Druid best shapeshift?

[Kemar]

Hi!

I made 2 druid test builds, one with the cat shapeshift, the second with the bear one. The stas ar similar something along the lines of :

Might 18
Con 10
Dex 10
Perc 10
Int 18
Res 12

From what I've seen, I've got better results being a bear, which is logical, as the build did not have a lot on Con nor def stats. Does it mean the cat form's natural dmg, but lack of defense is meant to go with a more tanky build?

What are your experiences with other shapeshift forms?

[vinzi]

For melee shapeshift Druid i am currently rolling with this build.
18 might
19 con
12 dex
8 perc
15 int
8 res
with the 2 int 1 res necklace goes to 17 and 9.
Fire Godlikeand Boar form. Good frontline aoe heals, boars natural curing and fire godlike racial keep me alive pretty well.
Talents: 2 weapon style, Peasant, Wild strinke fire, greater wildstrike, bonus fire dmg,+1 transformation per combat.
Wielding dual fire element spears.
Should work with any element pretty well i just went with fire for the godlike racial synergy.
Instead of greater wildstrike you could also take vounerable attack.

Overall i haven't noticed too big a difference between the shapeshift forms. Bear gets +2 dr and a shout, wolf gets some kd, cat get action speed, and boar gets the regen and dot. Stag's probably bugged. It gives +7 to deflection, reflex, fort and will even when unshifted.
Overall bear or boar seem best since you want to survive on the frontlines whie tearing appart your foes.

[jest]

I went with boar since shapeshift doesn't scale past early game. If shapeshift's going to be worthless mid-late game, might as well take the form that gives free regen.

[Dorok]

The stag seems not bad, I played it but only a little so I can't feedback.

[Kemar]

Hmmm.. I'm thinking of trying a low-medium intellect build to max the melee potential of the druid. But if it lowers the duration of shapeshift, it would be pretty bad...

edit: i've just read Jest's post about shapeshift not scaling in late game... that would make a shapeshift build quite useless...

[vinzi]

Wow first of all that question impressed me so much that i went ahead and tested it straight away. Cannot imagine how i never thought of that lol.
With min 3 int aprox 7 secs transform. with 20 int aprox 14 secs duration. So keep your int high.

Also the jest guy isn't exactly wrong but its not quite as he says either. During early and mid levels the shapeshift focused druid flat out outperforms any glass cannon caster style. They also provide a better usage of cone spells and aoe arround the druid. They support the frontline greatly. In later levels when the druid tends to spamm his spells you will find yourself casting more than transforming. You still have advantages over the pure caster with your support and single target dmg but during the time spent casting you will be outperformed late game. Still not bad by any means and its serving me well in my path of the endless 6 druids run :)

[Kemar]

Thanks for testing the int effect on shapeshift Vinzi! I did some rough testing since my last post too and found aprox the same. Also, a notable thing: dmg type varies from animal form to animal form, but what I get ingame is different from what's on the wiki.

-> Bear does slash
-> Boar does pierce
-> Cat does slash
-> Stag does piece
-> Wolf does pierce



From my previous characters, I have the feeling that slash is defense more common, so chosing a pierce form could be better.
The cat has the biggest dps, especially with its ability. Putting points into dex makes him evem stronger, though it counts for every form.

Testing forms against the first bear you meet, it felt like killing it was easier with the boar and the cat. The cat really has the biggest dps, especially with its ability, but it's a bit squishier. Putting points into dex makes melee quite stronger. The other forms did well too.

[Coyce]

cat isn't weaker than any other form except bear and boar. bear has more DT and boar has a reg. it's up to you if you prefer more dps or some more life. i think the only good choices are cat or boar. the rest isn't as good as it should be

[Cam]

the problem with shapeshit afaik is that you are naked while shifted thats why it doesnt scale you dont get more dmg from your weapons etc.
what i mean is it has a fixed dmg output which is superior in early but just cant keep up with enchanted weapons