PvP Shaman

[yelopen]

I was just wondering if anyone has experience with a PvP Shaman (Fire + Grizzly) because the guide for it on BNet forums has me convinced its a good build. I should be able to afford all the gear listed:

Ravenlore
Enigma (MP or BP)
HotO
Spirit Monarch
Spider
2 SoJs
Treks
Magefist
Rare Ele Ammy
CtA/Spirit on switch

5 Ele GCs
4 Summon GCs
Torch

According to the guide, the hardest matchup is the Windy Druid, which I find is one of the most popular builds in pubs.

Thanks.

[nickedoff]

It isn't as good as it sounds. I've never made one, but I've made a ton of fire druids, and how he describes the fire druid portion isn't fitting at all.

There's a big thread around here, with lots of statistical information on it about why this character sucks in comparison with a complete fire druid.

I imagine it'd be fun for a while, but when you find that you're out of gold and haven't really scored any satisfying kills, you'll realize it wasn't worth your time.

Complete fire druids are a completely different story. Make one. Make one today =d

[Jackson]

The "Shaman" brings back memories of back in the day....

[yelopen]

It isn't as good as it sounds. I've never made one, but I've made a ton of fire druids, and how he describes the fire druid portion isn't fitting at all.

There's a big thread around here, with lots of statistical information on it about why this character sucks in comparison with a complete fire druid.

I imagine it'd be fun for a while, but when you find that you're out of gold and haven't really scored any satisfying kills, you'll realize it wasn't worth your time.

Complete fire druids are a completely different story. Make one. Make one today =d

Hehe, thanks for the advice.

Jackson: and...?

I read Garbads guide to Shamans and he used shockwave in bear form, are shamans supposed to use that? The build I saw was 20 Boulder, 20 Volc, 20 Fissure, 20 Grizzly, rest in Firestorm.

I also found that thread u were talking about. It says ALL fire druids suck so maybe I should just stay away from druids :laugh:

[nickedoff]

shockwave in bear form, are shamans supposed to use that?
Shamans can use whatever the heck they want, they still won't be effective :P

It says ALL fire druids suck
I think there were only a few people in there who said that, and they got debunked pretty fast.
Fire druids are certainly still doable, and usually competitive. Sp.

[yelopen]

Shamans can use whatever the heck they want, they still won't be effective :P


I think there were only a few people in there who said that, and they got debunked pretty fast.
Fire druids are certainly still doable, and usually competitive. Sp.

I found a few people who said Shamans are good too (besides claniraq cuz he wrote the guide). I still like the "telebomb" idea with the grizzly.

I'm gonna think about it for a while, *maybe* I'll decide to make one.

[Darksteel]

Anyone who says shamans suck never dueld clan.iraq. I made myself one after dueling him and trust me, it is FAR from a weak build. The only real problems I have is a GOOD max block windy or bone necro. Everything is doable with the right strategy and patience.

And your set-up is just about the same that I use, only I use a maras instead of ammy. My bear whacks people for 2500 damage after PvP penalty and it is rare for a caster to not die to a namelocked volcano. As for melee, chargers and ww-ers get eaten alive by fissue (they get hit about 3-4 times going through one). And they usally resort to sorb, to which I respond to by using a IM charge from a metalgrid and letting them whack one of my summons =)

[yelopen]

Anyone who says shamans suck never dueld clan.iraq. I made myself one after dueling him and trust me, it is FAR from a weak build. The only real problems I have is a GOOD max block windy or bone necro. Everything is doable with the right strategy and patience.

And your set-up is just about the same that I use, only I use a maras instead of ammy. My bear whacks people for 2500 damage after PvP penalty and it is rare for a caster to not die to a namelocked volcano. As for melee, chargers and ww-ers get eaten alive by fissue (they get hit about 3-4 times going through one). And they usally resort to sorb, to which I respond to by using a IM charge from a metalgrid and letting them whack one of my summons =)

Thank YOU! Just what I wanted to hear! :thumbsup:
I was gonna do Maras too, not sure if I'll be able to afford it. Well, actually I'm gonna restart D2 soon so it'll be a while before I can actually build it. But I've had my eyes on this build for a while.

So the strategies are just the same as in claniraqs guide right? Casters- Namelock Volc and telebom and Melee- Fissure yourself and tele away when they come then telebomb back in?

Also is it hard to namelock volcano? And can you tell me your hotkeys?

[Darksteel]

Thank YOU! Just what I wanted to hear! :thumbsup:
I was gonna do Maras too, not sure if I'll be able to afford it. Well, actually I'm gonna restart D2 soon so it'll be a while before I can actually build it. But I've had my eyes on this build for a while.

So the strategies are just the same as in claniraqs guide right? Casters- Namelock Volc and telebom and Melee- Fissure yourself and tele away when they come then telebomb back in?

Also is it hard to namelock volcano? And can you tell me your hotkeys?


Heh, dont get hotkeys from me, mine are all messed up...

And namelocking volcano takes some practice but once u get the hang of it it's easier than you would think. Basically just don't be so frantic about it is my advice. And as for strategies for the most part I do the same stuff iraq does but I also do some stuff different. There really isn't an easy way of describing it though you'll just have to get the hang of it yourself. If you want some advice against certain duels just ask or post in iraqs thread on the Bnet forums. He has more experiance with the build than I do but I've been playing this guy religiously since I've made him.

[yelopen]

Heh, dont get hotkeys from me, mine are all messed up...

And namelocking volcano takes some practice but once u get the hang of it it's easier than you would think. Basically just don't be so frantic about it is my advice. And as for strategies for the most part I do the same stuff iraq does but I also do some stuff different. There really isn't an easy way of describing it though you'll just have to get the hang of it yourself. If you want some advice against certain duels just ask or post in iraqs thread on the Bnet forums. He has more experiance with the build than I do but I've been playing this guy religiously since I've made him.

Thanks again for the help.

[aznacev]

yelopen do you know what the general skill layout of this build is ? because im interested.

do you need werebear form? can u cast volcano in werebear form or is it just for shockwave... =S

[yelopen]

Yeah I do.
20 Grizzly
20 Volcano
20 Fissure
20 Molten Boulder
1 in Armageddon
1 in Pre-reqs
Rest in Firestorm

For equip and PvP strategies, heres the complete guide. http://www.battle.net/forums/thread.aspx?FN=d2-skills&T=217667&P=1

[aznacev]

thanks thats great. sounds like a fun build.

[Gotcha]

Shamans are fun builds and can do well in the PVP arena yet after making 2 (both vita and not max block - maybe I should think about a work around with max block but the chr's that will really kill you are the ones you do not need the max block for anyway) you will find that you will not kill a godly windy or a boner as stated earlier. You have a better chance against the windy though, but a boner will wipe the floor with you. Good boners have max block with SS and 43% - 50% PDR and cast at 125%, 86% FHR and with one simple stacking gear (not abs - just a pair of hotspurs) they will wipe the floor with you. Oh, and your bear will miss almost every time (blocked) as well as volcano's will be blocked. My boner can stand in the volcano's for quite some time and with 86% FHR can get away without going into animation. Don't get me wrong I like shamans a lot but a well equiped character (and I do not mean abs items) will make you rethink the build. They are fun though.

[Gotcha]

Anyone who says shamans suck never dueld clan.iraq. I made myself one after dueling him and trust me, it is FAR from a weak build. The only real problems I have is a GOOD max block windy or bone necro. Everything is doable with the right strategy and patience.

And your set-up is just about the same that I use, only I use a maras instead of ammy. My bear whacks people for 2500 damage after PvP penalty and it is rare for a caster to not die to a namelocked volcano. As for melee, chargers and ww-ers get eaten alive by fissue (they get hit about 3-4 times going through one). And they usally resort to sorb, to which I respond to by using a IM charge from a metalgrid and letting them whack one of my summons =)

Dark, just curious what lvl is your bear?

[yelopen]

Shamans are fun builds and can do well in the PVP arena yet after making 2 (both vita and not max block - maybe I should think about a work around with max block but the chr's that will really kill you are the ones you do not need the max block for anyway) you will find that you will not kill a godly windy or a boner as stated earlier. You have a better chance against the windy though, but a boner will wipe the floor with you. Good boners have max block with SS and 43% - 50% PDR and cast at 125%, 86% FHR and with one simple stacking gear (not abs - just a pair of hotspurs) they will wipe the floor with you. Oh, and your bear will miss almost every time (blocked) as well as volcano's will be blocked. My boner can stand in the volcano's for quite some time and with 86% FHR can get away without going into animation. Don't get me wrong I like shamans a lot but a well equiped character (and I do not mean abs items) will make you rethink the build. They are fun though.

Yeah I know I won't be able to kill bone necros...or wind druids. I guess I just like the idea of it. Maybe I'll give it a shot. ClanIraq's guide is soooo convincing though :flip:

[Darksteel]

I agree on boners being hard (keke).

Windies are usally overly agressive at first and I can usally just plop a volcano around me and they will port on it, do that 4 or 5 times and even if they're not right on it they drop. Against the defensive kind which are harder, just port yourself through volcano fields. Iraq suggest trying to use molton boulder so that might be something for you to try.

And for them boners, it really just takes time man. Again your gonna use volcano fields and don't be afraid to do a few drive-by's with your bear. Mine hits for 2500 after the pvp penalty so a solid hit will break any bone armor and inflict some damage on the necro, making him start to port defensively and put up armor again. IF he ever keeps fighting without bone armor on, go for the namelocked volcano.

And as for convincing goes, just ask Iraq to give you a demonstration hes a pretty nice guy. I was skeptical too at first but Iraq was kind enough to show me it in action, first in a public game which he pretty man owned (everyone wanted to duel him too since it was so odd to them to lose to a "fire druid") and after that we made a private game and did some 1v1 dueling. Hell if your on E/L/SC I could probably show you sometime, though I'm not on Iraq's level.

[Gotcha]

HeHe, great boners are impossible in reality but every build has its weakness. I have been playing around so much on trying to make a hybrid around Fissure and Nado's with many varients that I have not played my Shaman in a long time. I think I need to put him back together since my Hybrid builds just seem to be missing the key ingredient (Volcano) synergized to really make the build a godly threat (LOL).

Dark what lvl is your Bear, I am curious since I can not remember what mine was before I took apart?

[yelopen]

Sorry Darksteel I'm on West. So I don't have like a hell char to go watch you play in hell pubby games :(

[aznacev]

what exactly is a hoto weapon for this build?

[yelopen]

what exactly is a hoto weapon for this build?

Heart of the Oak Runeword.

[Darksteel]

My bear is about 45ish I believe. He's cute the cuddly beast =)

[Gotcha]

My bear is about 45ish I believe. He's cute the cuddly beast =)

HeHe thanks Dark

[claniraqbajillion]

clan_iraq here
just thought I'd clear up a few things.


BONE NECROS ARE EZ

Seriously, id say windies are 10x as hard as necros for me. Ive only met like 2-3 on east that even have a chance. They make very fun duels, but you have the obvious advantage in an equal skilled duel. A good necro will wipe the floor with a bad shaman, and a good shaman will wipe the floor with a bad necro. A good shaman will beat a good necro, but probly wont wipe the floor with him.

The only way they can possibly have the advantage is by massively sorbing, in which case its a bm duel anyway. In fact, their best bet is clay golem for letting them live. If they are extremely pimped up, and recast clay golem and bone armor every time, AS WELL as having 95 resist + sorb, the duel will be theirs.
Then you get your own bm char and laugh.

In a GM duel, a bone necro has a severe disadvantage.

So dunno what you guys are smoking :D


(on a related note, both me and flames agree that POISON NOVA NECROS actually put up a fairly good fight. The main reason is that we both always underestimated them and played offensively. If you simply play defensively with fissures and volcanos, they won't be able to get in range of you. A hybrid bone/poison, on the other hand, could actually be an even match. Of course, that would require ~150 skill points to be effective.)

[claniraqbajillion]

While im at it;

A druid using shockwave/werebear/grizzly isnt a *shaman* as I describe it.

This would be more suited towards a "Shockbear", who forgoes the fire element entirely. I'm sure you could adapt a hybrid, but since wereform removes teleport, its not a caster at all.

So if you plan on making a shockwave/grizzly druid, I'm sure theres some guides here or on the bnet forums to check.

If you want to make the shaman, who doesnt shapeshift at all, my guides pretty easy to find on the Bnet forums (skills section)

[LeegionOnEast]

Go pure fire. Better damage, easier to play. I used a 20/20 Facet Sheild with a 5/5 Faceted -20% Ravenlore, with a Lower Resist wand on switch. Kills ALL melee, and is just barely weaker than the Shaman build with Casters.

[aznacev]

ok so you say go pure fire, but then you say its barely weaker than the shaman build...im confused.

anyway iraq or anybody can you explain why this would be better build than pure fire?

[Darksteel]

Drive-by with bear. As I said before, my bear can whack people for 2500 after the pvp penatly. Even with 50% dr that hurts ALOT. Plus it's just in and out and really disorentates an opponent with fire flying all over the place. Plus it can stop some ppl from teleporting on u, gives u something to attack with during cooldowns of fire spells, Basically, its good stuff ;)

[nickedoff]

Go pure fire. Better damage, easier to play. I used a 20/20 Facet Sheild with a 5/5 Faceted -20% Ravenlore, with a Lower Resist wand on switch. Kills ALL melee, and is just barely weaker than the Shaman build with Casters.
I agree with everything except that it's weaker than shamans. ;D

[LeegionOnEast]

I agree with everything except that it's weaker than shamans. ;D

Just with Casters. Without that big physical damage bear, you sometimes have a lot longer of a duel because they also will have resists.

It's not weaker than the shaman, because it owned all melee. Casters just become a little more difficult.

[Darksteel]

Well I could see a pure fire build being pretty decent if you don't mind playing very defensively and get good at namelocking casters.

[yelopen]

I'm still gonna try Shaman guys. I like it better xD