Flaming Rabies build question

[TurbulentTurtle]

After reading Kazama Fury's Flaming Rabies guide, I've decided to build one of these, just to test it out.
Can someone who has built one of these before tell me if it's any good? I do not plan to duel with it (I'm making it in HCL).
Here are some questions I have already:

1. Is there another weapon I can use to substitute the 6 Shael'ed Phase Blade with? Maybe a Griswold's Cadaceus or something...?
2. Is it a matter of preference for which wereform to use? Which one is better?

I'm sure that I will have more questions as my Druid progresses through the game.
Thank you for any and all responses.

[TheUnchosen]

Hey TurbulentTurtle!

Yes, this build is very viable and effective.

Weapon wise, Gris Caddy would work too, along with any 4fpa weapon but since both attacks ignore the physical damage, a 6 sheal'd PB is the cheapest option.

IIRC, Rabies is a Werewolf skill only so you don't have much choice.

Hope that answers your questions.

Don't be afraid to ask more, we'll be glad to answer them regardless how silly you may think they are.

[mepersoner]

Caddy doesn't hit 4 FPA on a bear, or a wolf if he's using fireclaws.

Sure, you can use a higher damage weapon, but the question is why? The only reason is for slightly higher physical damage, but most of your damage will be fire/poison based. If you want to add some physical in there too, more power to you.

Of course, you could use a 2-handed weapon, because you're p v m and shields aren't needed as much, but then again this is hardcore.

You'll have to use wolf for rabies, fireclaws works as a wolf as well, but works better for a bear (it's faster with a bear).

[TurbulentTurtle]

I might as well stick with werewolf then, I don't really want to change back and forth from wolf to bear just so I can gain some extra attacking power...

So from what I understand, any weapon that reaches 4fpa is good. Because the main damage that comes from rabies and fire claws is pure elemental, and doesn't come from the actual weapon damage?

[DeamonMonkey]

Hiya Turb are you coming back? or have you been gone?

[TurbulentTurtle]

Hey DeamonMonkey, by coming back, do you mean coming back to Druid-ism?I've stopped dueling after the new patch came out, might be thinking about doing this Clan-Honor thing, but I need to stock up on the funds first. I've been playing HCL this entire time.

[mepersoner]

So from what I understand, any weapon that reaches 4fpa is good. Because the main damage that comes from rabies and fire claws is pure elemental, and doesn't come from the actual weapon damage?
Yeah. I'd say the extra physical damage is handy, especially in certain situations, though, but since you're probably not going to have anything pumping your physical damage much, a little extra physical damage probably wouldn't help much anyways.

What final skill setup did you decide to go with?

[Redman681]

If you don't like the fc/rabies build, try out a rabies/fury build. I have one of those and it is a pretty fun build especially with the carrion wind bug.

[TurbulentTurtle]

If you don't like the fc/rabies build, try out a rabies/fury build. I have one of those and it is a pretty fun build especially with the carrion wind bug.
What's the Carrion Wind bug? (sorry for sounding newbish :P )

What final skill setup did you decide to go with?
MAX:Rabies, Fireclaw, Fissure, Volcano.
1 to: Oak Sage, Werewolf, Firestorm, Maul, Werebear, Feral Rage
Rest into Lycanthropy.

I kinda want to have a healthy amount of life, that's why the rest into Lycanthropy. I figured out that I should be at least level 86 when I finish this build, but with skill quests (not including Ancient's), would it be level 74?
Does this sound good? Keep in mind I am in Hardcore.

[DeamonMonkey]

Oi, guess it was just me, well good luck with this Hardcore shtuff. Join clan honor, its like 76, but without a level cap (I just found that out...) so its kinda the same, but still great. :yep:

[mepersoner]

Carrion wind bug is like the marrowalk bug, only it works for rabies. The build is kind of built around it.

Your skills look fine, but later on it might get tough, just make sure to carry some potions around, of course you're hardcore so of course you will, but a fair warning, melee without leech is tough. =)

The problem is the high resists of everything later on, which is why I always prefer fury/rabies.

I think rabies/fireclaws is really a tweaker's build, I hope you're tweaking. O_o

[TurbulentTurtle]

Sorry for nub question, but what is tweaking? :P

mepersoner: Do you have any other builds that you know can survive pretty well? I would like that this Druid not die as early as my wind one.