.

[effusivemind]

Originally posted by Purrfection:

Can you also play the druid with the spear, or does it simply make more sense to do damage with the panther and the bear?

you can do both, with the same build even. if you're queueing 25+ GS dungeons with even mediocre strength gear you can easily 2 shot barbs in bear form by headshotting them. yes, it's easier to headshot with a spear in many situations cuz bear can't maneuver well. but you'd have both options available to you, and the strength will benefit your spear attacks as well.

you can get decently tanky in bear with gear. another solid option is playing with a cleric friend to heal and buff you.

happy shapeshifting

[Mori me]

Originally posted by Mori me:

they can boost your damage, tank it sometimes, or get your enemy trapped with no escape, push enemy to the wall from 2 sides and take away his ability to move while you can, or you deal damage from backside of the treant

pushing enemy to the wall would not be as useful with the spear though, but it helped me a lot while i was playing with mace

[Purrfection]

Thank you all!

[Orums]

Originally posted by Purrfection:

I'm new to the game and have had the best success with the healer so far. However, I like the Druid's Heal over Time better as well as the rat for escape etc.

Can you also play the druid with the spear, or does it simply make more sense to do damage with the panther and the bear? I always have the feeling that dodge and hitting the opponent's head with a weapon is easier and the animal forms are much harder in combat.

these guys are pigeon holing you. Yes the spear works wonders with druid. But shapeshifting is in itself an amazing playstyle if not hard to familiarize and perfect. Take my "flow":

-summon treant
-team/summon engages
-turn mouse to flank on back side of enemy
-bite enemy on the way to their backside to trigger DPS tick from disease
-Transform into panther for some swipes,bleed, silencing-very fast less than 5seconds
-transform into chicken to peck through some armor (requires jumping) OR into bear to roar and lay on some damage

OR I could go human and spear the enemy from behind

OR I could drop some heals for the party

shapeshifting can get a lot accomplished...except opening doors