Gear/Skill suggestions for Fireclaw Bear PvM

[CZach]

Hi all, this is the 1st time I'm starting a Druid after a near 4 year break from the game (last played early 2002 :eek: ) and after a month or so, I decided to go down the path of a PvM Fireclaws Bear Druid, for no special reason other than utter coolness of the name


Anyway, I noticed that there there's another thread on the 1st page asking some of the same questions but I need some gear suggestions as well, but do tell me if this is inappropriate.

My 1st concerns about the build would be skill points distribution. I've read most of the guides for this build (all listed here + b.net forums) but feel I need more opinions since none are pure Fireclaws PvM builds, maybe besides ColdArmy's but I'm sorry to point out that that one really is a pain to read and I gave up after a while, managed to catch the gist though.


Some questions that I would like to ask experienced players of this build:

1. Would 1 point in Maul be enough? Would it be worth it to sacrificing some points in the synergies into here for fire immunes and the stun duration?

2. Would 1 point in Werebear be enough? Defense and damage bonuses worth it ofr points?

I'm assuming here that I'll have 4+ (can get more) Shapeshifting GCs in my inventory and pretty optimal gear (read below) so I hope I can get away with 1 point in Lycanthropy and Shockwave. The short were duration is a REAL pain now though.


I'm a little confused after reading the hybrid guides which have distributed skill points so really need some opinions here. My main concern would be the Fire Immunes of course, starting from NM Doom knights.

So to sum up, my main dilemma with skills: Should I put 10 points of synergies into Werebear/Maul for versatility/survivabilty?




On to gear.

Due to the fact the I will soon have a little spending power (I want Mephisto's babies :D 40/15 Dungos whoop!), I was thinking of splurging a little.

This would be my ideal set-up:

Helm: Um-ed Jalal's. Don't think anything can beat the all round mods of this.

Armour: CoH or Enigma? REALLY undecided on this one. Enigma has more str (= more vit for me), FRW, more def, MF, and the all important TELEPORT, which I'm addicted to now with my Enig Fishymancer. CoH has a truckload more resists (which i'm going to need) and lifeleech. This will be a hard one.

Weapon: 6-Shael Phase. No replacement for this I suppose?

Shield: Stormshield probably. I was thinking if I got Enigma, the resistances from Sanctuary would be tempting (although getting Mal nowadays can be quite a chore). Need some thoughts.

Gloves: Dual Upped Bloodfists probably.

Boots: Probably would go with Treks.

Amulet: Undecided. Highlord's? Rising Sun? Rare +2 Druid with resists? I don't intend to splurge on Mara's though. Need some thoughts.

Rings: RAVEN FROST. Good lord I have a strong urge to save-up-enter whenver I kill a cold-enchanted boss. The other ring I would probably NEED a rare mana leech with other useful mods.

Charms: Plan to have a mid-low torch, 4+ SS charms (should I have more?).



My main delimma with gear selection:

Is FHR really as important as everyone says it is for Werebear?. I have experienced for myself how irritating and slow it is at low levels but is getting the 86% worth it for the sake of some resists and life at high levels?

This is applicable for Bloodfists, and to a lesser extent, Treks, since I can wear IK gloves and save myself 40 stat points for life to put into Vit.

The slow blocking for Bears is annoying as well :mad:



Last but not least, fire immunes. I'm thinking a shael-ed Ribcraker. Would that be sufficient? Or should I up it?

Suggestions and comments will be very much appreciated :)

[Forcefeedback]

Here (http://forums.diabloii.net//showthread.php?t=127864) is a more reader friendly coldarmy's guide.

1 point in maul is enough, you only gain 0,1 seconds stun time and 10% ed every other point invested.

Werebear skill is even more useless than maul for a fireclaw build since you don't gain any attack rating from it.

If you already have max resists, put a shael in Jalal's instead of um.
You can't teleport in wereform so I suggest CoH instead of enigma.
You can use 4 shael and 2 ar/IAS jewels or jewels with resist(s)/IAS. The breakpoint is 110% IAS from weapon.

Highlords isn't the best choise for a fireclaw bear, if you aren't going to aquire a mara I suggest you get a +2 druid skills amulet with resists.

You won't gain much from the mana leach ring with regular phase blades damage, you might as well rely on Jalal's +5 after each kill and mana potions.

FHR is very important for PvP, but since you're PvM you can get away with less. 86 is 6 frame hit recovery and 54 is 7. With only Jalal's and bloodfists you are at 6 frames. With either sandstorm trek's or a shael in jalal's you're only few % away from the breakpoint and it can be easily fixed with small charms.

Shaeled ribcracker sounds good enough, it has lots of crushing blow after all. If you can get a merc with reapers toll you are pretty well prepared for fire immunes.

[lCE]

Is this gonna be pvm only? If so, go for pure synergies with 1 pt in WB 1 lycan. 1.Dont bother with maul , since you will be using a 6 shael PB, your physical damage will be negligible anyway.
2. Same with WB, the defense boost isnt that high, neither will the % damage do anything significant for your build.
3. Armor - CoH. Since u cant teleport in bear form, all Enigma has to offer is fr/w and some more mf. 65 resist is much better IMO.
4. Stormshield, or 20/-20 monarch. Phoenix has tasty -enemy res but the firestorm casting will annoy the hell out of u, so id say no to that one.
5. Amu can be anything with + skills really, best bet is +3 shape +100 life.
6. For gloves id use magefists for that extra + skill. Never felt the need for FHR in pvm.
7. Dont bother with ribcracker or anything else. U will need to sacrifice your switch slot (u could have a +5 staff on there to boost your lycan and WB) There are plenty of places to be run that have no fire immunes at all (Most of the Act5 ice caves), which are good for leveling and mfing, and with your 15k fireclaw it will be a breeze to run them.
8. On the 6 shael PB, technically u only need 110% ias on a PB so it can be 4 shael 2 ias/mod jewels (15 ias/15 res is the best bet).

[CZach]

Thanks for all the replies guys :)

I totally forgot that I won't be able to teleport in Wereform, CoH it is then. Teleport was the tipping factor for me. Anyway so it'll be fine just to get any 4os light armour for it? Defense doesn't really matter does it?


For the amulet, I've always thought a rare would be the best, just needed more opinions.


So if I went for the shael-ed phase blade with stormshield build, would it be better to socket a shael or Pdiamond in it? Shael improves my FBR from 8 to 7 but 19 prismatic seems hard to beat. That being said, with an clean jalals, CoH, 3 anyas and SS my resists would read 25 Max 50 25. Hmmm decisions, decisions.


For gloves I'll probably go with Magefists in that case, can always switch I guess if I feel the need to. I'll probably need to shael my Jalals then.


I'm hoping AR won't be a huge problem with this build, need a confirmation on this as well.


Another thing I forgot to add is my merc's equipment. I was thinking an Act 2 Holy Freeze with Obedience and damage reduction gear until someone told me that the -% fire resistance won't apply to my fireclaws attacks, that right?

In that case, I should go for either Reaper's Toll or Tomb Reaver I guess.

On that note, does anyone know where I can find a merc IAS frame rates table?

ETA: Since mana leech doesn't work in this build, I'm assuming life leech as well? Won't that be a problem? :eek:

[VoX Dei]

1st, the original firebear build you presented here sounds pretty solid. Sounds even better after the excellent answers provided by Forcefeedback and ICE :thumbsup:

2nd, concerning your merc, IMHO the best choice is a2 blessed aim merc with a reaper's toll (-10 base speed). I'm guessing most forumners will agree on this weapon choice (the 33% ctc decrep on striking feature alone is amazing!) but many will probably choose a merc with a different aura. Personally i like blessd aim the most because the firebear really lacks on this department.


IAS table for act 2 merc using a -10 base speed weapon:

FPS IAS%
7.5 0
7 8
6.5 22
6 44
5.5 75
5 142


Recovery Frames for act 2 mercs:

Recovery Frames FHR%
15 0
14 5
13 9
12 14
11 20
10 30
9 42
8 60
7 86
6 142
5 280

I'm sorry i don't remember where i took this info from, however since i have it stashed on my d2 info folder, i can assure you it's reliable info.

3rd, concerning the weapon and shield. The dream weapon for a firebear will be a PB 4xshael + 2xargent jewel of fervor (110% IAS and more AR!). SS with p.diamond will be very hard to beat.

Last but not least, GL & HF with your firebear :thumbsup:

[CZach]

Thanks for the very helpful reply again.

Just an update: Pyrogrip is now lvl 44 and coming along very nicely.

My main concern now is actually life leech. How do you guys play him without life leech?

And did you say AR will be a problem? :confused:

[lCE]

AR wont be a problem , for pvm at least. Fireclaws has a huge bonus to AR.
For leech, equip dracs if ur having problems, lifetap will solve that even with your pitiful physical damage. And at 4 fpa attack, it will always be on.